Chapter 6: The Vanishing Act

The sound of muffled sobs filled the empty corridor as Kahani clung to Veronica, tears streaking down her face. She was terrified, exhausted from the constant torment Malang faced at the hands of the basketball team.

"They hate him, Veronica," Kahani's voice trembled. "Just because he's an orphan, because he has no family name to back him up. They think they own the spotlight, that they deserve all the respect and admiration just because they were born into rich families. And Malang? He’s better than all of them combined, and that’s what they can’t stand!"

Veronica listened in silence, her expression unreadable.

"They humiliate him for no reason," Kahani continued, her fists tightening. "They push him around, call him names, and act like they own the place. It’s not fair! We need to do something, Veronica. We have to put an end to this!"

Veronica placed a comforting hand on Kahani’s shoulder, offering her a warm smile. "You’re right. We can’t let them get away with this. Let’s confront them. They need to be put in their place."

Kahani nodded eagerly, wiping her tears. "After class, we’ll go to the basketball court. That’s where they always hang out."

Hours later…

The sun had begun its descent, casting long shadows across the university grounds. The sound of bouncing basketballs usually echoed from the court, but today, there was only silence.

Veronica and Kahani exchanged glances as they approached. The place felt eerie—too still, too empty.

"Where is everyone?" Kahani murmured, her voice uneasy.

Veronica scanned the area, her eyes sharp. Not a single soul in sight. The court, which was usually bustling with activity, now looked abandoned. The air felt thick with something unspoken, something unknown.

"They should be here," Veronica said, more to herself than to Kahani.

They waited. Minutes passed. Then an hour.

Nothing.

Days went by, and still, there was no sign of the basketball team. No taunts in the hallways. No shoving Malang around. No arrogant laughs or cocky smirks. It was as if they had disappeared off the face of the earth.

At first, Kahani was relieved. "Maybe they got scared," she said, trying to laugh it off. "Maybe they knew we were going to confront them and ran away like cowards."

But Veronica?

She wasn’t so sure.

Something didn’t sit right. Disappearing for a day or two was one thing—but for days on end? Without a single trace? Even their usual groupies, the ones who followed them around, were unusually silent.

And that… that was unsettling.

She was supposed to be the one making a move. She had planned to talk to them, to use her noble background as leverage, to "convince" them to stay in their place. But now, before she could do anything—

They were just gone. Just like that?.

A strange unease settled in her stomach.

Where were they?

And more importantly… what happened to them?

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