Flames Beneath the Veil
That night was supposed to be a night of celebration.
The modest house of Neyya’s family was decorated with soft yellow lights. The scent of jasmine and roses filled the space, as if trying to calm something unseen—something about to change.
Neyya stood in the kitchen, calmly arranging glass cups. Her hands were steady, her face ordinary. No excitement, no exaggerated smile.
“Hey, don’t you feel anything at all?” Miysa’s voice slipped in from behind as she bit into a cookie.
Neyya shrugged.
“It’s my sister’s engagement, not mine.”
Miysa chuckled softly. “But usually a younger sister would be a bit overexcited. You… look like you’re going to silat class.”
Neyya gave a thin smile.
“Silat is more fun.”
And that was true.
Neyya was not an ordinary girl. On the outside, she was soft—wearing a long hijab, loose cardigan, palazzo pants covering her steps. But inside? Firm. Strict. Disciplined.
She was a religious teacher. But she also knew how to defend herself.
Footsteps from outside began to be heard.
“They’re here!” someone from the family shouted.
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Everyone moved quickly. Neyya took a slow breath and stepped into the living room.
And at that moment—
fate began to move.
Outside the house, several cars stopped.
One of them… dark, tinted, engine still running.
A man sat inside. Black hoodie, half his face hidden in shadows.
Zack Bahar.
A name never spoken… but feared.
The leader of one of the most violent street racing gangs in the city. Illegal races, dirty money, underground dealings—his world.
Women?
He didn’t touch them.
Not because he was kind. But because… he had an allergy.
He hated touch. Hated closeness. Hated the smell of too-strong perfume.
His world was only motorcycles… and the night.
“Boss… they’re all inside,” said Baharuddin from outside the window.
Zack stayed silent. His sharp eyes looked at the house.
“Go,” Zack ordered shortly.
Baharuddin understood. He would act as the ‘representative’. The fake groom-to-be for Mieya.
A game.
A lie.
Zack only wanted to watch… from a distance.
The engagement ceremony went smoothly.
Mieya sat gracefully in the center, smiling sweetly. Everyone praised her—beautiful, polite, perfect.
Neyya stood at the side. Not standing out. Not trying to steal attention.
And that… caught Zack’s attention.
From outside the half-open window, Zack watched.
He saw everyone.
But his eyes… stopped on one figure.
Neyya.
The way she stood. The way she didn’t try to be anyone else. The way she didn’t look at men.
It was strange.
Zack narrowed his eyes.
“Who is that…” he whispered.
Inside the house—
Neyya felt something.
As if someone was watching.
She turned toward the window.
Empty.
The night wind gently moved the curtains.
“Why?” Miysa suddenly appeared beside her.
“I feel like someone is watching…”
Miysa frowned. “You’re starting to sound like you’re in a horror story.”
Neyya stayed silent.
But that feeling… didn’t go away.
Outside—
Zack leaned back in his seat, a small smile forming.
“Interesting…”
It had been a long time since he felt something like this.
Not desire.
Not attraction.
But… curiosity.
And that was far more dangerous.
The ceremony ended.
Guests slowly began to leave.
Baharuddin returned to the car.
“Done, boss.”
Zack didn’t respond immediately.
“That girl earlier… Mieya’s sister?”
“Yeah. Her name is Neyya.”
Zack repeated slowly.
“Neyya…”
The name felt strange on his tongue.
Calm.
But sharp.
“Boss want me to investigate?” Baharuddin asked.
Zack looked at the house again.
The lights were still on.
Neyya’s silhouette could be seen inside, still cleaning without stopping.
Not tired.
Not complaining.
Not caring about the outside world.
Zack exhaled slowly.
“No need…”
Pause.
“…yet.”
The engine started.
But before he left—
his eyes caught one more thing.
Neyya stopped.
And this time…
Neyya looked directly toward the window.
As if…
she knew.
In Neyya’s heart, a whisper appeared.
“There’s something wrong…”
And that night—
two completely different worlds
finally… touched.
Without them realizing—
this was not an ordinary meeting.
This was the beginning…
of destruction.
Or perhaps… salvation.
End episode 1
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