Amir didn't go back.
That was the strange part.
The note had been clear. The picture. The timing. Everything about it screamed don't go back. Because curiosity always killed the cat—and Amir could feel that truth clawing at the back of his mind.
The phrase replayed endlessly as he lay awake, staring at the ceiling. His room felt unnaturally quiet, as if the walls themselves were listening. His thoughts, however, were deafening. He didn't go back that night. Not then. But he told himself he would go in the morning.
Morning came far too quickly. Sleep had barely touched him. His heart raced before his alarm even rang, his body tense as if it had already made a decision without him. By the time the alarm finally sounded, Amir was already dressed, uniform neat, backpack packed.
Assembly could wait.
The art studio couldn't.
The hallway was empty when he reached the studio. The door wasn't locked.
Amir froze.
Why wasn't it locked?
Slowly, he pushed it open. The familiar scent of paint, turpentine, and canvas rushed toward him, wrapping around his senses. Morning light streamed through the tall windows, stretching long shadows across the floor.
At the center table sat a plain white envelope.
Waiting.
Amir stepped closer. His fingers hovered over it—
"Hey."
The voice sliced through the silence.
He spun around.
A girl stepped forward, a boy right behind her. They looked alike—too alike. Twins. They smiled easily, casually, like nothing was wrong, like this wasn't terrifying.
"Nice to finally meet you," the girl said, extending her hand.
Amir didn't take it. He stared at her hand, then her face, then both of them.
"No problem," she said lightly, pulling her hand back and high-fiving herself. "Not bad, though."
"…Who are you?" Amir asked.
They sat down as if invited.
"Brother," the girl said cheerfully, "what are we eating today?"
"Whatever you want, princess," the boy replied.
Then he looked at Amir.
"What about you? What do you want to eat?"
Amir stared at them like they'd lost their minds.
Before he could respond, the girl pulled out a bag, set food on the table, and began eating. She fed her brother first, then offered some to Amir.
He didn't move.
"Ooh," she said, amused. "Feisty cat. Real cool, though."
Amir clenched his fists. His pulse thundered in his ears.
"Please," he said tightly, "can we skip whatever performance this is and get to the point?"
The boy exhaled slowly.
"Fair."
He straightened.
"I'm Janan. This is my twin sister, Ja-in."
"So you're the ones who sent me the anonymous message?" Amir asked.
"Bingo," Ja-in said brightly.
"Why?" Amir demanded. "Why me?"
Janan's smile softened, something worried slipping into his eyes.
"Because school hasn't been normal for you lately."
Amir stiffened.
"How do you know that?"
Ja-in leaned against the table, chin resting in her palm.
"Crazy stuff happens when you pay attention."
She laughed suddenly.
"Honestly, your face right now is priceless."
"Actually," Janan added, "I'm Matteo's roommate."
The name hit Amir like a punch to the chest.
"…Okay," Amir said flatly. "And what am I supposed to do with that?"
Janan ignored him, glancing at his sister instead.
"Well," Ja-in shrugged, "that's a good thing."
Amir ran a hand through his hair.
"Please. Just get to the point."
Janan nodded.
"You've heard of CC Corporation, right? The president has been making your lives miserable. Sending people. Distractions. A teacher—Mr. Kenda."
Amir's eyes widened.
"Mr. Kenda?"
"And Romeo," Ja-in added.
"Who?"
"The orange-haired guy with tattoos. Fake. Just another distraction."
Amir's stomach dropped.
"Relax," Janan said. "Here's the truth. CC Corporation's president is Matteo's father."
The world tilted.
Amir couldn't speak. He just listened as the pieces shattered around him.
"Matteo hates his father," Ja-in continued. "That's not new—everyone around them knows. His mother left when he was four. Things have never been… good."
Janan leaned forward.
"His father wants him back. And the only way in is through the people Matteo cares about now. You. Your friends. Especially Maliya."
Amir swallowed.
"Is there a way Matteo doesn't have to go back? If he doesn't want to?"
The twins' expressions changed instantly.
"No," Ja-in said softly.
Janan shook his head.
"It's best you don't interfere. His father isn't patient. When he's angry… it gets bad."
They stood.
"That's all we can tell you," Ja-in said.
"Goodbye, cutie."
The door slammed behind them.
Silence swallowed the room.
Amir reached for the envelope.
Inside were photos—Matteo with his father, his mother, his aunt. Every stage of his life. Amir's hands shook violently. He shoved the photos back inside and fled.
----------
Assembly was already over.
"I'm sick," Amir told the teacher.
Concern flickered across the teacher's face before she sent him to the sick bay.
By lunch, his friends found him.
"Since when are you sick?" Leo asked, checking his forehead.
"Don't scare us like that," Khadija added.
Amir stood suddenly.
Without warning, he punched Matteo.
Gasps erupted.
"Bro—what the hell?" Matteo shouted.
They nearly fought before Leo restrained Amir. Amir yanked the envelope from his bag and threw it at Matteo.
Photos scattered across the floor.
Everyone picked them up—and froze.
"That's him," Khadija whispered. "That's the man."
Matteo's face drained of color.
"I can explain," he said desperately.
"Explain what?" Amir shouted. "That you lied to us? That all this is your fault?"
Silence followed.
Finally, Matteo spoke.
"That's my father. I hate him. We lived in Italy. Everything fell apart when his business crashed. He got greedy. Illegal. Dangerous. My mother tried to take me with her, but my father's influence was too strong—she lost the fight. I stayed. He trained me. Controlled me. I left when I was fifteen. My aunt took me in. She moved me here. I'm sorry. I never meant to hide it."
Leo's eyes burned.
"So everything… your father?"
Matteo couldn't answer.
"He probably didn't know how to tell us," Khadija said gently.
"But you should've told us," Maliya said. "We're family."
Matteo's temper flared.
"You don't get to say that when you hide things too."
The slap echoed.
Maliya slapped him—hard.
She then stormed out. The others followed.
Matteo was left alone, barely holding himself together.
At dinner, he approached them quietly.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I truly am."
Amir nodded.
"We've got your back."
"I'll handle my father," Matteo promised.
Khadija hesitated.
"We'll… try to trust you."
As they left, Matteo called after Maliya.
"I didn't mean what I said."
She smiled softly.
"It's fine."
They returned to their dorms.
And somewhere deep inside, Amir knew— curiosity hadn't just killed the cat.
It had opened the door to something far worse.