Chapter 6: The First Move

The message lingered on his screen, the soft glow illuminating his face in the dimly lit room. His grip on the phone tightened as he stared at the photo—him and the girl on the rooftop, completely unaware they had been watched. His mind raced, calculating every possible move they could make next.

A knock on his door snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Yo, you good?" Her voice was laced with concern.

He hesitated before opening the door. She immediately noticed the tension in his shoulders, the way his golden eyes were sharper, colder.

"They sent a message," he muttered, turning the screen toward her.

She took a step closer, eyes narrowing at the image. "They're watching us?"

"More than that. They want me to know. They want me to react."

She exhaled sharply, her hands clenching into tight fists before she planted them firmly on her hips. Her brows knitted together, her expression a mix of frustration and worry. "So what do we do?"

He glanced back at the message before locking his phone. "We don't panic. If they're expecting me to slip up, we make sure they get nothing."

The Next Day – School Grounds

The morning was eerily normal. Students chattered in the hallways, laughing and gossiping like any other day. But for the MC, every passing glance felt suspicious, every stray whisper felt targeted.

The girl walked beside him, her usual energetic stride carefully controlled, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. "You think Ren's gonna make a move?"

"He already has. Showing up was his first move. Now he's waiting for me to react."

"And what if we just… don't?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, her expression skeptical yet thoughtful.

"Then he'll escalate. They always do."

Classroom – The Confrontation

Lunch break arrived, and as expected, Ren was waiting. He was seated near the window, twirling a pen between his fingers, his sharp eyes glinting with amusement as the MC walked in.

"Yo," Ren greeted casually, flashing a smirk. "Been a while."

The MC met his gaze with cold indifference. "Not long enough."

Ren chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "You look different. Softer. Must be nice, huh? Normal life. No worries. No knives in your back."

The tension in the room thickened. A few students glanced between them, sensing something unspoken passing between the two.

The girl reached for the MC's wrist, her grip firm—a silent reminder to stay calm. Her eyes burned with a silent challenge, daring Ren to try something.

"I don't know what you're talking about," the MC replied, voice steady. "I've moved on."

Ren's smirk widened. "Oh, I know. That's why I'm here."

He slid a folded piece of paper across the desk. The MC didn't pick it up immediately. His instincts screamed a warning, but he forced himself to maintain his composure.

"What's this?" he asked.

"A little reunion invitation," Ren said, standing up. "It's time to see if the past really is in the past."

Without another word, he walked out, hands in his pockets, as if he had just sealed an unspoken agreement.

The MC slowly picked up the paper and unfolded it.

One word was written inside.

Tonight.

After School – The Decision

The girl followed him to the rooftop, her frustration evident in every step. "You're not actually going, right?"

He didn't answer immediately. The wind carried the distant sounds of students heading home, but up here, it was just the two of them.

"I don't have a choice," he finally said.

She stepped in front of him, blocking his path, her arms crossed tightly against her chest. Her eyes, sharp and unwavering, locked onto his. "Yes, you do! They're trying to pull you back into whatever mess you left behind. You don't have to play their game."

He met her gaze, something unreadable flickering in his golden eyes. "If I don't show up, they'll keep pushing. They'll go after people around me. You included."

Her breath hitched, but she didn't waver. "Then I'm coming with you."

He shook his head. "No. This isn't your fight."

"Like hell it isn't!" she snapped. "You think I'm just going to let you walk into whatever trap they're setting up alone?"

Silence stretched between them. He could see the fire in her eyes, the same stubborn determination that had made her stay by his side through everything.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You really don't know when to back down, do you?"

She smirked, tilting her chin up defiantly. "Nope."

A reluctant smile ghosted his lips before fading. "Fine. But you stay behind me, and if things go south, you run. Got it?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just go already."

As the sun began to set, they left the school grounds together, stepping into the unknown.

The game had begun.