The sun was directly overhead. Hot air enveloped the SMKN 2 Maykarta complex. In the crowded school canteen, students were busy choosing food while laughing or discussing unfinished assignments.
Dhoost had just ordered his favorite smashed fried chicken. He was looking for an empty table, but his eyes caught Dzoavha sitting alone in a relatively quiet corner, enjoying his pecel rice.
He approached and sat across from Dzoavha without asking.
"Aren't you bored? Buying pecel rice every single day?"
Dzoavha looked up briefly, then continued eating. "Of all the food here, this is the only one I like. Besides, you buy smashed fried chicken every day too."
Dhoost just nodded slowly. He didn't want to argue about food. Something else was bothering him.
Since last night, the black watch with purple accents on his wrist felt so heavy. Not physically, but in terms of its meaning. It was his new identity.
And he wasn't fully ready for it.
"So… are we really supposed to leave when this watch beeps?" he asked, tapping the watch.
Dzoavha didn't answer immediately. He kept eating calmly, as if the question wasn't a big deal.
Dhoost didn't give up.
"It's Monday, Dap. Today's schedule is Computer Network practice. If this watch suddenly beeps, what should I tell the teacher? 'Sorry, I have to leave for a mission' or something?"
Dzoavha finally looked at him. His face was flat, as usual.
"Relax. PILAR must have thought of all this. It's just that we don't know how yet."
Dhoost sighed.
"That's not the only problem. We have to go to that old warehouse to get to PILAR headquarters. It's far, you know. Just imagine, we leave school, ride our bikes, get there… we won't make it on time. And if we're late? We'll definitely be punished, right? Or maybe… something worse?"
Dzoavha didn't answer. He just finished another bite, then said,
"Finish your smashed chicken first.Think about other problems later."
Dhoost was silent for a moment, then spoke again.
"I'm just thinking… PILAR seems strict. They probably won't give us any leeway if we're late. And I'm afraid… we'll get a punishment worse than yesterday's test."
He looked at the watch again.
"Maybe going to that warehouse was a big mistake…"
Dzoavha let out a soft sigh. He put down his spoon, then looked at Dhoost with a calm gaze.
"Just take life easy, Dhoost. We're still Trainees. They won't just give us a mission right away. Besides, they must have thought of everything."
He glanced at the canteen clock.
"For now,just focus on your food. Break time is only five minutes left."
Halfway through his chicken, the bell rang loudly. Break time was over.
Dhoost snorted in annoyance. He shoveled his food quickly, trying to save the remaining chicken.
Dzoavha stood up slowly, wiped his hands with a tissue, then patted his shoulder.
"Don't overthink, Dhoost," he said.
"A Shadow has to be calm.If the Shadow is panicking like this… what about the others?"
After that, Dzoavha walked towards his class, leaving Dhoost who was still halfway through his meal.
Dhoost looked at the watch again.
He wasn't sure if he was truly ready.
But he knew one thing, this was just the beginning.
And he didn't know what would happen if the watch started beeping during an exam, during class, or even while he was sleeping.
---
Inside one of the toilet cubicles at SMAN 4 Maykarta, thin smoke began to waft from behind the closed door. No sound of running water or footsteps. Just the sound of burning tobacco from the cigarette lit in Ryn's hand.
He stood relaxed, leaning his shoulder against the cold ceramic wall.
"Screw that 'bad stamina because of cigarettes' nonsense," he murmured softly, taking a long drag.
"I can still run three times faster than that blangkon guy."
He imagined Agent Miftah's expression yesterday, when he confiscated the cigarette pack. Smirking cynically, he blew the smoke out slowly.
After finishing, he didn't throw it away carelessly. He dropped the cigarette butt into the toilet bowl and flushed it.
He didn't want to get caught by a teacher or the cleaning staff.
Finished, he opened the cubicle door and was immediately greeted by the warm afternoon air and the bustling sounds of students in the corridor.
With a leisurely step, Ryn headed to the canteen. He grabbed a glass of fruit-flavored drink from the fridge, sweet enough to mask the smell of smoke from his mouth.
"Better to drink this than brush my teeth," he said to himself, walking past rows of nearly full tables.
His eyes caught his two friends, Radhif and Nadhyfa, sitting across from each other, looking serious discussing something.
He approached.
Without asking,without small talk.
With a quick movement, he dropped himself onto an empty chair, jolting their table. Nadhyfa jumped in surprise. Radhif just blinked.
"Showing up suddenly to scare people,you think it's funny?" Nadhyfa snorted, annoyed.
Ryn chuckled. "It's because your face is funny when you're surprised."
Nadhyfa ignored his antics. She immediately continued her conversation with Radhif.
"What if this watch beeps during an exam?Just think about it, I have a quiz right after this. If this watch suddenly beeps, what should I do?"
Before Radhif could answer, Nadhyfa immediately asked again.
"What about you,Dhif? Your class has P.E. next, right? You must have a plan if this watch beeps later, right?"
Radhif shook his head slowly. "I don't know either. Just… I feel they must have prepared a way for us to leave without causing a scene."
Before Nadhyfa could continue her protests, Ryn finally spoke up.
"You guys are so complicated."
He took a sip of his drink, then leaned back relaxed.
"If this watch beeps,then we just go. Besides, I'm not even in class later anyway."
Nadhyfa glared. "Are you actually happy to get a summons from PILAR?"
Ryn gave a faint smile. "I'd be happy to have a reason to skip school. Especially since it's Monday."
Radhif shook his head slowly. "Do you ever think about your future?"
"My future is what's right in front of my eyes. Not in textbooks," Ryn answered lightly.
Just as the conversation was about to continue, the bell rang loudly. The noisy chatter of students began to subside.
Ryn got up from his chair.
"I'm off first.My class is on the other side."
Nadhyfa could only shake her head. "A bit different."
Radhif sighed. "I think you're really not cut out to be a hero of Maykarta, Ryn. You're more suited to be... the villain."
Ryn grinned widely. "Hahaha. I never even thought about protecting this city."
Then he walked away, leaving Radhif and Nadhyfa looking at each other in disbelief.
After saying goodbye to Radhif and Nadhyfa, he strolled leisurely towards the main gate. His steps weren't hurried, as usual. His eyes looked for an opening.
He knew the school had rules; you couldn't leave without permission from the teacher on duty or an official letter. But Ryn also knew one more thing.
"Rules are meant to be broken."
Near the gate, a security guard was sitting in a small post, engrossed in reading a newspaper while drinking hot tea.
Ryn smiled faintly.
He stepped back a few steps, then moved towards the CCTV blind spot; a narrow corner between the school fence and a large, shady tree.
From his back pants pocket, he pulled out the small screwdriver he still carried from yesterday's test.
He threw it towards the CCTV camera.
A small sound was heard. The camera wobbled for a moment, then tilted. A black screen lit up on the guard post monitor.
The security guard looked up. Grumbled.
"Huh...why did it suddenly die?"
As he got up to check, Ryn had already passed through the gate calmly, like a shadow that was never truly seen.
Ryn didn't go home. He didn't want to meet his parents or enter the stressful house.
He had another destination today.
Near the Maykarta People's Bank, he approached a public bicycle parked neatly in the green lane. He inserted an electronic card from his wallet, unlocked it, and started pedaling.
The sky was bright blue. The air was quite hot, but the wind from the streets brought a refreshing feel. Ryn wasn't in a hurry. He even stopped briefly to buy cigarettes from a roadside stall.
Since leaving school, he hadn't smoked.
And that felt like a small sin to him.
The journey was quite far. The modern city streets turned into small roads with views of rice fields and empty plots on the city's edge.
Right at the end of the road, a simple coffee stall stood alone. Ryn's favorite spot.
He parked the bicycle, then ordered a cup of strong black coffee. The strong smell of coffee immediately hit his nostrils.
While waiting for his coffee, he took a cigarette from his pocket. And with confidence, he lit it.
"This is nice, isn't it? Better than being quiet in the school toilet," he murmured softly.
The coffee arrived. Ryn took a slow sip. Delicious.
But not long after that...
A small vibration from his pants pocket made him aware.
He knew that sound.
The PILAR watch.
He took it out. The screen lit up. A notification appeared.
"PILAR: Incoming Summons"
Normally, this would make anyone anxious. But Ryn just smiled.
He then hid it back in his pocket.
Once again, he took a drag of his cigarette. Blew the smoke out slowly. Watched the straight road ahead of him.
"I'll just wait for the others.If they want to go to the warehouse from yesterday, they'll pass by here anyway."
Ryn was sure his friends would pass in front of this stall, heading to the old warehouse where PILAR's headquarters was.
And that's when Ryn would join them.
With leisurely steps.
No anxiety. No pressure. Just coffee, and a cigarette.
Ryn wasn't the type to rush. He always believed everything would fall into place, even if he didn't look serious at all.
He sipped the coffee until it was finished.
Then, calmly, he opened his phone and got ready.
"Now…let's play a MOBA game first."
---
In the Computer and Network Engineering class, Dhoost van Meijer was busy configuring a Mikrotik. His laptop screen was on, and the sound of the mouse and keyboard filled the nearly silent room.
But suddenly...
His hand trembled.
Dhoost held his breath.
He glanced under the desk,then quickly slipped his hand to his left wrist.
The black watch with purple accents was vibrating. Its screen lit up,
"PILAR:Incoming Summons"
Dhoost swallowed. He knew this wasn't a normal call.
Before he could think of an excuse to leave the class, the classroom door opened.
A teacher from another class,Mr. Rusdi, entered with calm steps.
"Dhoost, you're requested to go to the library. Now."
Dhoost was shocked. But he had no reason to refuse.
He stood up,hiding his panic, and left the class.
Outside, Dzoavha was already waiting. He had also been summoned in the same way.
"Whoa, Dap? Did your watch beep too?" whispered Dhoost.
Dzoavha nodded slowly. "Mine beeped just as I was about to start the practical."
The two of them then followed Mr. Rusdi to the library.
Upon arriving at the library, the atmosphere felt quiet. Only the sound of the fan moving slowly.
Mr. Rusdi didn't say much. He just walked to the corner of the room, where thick bookshelves stood neatly.
With a calm movement, he pulled a few books from the shelf.
There were no signs of a secret mechanism.But a few seconds later...
A secret door appeared from behind the bookshelf.
Dhoost and Dzoavha looked at each other. Both were shocked.
"Come on in," said Mr. Rusdi briefly.
They entered, still confused.
"Is this... part of PILAR?"
---
At SMAN 4 Maykarta, the classroom atmosphere was silent. All students were working on their daily quiz.
But suddenly...
The sound of Nadhyfa's watch vibrating was quite loud in the classroom silence.Some friends around her looked up.
Nadhyfa panicked. She covered the watch with her hand, but it was too late.
Not long after, a cleaning staff member entered the class.
"Nadhyfa Azzaqiya, you are requested to come to the principal's office."
Nadhyfa sighed in relief. "Yes, Sir."
She walked out, still thinking about the watch.
As Nadhyfa exited, Radhif Izzuddin was walking alone in the corridor. He had just finished sports practice and was heading to Nadhyfa's class to meet her.
The cleaning staff member saw Radhif, then stopped for a moment.
"You're Radhif,right? Come along too."
Radhif was surprised. "Uh, Sorry sir… Nadhyfa and I have important business outside school."
Then the staff member replied. "Coincidentally, I have the same business with you two."
Nadhyfa and Radhif looked at him with confused expressions.
The cleaning staff member led the two of them to the cleaning equipment storage room behind the hall.
Inside, it was dark and stuffy. He closed the door, then typed something on a small panel on the wall.
A few seconds passed.
A secret door opened behind the wall of the old storage room.
Nadhyfa and Radhif looked at each other.
"So...our school is also part of PILAR?" asked Nadhyfa.
The cleaning staff member answered,
"You'll find out soon enough."
Dhoost and Dzoavha were escorted to the library. Radhif and Nadhyfa were taken to the cleaning storage. And Ryn... who knows where.
But one thing was clear, PILAR was summoning them.
And they were being summoned...in a way they never expected.
TO BE CONTINUED...