"Do you think his secret is worth all this attention?"
Meena's words cut through my spiraling thoughts like a pebble hitting still water, creating ripples that refused to settle. I opened my mouth to argue, but no words came out.
Was it worth it? It sounded like a simple question, but at this moment, I couldn't find an answer.
Myles Su's expression flashed through my mind—calm yet tinged with pain, like a wall on the verge of collapse. He tried to mask it, but in that fleeting moment, his vulnerability was laid bare.
What was he hiding? Why did his collapse in class feel like the tip of a much deeper iceberg?
After dinner, I accompanied Meena to the cafeteria. She grabbed a bowl of seaweed soup and a handful of snacks, cheerfully teasing me as we walked out.
"Renata, does he even know how much you care about him?" she asked, grinning. "Or… do you have a little crush on Myles Su?"
"Don't be ridiculous," I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "I just think something's off. Call it instinct."
"Oh, the 'doctor's intuition,' huh?" Meena drawled, her voice dripping with mock seriousness, her mischievous grin only growing. "If your instincts really uncover something, he should thank you for saving his life."
Ignoring her teasing, I snatched the snack bag from her hand and walked ahead. But as we passed the cafeteria entrance, I suddenly stopped in my tracks.
A familiar figure caught my eye—Myles. He was wearing a gray hoodie, his hands stuffed into his pockets, and walking briskly toward the campus gates.
Where was he going this late?
"Meena, I just remembered I have something to do. Head back to the dorm without me," I said quickly, offering a flimsy excuse. Before she could question me, I turned and followed Myles, careful to stay out of sight.
He walked fast, his head down, seemingly unaware of my presence. I kept a safe distance, letting the night wind mask my footsteps.
Beyond the campus gates, a sleek black GTS car was parked by the roadside. The door opened, and a tall man stepped out. He wore a perfectly tailored suit, his demeanor calm yet exuding an air of authority that made him impossible to ignore.
"Myles, you're late," the man said, his voice low and laced with mild amusement, though there was an edge of command that couldn't be missed.
Myles didn't respond, nor did he spare the man a glance. Without hesitation, he walked past him and toward the car. The man raised an eyebrow slightly but opened the door for him without comment. Myles climbed in, his movements sharp and decisive.
I stayed hidden behind a tree, holding my breath as I watched the scene unfold.
Who was this man? What was their "appointment"? And why was Myles, who had just recovered from a collapse, in such a rush to leave campus?
The car's engine hummed softly as it pulled away, its taillights fading into the night. My heart raced, as if I had just stumbled onto a dangerous secret, one that offered no explanation.
My phone buzzed, snapping me back to reality. I glanced down to see a message from Meena:
"Renata, where did you run off to? Don't tell me you're following Myles. I'm in the dorm waiting for you—I've got something new to share."
Something new? I stared at the screen, my curiosity deepening.
Pocketing my phone, I turned and headed back to the dorm, my thoughts a whirlwind of questions. Myles's cold, guarded expression, the suited man's calm authority, and the ease with which Myles entered that car—it all felt too deliberate, too connected.
When I pushed open the dorm door, Meena was sitting cross-legged on her bed, her usual lighthearted demeanor replaced by something more serious.
"Finally!" she said, waving me over. "Do you know what I just found out from Leo? This is way more complicated than I thought."
She handed me her phone. On the screen was a long message from Leo Wang:
"Honestly, I've been thinking Myles's behavior is off too. He's been sneaking out in the middle of the night lately—sometimes he doesn't come back until morning. When we ask where he goes, he brushes us off and says it's nothing. I always thought it was just low blood sugar or something minor, but after what happened today, I'm not so sure anymore."
A sinking feeling settled in my chest as I read Leo's message. My mind immediately jumped to the car and the man I'd seen earlier. Was there a connection between them and Myles's late-night disappearances? And why, despite his obvious physical struggles, was Myles so determined to act like nothing was wrong?
"What do you think?" Meena asked, her eyes sharp with curiosity and concern.
I sat down slowly, rubbing my temples as I tried to piece it all together. "All of this—it's too much to ignore. If even his roommates can't get a straight answer, it's clear Myles is deliberately hiding something. And after seeing him collapse today… He's not just a normal student dealing with stress."
"What is he hiding?" Meena asked softly, her voice tinged with unease.
"Maybe it has to do with his family," I murmured, my mind flashing back to the man in the suit. His calm demeanor, the subtle but palpable authority he carried—it all felt wrong.
"His family?" Meena raised an eyebrow. "You really think his family is involved in all this?"
"It's possible." I nodded, my tone firm. "But whatever it is, we need to figure it out."
Meena hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Alright, but don't do anything reckless, okay? This is still his private life—we have to be careful."
"I know," I said, nodding again. But deep down, I had already made up my mind—no matter what it took, I would uncover Myles's secret.
And somehow, I had the feeling this wasn't just about him. This secret felt like the start of something much bigger.