By Thursday morning, Kim had learned three important things.
First, secrets don't remain secrets on campus.
Second, students can turn one sentence into an entire Netflix series.
Third, Brian should never be trusted with confidential information.
Unfortunately, Kim discovered the third lesson too late.
He walked into the hostel room at around 7:15 a.m. and found Brian sitting on the edge of the bed, surrounded by three other students.
They were talking quietly.
The moment Kim entered, everyone became silent.
Kim stopped.
"What's happening?"
Nobody answered.
Brian looked at him.
"Morning."
Kim narrowed his eyes.
"Why did everyone become quiet when I entered?"
Brian smiled nervously.
"No reason."
One of the students stood up.
"I have class."
He left.
Another followed.
Kim stared at Brian.
"What did you tell them?"
Brian looked offended.
"Me?"
"Yes, you."
"I didn't tell them anything."
"Brian."
"Okay, maybe something small."
"What small thing?"
Brian scratched his head.
"I may have mentioned that you and Linet are… becoming close."
Kim sighed.
"How close?"
Brian smiled.
"Close enough to make people jealous."
Kim stared at him.
"Brian!"
"What? It's not a crime."
"Did you tell them about yesterday?"
Brian's smile disappeared.
"No."
"Good."
"Not exactly."
Kim froze.
"What does 'not exactly' mean?"
Brian looked away.
"I might have told one person."
"Who?"
"Someone."
"Who?"
"Okay, maybe three people."
Kim covered his face.
"You're unbelievable."
Brian laughed.
"Relax. I didn't tell them everything."
"Then what did you tell them?"
Brian shrugged.
"I said you went to meet a mysterious person at night."
Kim stared at him.
"You did WHAT?"
"And that someone is threatening you."
Kim nearly shouted.
"Brian!"
By 9 a.m., the story had already evolved.
According to one student, Kim had been involved in a secret fight.
According to another, he had been caught stealing someone's girlfriend.
Another claimed Kim had joined a secret campus gang.
By lunchtime, someone was saying Kim had been chased by police.
And somehow, Brian was enjoying every second.
Kim walked into the cafeteria.
A group of students looked at him.
One whispered.
"That's him."
Another replied,
"The one who fought three guys?"
Kim stopped.
"Three guys?"
Brian appeared beside him.
"Congratulations. You've become famous."
Kim looked at him.
"I hate you."
Brian laughed.
Linet arrived a few minutes later.
She immediately noticed the strange looks.
"What happened?"
Kim sighed.
"Nothing."
"People are staring at us."
"I know."
Brian raised his hand.
"It's because you're famous."
Linet looked confused.
"Famous for what?"
Brian smiled.
"Long story."
Kim kicked his leg under the table.
"Ouch!"
Linet laughed.
"Why did you kick him?"
"Because he talks too much."
Brian rubbed his leg.
"Violence again."
Linet looked at Kim.
"Tell me what happened."
Kim hesitated.
"Someone saw me with Kevin last night."
Her smile disappeared.
"Kevin?"
"Yeah."
"Where?"
Kim looked around.
"Not here."
They moved to a quieter corner.
Kim told her everything.
The messages.
The meeting.
Kevin's warning.
The photograph.
Linet listened silently.
When he finished, she looked upset.
"Why didn't you tell me immediately?"
"I didn't want to scare you."
"You should have told me."
"I know."
She sighed.
"There is something you need to understand."
"What?"
"My past isn't something I'm proud of."
Kim gently held her hand.
"You don't have to tell me anything you're not ready to tell me."
She looked at him.
"That's the problem."
"What?"
"You're too understanding."
Kim smiled.
"Is that bad?"
"Sometimes."
"Why?"
"Because it makes me want to tell you everything."
Kim smiled.
"Then tell me when you're ready."
She nodded.
"Okay."
That afternoon, the rumours became worse.
Kim and Linet walked toward the lecture hall together.
A group of girls passed them.
One whispered loudly,
"That's the girl."
Another said,
"Imagine dating a guy involved in campus drama."
Linet ignored them.
Kim didn't.
"Did you hear that?"
"Yes."
"Should I say something?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because they'll talk more."
Kim nodded.
"True."
Then Brian appeared.
"Guys!"
Kim looked at him suspiciously.
"What now?"
Brian was laughing.
"You won't believe what I just heard."
Kim sighed.
"What?"
"Someone says you and Linet are secretly engaged."
Linet burst out laughing.
"What?"
Brian nodded.
"They say you proposed yesterday."
Kim laughed.
"Where?"
"Apparently at the basketball court."
Kim looked at Linet.
"Well…"
She smiled.
"Should I start planning the wedding?"
Kim laughed.
"Maybe."
Brian raised his hand.
"I want to be best man."
"You're not invited."
"Why?"
"You started the rumour."
Brian looked offended.
"I deserve a seat at the front."
The lecture was interrupted when the class representative entered.
"Guys, please stop spreading rumours."
Everyone became quiet.
He continued.
"Somebody is saying Kim was involved in a fight last night. That's not true."
Kim looked at Brian.
Brian slowly looked away.
The class representative continued.
"Also, nobody should spread information about other students without knowing the facts."
The lecturer entered.
"What is happening?"
Nobody answered.
He looked around.
"Why does this class always have drama?"
Brian raised his hand.
"Sir, it's because we are young."
The lecturer stared at him.
"Put your hand down."
Brian lowered it.
"Yes, sir."
After class, Kim received a message.
Unknown Number:
"You think rumours are your biggest problem?"
He stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
"Ask Linet about Daniel."
Kim's heart sank.
He immediately showed Linet.
The moment she saw the name, her face changed.
"Daniel?"
"Yes."
She took a deep breath.
"That's him."
Kim looked at her.
"The guy from your past?"
She nodded.
"Who is Daniel?"
Linet looked around.
"Not here."
They walked toward a quiet area behind the library.
Linet sat down.
"Daniel and I dated during our final year of high school."
Kim listened.
"We were together for almost a year."
"What happened?"
"He became controlling."
Kim frowned.
"He didn't like my friends. He didn't like me talking to other boys. He wanted to know where I was every minute."
Linet paused.
"When I ended the relationship, he didn't accept it."
Kim remained silent.
"He kept calling. Sending messages. Sometimes he would wait outside school."
"Did you tell anyone?"
"My parents knew. Teachers knew. Eventually, he stopped."
Kim looked at her.
"But now he's back?"
"I don't know."
Kim took her hand.
"Whatever happens, you're not alone."
Linet looked at him.
"Thank you."
Then Brian appeared from nowhere.
"I found you!"
Kim sighed.
"Do you ever knock?"
"There's no door."
"Exactly."
Brian looked between them.
"Why are you both looking serious?"
Kim shook his head.
"Long story."
Brian nodded.
"Okay."
He paused.
"Also, someone told me you two are getting married."
Linet laughed.
Kim groaned.
"Not again."
That evening, the three friends sat outside the hostel.
Brian had bought three sodas.
"Today," he announced, "we are forgetting drama."
Kim looked at him.
"You bought soda?"
"Yes."
"With what money?"
Brian smiled.
"I borrowed."
"From who?"
"That's not important."
"Brian."
"Okay, from the cafeteria guy."
"You borrowed money from the cafeteria?"
"It's a temporary financial arrangement."
Kim laughed.
Linet shook her head.
"You're impossible."
Brian raised his bottle.
"To friendship."
Kim raised his.
"To surviving campus."
Linet raised hers.
"To peace."
They clinked bottles.
For a few minutes, everything was normal.
Then Kim's phone vibrated.
He looked at the screen.
A new message.
Unknown Number:
"Enjoy your evening."
Kim's smile disappeared.
Another message arrived.
"Tomorrow, everyone will know what Linet did."
Linet saw the message.
Her face went pale.
Kim looked at her.
"What did you do?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
Brian slowly put down his soda.
"Guys…"
Kim looked at him.
"What?"
Brian pointed toward the road.
A man was standing across the street.
Watching them.
The moment Kim looked at him, the man turned and walked away.
Kim stood up.
"Wait!"
He started running after him.
But by the time Kim reached the road, the man had disappeared.
Kim looked around.
Nothing.
Only the sound of students laughing somewhere in the distance.
He returned to Linet and Brian.
"What happened?" Linet asked.
Kim shook his head.
"He's gone."
Brian sighed.
"This campus needs CCTV."
Kim laughed nervously.
"Or a detective."
Brian looked at him.
"We can't afford one."
Kim nodded.
"Then I guess we're the detectives."
Brian stood up.
"Absolutely not."
Kim laughed.
"You just said we need to find out what's happening."
"Yes. I meant you."
Linet laughed.
Despite everything, they smiled.
But deep down, Kim knew something was coming.
The rumours were only the beginning.
And tomorrow, the whole campus might learn a secret Linet had spent years trying to forget.
To be continued…