Chapter 4

After receiving the message, Sam tried to deduce where Kate might be—either at home or somewhere within the college premises. A nagging feeling of unease settled over him. Kate always informed him when she was heading home, but today, she hadn't. That fact alone sent alarm bells ringing in his mind. Something wasn't right.

Unable to shake off his worry, he called his friend Ryan, explaining the situation and asking if he knew where she was. He also inquired about Ryan's whereabouts and whether he could help find her.

Ryan hesitated before responding, claiming he was at a coffee shop. He then added that Kate was likely at home, possibly feeling unwell, which was why she had left. But something felt off. As Sam listened to the call, he picked up the distinct sound of football players in the background. His gut twisted. Ryan was lying.

Doubt and anxiety churned inside him. If Kate had gone home, why hadn't she told him? She always did. His mind raced through possibilities, but none made sense. His heart pounded harder with every passing second. He needed to confirm it himself.

Determined to find her, he scoured the campus, asking several students if they had seen Kate. Some shrugged, saying they didn't know. Others mentioned seeing her alone at the cafeteria, while a few pointed towards the laboratory. Desperation fueled his steps as he checked each location. The cafeteria—empty. The laboratory—no sign of her. His frustration mounted with every failed attempt, his breath becoming unsteady, his hands clammy.

Doubt crept in, whispering dark possibilities. What if she really did go home and I'm just overthinking? But no—she would have told me. Then why isn't she answering my calls? His stomach twisted with fear, his mind a battlefield of logic and emotions. Was he chasing shadows, or was something truly wrong?

Just as panic began to settle in, he spotted Kate's best friend, Kaira. Relief and tension crashed over him in equal measure. He quickly approached her, his voice betraying the storm inside him.

"Kaira, have you seen Kate?" he asked, barely able to mask his desperation.

Kaira hesitated, her eyes darting away for a brief moment. That hesitation sent a fresh wave of suspicion crashing over Sam. His breathing grew heavier as he took a step closer.

Inside Kaira's mind, a war raged. Is today the last day of Kate's secret? Should I lie to him about her location? Or should I tell him the truth… out of pity?

She clenched her fists, torn between loyalty and guilt. But when she looked at Sam, at the sheer intensity in his eyes, her resolve wavered. His presence, his aura—demanding, unwavering—shattered her will.

"Why are you hesitating?" he demanded, his voice sharp, laced with frustration. "Are you hiding something from me?"

Kaira's lips parted as if to protest, but she faltered under his intense gaze. She swallowed hard, looking visibly uncomfortable. Sam's patience snapped.

"Kaira, tell me the truth!" he nearly shouted, his fists clenching by his sides. "Where is she?"

Unable to withstand his anger and confrontation, Kaira exhaled shakily. "I... I don't know exactly," she stammered. "But last time I saw her, she was near the auditorium... with—"

Sam didn't wait to hear the rest. The moment he heard auditorium, he took off like a bullet, his mind racing faster than his legs. He didn't even catch the name Kaira had started to say—he was too focused on Kate.

A fresh wave of worry gripped him. Is she sick? Is she resting there? His head pounded. His body felt heavy, dizzy, but he held his breath and pushed forward.

Just a few feet away from the auditorium, his phone buzzed. Without stopping, he pulled it out and checked the message.

It was from Kate.

"Hey, I'm at home. Feeling sick, but I'm okay. Just resting, so I couldn't pick up the phone. Sorry!"

Sam's steps slowed, his chest loosening as a relieved sigh escaped him. A small smile appeared on his face, feeling as if a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders. The fatigue, the panic—it all faded. I was overthinking. I doubted her for nothing.

He quickly typed back: "Take care of yourself. We can postpone our special date for later. Just rest, okay?"

Shaking his head at himself, he let out a light chuckle. God, I'm an idiot. I almost ran around campus like a madman just because of paranoia.

Feeling lighter, he turned to leave—until he heard it.

A laugh.

No—two laughs.

His entire body froze as the sound drifted from the auditorium. It was faint but clear enough to be unmistakable. His heart skipped a beat as recognition sank in.

One of the voices belonged to Kate.

The other—Ryan.

A cold shiver ran down his spine. His body moved on instinct, turning toward the sound. His legs, which had moments ago felt light, now felt unbearably heavy. Doubt clawed its way back into his chest, gripping his heart like a vice.

Slowly, hesitantly, he took a step forward. Then another.

He approached the first window of the auditorium, his breath shallow. His hands felt ice-cold as he reached out and gripped the edge of the window frame.

What he saw inside…

He could not express it.

His world—the trust, the certainty, the love he thought he had—collapsed in an instant.