Kaivan nodded. "I'll find the rest of the supplies. Make sure we've got the right tools before we test anything."
The workshop, once just a place for tinkering, had transformed into a busy, orderly space. Felicia, Frans, Radit, Thivi, Zinnia, and Kaivan worked side by side, saying little yet moving as though they were one practiced team. The air felt intense, but also harmonious. Every electronic component seemed to carry a riddle, and together they unraveled each one.
Hours slipped by. On a metal tray, specks of gold began to appear. The work lamp caught their shimmer, casting a soft, almost magical glow. Frans lifted the tray and broke into a wide smile. "We did it."
Felicia's lips curved into a proud smile. Before she could speak, Kaivan approached. "Felicia," he said gently, "if you'd like, join us. We'll split the profits equally."
She hesitated, her heart stirring. The offer sounded tempting, but shadows of the past stirred inside her, complicated ties, threats that might follow. She drew a deep breath.
Amid the clink of tools and the scent of metal, she looked at the faces around her: Thivi's focused gaze, Zinnia's careful hands, Radit's eagerness, Frans's calm, and Kaivan… the one who had given her space from the very start.
"All right," she said softly. "I'll join you."
Everyone turned. Their tired faces brightened into warm smiles. Radit stepped forward, patting Felicia's shoulder. "Finally!" he cheered.
Felicia managed a small smile. Doubts still lingered, yet for the first time, she felt she might have found where she belonged. Zinnia nodded, and Frans smiled silently. That night, they hadn't only found gold, they had found one another.
Amid the quiet celebration, Kaivan rose from his chair. He glanced at the watch on his wrist, a hint of urgency breaking through his usually calm demeanor.
"Everyone," he said, lifting a hand to catch their attention. "I need to take Thivi home now."
The workshop fell silent, but not in disappointment, understanding filled the room instead. Everyone knew how seriously Kaivan kept his promises. With a few small nods, they returned to their work. Kaivan strode out of the workshop, leaving behind a space alive with purpose and warmth.
Felicia, who had been standing nearby, finally sat down beside Zinnia. She watched her friends working tirelessly, her thoughts drifting. How wonderful it must be to have someone care like that, she mused, but chose to keep the thought quietly to herself.
A week slipped by in a blur. One late afternoon, sunlight streamed through the workshop's windows, casting golden shadows across the walls. Kaivan looked more spirited than usual as he approached Zinnia, who was jotting down the results of their latest project.
"How much gold can we get from dismantling these phones?" he asked, his voice alive with curiosity.
Zinnia offered a small smile, as though she had been waiting for that question. "We've already recovered one hundred and forty-eight grams," she replied. "And we still have half a sack of old phones left, about seventy units we haven't taken apart yet."
Kaivan's eyes gleamed. "Wow," he murmured, impressed. "In that case, we can buy two more sacks tomorrow. Today, let's sell all the gold for this month's wages."
The plan brought a lively spark to the room. Radit laughed, clapping Kaivan on the back. "Payday already? Let's work faster so we can get even more!"
But Kaivan wasn't finished. He picked up his phone and called Thivi. Their conversation began lightly, yet there was something deeper in the way he spoke.
"Thivi, I need to talk to your father. Can you connect me?" he asked in a calm, serious tone.
Thivi's reply caught him off guard. With playful mischief in her voice, she teased, "You want to call my dad? Are you ready to propose to me?"
Kaivan chuckled softly, trying to hide his sudden nervousness. "Haha, I haven't thought that far yet, don't say things like that."
The next day, Kaivan and Frans set out for Thivi's home in Majalengka to buy more supplies. Felicia, curious about the subtle pull between Kaivan and Thivi, decided to come along. Along the road, emerald fields and tall trees welcomed them, offering calm against the quiet turmoil each carried inside.
Thivi's modest house radiated warmth, yet Felicia sensed something amiss: her phone kept ringing, unanswered. Her gaze held a secret she wouldn't voice. Kaivan noticed but chose silence.
By dusk, as they returned to the city, their chatter filled the ride home , but beneath the laughter lay an unspoken tension. Under a sky fading from gold to violet, their steps toward the workshop grew heavy, as though shadowed by a nameless warning.
The corridor of the old building felt unusually still. Kaivan led the way, Frans steady behind him, Thivi trying to smile through a thin veil of unease. When Kaivan pushed open the workshop door, the hush shattered into shock.
The room was a wreck. Tables overturned, tools scattered, debris littering the floor. The air was heavy, tinged with dust and metal. Frans exhaled sharply; Thivi covered her mouth to stifle a cry. Cracks ran across the walls, and the dying sunlight slipped through, casting an almost cruel beauty across the ruins.