"Alright," one of the guards said before both of them continued their patrol. Silence returned, broken only by the gentle whisper of the night breeze.
Radit let out a long sigh of relief. "Man, good thing I listened to you," he muttered, his voice low, still tinged with suspicion. His eyes flicked toward Kaivan. "But why do you even care? We're not exactly close at school."
Kaivan smiled faintly, his gaze drifting toward the sky where the last hues of twilight gave way to night. "Maybe because I know what it feels like… needing help but not knowing who to ask."
Radit froze at those words. They sounded strange, yet undeniably sincere. Something stirred inside him, deeper than this chance encounter. For a moment, flashes of his own choices, his struggles, and the dead ends he faced flickered across his mind.
"But now what? How am I supposed to get extra money for school?" he asked suddenly, his voice heavy with worry. The fragile moment of relief gave way to a weight far more real, the uncertainty of his future.
Kaivan's hand tightened around the Omnicent Tome. A spark of insight lit up his expression, as if he alone could see a path laid before them. Turning calmly toward the book, he smiled with quiet conviction, as though guided by something unseen.
"You can throw a punch, right?" Kaivan asked, his tone light but his eyes sharp with intent. He looked at Radit, a confident grin spreading across his face. "Let's wait at the bus stop. We're going to stop a pickpocket."
Radit blinked, stunned. "This kid… how the hell does he know a pickpocket's coming?" he thought, disbelief crawling over him. Yet, despite the doubt gnawing at him, Radit followed. Something about Kaivan made him feel there was more at play than simple guesswork.
Not long after, a figure emerged from the shadows of the street, a man in a suit, carrying a briefcase, strolling calmly under the streetlights. He had no idea danger was lurking just a few steps away. Kaivan, seated quietly all this time, shifted. He gave Radit a subtle signal.
And just as the Tome had foretold, a pickpocket slipped from the shadows, moving with swift precision toward the unsuspecting man. As the thief's hand shot out to snatch the briefcase, Kaivan signaled sharply.
Radit moved. In one fluid motion, his fist drove into the pickpocket's face. The crack of impact rang out as the man crumpled to the ground. The briefcase tumbled free, skidding across the pavement. Without hesitation, Radit followed up, driving a kick into the thief's gut, then another punch that left him sprawled unconscious on the sidewalk.
The suited man, shaken by the sudden violence, hurried over. His eyes darted between the thief and his rescuers, wide with awe and gratitude. Bowing slightly, he spoke with heartfelt warmth. "Thank you… My name is Levan."
Under the glow of the streetlights, Kaivan stood calmly, while Radit, still flushed with adrenaline, couldn't help but feel a rush of pride at what they'd accomplished together.
As the calm of night settled once more, Levan felt compelled to express his gratitude in full. Looking at Radit, he said earnestly, "I would like to visit your home, to thank your family as well."
Radit, still reeling from the whirlwind of events, managed a small, humble smile. "Of course, sir. They'd be happy to meet you."
And so, bound by gratitude and an unspoken sense of fate, the three of them set off toward Radit's home. Beneath the watchful night sky, the Omnicent Tome remained firmly in Kaivan's grasp, its unseen pages guiding them into the next chapter of their intertwined destinies. New pages of life were being written, pages filled with unexpected turns and the quiet promise of change.
On a quiet morning, with dew still clinging to the leaves and sunlight slowly spilling over the city of Bandung, Kaivan rose from his bed, each step heavy with reluctance. This morning, like all the others, he prepared himself to face another day of pressure at school.
"Heading to school, Mom," he said softly. His tone sounded casual, but within him, a storm churned that he could never put into words. His mother, busy preparing breakfast, only nodded without looking back, treating it as nothing more than routine.
As he approached the school gates, familiar voices reached his ears. Not warm greetings, nor friendly chatter, but jeers dripping with venom. A group of students, notorious for stirring up trouble, stood waiting like predators for their prey.
"Hey, Kaivan, the ungrateful orphan! How's it feel to be parentless, huh? Must be nice, no rules, no one bossing you around!"
One of them sneered, his smirk sharp as a blade, his gaze filled with mockery. The words froze Kaivan's steps in place.
He remained silent, too tense to respond. His body stiffened, head bowed low as he tried to ignore them. But the insults only multiplied. They moved closer, surrounding him in a tightening circle. In the distance, Kaivan spotted Tania, his former friend, once someone he had cherished, laughing lightly, her presence making the sting cut even deeper. She was the mastermind behind his social downfall.
"Look at him! Can't even talk back! Must be fun, huh, Kaivan? Living without responsibility. No one cares if you succeed or fail!" another boy jeered, his grin cruel.
Though Kaivan stayed quiet, pain swelled inside his chest. He had grown used to this torment, but familiarity didn't dull its edge. Shame and helplessness surged through him, crashing like relentless waves.
Then, before the next insult could escape their lips, a firm, commanding voice shattered the air.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Everyone turned, Kaivan included. There stood Radit, his posture relaxed yet brimming with authority. His right hand rested casually in his pocket, while his left gripped the strap of his bag slung over his shoulder. His eyes, sharp and unwavering, cut through the crowd like steel.
The aura radiating from Radit alone was enough to say he wasn't someone to be taken lightly.
The group of bullies froze instantly. His presence swept over them like a sudden gust of cold wind. They all knew, Radit wasn't the kind of person they could handle easily. Still, one of them, unwilling to lose face, forced a chuckle to cover his nerves.
"Ah, we're just messing around," he said with a shrug. "Just wanted to chat with this orphan a bit. Fun, you know? Finding out what it's like to live without a dad."