The next morning, campus life moved in its usual chaos—students rushing between classes, vendors shouting near the gates, the air thick with chatter and heat.
Luiz kept his head down, earbuds in, pretending to listen to music. In reality, the phone call from last night still looped in his thoughts.
He couldn't focus. Not on the lecture, not on his professor's words. His pen hovered uselessly above his notebook.
Why me? Why call me?
When the class finally ended, Kevin fell into step beside him. "You're zoning out again. What's the deal? Secret sugar mama? Mafia boss? Debt collector?"
Luiz laughed nervously, too quickly. "Nothing like that."
Kevin narrowed his eyes, reading him far too well. "Right. Sure. You've got 'mystery drama' written all over you. Don't worry, I'll figure it out."
Luiz froze. Panic surged, but he forced himself to keep walking, pretending he hadn't heard.
That night, alone in the dorm, he found a small package slipped under his door. No name. No note. Just a silver pendant inside, glinting under the weak light.
Luiz's breath caught. He recognized it immediately.
He had seen it once, years ago, glittering against the flawless skin of a woman the world adored.
And now it was here, in his hand.
Behind him, Kevin stirred in his sleep.
Luiz clutched the pendant tight. If he ever finds out…