chapter 3

The next morning...

St. Orion International University was unusually lively.

Freshers were busy finding classrooms, seniors were gossiping, and professors hurried across the campus.

Meanwhile...

KTJ was running through the corridor.

"DISHAAAA!"

She stopped in front of Disha, completely out of breath.

"We're late!"

Disha looked at her watch.

"We still have five minutes."

"I know, but if we're not ten minutes early, we're late."

Star raised an eyebrow.

"Weren't you the one who woke up at 9:30?"

"...Details don't matter."

Somi sighed, already used to KTJ's endless drama.

The four walked together, effortlessly becoming the center of attention.

At the administration office...

Maya was collecting her timetable.

"Your classroom has changed," the staff member said.

"Oh... thank you."

As Maya stepped outside, she looked around in confusion.

"This campus is huge..."

She accidentally took the wrong hallway.

A group of four senior girls noticed her.

"Hey, new girl."

Maya stopped politely.

"Yes?"

One of them smirked.

"You're KTJ's cousin, right?"

Maya nodded.

"I am."

Another girl folded her arms.

"You should stay away from Disha."

Maya blinked.

"...Why?"

"Because she's dangerous."

"People who get close to her always end up crying."

"She's cold-hearted."

Maya stayed silent.

She had only met Disha once.

She couldn't judge someone so quickly.

"I don't think it's right to judge someone without knowing them."

The girls laughed.

"So innocent."

At that exact moment...

Disha, Star, Somi, and KTJ turned into the same corridor.

KTJ immediately noticed Maya.

"Maya!"

The senior girls stiffened.

"...She's here."

The hallway fell silent.

Disha's cold gaze landed on the girls.

"What happened?"

Nobody answered.

One of the seniors forced a smile.

"Nothing."

Disha looked at Maya.

"Were they bothering you?"

Before Maya could reply—

"No!" one of the girls interrupted quickly.

"We were just talking."

Disha stared at them for a few seconds.

Then spoke in her usual calm voice.

"If I hear that you're troubling first-years..."

She took one slow step forward.

"...you'll regret it."

No shouting.

No threats.

Just a simple sentence.

Yet every girl immediately lowered her eyes.

"We understand."

The four seniors walked away without another word.

Maya looked at Disha in surprise.

"You..."

Disha interrupted.

"They're cowards."

She turned around.

"Let's go."

For a moment...

Maya noticed something strange.

Disha hadn't even asked whether Maya was okay.

She had simply solved the problem and walked away.

Cold...

Yet strangely reliable.

That evening...

Far from the college...

An abandoned warehouse stood near the docks.

Inside...

Several men surrounded a table.

Photos were scattered across it.

One photo showed Disha.

Another showed KTJ.

Somi.

Star.

And finally...

A newly added picture...

Maya.

A scar-faced man picked up Maya's photo.

"Who's this?"

One of his men replied,

"KTJ's cousin."

"Recently shifted to Mumbai."

The man smiled darkly.

"Interesting."

He threw Disha's photo onto the table.

"If we can't reach the queen..."

He tapped Maya's picture with a finger.

"...we'll use the light."

The room filled with cruel laughter.

Outside...

Rain began to pour over the city.

Somewhere else...

Completely unaware of the danger...

Maya stood on the balcony of her new home, watching the rain with a peaceful smile.

At that same moment...

Disha stood on the balcony of her mansion, looking at the same dark sky.

She didn't know why...

But for the first time in years...

The image of a girl with warm brown eyes crossed her mind.

She frowned.

"...Annoying."

She turned away.

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