Chapter 4 – The Truth Revealed | Part B

Inside Frans’s car, gliding steadily along the quiet night road, the city lights danced across the windows. Kaivan sat in the front, lost in thought, while Felicia and Thivi sat in the back—one on the left, the other on the right, like two poles guarding his silence. Above them, a sky full of stars watched from afar.

In Kaivan’s mind, the hum of the night was replaced by the echo of the Tome Omnicent’s earlier words: “You will play Truth or Truth tonight, and you will tell your friends about me, to build trust.” The words lingered like a prophecy fulfilled. He realized—he was no longer just following, but choosing to believe this was his path.

Felicia watched Kaivan’s reflection in the windshield. She could sense it—something stirring beneath his calm face. In a low but piercing voice, she asked, “Kaivan, what are you thinking about? You seem… far away.”

Kaivan startled slightly, drawing in a slow breath. “My mother,” he said. “I’m not sure how to convince her to let you stay the night.”

A small laugh burst from the right. “Oh, that? Leave it to me. I’m an expert at future in-law diplomacy,” Thivi teased, nudging Felicia with a grin.

Felicia exhaled softly, the hint of a smile on her lips. “I doubt it’ll be that simple, but… we’ll figure it out together.”

The night welcomed them with the scent of damp leaves. Frans’s car stopped in front of Kaivan’s home—simple, warm, like a soul too restless to sleep. Kaivan stepped out first, his gaze fixed on the house that held history and secrets. Felicia followed, her stride firm, eyes sharp. Thivi was last, light as a shadow, her short hair catching the breeze.

They stood at the door, facing not just a house but a new chapter pressing at their hearts.

“This is it,” Kaivan murmured, his voice nearly lost to the night wind. He stood before the door, hand resting on the knob, yet hesitating to turn it. He looked back, meeting Felicia and Thivi’s eyes with a faint smile. “Wait here for a moment. I need to talk to my mom first.”

Felicia nodded, her arms folded—silent but resolute. Thivi gave a light smile. “Alright, we’ll wait,” she said cheerfully.

Kaivan drew a deep breath. The door creaked open softly, like a new act sliding in, then shut again, leaving Felicia and Thivi beneath the starry sky.

Inside, warmth greeted him. The soft glow of the living room lamp eased the air. His mother sat on the sofa with a cup of tea in her hands, her face kind yet cautious.

“Kaivan? What is it, dear?” she asked gently, her voice like an invisible embrace.

Kaivan stepped forward slowly, sitting before her. “Mom, two of my friends want to stay over tonight. They’ve stayed before, last week. Teh Kira already knows them.”

His mother frowned lightly, though her smile remained. “Are your friends boys?”

Before Kaivan could answer, the front door opened again. Teh Kira had come home. She spotted Felicia and Thivi outside and called, “Hey, why are you two standing there? Come in already.”

Thivi laughed. “We’re waiting for Kaivan. He said he needed to talk to his mom first.”

Felicia nodded softly. “We didn’t want to intrude.”

Kira shook her head, chuckling. She pulled them inside with a playful grin. “Oh, come on, it’s late. Don’t stand out there.”

Together they entered, light footsteps filling the small space. Kaivan’s mother rose, welcoming the two girls with a warm smile.

The modest living room, lit with gentle light, became their stage. What had begun as a peaceful night shifted subtly—into light comedy, perhaps a touch of drama, but also something tender, waiting to seep in from behind the warmth of that home.

The first conversations flowed lightly. Kaivan’s mother served tea, polite questions and warm greetings filling the room. Teh Kira sprawled on the sofa, laughter bubbling easily.

“Kaivan, really? You made these girls wait outside? Shouldn’t you have let them in right away?” she teased, chuckling.

Laughter rippled through the room, though Kaivan only smiled stiffly. Felicia and Thivi exchanged small glances, their soft smiles concealing the awkwardness creeping in.

But the laughter soon faded. Kaivan’s mother turned, her gaze sharp. “Kira, who are they? I’ve never seen them before.”

Kira set down her cup with a deliberate clink. Her grin turned mischievous. “Oh, these? They’re Kaivan’s girlfriends, Mom. They stayed last week too. The ones I told you about.”

The words exploded like a bomb. Kaivan held his breath. Felicia twirled a strand of her hair, while Thivi lowered her head, cheeks flushed.

His mother looked up, her eyes narrowing. “So these are the ones? But Kaivan… which one is your girlfriend? Both of them?”

The room froze. Felicia turned slowly, her eyes burning. Thivi gripped her skirt tightly.

“They’re not my girlfriends, Mom,” Kaivan finally said. His voice was calm, but heavy. “Kira was just joking.”

However, Felicia did not yield. She crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "A friend? Do you remember the promise you made at the old mall? You said you would always be there for me. And I... I swore the same for you. Was all of that just empty words?"

Kaivan froze. The memory of that night at the abandoned mall surged back, crashing into him like a cold wave. Felicia crying, pounding her fists against his chest as he held her trembling form. Their whispered promise in the dark: to protect each other, to stay by each other’s side. And yet, now, that vow stabbed like a thorn lodged deep in his chest.

Before he could answer, Thivi’s gentle voice broke the silence. "Kaivan..." Her tone was almost a whisper. "Did you forget our first night? When you said we’d always be together?"

Kaivan turned. Thivi’s eyes were glistening, but he knew the truth buried beneath her words—that night had been nothing more than smoke and fleeting warmth, not a true vow. Yet Thivi wished for something more than what had ever been promised.

"Was all of that just a joke?" she asked, her fragile smile falling apart.

Felicia sat upright, her burning eyes unwavering. "I never asked for much, Kaivan. Just honesty. But you ran away from your own words. You betrayed the promise you made."

Two gazes now bore into him: Felicia’s silent fury, and Thivi’s wounded yearning. Kaivan could not move. His body felt shackled by a choice he had never wished to face.

Then, his mother spoke. Her voice was soft, yet her words carried weight like judgment. "Kaivan, you are a man. Responsibility is not something you can choose to ignore. A promise is not a joke. Feelings are not toys."

Kaivan lowered his head. His mother’s words struck heavier than any hammer. Felicia and Thivi still stared at him, waiting for an answer that refused to come.

Kira tried to lighten the mood, her laughter thin and awkward. "Wow, Kaivan... this is like watching a K-drama. Who would’ve thought you’d be chased by two girls at once?"

Her laughter hung in the air, but it only made the silence more uncomfortable. Felicia and Thivi exchanged a glance, and for the first time that night, they agreed on something: Kira was not helping.

"Why is it turning out like this?" Kaivan muttered, scratching his head nervously. Across from him, his mother sat with calm composure, studying Thivi and Felicia as if reading their hearts. Thivi tried to mask her nervousness with a wide grin, while Felicia clutched her teacup tightly, hiding the storm burning behind her steady gaze.

"So, you two want to stay here tonight?" his mother asked gently, though her eyes gleamed with quiet sharpness. Her gaze shifted between the girls, weighing their intentions with the keen instinct of a mother who had long learned to see through people.

Thivi smiled shyly, brushing back her short hair, slightly disheveled. "Y-Yes, Ma’am. If that’s alright. We just thought... it would be safer than going home so late." Her voice was soft but carried a trembling kind of courage.

Felicia placed her cup down with deliberate calm, then met the older woman’s eyes. "We don’t want to trouble you, Ma’am. But if you allow it, we would be very grateful." Her voice was low, but firm. She folded her hands neatly on the table, her sincerity shining through without effort.

Kaivan’s mother responded with a faint smile, her eyes filled with understanding far deeper than her words. "Of course. You can both stay in Kaivan’s room. Kaivan will sleep in the living room."

"What?" Kaivan nearly choked. "Wait, Mom, why my room—"

"Thank you so much, Ma’am! You’re so kind!" Thivi cut him off eagerly, her face lighting up like a child given a treasured gift.

Felicia bowed slightly, her hands brushing over the mother’s in a light, respectful gesture. "Thank you, Ma’am. Your kindness means a lot to us." Her touch was soft, her sincerity warm enough to bring a gentler smile to the older woman’s face.

Kaivan could only sigh deeply. He knew resisting his mother’s decision would be pointless. But inside, an awkward unease grew heavier. He had never been used to this kind of attention—especially from two girls so different in heart, yet both undeniably close to him.

Late at night, on a rooftop wrapped in silence, Kaivan sat alone, a cigarette glowing faintly between his fingers. The smoke drifted upward, dissolving into the cold night air. Above him, the sky stretched wide, stars flickering as if quietly watching the turmoil inside his heart.

“Why does everything have to be this complicated?” he muttered. Sudden meetings, delayed confessions, and the two girls now in his life—it all felt like a puzzle he had never asked for.

---

Dawn slipped gently into the house, brushing light across the corners. From the kitchen, Teteh Kira’s voice rang like a morning bell. “Wake up, we need to get ready.” Her presence carried a quiet calm that filled the air.

Felicia stirred, rolling over lazily before opening her sleepy eyes. Thivi was already sitting up, her hair messy but her smile blooming like the morning sun. She stretched, let out a long sigh, and padded softly toward the living room.

Kaivan was still asleep, resting peacefully on the sofa. Thivi approached with careful steps, lowering her finger until it brushed gently against his lips—like dew touching the tip of a leaf. “Kaivan, it’s morning… wake up,” she whispered, her voice almost a song.

Kaivan’s eyes flickered open, surprise glimmering faintly. Their faces were so close, only a breath apart. For a moment, their gazes locked in silence, and even time seemed to pause.

“Uh… sorry,” Thivi stammered, pulling back quickly, her cheeks warming as she tried to hide the racing of her heart with an awkward smile.

Kaivan rubbed his face, exhaling softly. “It’s fine. Thanks for waking me,” he murmured, rising and running his fingers through his hair.

In the dining room, the morning scent of food spread warmly. Felicia and Teteh Kira busied themselves with breakfast, while Kaivan’s mother sat at the end of the table, watching them with calm, tender eyes. When Thivi joined, her lively smile seemed to brighten the whole room, weaving hope into the quiet start of the day.

The morning greeted them with stillness, heavy yet serene. Felicia poured tea, the rising steam drawing pale shapes into the air. “We should head out early. There’s still a lot to do at the workshop,” she said softly, her words carrying the weight of a prayer for the long day ahead.

Kaivan entered, fingers tapping swiftly across his phone. His expression was sharp, as if he were planning for war. “Frans, come to my house. Drive Felicia and Thivi to the workshop first,” he ordered through the call.

His mother looked at him, half amused, half concerned. “Still in high school, yet busier than a minister,” she teased, though her eyes lingered with worry.

Felicia gave a small smile. “We’re working on a project, Mom. There are six of us on the team now.”

“Yeah, and it’s super fun!” Thivi chimed in, her eyes sparkling.

That warmth seemed enough to reassure Kaivan’s mother. She didn’t fully understand, but she chose to trust.

Not long after, Frans arrived. “Morning! Let’s go, team of dreamers!” he called out cheerfully from the driver’s seat.

Felicia and Thivi stepped outside, ready to leave. But before they could enter the car, Kaivan appeared. His stride was steady, yet the weight of authority pressed around him.

“Felicia, let’s go now.”

“Yes, Kaivan!” Felicia replied brightly, but her steps faltered when he added—

“I’ll follow on my bike. You all go ahead first.”

Thivi tilted her head, suspicious. “Where are you going, Kaivan?”

He only smiled faintly. “Something I need to take care of. Don’t worry.”

No further explanation. Just a smile that held secrets. The engine roared, tearing through the quiet morning. He slipped on his helmet, lifted his gaze briefly to the sky, and drew a deep breath. The first twist of the throttle marked not only his departure, but also the beginning of a choice he could never turn back from.

Behind him, Thivi and Felicia stood watching. Though curiosity burned in their hearts, both girls chose to trust Kaivan’s decision. Thivi forced a small smile, raising her hand in a faint wave. “Don’t take too long, okay?” she said lightly, though her eyes betrayed a trace of unease.

Kaivan turned back, offering a thin but genuine smile. “I won’t. I promise.”

Felicia, arms folded, looked at him for a moment before turning toward the waiting car. She gave a short nod, silent yet filled with concern. Frans, already behind the wheel, waved casually at Kaivan. “We’ll head off first, bro. Don’t forget to swing by the workshop later.”

Kaivan merely nodded, his gaze shifting back to the road ahead. The car slowly pulled away, carrying Felicia and Thivi toward the workshop where they usually spent their days. Meanwhile, Kaivan eased the throttle on his motorbike, the morning wind tugging at the strands of hair escaping from beneath his helmet. His destination was clear: a luxurious home in the northern district, where an old woman resided.

Amidst the city’s pulse…

The city thrived even in the early hours. Towering buildings scraped the sky, streets buzzed with the steady flow of traffic, and people hurried about their lives. Yet beneath the surface, something strange lingered, an undercurrent out of place. Inside an upscale café downtown, two sharply dressed men sat across from each other at a polished marble table. The dim light danced across their cups of dark coffee.

“Hey, have you heard the rumors?” asked one of them, a man in a black suit with a sharp face and cautious demeanor. His voice was low, weighted, as if carrying a heavy secret. He set his spoon aside and fixed his companion with a serious gaze.

The other, a man with a thin mustache and wary eyes, raised a brow. “What do you mean?” he asked curtly, though the intrigue in his tone was undeniable.

The man in black leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice despite the lack of nearby listeners. “Lately, some high school kids have been selling gold… and in amounts that make no sense.”

The mustached man narrowed his eyes, his brow furrowing. “You’re joking. High school kids? How much are we talking?”

“Enough that they’ve been unloading dozens of grams in just a few days,” the man in black replied, eyes narrowing as though studying his companion’s reaction. He stirred his coffee slowly, letting its bitter scent seep into the air.

The mustached man exhaled heavily, leaning back into his chair, his hand tightening around the cup. “If that’s true, then this is a serious problem. Gold isn’t something that moves around casually. If it’s stolen…”

“…then we’re looking at fencing,” the man in black cut in, folding his arms as his gaze stayed sharp. “I think we need to dig deeper.”

The mustached man gave a slow nod, his face turning grave. He set his cup down and touched his chin thoughtfully. “If kids are involved, then there’s someone pulling the strings. And if there’s someone behind them… we need to find out who.”

Silence lingered, the café’s background chatter filling the gap. Tension thickened in the air, as if their world was on the verge of a shift.

In a glittering city hiding secrets within its lights, whispers of high schoolers selling gold spread swiftly, like embers caught by the wind. From dark alleys to corridors of power, rumors hardened into official reports.

Inside a grand office glowing with crystal light, a city official sat upright, his silhouette framed by the chandelier’s glow. An aide approached, holding a thin folder heavy with implication.

“Sir,” the aide spoke cautiously, breaking the stillness. “There’s an urgent matter.”

The official’s gaze sharpened. “Speak.”

“We’ve detected high school students selling gold—large amounts, repeatedly. No clear source. No theft reports, but the volume is troubling.”

The official leaned back, fingers interlacing. “Where are they getting it? Is this the start of a new shadow market?”

“No leads yet, sir. But these aren’t small trades. Over ten transactions in a single week.”

The room sank into silence. The chandelier swayed faintly under the hum of the air conditioning, shadows stretching like threats.

“This isn’t ordinary crime,” the official murmured. “If this gold has no origin, it could shatter the market’s credibility. And if students are involved… someone is pulling strings from the dark.”

“Your orders, sir?”

The official drew a long breath. “Send investigators. No uniforms. Quietly. This cannot leak until we have the truth. Find the source of the gold. Find who planted this idea in their ears.”

The aide nodded. In the thickening silence, one truth hung heavy in the air: this threat ran deeper than it appeared.