Morning light slipped through the curtains of Yemir’s apartment.
Irin was already awake.
She had started her morning by following the routine she had learned to keep close to her religious faith. After finishing, she walked toward the kitchen with her white cane.
Two plates were already on the table.
She carefully positioned them side by side.
One for herself.
One for Yemir.
She opened a packet of bread and placed several slices onto a plate. Then she found the butter and strawberry jelly.
A small smile appeared on her face.
She had decided to prepare breakfast before Yemir woke up.
Then she heard it.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Yemir’s alarm.
Irin turned toward the sound.
A few seconds later, the alarm stopped.
Then another one started.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Irin shook her head.
"Again?"
She walked toward Yemir’s room and knocked.
"Yemir?"
No answer.
She knocked again.
"Yemir, wake up."
Inside the room, Yemir blindly reached toward the alarm.
His hand missed.
His foot found it instead.
Clack!
The alarm fell from the bedside table.
Irin covered a smile with her fingers.
"Yemir?"
Still nothing.
She knocked once more.
"Your college time has started."
The door opened.
Yemir stood there with his eyes almost completely closed.
"Who is it, Lina Mom?"
Irin smiled.
"Hey, child. It’s time for college."
Yemir opened his eyes.
"Huh?"
He stared at her.
"Irin?"
His hand immediately went over his mouth.
"What?"
Irin tilted her head.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Yemir scratched his hair.
"It’s just..."
He looked around awkwardly.
"I’ve never had another woman staying in this apartment except Lina Mom."
Irin smiled.
"So?"
"So..."
Yemir rubbed the back of his neck.
"It’s strange."
"Then you’ll get used to it."
She turned toward the kitchen.
"Breakfast is ready."
Yemir stared after her.
"Breakfast?"
He suddenly remembered something.
His eyes widened.
"Oh no."
He rushed toward the bathroom.
He switched on the light and looked into the mirror.
His expression changed.
"Wait..."
He stared at his reflection.
"So that means last night..."
He covered his face.
"I completely forgot."
He hurried out of the bathroom.
His eyes went straight toward the kitchen table.
Two plates.
A covered dish.
A packet of bread.
And beside it, several things that hadn’t been there the night before.
Yemir walked quickly toward the refrigerator.
He entered a password into a small lock on one of the lower drawers.
Click.
The drawer opened.
He checked inside.
Everything was still there.
He closed it immediately.
"Good..."
A relieved smile appeared on his face.
He glanced toward Irin.
She was sitting at the table, spreading jelly over a slice of bread.
Then she added butter.
A few grains of sugar followed.
Yemir stared at her hands.
"You’re making breakfast?"
"I’m trying."
She picked up another slice.
"Since I’m living here, I should do something."
Yemir went to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of red berry juice.
He poured some into a glass.
"Don’t worry about it."
Irin continued spreading the butter.
"I owe you."
"You think making breakfast will reduce your debt?"
She smiled.
"Maybe."
Yemir took a sip of his drink.
"Fine. Keep going."
Irin laughed.
"Okay."
Yemir sat down.
He picked up one of the buttered slices.
He took a bite.
His expression froze.
Irin turned toward him.
"How is it?"
Yemir’s eyes squeezed shut.
He swallowed with effort.
"Wonderful."
"Really?"
"Absolutely."
Irin smiled.
"You sound strange."
"It’s delicious."
He quickly pushed the plate away.
Irin reached for another slice.
Yemir stood.
"I’ll be late."
"So soon?"
"College."
He grabbed his bag.
"Irin, I’ll see you later."
"Bye."
"see you"
Yemir opened his umbrella and hurried out.
The door closed.
Irin waited a few seconds.
Then she picked up one of the buttered slices.
She took a bite.
Her expression changed instantly.
She rushed to the sink and rinsed her mouth with water.
"Salt..."
She touched her lips.
"That was salt."
She slowly turned her face toward the door.
"Did Yemir do that on purpose?"
A little smile appeared.
"That would be embarrassing."
She shook her head.
"Maybe I’m imagining things."
Outside, Yemir walked down the street beneath his umbrella.
A tiny smile sat on his face.
By the time Yemir reached college, the morning crowd had already filled the corridors.
He folded his umbrella before entering the classroom.
The moment he stepped inside, several conversations changed direction.
A few girls glanced toward him.
One whispered something to another.
Yemir ignored them and walked toward his usual seat.
Vini spotted him first.
"Yemir!"
Yemir looked over.
Vini waved him over.
Casia was sitting nearby.
"You’re late," Vini said.
"By two minutes."
"Still late."
Casia smiled.
"You look tired."
"I’m fine."
Vini leaned closer.
"Did you see the news?"
Yemir sat down.
"What news?"
Karin approached from the side.
"He means the Hevix incident."
Yemir looked at him.
Karin pulled out his phone.
"There’s another report about it."
Yemir took the phone and read the headline.
The Hevix investigation was still developing. The authorities were examining the connection between the illegal substance, the Vortex incident, and the mysterious figure known as Unknown Z.
Yemir’s expression became serious.
"Still nothing about who was behind it?"
Karin shook his head.
"No."
Yemir handed the phone back.
"And the explosions?"
Karin looked at him.
"That story is getting bigger too."
Yemir’s fingers stopped moving.
"Three suspects were caught at one location."
"Yeah."
Karin lowered his voice.
"And there’s something else."
"What?"
"People are starting to connect everything to Unknown Z."
Yemir looked toward the classroom window.
His mind returned to the café.
The strange device.
The police.
The three suspects.
And the red-eyed figure he had pretended not to know anything about.
Karin watched his face.
"You’re thinking about something."
"No."
"You’re terrible at lying."
Before Yemir could answer, the classroom door opened.
Their teacher entered.
Everyone quickly returned to their seats.
"Good morning, Ma’am."
"Good morning."
The room settled.
But only for a moment.
The door opened again.
A young man stepped inside.
He carried a school bag over one shoulder.
The teacher looked at him.
"You must be the transfer student."
"Yes, Ma’am."
"Introduce yourself."
The boy looked around the classroom.
"My name is Vion."
Several students immediately started whispering.
"Vion?"
"He looks troublesome."
"Maybe he’s from another college."
Joly leaned toward Casia.
"That guy looks like a troublemaker."
Casia glanced at Vion.
Joly continued.
"But boys like that can be very loyal."
Casia suddenly looked toward Yemir.
Joly noticed.
"Hey. Are you even listening to me?"
Casia blinked.
"What?"
"I said the new guy."
"Which guy?"
Joly stared at her.
"The one standing there."
Casia looked at Yemir again.
"He’s talking about Vion."
Then she smiled.
"Yemir?"
Joly sighed.
"Who else?"
Casia placed both hands against her cheeks.
"He looks like an angel who just fell from heaven."
Joly raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. It would be even better if he fell into your lap."
Casia’s face turned red.
"Stop!"
"You could become a goddess and send him back."
"Why are you saying these things?"
Casia covered her face.
Yemir looked toward them.
"What happened?"
"Nothing!"
Joly laughed.
Across the room, Vion glanced toward Yemir.
He kept looking for a few seconds.
Karin noticed.
His expression changed.
"That guy looks like he’s planning something."
Yemir looked at Vion.
"Why?"
"He keeps looking this way."
Vion looked away.
The teacher tapped the desk.
"Everyone, settle down."
The class roll began.
Names were called one after another.
When Vion’s name was announced, he answered calmly.
"Present."
The teacher nodded.
After completing the roll, she turned toward the board.
"Today we’ll continue from yesterday’s lesson."
Everyone opened their books.
At the back of the classroom, Vion sat quietly.
His eyes moved once more toward Yemir.
Karin noticed.
Yemir didn’t.
Elsewhere in Dosha City, a large warehouse had been cleared for a private gathering.
Several men stood in rows.
Most of them belonged to smaller criminal groups connected to Dongo’s network.
Among them stood Zero.
He kept looking around.
Something about the gathering felt unusual.
Dongo stood at the front.
Fizo was beside him.
Behind them were several large boxes filled with clothing.
Dongo picked up a bundle and handed it to one of the men.
"Take it."
The man accepted it.
"Thank you, Sir."
Another bundle followed.
Then another.
Zero watched in confusion.
Dongo was giving them clothes.
Free.
No demand.
No immediate order.
That alone made Zero suspicious.
He glanced at Fizo.
Fizo said nothing.
Dongo finally looked at the group.
"You’re wondering why I called you here."
Nobody answered.
Dongo walked a few steps forward.
"Don’t."
His voice was calm.
"From today onward, you don’t need to be afraid of standing alone."
Several men exchanged looks.
Dongo continued.
"You work under my protection."
Zero’s eyebrows lifted.
Something is happening.
Dongo walked toward him.
Zero straightened.
Dongo placed a hand lightly on his shoulder.
"I thought you people were growing."
Zero forced a smile.
"So you wanted to meet us?"
"Exactly."
Zero nodded quickly.
"It’s an honor, Boss."
A few others followed him.
"Of course, Boss."
"We’ll work harder."
Dongo smiled.
"Good."
He turned toward Fizo.
"Don’t let these people leave without feeding them."
Fizo nodded.
"Understood."
Dongo looked back at the group.
"Make sure they eat beef kala bhuna."
The men exchanged surprised looks.
Zero laughed awkwardly.
"Boss, you really take care of your people."
Dongo gave him a brief look.
"Work hard."
"Yes, Boss."
Dongo turned away.
He walked several steps before stopping.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Will Unknown Z stop now?
His left-eye device lit up.
Another news report appeared.
UNKNOWN Z LINKED TO MULTIPLE RECENT INCIDENTS.
Dongo read it without blinking.
His smile remained.
"Of course he won’t."
He touched the side of his device.
"That’s why Plan B exists."