The scene shifted back to the college.

Adam had not come to class for two days.

At first, Monica had tried to act normal.

On the first day, she told herself that maybe Adam had some work. He had just returned to college after everything that happened. The college office had called him. He had gone somewhere for personal reasons.

But on the second day, she could not stay calm.

She sat in class and kept looking at the seat where Adam usually sat.

The seat was empty.

Every time someone entered the classroom, Monica’s eyes moved toward the door. Every time footsteps passed outside, she hoped it was him.

But Adam did not come.

She tried to focus on the lecture.

The professor was speaking, and the students around her were writing notes, but Monica’s pen stayed still for long moments. She wrote one line, then looked toward Adam’s seat again. She turned one page, then looked at the door again.

The more she tried not to think about him, the more her mind went back to him.

Monica lowered her eyes for a moment.

’Just when I felt like I had found someone I could talk to...’ Monica thought. ’He stopped coming to college again.’

That made her chest feel tight.

She had not even properly spoken to him yet.

There were so many things in her mind. Her background. Her fake life in college. Her fear that someone might know. The strange way Adam had understood something about her without needing proof.

For the first time, she had felt that maybe she could speak to someone honestly.

And now Adam was not here.

’Where are you, Adam?’ Monica thought.

She looked at his seat again.

For Monica, this had been a rare chance. She wanted to talk. She wanted to ask him how much he knew. She also wanted to tell him something about herself, even if it was only a little.

It was not easy for her to wait.

Monica was not the kind of person who could keep one question locked inside her for long. If something stayed in her mind, it pushed against her until she asked it. That was why Adam’s absence was making her more restless.

She wanted him to come back quickly.

Even during the break, she did not leave the classroom at once. She stayed in her seat for a while and looked toward the corridor. A part of her still thought Adam might suddenly appear late, carrying that tired look on his face again.

But the corridor stayed normal.

Students moved past the door. Some laughed. Some talked about assignments. None of them were Adam.

But she could not do any of that if he did not come back.

On the other side of the classroom, John sat calmly.

His face did not show worry.

But he had noticed Adam’s absence too.

For two days, Adam had not come to college. John had already tried to find out where he was. The answer he received was simple.

Adam was not in his hostel room either.

The room was locked.

That answer had made John pay more attention.

If Adam had stayed in the hostel, then it would have been easy to guess that he was hiding or resting. But an empty room meant he had moved somewhere. And if he had moved right after John pushed Aster Core, then the timing could not be ignored.

John leaned back slightly in his seat.

’So he is not hiding in the hostel.’ John thought.

His fingers rested lightly on the desk. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

’Is he working because of the strike I made against him?’ John thought.

The timing was not normal.

John had moved through his father. Aster Core would soon feel pressure. If Adam had backing from that side, then the people behind him might have called him away.

’Maybe the person backing him called him.’ John thought. ’They are briefing him about what happened.’

John still did not have confirmation.

That was the irritating part.

He did not know how much Adam knew.

’He probably knows someone framed him on purpose.’ John thought. ’But does he know it was me?’

John’s eyes moved toward the empty seat.

He could not confirm that yet.

But for planning, it was better to assume the stronger answer.

’I should move as if he knows.’ John thought. ’If he does not know, then good. If he does, I will not be behind.’

That thought made him calm.

John liked planning from the worst side first. If the worst did not happen, then the plan became easier. If it did happen, then he would not look surprised.

That was why Adam’s absence did not scare him.

It only made him more careful.

And right now, he had another reason to stay relaxed.

His father had already taken the matter.

Aster Core’s bad days had started.

’Soon, that company will close.’ John thought.

His eyes became colder for a moment.

Then he looked forward like nothing had happened.

Monica was still not calm.

She looked at Adam’s seat again and pressed her lips together.

’If he does not come for another two days, should I go to his hostel?’ Monica thought.

The thought came quickly, but she stopped herself.

She remembered Adam’s face from the last time they spoke. He had looked tired. He had looked like someone carrying too much pressure already.

’If I go to him only to talk about my stress, is that right?’ Monica thought.

She slowly lowered her head.

She wanted to tell him everything.

But that was selfish.

Adam had his own problems too.

’I should also help reduce his stress.’ Monica thought. ’It is selfish if I only give him my stress and do nothing about his.’

That thought surprised her a little.

Until now, she had only been thinking about what she wanted from him. But Adam had looked tired too, and she could not ignore that anymore.

She looked at Adam’s empty seat one last time.

That thought stayed in her mind.