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Putri stared at her dirty notebook with tears welling in her eyes. It was her biology journal—she'd stayed up all night putting it together. But instead of crying from fear, she lifted her chin and fixed Zea with a sharp gaze.
"Only weak people threaten others through their families," Putri's voice shook, but not from fear—she was holding back her anger. "If you like Kak Alacrix, go after him. Leave me alone. I'm here to study, not play drama games."
Zea let out a cold laugh. "You've got quite a mouth on you." Zea raised her hand to slap her, but a deep voice from the dark hallway stopped everything.
"Whoa, whoa... What an interesting sight. Three against one? Very classic, Zea."
A young man approached casually, his SMA Garuda (Garuda Senior High School) uniform deliberately unbuttoned to reveal a black t-shirt underneath. His hair was slightly messy, and he wore a small earring in his left ear. He was Alfano Junior Axe—Alacrix's sworn enemy, known as the number one troublemaker at the school.
Zea lowered her hand, her face darkening. "This isn't your business, Alfano. Get out of here!"
Alfano didn't leave. Instead, he knelt in front of Putri, picked up the notebook Zea had stomped on, and calmly brushed off the dust. "Anything involving Alacrix is my business. And this girl... she seems to be Alacrix's new 'property,' doesn't she?"
Alfano gave Putri a mischievous grin that made her uncomfortable. "What's your name, beautiful? Putriyana?"
Putri snatched her notebook back from him. "It's none of your business!"
"Feisty too," Alfano muttered as he stood up. He looked at Zea with a scornful expression. "Zea, you'd better leave before Alacrix walks by and sees this 'demon' side of you. I don't care, but he'll only hate you more for it."
Zea hissed in frustration. "Watch your back, Putri. This isn't over!" Zea and her gang stormed off with heavy footsteps.
Only Putri and Alfano remained in the dimming hallway. Putri quickly gathered her things, ready to run.
"Hey, wait," Alfano called out. Putri stopped but didn't turn around. "My advice—stay away from Alacrix. He's not as angelic as you think. Getting close to him will only destroy your life."
"Why would you say that?" Putri asked, confused.
"Because anything Alacrix cares about... usually ends up as my target," Alfano said in a cold, cutting tone.
Putri shuddered and ran off without another word. In the parking lot, she bumped into Alacrix—who seemed to be looking for her.
"Putri! Why are you leaving so late? And... why is your hair messy?" Alacrix stepped closer, his face filled with worry.
Putri thought of Zea's threats and Alfano's warning. She felt trapped between two powerful forces that could destroy her at any moment.
"I'm fine, Kak. Please... starting tomorrow, don't look for me at school anymore," Putri whispered softly before running toward the school gate, leaving Alacrix standing frozen with a clenched jaw.