Jay's POV
Nobody took their eyes off David.
The photograph was still in my hand, and those four words written in red ink seemed to burn into my mind.
David lied to all of you.
A few hours ago, I would've laughed if someone had told me we'd be standing in a storage room accusing David of hiding secrets.
Now, nobody was laughing.
"Say something," Ci-n finally said.
David looked around at all of us before letting out a frustrated sigh.
"Are you serious right now?"
"That's your response?" Calix asked.
"What do you want me to say?"
"The truth would be a good start," Keifer replied.
The tension between them immediately returned.
David glared at him.
"You really think you're helping?"
"No, I think you're hiding something."
I stepped forward before the argument could explode.
"David, just answer one question."
His eyes met mine.
For a moment, I almost looked away.
There was something different about him tonight.
Something guarded.
Something distant.
"What?" he asked quietly.
"Do you know who's sending these messages?"
The room fell silent.
Everyone waited.
David looked at the floor for a few seconds before shaking his head.
"No."
I wanted to believe him.
I really did.
But after everything that had happened tonight, it was getting harder.
"Then why does every message keep pointing at you?" Felix asked.
David didn't answer.
That silence told us more than words ever could.
Ci-n ran a hand through his hair.
"Bro, this is getting ridiculous."
"Tell me about it," Eman muttered.
Another notification suddenly echoed through the storage room.
Felix immediately pulled out his phone.
Nobody even reacted anymore.
We were expecting it.
The message was short.
Very short.
He still won't tell you.
Look inside the auditorium.
Calix stared at the screen.
"Okay, now I'm convinced this person is watching us."
"Can we stop listening to random messages?" David snapped.
The sudden outburst surprised everyone.
Even me.
Keifer folded his arms.
"You seem really desperate to keep us away from that auditorium."
David laughed bitterly.
"Or maybe I'm the only one here using common sense."
"Then explain what's going on."
"I CAN'T."
The words exploded out of him.
The room instantly went quiet.
David froze.
Like he hadn't meant to say that much.
Felix frowned.
"Can't... or won't?"
David looked away.
And just like that, I knew.
There was definitely something he wasn't telling us.
I just didn't know why.
"Jay," he said suddenly.
His voice was calmer now.
Almost pleading.
"Can I talk to you alone?"
Everyone exchanged looks.
Even Keifer looked surprised.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because I need to."
For a few seconds, nobody moved.
Then Ci-n nodded toward the hallway.
"We'll wait here."
I followed David outside.
The moment the storage room door closed behind us, the noise from the others disappeared.
For the first time all night, it was just the two of us.
Neither of us spoke immediately.
David leaned against the wall and stared at the floor.
"You don't trust me anymore, do you?"
The question caught me off guard.
"What?"
"You heard me."
I didn't know how to answer.
Because the truth was complicated.
David had been one of the most important people in my life for years.
But tonight?
Tonight felt different.
"I want to trust you," I admitted.
"That's not an answer."
David laughed softly, but there wasn't any humor in it.
"I guess I deserve that."
A strange feeling settled in my chest.
"David..."
He looked up.
For a second, he looked like he wanted to tell me everything.
Every secret.
Every lie.
Every answer.
Then the storage room door suddenly burst open.
Felix came running out.
His face was completely pale.
"Guys."
My stomach dropped.
The way he said it instantly told me something was wrong.
"What happened?" I asked.
Felix looked between me and David.
"You need to see this."
"What now?"
Felix swallowed hard.
"The sender just sent a video."
And judging by the fear in his eyes...
Whatever was in that video was about to change everything.