The bell rang—sharp and sudden.
Students poured out of the university gates, laughter and noise filling the air. Leo was about to step forward when he noticed someone standing slightly apart from the crowd.
A man.
Average height. Dark jacket. A forgettable face—almost too forgettable.
The man walked straight towards Leo, stopped, and silently handed him an envelope.
Before Leo could ask anything, the man turned and disappeared into the moving sea of students.
Leo frowned.
He opened the letter.
Dear Leo,
I am a friend of yours.
You do not know me—but I know you.This must remain a secret. Only between us.
Have you ever wondered why the bullet stopped right in front of your head…?
And tell me—is he really dead?
I want to meet you.
Go to the university with them today.But when you return, come alone.
8:00 p.m.Abandoned power plant—near the forest and the sea.
I hope you will come.
Leo's fingers tightened around the paper.
The bullet…That day…
He folded the letter slowly and slipped it into his bag.
No one noticed.
Together, they went to school.
At School
The first period was Mathematics.
Leo sat on the last bench beside the window. Sunlight spilled across the desk, dust particles floating lazily in the air. Outside, the leaves were already turning yellow—autumn arriving quietly.
He opened his notebook.
Trigonometry.
Numbers. Angles. Ratios.
Normally, this was easy.
Today—nothing made sense.
His eyes drifted towards Anny.
She sat two rows ahead, silent, staring at an empty bench.
Laura's bench.
Her fingers were clenched. Her shoulders were stiff. She had not spoken since morning.
Leo tried to focus again.
Sin… cos…
His chest felt tight.
Finally, he turned to a blank page and began to draw—slow, careful strokes. An autumn valley. Trees shedding their leaves. A quiet river. No people.
Peace.
Then—
"You there."
Leo froze.
Ma'am: "Last bench. Beside the window."
He stood up.
Ma'am: "Ohh, Leo… alright then. Tell me—what is sin(90° − θ)?"
The class turned towards him.
Leo hesitated.
Leo: "Uh… sin… equals… cosθ."
A few whispers followed.
Ma'am: "Correct. Why?"
Silence.
Leo took a breath.
Leo: "Ma'am… angles do not exist on their own. They describe orientation. In a right-angled triangle, sine and cosine are not different quantities—they are the same ratio, observed from perpendicular directions. When θ becomes (90° − θ), the reference axis shifts. The side that was adjacent becomes opposite, while the hypotenuse remains constant. So sin(90° − θ) represents the same value as cosθ."
The classroom went silent.
Even Anny turned back.
Ma'am(after a pause, nodding):"Yes. You are right. I explained it in a different way… but your reasoning is correct. Good. Still—try to listen in class, Leo."
Leo sat down.
His hand trembled slightly as he returned to the drawing.
Lunch Break
The bell rang.
Leo walked towards Anny.
She did not look up.
Leo: "It has been two years already… since we lost her."
Anny swallowed.
Anny: "I am trying to forget… but it is not easy."
Leo: "Then do not forget."
She looked at him, confused.
Leo: "My little brother Lig always says—do not fight pain. Do not erase it. Turn it into fuel… and use it the right way."
Anny's eyes softened.
Anny: "That sounds like him."
Leo: "It takes time. I know. But I also know—you will get through this."
She nodded slowly.
Anny: "…Okay. No more past."
Leo: "As you say, my boss."
She almost smiled.
Anny: "Stop teasing."
Leo: "Sorry."
Mira suddenly appeared, surrounded by friends.
Mira: "Hey! Last day before summer—canteen party!"
They laughed. Ate. Talked about nothing important.
For a brief moment—
Life felt normal.
5:00 p.m. – End of Classes
The final bell rang.
Students rushed out, making plans—trips, holidays, freedom.
Anny, Leo, Mira, Nemo, and Nanny stood together, excitedly talking about a beach trip.
Leo: "No problem. I will tell my brother. He will handle everything."
Others: "That's perfect!""Beach party confirmed!"
As they walked—
Leo: "Uh… Anny, Mira—you both go ahead. I forgot something important."
Anny: "Okay. Be safe."
Mira: "Come home early."
They walked away.
Leo stayed behind.
The sky slowly turned orange.
Then—
A voice. Deep. Familiar.
"Leo… do not be afraid. Be brave, always. And do not go there, my dearest brother."
Leo turned sharply.
Nothing.
His heart raced.
Was that…?
6:30 p.m.
The Calm
Leo walked into a café.
THE WOW MIRO CAFÉ.
Warm lights. Soft music.
A cappuccino, he thought.
He sat near the window.
Minutes passed. Then an hour.
The letter burned inside his bag.
Bill: ₹100.
6:50 p.m.
He headed to the metro station.
Ticket to Kolonga: ₹60.
7:25 p.m.
He stepped onto the beach.
The sea stretched endlessly. Waves whispered secrets. Cool wind brushed his face. The scent of tuberose lingered in the air.
Beautiful.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Something moved behind him.
Darkness swallowed everything.
Captured
Pain.
Cold.
Leo's eyes snapped open.
His hands were tied behind his back. The rope cut into his skin. A napkin was tied across his mouth.
Dim lights flickered.
An old man stood before him.
Calm. Smiling.
Old Man: "Leo… what an honour. I am Makoto."
A man stepped forward and removed the napkin.
Leo: "What do you want from me?"
Makoto tilted his head slightly.
The lights switched on.
Leo's breath stopped.
Anny. Mira.
Unconscious.
Their arms were tied above their heads, ropes pulling them upward. Two men stood beside them, iron rods resting casually in their hands. Further back—two more men. Guns.
Leo: "Why are Anny and Mira here?!"
Makoto: "A small revenge. And a lesson."
Leo: "If you touch them and I—"
Makoto: "Finish that sentence… and my men will swing."
A bucket of water was thrown.
Anny gasped. Mira coughed.
They woke up.
Fear filled their eyes.
Makoto: "So… shall we begin? Time is very limited."
Leo's heart screamed.
His fists clenched.
You will be—
[Narrator: What will happen next?]