Ochieng sat in class, but his mind wasn't on the lesson.
Instead, he was piecing together the puzzle in front of him.
Akinyi had noticed something about him.
Brian was watching him, waiting for a moment to strike.
And now, Zariah Wanjiru—a girl from one of the most powerful families—had appeared.
Coincidences?
No.
Something was shifting in the shadows, and Ochieng knew he needed to be careful.
Because if he wasn't…
Everything he had kept buried would come to light.
And that wasn't an option.
---
The lesson continued, but the air in the classroom was different.
Everyone was whispering about Zariah.
It wasn't just because of her beauty.
It was because of who she was.
The Wanjiru family wasn't just rich.
They were powerful.
Not the kind of power that came from money alone, but the kind that controlled people, businesses, and entire industries.
And yet… she was here.
In this school.
With them.
It didn't make sense.
Unless… there was a reason.
Ochieng glanced at her, but she didn't react.
Instead, she simply sat down at the empty desk near the window, crossed her legs, and pulled out a notebook.
She wasn't here to make friends.
She was here for something else.
And Ochieng intended to find out what.
---
The lesson ended, and students immediately rushed to Zariah's desk.
"Hey, Zariah, I'm Brian."
Of course.
Brian was always first.
Zariah barely glanced at him. "Okay."
Brian's smile faltered.
For the first time in a long time, he wasn't the center of attention.
But Ochieng wasn't focused on Brian.
He was watching Akinyi.
She wasn't paying attention to Zariah.
She was watching him.
Again.
---
As soon as the bell rang, Ochieng packed his bag and left the classroom.
But just as he stepped into the hallway—
Akinyi blocked his path.
"We need to talk."
Ochieng didn't stop walking. "No, we don't."
She followed him. "Yes, we do."
He sighed. "Akinyi—"
"I know you're hiding something."
Ochieng froze.
It wasn't her words.
It was the certainty in her voice.
She wasn't guessing.
She knew.
He turned to her. "And what exactly do you think I'm hiding?"
Akinyi hesitated.
She wasn't sure what she had seen.
But she knew it was something.
Ochieng exhaled.
She was stubborn.
Too stubborn.
And that was dangerous.
For both of them.
---
Ochieng took a step closer.
Akinyi stiffened.
He wasn't touching her.
But suddenly, the space between them felt smaller.
"You're curious," he said softly.
Akinyi swallowed.
"But some things… you're better off not knowing."
A chill ran down her spine.
For the first time since she started watching him—
She felt afraid.
Not because he had threatened her.
But because of how calm he was.
Like a predator who had already decided on his prey.
Ochieng leaned in slightly.
"Stay out of this, Akinyi."
Then he walked away.
Leaving her standing there, shaken.
And more curious than ever.
---
That night, Ochieng sat in his small, empty apartment.
He had chosen to live alone, away from any distractions.
His phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
He answered. "Who is this?"
A pause.
Then—
"It's been a long time, Ochieng."
His grip tightened on the phone.
He knew that voice.
It was one he hadn't heard in years.
One he never wanted to hear again.
His past… was catching up to him.
And this was just the beginning.
---