For a moment, the room remained silent.
Then Farhan spoke first,
"That sounded bad."
Mahim slipped the phone into his pocket,
"I don't know if it's bad."
Fahim folded his arms,
"But it's definitely unusual."
—
Mahim arrived at the military base less than an hour later.
The security gates opened immediately.
The military base was quieter than usual.
Most of the administrative offices had dimmed their lights for the evening, but one conference room remained brightly illuminated.
Mahim entered.
The moment he stepped inside, he noticed the people gathered around the table.
Colonel Nahim.
Bahar.
Several senior officers.
Two military analysts.
A training instructor.
And a handful of personnel he recognized from strategic assessment divisions.
He closed the door behind him.
His eyes moved around the room.
"What happened?"
Colonel Nahim gestured toward an empty chair, "Sit down."
Mahim sat.
His eyes moved between the faces in the room, "Sir?"
Colonel Nahim folded his hands,
"We've made a decision.
We are going ahead with the livestream."
Mahim nodded, "All right."
Bahar visibly relaxed, "Good."
Nahim's expression remained calm,
"But, Maya cannot know about it."
Mahim frowned, "What?"
"Maya cannot know the livestream is being organized."
"Why, sir ?"
"Because our objective won't be achieved otherwise."
Mahim's confusion deepened,
"I'm not following, sir. "
One of the military analysts spoke up,
"General Mahim ."
"Yes?"
"Do you honestly believe those fighting skills appeared without training?"
Mahim answered immediately, "No."
"Neither do we."
Another officer opened a file,
"The footage has now been analyzed ."
He slid photographs across the table.
Mahim looked down.
"Frame by frame.
Slow motion, multiple angles."
He tapped a folder resting on the table,
"The conclusion is consistent."
Mahim listened carefully.
Colonel Nahim said ,
"I've also been informed that Maya disappeared for a significant period of her childhood."
"Yes, sir."
The room became quiet.
An officer sitting near the end of the table spoke next,
"I believe she has been training for years."
Then he asked,
"Since she came to live with your family, have you ever personally seen her practicing?"
Mahim thought about it,
"No, not even once."
The officer exchanged looks with the others,
"Interesting."
"What is?"
The officer answered calmly,
"People don't maintain that level of skill without practice."
Several heads nodded.
"Those reflexes require maintenance.
Constant maintenance."
Mahim folded his arms,
"So, what are you suggesting?"
Colonel Nahim leaned back in his chair,
"My theory is that she practices when nobody is around."
Mahim looked at him,
"You think she's secretly training?"
Another officer nodded, "That would explain a lot."
"Especially if she's trying not to attract attention."
"I think it's possible."
Bahar, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, "The timing fits."
Everyone looked toward him.
"The school will be closed for several days because of the attack.
Most of the family will be occupied with work.
There will be long periods when Maya is alone."
The room fell silent as the idea settled.
Bahar continued,
"If she really maintains her skills through private practice, those days would be the perfect opportunity."
One officer added,
"If she has a routine, she may return to it."
"Exactly."
One of the officers asked,
"And if we tell her about the livestream?"
Bahar answered immediately,
"Then she may alter her routine Or stop practicing entirely."
Several people agreed.
Colonel Nahim folded his arms,
"We want to see what Maya does naturally."
Mahim sat back in his chair considering every possibility.
The officers' logic wasn't unreasonable.
After several moments, Nahim spoke again,
"General Mahim ?"
Mahim looked up, "Yes sir? "
"We will proceed only with your approval."
Finally, he exhaled, "All right."
Bahar nodded.
The officers exchanged glances.
Colonel Nahim gave a satisfied nod,
"Then we'll move forward."
The discussion continued for several more minutes as the details were finalized.
One of the technical officers opened a laptop and projected several diagrams onto the screen.
"We can integrate the livestream with the surveillance network already installed throughout the Sunayna estate."
Mahim studied the display.
The officer pointed to the layout,
"We'll simply connect selected camera feeds to a controlled broadcast."
"Alright."
Bahar leaned forward in his chair,
"Good."
He tapped a folder on the table,
"Tonight I'll publish the announcement online."
The room turned toward him,
"By morning the livestream will be public."
Mahim gave a short nod, "Fine."
Colonel Nahim folded his arms,
"Nobody in the house can behave differently.
No unusual attention, no discussions about cameras."
A officer nodded,
"People change their behavior when they know they're being watched."
Bahar added,
"And from everything we've seen, Maya is exceptionally perceptive."
That earned several agreements around the table.
One analyst flipped through his notes,
"Her situational awareness is extraordinary."
The combat instructor spoke next,
"Honestly, that's one of the things that impressed me most."
He looked directly at Mahim.
"She notices things. The kind of things most people overlook."
"Exactly, remember that."
"So be careful."
"Understood."
The colonel glanced at the clock,
"Then we begin tomorrow morning."
The room slowly relaxed.
Bahar stood first,
"I'll release the announcement within the hour."
"Fine."
Bahar pointed toward him, "Tell your family."
"Ok. "
Nahim stood, "Be careful, General."
Mahim straightened instinctively,
"Yes, sir."
"I'll see you tomorrow."
Mahim stepped back, his posture became formal.
He saluted.
The colonel returned the salute.
The meeting was over.
Yet as Mahim walked toward the door, a strange feeling lingered in the room.
He returned to the estate late in the evening.
The house felt that shift the moment he stepped inside.
Conversation paused mid-breath.
Mahi looked up first, "You're back."
Fahad straightened slightly,
"What happened?"
Mahim removed his coat slowly, as if weighing every word before speaking,
"There will be a livestream."
Silence.
Not confusion at first—just processing.
Fahim adjusted his glasses,
"…A livestream of what?"
Mahim looked around the room,
"Of Maya."
Fahan leaned forward immediately,
"Explain."
"It's been arranged through coordination with Bahar and Colonel Nahim's team."
A beat of silence followed.
"How ?"
"Through controlled surveillance integrated with livestream broadcast systems within the estate."
A pause.
Faha slowly raised a hand,
" …the conclusion is 'let's set up cameras in the house'?"
Fahad immediately cut in,
"That is not what he said.
Technically, he said surveillance integration."
"That sounds even worse," Nahi muttered.
Farhan leaned back slowly,
"This is getting more complicated than the hostage situation."
Mahim spoke again, "There is one condition."
Everyone looked at him.
"Colonel Nahim insisted Maya must not be aware of the livestream."
Fahad frowned, "Why hide it?"
Mahim answered simply,
"Because if she knows, her behavior changes."
"That is likely accurate."
Nahi crossed her arms,
"She notices everything, doesn't she?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"And that is the problem."
Then Farhan spoke softly,
"So tomorrow… everyone is going to be watching her?"
"Yes."
Faha raised an eyebrow, "And Rahi?"
Mahi answered first, her voice calm but firm,
"He doesn't need to know."
Faha blinked, "That sounded very intentional."
Fahad frowned slightly,
"He is already involved in too many things around Maya."
Mahim exhaled,
"This is not something he needs to be pulled into."
Fahim adjusted his glasses,"Agreed."
Farhan nodded quietly.
At that moment, faint footsteps were heard from the corridor.
Rahi.
He appeared near the doorway, as usual without announcement,
"Something I am not to know?"
Faha reacted instantly, "No."
Rahi tilted his head slightly,
"That was suspiciously immediate."
Fahim spoke more evenly,
"It's administrative."
Rahi's eyes moved between them,
"Administrative things don't usually involve everyone suddenly becoming bad liars."
Nahi crossed her arms,"You're imagining things."
"I rarely imagine. "
Mahim stepped forward slightly, controlling the tone,
"Rahi, it's about tomorrow's coordination schedule."
Rahi studied him for a moment longer than comfortable.
Then, finally— "Understood."
He turned slightly as if to leave,
"Try not to overcomplicate whatever you are doing."
His tone was light again, then he walked away.
His footsteps faded down the corridor.
Only when they were gone did Fahim exhale,
"That was close."
Faha leaned back, "He almost sensed it."
Mahim remained silent for a moment,
" Let it stay that way."
[ 11:50PM ]
The house had long slipped into the deep hours of night.
Lights in the corridors were dimmed, shadows stretching softly across polished floors.
The earlier tension had settled into something quieter—fatigue, thought, and the kind of silence that follows too many revelations in a single day.
Mahim stood near the center of the hall,
His voice came low,
"It's late. Everyone should sleep."
A few tired acknowledgments followed.
Fahad exhaled, already standing,
"Finally."
Fahan stretched his shoulders,
"I think my brain has stopped accepting new information for today."
Farhan gave a small, tired smile,
"Same."
One by one, the family began to disperse.
Then Mahim turned slightly, "Fahim."
Fahim paused mid-step, "Yes, Father?"
"Send all the surveillance access details from the estate system to Bahar Uncle."
Fahim blinked, "…Now?"
"Yes."
"Okay, Father."
He pulled out his phone immediately, already moving toward compliance,
"I'll forward everything."
"Good."
Fahim added as he turned away,
"I'll make sure it's properly encrypted."
"OK, DO IT. "
Fahim walked off down the corridor, thumbs already moving across the screen.
Faha, half-asleep on the sofa, lifted a hand lazily,
"If this turns into another crisis tomorrow, I'm blaming tonight's decisions."
Fahad glanced at him, "You blame everything."
"It's my coping mechanism."
"Still effective."
A faint, tired breath of amusement passed through the room.
Mahi stopped briefly beside him,
"Try not to overthink tonight."
"Ok. "
The hallway slowly emptied.
Lights dimmed further.
Footsteps faded one by one until only the soft hum of the house remained.
Upstairs, doors closed quietly.
Downstairs, Mahim stood alone for a moment longer — listening to the silence settle properly into place.
Then, finally, he turned and walked toward his own room.
The night closed gently behind him.
By morning, the post had already spread beyond control.
Bahar's announcement sat across every major platform, shared and reshared until it felt less like news and more like a global pulse.
"LIVE STREAM ANNOUNCEMENT"
A Day in the Life of Maya Sunayna
Tomorrow Morning | Estate Surveillance Broadcast.
For the first time, the public will observe a structured, uninterrupted view of Maya Sunayna's daily routine within the Sunayna estate.
This is not an interview. Not a staged event.
It is simply a day—exactly as it is lived."
And then the internet reacted.
"WAIT—REAL LIVE STREAM??"
"NOT EDITED?? NO CUTS??"
"This is either genius or insanity."
"She's the girl from yesterday's hostage incident, right?"
"YES. THE SAME ONE."
"Bro I saw her on video—she didn't even react to bullets being fired."
"That clip still doesn't feel real."
"'A day in her life' sounds normal until you remember WHAT SHE DID YESTERDAY."
"Exactly. That's not a normal day type of person."
"WHY DOES THIS FEEL LIKE WE'RE ABOUT TO WATCH SOMETHING WE SHOULDN'T?"
"Because we are."
"Sunayna family agreed to this??"
"Apparently yes."
"Why would a billionaire family allow this??"
"Power Or they've lost their minds."
"I don't think people understand what this means."
"If she's that calm in crisis, imagine her normal day."
"That's what they're trying to find out."
"Bro I'm waking up early for this."
"I'm not sleeping."
"Same."
"This is going to break the internet."
"Some journalist said military experts are interested too."
"WAIT WHAT?"
"Why would the military care about a student??"
"Because of what she did yesterday…"
"I still can't believe she's 15."
"FIFTEEN."
"Honestly I don't know what I'm expecting anymore."
"A normal day?"
"Nothing about her is normal."
"REMINDER: SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW SHE'S BEING WATCHED."
"Honestly, she's the definition of a perfect fighter."
"We can learn from her discipline."
"Her awareness is next level."
"If this livestream is real, I'm studying every second."
"Same. This is like watching a masterclass in real time."
"Military analysts are probably already analyzing her movements."
"I would be too."
"She's the kind of fighter legends are written about."
"That sounds dramatic."
"I still can't believe she's just a student."
"That's the part nobody can process."
"Tomorrow is going to be historic."
"No, it's going to be educational."
"Both."
By nightfall, the announcement had turned into a global event.
Phones lit up in bedrooms, dorms, newsrooms, and streets.
People set alarms.
Clips were rewatched.
Theories multiplied.
[ 07:00 AM]
Morning arrived with a strange kind of anticipation.
At this time , the Sunayna estate was already awake. Normally, at this hour, the house would still be easing into the day.
Today was different.
Mahim was already dressed.
Mahi sat with a cup of tea she had barely touched.
Fahad checked his watch for what felt like the tenth time.
Fahim was pretending to read a report.
Fahan stood near a window.
Farhan sat quietly on a sofa.
Even Faha, who usually complained about waking up early, was awake.
Which immediately made everyone suspicious.
Fahad looked at him,
"You voluntarily woke up before seven."
Faha nodded, "Yes."
"Why?"
"Scientific curiosity."
He shrugged, "I want to see what happens."
"Honest answer."
"I know."
Across the room, Nahi folded her arms,
"I still think this is a terrible idea."
Fahim adjusted his glasses,
"Statistically, that doesn't narrow things down."
"Thank you, Doctor."
"You're welcome."
A few tired smiles appeared.
Everyone was trying very hard to act normal.
Meanwhile... Across the internet.
Millions of people were already gathering.
Waiting.
Comment sections moved faster every minute.
"THIRTY MINUTES."
"I HAVE BEEN WAITING ALL NIGHT."
"Good morning everyone."
"No. There is nothing good about waking up this early."
"Then why are you here?"
"Maya."
"Fair."
"I made coffee for this."
"I skipped breakfast for this."
"That seems unhealthy."
"Worth it."
"Imagine if she just sleeps all day."
"Then we'll watch her sleep."
"Honestly? Same."
"I still can't believe this is happening."
"Yesterday she fought criminals."
"Today we're watching her daily routine."
"The internet is a strange place."
"Military people are probably watching too."
"Oh.... they are absolutely watching."
"Anyone else nervous?"
"Why am I nervous?"
"She's the one being observed."
"Exactly. Why am I nervous?"
A martial arts forum had its own discussion,
"I want to study her footwork."
"If she actually trains on camera, this could become one of the most analyzed broadcasts in years."
"I watched the hostage footage frame-by-frame."
"And?"
"I'm still confused."
Elsewhere:
"Forget the fighting."
"I want to know what kind of person she actually is."
"Same."
"Nobody seems to know."
"Everyone talks about her."
"But nobody really knows her."
That comment gained thousands of reactions.
Back at the estate.
[7:12 AM]
Fahad looked at his watch again.
Then again.
Then again.
Farhan noticed,
"You know staring at it won't make time move faster."
Fahad looked up, "I am aware."
"Doesn't seem like it."
Faha stretched,
"This is the most invested I've ever seen everyone."
Nahi pointed toward him ,"You woke up early."
"Historic events require sacrifice."
"You're ridiculous."
"Frequently."
Even Mahim almost smiled.
[7:18 AM]
The countdown continued.
Around the world, viewers poured in.
Thousands.
Hundreds of thousands.
Then millions.
The waiting room chat moved so fast that individual comments barely remained visible.
"TWELVE MINUTES."
"I HAVE AN EXAM TODAY."
"Skip it."
"DO NOT SKIP YOUR EXAM."
"Good advice."
"Thanks."
Another comment appeared:
"What do you think she'll be doing right now?"
"Sleeping."
"Brushing her hair."
"Reading."
"Quietly judging humanity."
That one immediately received thousands of likes.
BACK AT THE ESTATE.
[ 07:30 AM ]
The livestream went live.
Millions of viewers flooded in within seconds.
The first camera showed part of the main living area of the Sunayna estate.
To the audience's surprise—
Nothing dramatic was happening.
No mysterious combat exercises.
Just...A family starting their morning.
Mahi sat comfortably with a cup of coffee beside her.
A stack of legal reports rested on the table.
She turned pages one by one, occasionally making notes.
Mahim sat nearby.
A newspaper unfolded in his hands.
Reading the morning headlines as though yesterday's hostage crisis had never happened.
Fahim worked on his laptop.
Fahad was answering calls.
Fahan appeared to be studying some engineering designs.
Farhan had a notebook open.
Nahi scrolled through her phone.
Faha looked suspiciously like someone trying to avoid responsibility.
The comments immediately exploded.
"WAIT."
"THIS IS SO NORMAL."
"I WAS EXPECTING SECRET NINJA TRAINING."
"Why Does This Feel Like I'm Accidentally Attending A Rich Family's Breakfast?"
"Lawyer Mahi is literally working."
"Of course she is."
"Mahim reading a newspaper is somehow intimidating."
"WHY DOES HE LOOK LIKE A GENERAL EVEN WHEN READING THE NEWS?"
"Because He Is A General."
"Fair."
"I've been watching for thirty seconds and I'm already invested."
"Same."
"Mahi's coffee looks expensive."
"Everything in that house looks expensive."
"Look at Fahim."
"What?"
"He actually works in the morning."
"Impossible."
"I respect it."
Another wave of comments appeared.
"Where's Maya?"
"Yeah."
"Where is she?"
"Is she still sleeping?"
"She deserves to sleep after yesterday."
"Let the girl rest."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
The debate continued immediately.
"I woke up early for Maya."
"We all did."
"I skipped breakfast."
"That was your decision."
A few viewers became interested in the family instead.
"The Sunayna family dynamic is fascinating."
"They look surprisingly normal."
"Normal is not the word I'd use."
"True."
One comment gained traction quickly.
"Yesterday: hostage crisis.
Today: newspaper."
"The Duality Of Life."
Thousands of likes followed.
Meanwhile, another discussion began.
"Look at Mahi."
"What?"
"She's already working."
"No wonder she's successful."
"That level of discipline is scary."
"And Mahim is reading three sections of the newspaper at once."
"Military people are built differently."
Back in the livestream, nothing unusual happened.
Pages turned.
Coffee cups moved.
Phones buzzed.
A perfectly ordinary morning.
Nothing that explained why millions of people were watching.
Then— Footsteps.
The sound came from the staircase.
Almost immediately, several members of the family looked up.
Maya appeared.
For a brief moment, the room seemed to forget how to function.
Her hair was loose.
Long black strands fell freely over her shoulders and down her back.
She wore a simple white shirt and black pajama pants.
Yet somehow, the simplicity made the effect even stronger.
The morning sunlight from the windows caught the dark waves of her hair, turning parts of it into ribbons of shadow and light.
For a second, even her family simply stared.
The livestream chat exploded.
"WAIT."
"WAIT WAIT WAIT."
"IS THAT MAYA?"
"HOLD ON."
"I NEED A MOMENT."
The comment section began moving so quickly it became difficult to read.
"HOW IS SHE MORE BEAUTIFUL IN PAJAMAS?"
"THAT'S NOT FAIR."
"I THOUGHT PEOPLE WERE EXAGGERATING."
"THEY WERE NOT."
"NOT EVEN A LITTLE."
Back in the mansion, Faha was the first to recover Or at least attempt to.
He pointed dramatically, "Sis ."
"Yes?"
"Why is your hair down?"
The question was delivered with the seriousness of a national emergency.
"There is no school today."
A pause.
"So, I don't need to braid it."
"Oh."
That was apparently enough explanation for her.
Faha stared, "...Fair."
Across the room, Fahan suddenly understood.
The realization appeared on his face,
"Actually..."
Everyone looked toward him.
He pointed toward Maya,
"This is probably her first day off since arriving here."
Farhan blinked, "Wait."
Fahim adjusted his glasses , "He's right."
The realization spread through the room.
Maya had only been living at the estate for around ten days.
And during those ten days—
There had never actually been a normal day off.
"That explains it."
Maya looked confused,"What explains what?"
Fahan gestured vaguely, "The hair."
"Oh."
The livestream comments were having a much harder time recovering.
"SHE JUST SAID THERE'S NO SCHOOL TODAY."
"THAT'S IT?"
"THAT'S THE EXPLANATION?"
"YES."
"I LOVE HER."
"SHE TALKS LIKE EVERY SENTENCE COSTS MONEY."
"WHY IS SHE SO CALM?"
"Yesterday she fought criminals.
Today she's explaining her hairstyle."
"THE CONTRAST IS KILLING ME."
Thousands agreed.
Back in the mansion, Mahi finally looked up from her reports.
Her eyes settled on Maya, "You look nice."
"Thank you."
And immediately she walked toward the kitchen as though nothing unusual had happened.
The chat erupted again.
"SHE JUST ACCEPTED THE COMPLIMENT AND LEFT."
"ICONIC."
"THIS GIRL IS IMPOSSIBLE."
"How is she simultaneously intimidating and adorable?"
[07 : 45 AM ]
Mahim gathered his documents and headed for the door.
Mahi finished her coffee and closed her reports.
Fahad took another business call before leaving.
Fahim grabbed his laptop.
Fahan, Farhan, Nahi, and the others followed soon after.
The mansion, so lively only moments ago, began to empty.
As they departed, Maya drifted toward one of the tall windows overlooking the front drive.
Outside, Engines started.
The convoy slowly began to move.
She stood quietly behind the glass.
Watching.
Millions of eyes shifted to the same window.
At first, nobody noticed anything unusual.
Then someone did.
Maya's expression hadn't changed.
But her eyes are empty.
Just... empty.
The comment section slowed.
"Wait..."
"Did anyone else notice that?"
"Notice what?"
"Her eyes."
Another flood followed.
"Yeah."
"She looks completely different suddenly."
"That's the same girl from this morning?"
"Why does she look so empty ?"
The sunlight reflected faintly in her eyes.
Yet somehow, they seemed to reflect nothing back.
The viewers struggled to explain what they were seeing.
"She's standing right there, but it feels like she's very far away."
A martial arts instructor watching from home frowned, "Interesting."
In another chatroom:
"Why is this making me uncomfortable?"
"Because she looks like she isn't expecting anyone to come back."
"I can't explain this feeling. "
For a few more seconds, she remained there.
Then she turned away from the window and walked deeper into the house.
Mr. Saad's phone rang.
The elderly butler glanced at the screen.
For a moment, he frowned.
Then answered.
A few minutes passed.
When the call ended, something in his expression had changed.
The kind of emotion a parent carries only a few times in life.
He stood silently for several seconds.
Then he turned, "M-Miss Maya?"
"Yes?"
Mr. Saad's voice was noticeably less composed than usual,
"My son...he was accepted into national university."
Maya looked at him quietly, "Congratulations."
Mr. Saad's smile widened, "Thank you, Miss."
The livestream comments immediately filled with reactions.
"WAIT THAT'S WHO CALLED?"
" THAT'S WONDERFUL."
"CONGRATULATIONS MR. SAAD."
"WHOLESOME MOMENT."
Maya asked, "Where are the others?"
Mr. Saad blinked,
"They left this morning. Three-day leave.
I am really sorry. I forget to to tell you , Miss."
"Oh."
The chat immediately reacted.
"LOOK AT HER."
"THAT LITTLE 'OH' WAS ADORABLE."
Mr. Saad adjusted his gloves, hesitated.
"Miss?"
Maya looked at him, "Yes?"
The butler seemed reluctant to ask whatever was on his mind.
Before he could speak, she spoke first.
"You may leave as well."
Mr. Saad froze, "...Miss?"
"For today."
The butler stared. Then shook his head immediately ,
"No, Miss. Of course not."
His answer came so quickly it almost surprised even himself,
"This is my responsibility ,
If I leave...who will look after you?"
The livestream comments instantly exploded.
"MR SAAD 😭"
"HE'S SO CONCERNED."
Mr. Saad looked genuinely troubled now,
"This estate is enormous. You would be here alone."
Maya listened quietly, then answered with the same calm tone she always used,
"I'll be fine."
Mr. Saad opened his mouth.
Maya continued:
"I am used to being alone. So don't worry about me."
The room became silent.
The livestream chat slowed dramatically.
"Oh."
"..."
"That hit harder than I expected."
"No kidding."
Mr. Saad's expression changed.
Now something else appeared.
A quiet sadness.
The audience felt it immediately.
"Why does that sound so sad?"
"Because she means it."
Mr. Saad looked at her for several seconds.
Then slowly lowered his head.
Finally, he smiled, a grateful smile,
"Thank you, Miss."
"You're welcome."
Mr. Saad moved toward the door.
Before leaving, he looked back one last time.
His eyes became suspiciously wet.
He quickly adjusted his glasses, cleared his throat and turned away.
The cameras caught him discreetly wiping at the corner of one eye before stepping out.
The comment section erupted.
"MR. SAAD IS CRYING."
"NOOOO."
"I'M CRYING NOW."
"THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A NORMAL DAY."
"WHY AM I EMOTIONALLY INVESTED IN A BUTLER?"
The front door closed softly behind him.
And just like that—
The vast Sunayna mansion became completely empty.
The mansion had fallen into a deep silence.
With Mr. Saad gone and the rest of the family away, only the faint sounds of turning pages and pencil strokes remained.
Maya sat at a table near the balcony doors.
A sketchbook lay open before her.
Lines slowly appeared across the paper.
' A BOY'S FACE. '
Small details most people would never notice.
The livestream audience had settled into a surprisingly peaceful rhythm.
"She's drawing."
"She's actually just drawing."
"The internet gathered millions of people to watch a girl sketch."
"And somehow I'm still watching."
Then—
Tap.
A light sound struck the balcony glass.
Maya's pencil stopped instantly.
The audience barely noticed it.
Her eyes lifted immediately toward the balcony.
Another tap.
This time she stood.
The comment section accelerated.
"WHAT WAS THAT?"
"Did someone hit the window?"
"She knows what that is."
"SHE DEFINITELY KNOWS WHAT THAT IS."
"WHY DOES SHE LOOK LIKE SHE KNOWS WHO IT IS?"
"EXACTLY."
"THAT IS NOT A NORMAL REACTION."
She calmly stood and walked toward the balcony doors and slid one open slightly.
Outside—
Someone was standing on the third-floor balcony railing.
The livestream chat collectively lost its mind.
"WHAT."
"WHAT."
"WHAT."
"IS THAT A PERSON?"
"WHY IS THERE A PERSON ON THE THIRD FLOOR?"
The camera angle shifted just enough.
The moment viewers recognized him, the chat exploded.
"RAHI."
"OH NO."
"THE CHAOS HAS ARRIVED."
"WHY IS HE ON THE BALCONY?"
"USE THE FRONT DOOR LIKE A NORMAL PERSON."
"WHY IS HE ON THE BALCONY?"
"USE THE FRONT DOOR LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN."
Rahi appeared completely unconcerned by the fact that most people entered houses through doors.
And completely unconcerned by the height.
He was balanced casually against the railing as though gravity had agreed to take the day off.
She looked at him, "What happened?"
The audience immediately noticed that too.
"WAIT."
"SHE DIDN'T ASK WHY HE'S THERE."
"I THINK THIS IS NORMAL FOR THEM."
"DO THEY KNOW EACH AUTHER . "
"THAT'S THE SCARIEST PART."
"WAIT."
"WHY DOES HE LOOK LIKE THAT?"
"I DON'T LIKE THIS."
Rahi reached into his jacket,
"I found something."
He pulled out an envelope.
"Look at this."
Carefully, he slid it through the opening.
Maya accepted it, her eyes moved over the envelope, "Who gave this to you?"
Rahi's expression didn't change.
"Someone."
The comments exploded again.
"THEY TALK LIKE THIS ."
"THEY HAVE THE ENERGY OF TWO PEOPLE WHO SHARE A SINGLE BRAIN CELL."
"AND SOMEHOW MAYA HAS IT MOST OF THE TIME."
Meanwhile, viewers were still stuck on a different issue.
"CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE IS ON A THIRD-FLOOR BALCONY?"
"YES."
"HOW DID HE GET THERE?"
"MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHY?"
Rahi added,
"This letter was given to me for you."
Another pause.
"I..... I didn't open it, you should read it."
His voice was too calm.
But there was tension underneath.
Something unusual, something that immediately caught Maya's attention.
Because Rahi rarely sounded like this.