Kaivan exhaled slowly. "I know Ethan's here. But why you?"
"Oh, you're asking me?" Isabel murmured, her voice barely louder than the breeze. It trembled softly, carrying emotions she couldn't name. "You said you'd be here on Saturday… so I came to ask your name."
Kaivan froze. His eyes narrowed slightly, caught off guard. Was that really the only reason? Beneath his calm expression, thoughts collided, confusion, faint warmth, and something else he couldn't quite name.
He finally spoke in a flat, almost weary tone, "Kaivan." A single word, but heavy, as if he'd given away more than just a name, hoping she would remember it this time, truly.
Ethan, still lounging against the wall, lit another cigarette and muttered, "So you know this girl, huh, Kaivan?" His voice carried a lazy tease, though his eyes stayed sharp.
Kaivan glanced at Ethan, then back to Isabel. "I met her after leaving the police station. She lost her phone, and I helped her." His tone was calm, his explanation logical, smoothing the tension that hung between them.
Raphael, who had been quiet, finally chimed in. "Ahh, so you helped her, but didn't tell her your name?" His tone was light, a faint smile curving his lips.
Kaivan sighed and raised an eyebrow. "I told her, more than once. But she still couldn't remember."
Isabel blinked, cheeks turning red. She fidgeted with her fingers, embarrassed. "I… I didn't mean to. You know I'm forgetful," she said softly, her eyes downcast, her voice filled with genuine remorse.
Kaivan looked at her for a moment longer, his tone softening. "Maybe now you'll remember." There was no sarcasm, only quiet sincerity that washed over the silence.
Isabel smiled faintly, her face still flushed. "Yes… I remember now. Kaipan." She repeated it slowly, as if making a promise never to forget.
Kaivan frowned. "Not P, but V. Kaivan."
Isabel's face turned even redder. Ethan chuckled under his breath, while Raphael grinned. "At least she's trying. That's progress, right?" he teased.
The ride home was quiet. Ethan led the way on his motorcycle, Isabel sitting behind him, her small hands gripping carefully. The night wind wrapped around them, carrying away bits of small talk.
After a while, Ethan glanced over his shoulder. "...So that's the story? Kaivan helped you find your stolen phone?"
Isabel smiled faintly, watching the empty road ahead. "Yeah. He kicked the thief so hard, he went flying," she said softly, admiration threading through her voice, carried away by the wind like a lingering memory.
On the other bike, Kaivan stared blankly ahead. His mind replayed the image of the pawn shop. The encounter with Isabel felt like a thread of fate quietly pulled by the Tome Omnicent.
When they arrived at the workshop, the warm yellow lights greeted them, casting long shadows across the floor. Ethan and Isabel got off first, followed by Kaivan, who parked his motorcycle in its usual spot.
From the doorway, Zinnia appeared, her silhouette sharp against the dim light, arms folded across her chest. Her eyes immediately found Isabel, sharp and filled with suspicion.
Without preamble, Zinnia pointed at Isabel. "And who's this supposed to be, Kaivan?" she asked flatly, her tone cutting yet calm.
Kaivan sighed, already expecting that reaction. He met her gaze steadily. "Her name's Isabel. I helped her find her phone, it got stolen."
Zinnia didn't reply right away. Her eyes swept Isabel from head to toe, evaluating her in silence. After a brief pause, she muttered, "Alright then…" before turning around and disappearing back into the workshop, leaving behind a tense air.
Inside, the scent of metal, oil, and tangled wires wrapped around them. Pale neon lights hung from the ceiling, illuminating a workbench cluttered with old phones, messy notes, and half-finished tools. At the center stood a large whiteboard filled with sketches and diagrams, a reflection of the maze inside Kaivan's mind.
Kaivan approached it, erasing part of a diagram with his marker. His mind was deep in thought, so absorbed that he didn't notice the sound of the door opening again.
Energetic footsteps entered the room. Radit, Felicia, Frans, and Thivi arrived, bringing a rush of noise and warmth. Thivi, with her radiant smile and playful energy, immediately ran up and wrapped Kaivan in a tight hug, as if they hadn't seen each other in years.
"It's been two weeks! And last week you went on a trip without even telling me," she teased, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
Kaivan gave her a blank look, marker still in hand. "Who said I went on a trip last week?"
Thivi pointed at Radit with her chin. "Radit did! He said you guys even stayed at a hotel."
Radit, who had just taken a sip from his water bottle, choked. "Huh?! I was just answering her question! I didn't mean it was a trip or anything!"
Kaivan stared at him, torn between confusion and irritation. He held his tongue. What happened last week was far from a vacation, dealing with Ethan's gang, confronting a fence for stolen phones, and getting tangled in a terrorist case with Raphael. None of that was something he wanted to share.
Meanwhile, Isabel quietly watched the exchange between Kaivan and Thivi, her eyes filled with curiosity. There was a warmth between them, a kind of familiarity, that made her chest tighten for reasons she didn't quite understand. But before she could dwell on the feeling, her gaze landed on Frans.
Her eyes widened in surprise. Wait… wasn't that the guy she saw at school? "Hey, you're the one who was with your girlfriend that day!" Isabel blurted out, eyes narrowing in disbelief as she pointed straight at Frans.
Frans froze. His eyes widened, jaw slack, stunned by the sudden outburst. A few seconds of silence passed before he raised an eyebrow and pointed at her. "You're... Isabel, right? We go to the same school?"
The question drew everyone's attention. Zinnia, who was carrying a box of old phone parts, stopped mid-step. Curious, she walked closer, glancing between Isabel and Frans.
"Wait... you two know each other?" she asked, her voice calm but laced with intrigue.
Frans tried to compose himself, forcing a small smile. "Not that close. I just know she goes to the same school as me. Still… kinda surprised to see her here."
The word here made Isabel's expression tighten. "Here? You mean that group, the one making bombs out of old phones?!"
Radit immediately glanced at Raphael, the only former terrorist in the room, and grinned nervously. "Hahaha, sounds like she knows about, "
WHACK!
Zinnia's hand landed squarely on Radit's head.