Kaivan slid the key into the ignition. The engine hummed softly, a rhythm that promised the beginning of a new journey. A faint smile curved his lips as he whispered to himself, "This is the start of everything." His words nearly vanished beneath the gentle purr of the motor.
As he rode through the fading light, Kaivan's thoughts wandered to the events that had led him here. The grief and betrayals he once carried were now little more than distant shadows, slowly replaced by a quiet determination taking root within him. He understood, at last, that every small step forward was guiding him toward something far greater than himself.
Kaivan walked with steady steps, his hands tucked into the pockets of his school uniform trousers. Ahead of him, Radit strolled at a slightly slower pace, swinging his backpack casually, though the look on his face betrayed a deep curiosity. The sound of their shoes against the asphalt was the only thing filling the quiet afternoon.
"Radit," Kaivan's voice broke the silence, calm yet firm. "Meet me later at the old Palaguna mall. Downtown."
Radit halted mid-step and turned, his brows furrowing. Confusion flickered across his face. "Why are we going there?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. That abandoned building was infamous for being haunted; not many dared to get close. Its ruins stood like a monument to past failures.
Kaivan met his eyes with a serious gaze, his sharp look locking onto Radit. "We need a larger place to take apart the phones today," Kaivan explained, his tone still composed yet convincing. "I'll be bringing quite a few old phones. My place is too cramped to store them."
Radit nodded slowly, finally grasping Kaivan's reasoning. He knew his friend always had a logical purpose behind every choice. "Alright, I'll meet you there," he replied firmly, trying to match Kaivan's seriousness.
In the distance, a girl stood beneath the shade of a large tree , Tania. Her piercing eyes watched Kaivan and Radit's movements with thinly veiled hatred. Her lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.
"Why does he look happy?" Tania muttered softly, a voice meant only for herself. She used to relish seeing Kaivan broken. But now, everything seemed different. There was something new in the way Kaivan walked, the way he spoke, even in how he befriended Radit. All of it unsettled her, as though the control she once held over Kaivan's life had shattered completely.
Tania's hesitant steps grew firmer as she approached Kaivan. But before she could speak, the low growl of an engine froze her in place. A sleek black SUV rolled toward Kaivan, its polished body catching the afternoon light. Behind the wheel, a young man lowered the window.
"Yo, Kaivan!" Frans's cheerful voice matched his charismatic presence. His neatly kept red hair and broad smile radiated an unshakable confidence.
Kaivan offered a faint smile and stepped closer. "Yo, Frans. So, we're heading to that place I mentioned earlier, right?"
Frans nodded, drumming his fingers lightly on the steering wheel. "Hop in. We've got some gadgets to hunt," he replied with an easy tone.
Tania froze where she stood. Her eyes widened as Kaivan climbed into Frans's car. Questions mixed with a burning jealousy in her chest.
"What is this?" she muttered, barely audible. Her hands clenched as she fought the storm inside her. Kaivan was supposed to remain broken, someone she could control. But the scene before her said otherwise.
Inside the car, Kaivan and Frans exchanged light conversation. Frans drove with casual grace while Kaivan's thoughts swirled with the next steps of his plan. They visited electronics shops and flea markets, searching for used phones. Frans, with his bright smile, often struck up conversations with shopkeepers, using his easygoing charm to bargain for better prices.
"Why this one, Kaivan?" Frans asked, holding up an old phone with little appeal.
Kaivan's lips curved slightly as he took it from Frans's hand. "Because sometimes the ones that look worn hold something valuable inside."
Frans chuckled softly, patting Kaivan's shoulder. "Precious things, hidden beneath the surface."
Kaivan said nothing, his focus returning to the device in his grasp. Afternoon blurred into evening as they roamed the city, gathering fragments of discarded phones. He knew these small steps were keys to unlocking a greater future.
Amid the lively hum of dusk, Kaivan slipped his own phone from his pocket. His slender fingers danced swiftly across the screen as he called Zinnia , an essential piece of his intricate plan. Determination sharpened his gaze.
"Zinnia," he said, voice calm yet firm, steady with quiet confidence. "Meet me later at the old mall downtown. I've told Radit too. We'll handle it there."
On the other end, Zinnia's gentle voice replied, steady and sure. "Got it. I'll head there now."
Kaivan nodded, though she couldn't see him. "Yeah, see you soon." With a soundless motion, he ended the call, ensuring every detail stayed aligned.
After a stretch of time , brief yet weighted with calculation , they arrived at their destination. The once-proud mall loomed before them, abandoned and hollow. Cracks ran along its walls; shattered glass clung to window frames like wounds that refused to heal. Outside, Radit and Zinnia waited. Radit waved lazily, while Zinnia stood composed and still.
Frans parked carefully, gravel crunching beneath the tires. Kaivan exited first, opened the back door, and began lifting boxes filled with salvaged phones.
"Everything set?" he asked, voice calm but carrying authority.
Radit gave a firm nod, hands tucked into his pockets. "Ready. Just waiting on your lead."
Zinnia added softly yet decisively, "I've checked inside , there's a room we can use to store the phones."
Within, the building felt like another world. Neon lights that once gleamed were now dull shadows on a dust-caked ceiling. Walls once lined with bright posters now bore layers of graffiti, silent stories of time gone by. Kaivan paused, surveying the scene with eyes that held meaning far deeper than words.
"Let's start here," Kaivan said, his voice echoing softly through the vast, silent room. Radit and Frans began unpacking the boxes, while Zinnia carefully laid out the small tools she had brought to extract gold from the discarded phones. Her movements were precise and fluid, every touch of her fingers radiating intense focus.
"Kaivan, how much do you think we can get from this sack?" Zinnia asked, her eyes never leaving her work.
Kaivan stepped closer, observing the careful progress she was making. "If we're lucky, it should be enough to buy another batch of used phones, and still leave plenty. But let's see first."
Radit, busy arranging components, cut in with a casual tone. "Hey, Kaivan. Don't forget to split it evenly later, okay? I'm treating myself to a fancy steak once this is done." Kaivan offered a faint smile and nodded. "Don't worry, everything will be divided fairly."
After hours of steady work, Zinnia finally raised her hand. Resting in her small palm, golden flecks gleamed under the lamp's glow. "Only nineteen grams so far," she said quietly, though a trace of satisfaction warmed her face.
Kaivan carefully took the flecks, studying them briefly before slipping them into a small pouch. "Good. Let's sell this batch first, then decide our next step."
Zinnia nodded, handing over her work without hesitation. Meanwhile, Frans and Radit began repacking the leftover tools, making sure nothing was forgotten. The sale went smoothly, Kaivan, with his trademark composure, led the transaction and made sure every detail was recorded with precision.