Chapter 3: The Secret He Carries

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Something wasn’t right.

Jay noticed it first.

Not just the lateness. Not just the attitude.

It was the way Nick moved now—careful, distracted… like he was carrying something heavy no one else could see.

“Rowand,” Jay said quietly one afternoon, “have you noticed?”

Rowand didn’t pretend. “Yeah.”

They stood outside the house, watching through the window as Nick sat inside, staring at his phone. Not scrolling. Not typing.

Just… waiting.

“For what?” Jay muttered.

That night, the answer came.

Or at least… part of it.

Jay woke up to a soft sound.

A door.

He sat up, listening.

Another sound—footsteps.

Slow. Careful.

Jay got out of bed and moved quietly toward the hallway. Rowand’s door creaked open at the same time.

They looked at each other.

No words.

They both heard it.

By the time they reached the front door—

Nick was already outside.

“Nick,” Jay whispered.

No response.

Nick kept walking.

The street was darker than usual, the silence stretching too far. Nick moved quickly, like he knew exactly where he was going.

Jay and Rowand followed at a distance.

“Since when does he sneak out?” Rowand whispered.

“Since he started lying,” Jay replied.

Nick turned into a narrow path between two buildings.

Jay slowed down. “Careful.”

They stepped in quietly—

And stopped.

Nick wasn’t alone.

Three figures stood with him.

Older.

Strangers.

One of them stepped forward—a tall girl with a sharp взгляд and arms crossed.

“You’re late,” she said.

Nick didn’t argue this time. “I came, didn’t I?”

Jay frowned. He’s different.

Another boy leaned against the wall, watching Nick closely. “You sure you weren’t followed?”

Nick shook his head. “No.”

Jay and Rowand exchanged a look.

The third person finally spoke—a calm voice, but serious.

“We don’t have much time,” he said. “Did you bring it?”

Nick hesitated.

Just for a second.

“…Yeah.”

Jay’s heart dropped.

Bring what?

Nick reached into his bag and pulled out something small.

It was hard to see in the dark—but whatever it was…

The others leaned in immediately.

Focused.

Careful.

Like it mattered.

A lot.

“We shouldn’t be doing this here,” the girl said. “If anyone finds out—”

“They won’t,” Nick cut in.

“You don’t know that.”

“I said they won’t.”

His tone was sharp.

Defensive.

Nothing like the Nick they knew.

Rowand shifted slightly—and his foot scraped against the ground.

Too loud.

All four of them froze.

“…Did you hear that?” the boy against the wall asked.

Silence.

Jay’s pulse pounded.

Nick turned slowly… toward where they were hiding.

For a second—

It felt like he knew.

Jay grabbed Rowand’s arm, pulling him back into deeper shadow.

“Don’t move,” he whispered.

The girl stepped forward, scanning the darkness. “Someone’s here.”

Nick didn’t say anything.

But his eyes stayed fixed.

Right where they were.

Then finally—

“…It’s nothing,” he said.

The others hesitated.

But slowly, they relaxed.

Jay exhaled quietly.

Rowand looked at him. Did he just cover for us?

Jay didn’t answer.

Because something felt worse than being discovered.

Nick knew.

And he didn’t want them involved.

As the group started to move away, Jay made a decision.

“This doesn’t stop here,” he whispered.

Rowand nodded. “We find out what he’s hiding.”

Jay’s eyes stayed on Nick.

“No matter what.”

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