"Son, are you coming out? Breakfast is ready," his mother called softly.

Milo took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He knew he had to pull himself together and act normally to keep his family from worrying. With a forced smile, he opened the door.

"I'm okay, Mom and Dad," he said brightly, his voice betraying none of the fear he felt inside.

His father looked at him, his brow furrowed with concern. "Are you sure? You don't look well."

"Yes, Dad, I'm sure. I just had an argument with my friends," he lied smoothly, hoping his facade was convincing enough.

His brother Nuea, who was already at the dining table munching on his breakfast, glanced up and said with a mouthful of food, "I told you he's okay."

Milo's mother enveloped him in a warm hug. "Get ready; you're getting late for college," she said, her tone laced with both relief and lingering concern.

Milo nodded, returning the hug tightly. "Thanks, Mom," he pulled back, giving her a reassuring smile before heading to his room to get dressed.

As he stood in front of the mirror, buttoning up his shirt, his mind raced with thoughts of the previous night. He knew he couldn't let his guard down, but he also couldn't let his family see how terrified he was. They had enough to worry about.

He picked out a casual outfit, hoping it would help him blend in and not draw any unwanted attention. As he dressed, he kept replaying the moment he saw the murder. The tall man's face, his piercing gaze. He shivered, trying to shake off the memory.

"Should I go to the police station?" he asked himself.  He let out a big sigh, and he walked out of his room.

Downstairs, the atmosphere was almost normal. His father was reading the newspaper, his mother was bustling around the kitchen, and Nuea was engrossed in his phone. Milo joined them at the table, forcing himself to eat even though his stomach was in knots.

"You're awfully quiet this morning," his father observed, peering at him over the top of his newspaper.

"Just tired, Dad," Milo replied, managing a small smile. "I didn't sleep well."

"Well, make sure you take care of yourself," he said, patting his hand. "College is important, but your health comes first."

"Thanks, Dad. I will," he promised.

As he finished his breakfast, Milo's phone buzzed. He glanced at it, hoping it was a message from King, but it was just a reminder about his classes. Sighing, he put it away and stood up. "I better get going."

His mother handed him a lunchbox. "Have a good day, dear. And remember, we're here if you need anything."

Milo nodded, feeling a lump form in his throat. He grabbed his bag and headed out the door. As he walked, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. He glanced around but saw nothing suspicious. Still, the paranoia lingered.

                                                                               ***

Milo stepped onto the college campus, a sense of unease creeping over him for days. He glanced around, the familiar buildings and bustling students providing little comfort. It felt as if eyes were boring into him from every direction. As he walked, the feeling intensified, and he quickened his pace.

Suddenly, he sensed someone rushing towards him. Before he could react, a figure jumped on him. Milo gasped, his heart pounding in his chest, only to see his friend Waan grinning mischievously at him.

"Gotcha!" Waan laughed, seeing the look of terror on Milo's face. "You're so sensitive, Milo. It's like you've seen a ghost!"

Milo's fear quickly turned to irritation. "Not funny, Waan," he said, kicking at him playfully.

Waan yelped and stumbled backward, falling to the ground with a groan. "Okay, okay, I get it. No more surprises."

Unbeknownst to Milo, two men dressed in casual clothes were watching him from outside the college gates. They wore Bluetooth earpieces, subtly communicating as they kept their eyes fixed on him. These men had been following Milo for days, their motives unclear but their presence menacing.

Later, in the cafeteria, Milo sat with Waan and Som. The atmosphere was lively with the chatter of students, but Milo couldn't shake the feeling of dread. Som, as usual, was trying to flirt with Waan, who seemed more annoyed than flattered.

"Come on, Waan," Som teased, leaning closer. "How about a date this weekend?"

Waan rolled his eyes, but then a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. "You know, Som," he said, leaning in and lowering his voice to a husky whisper, "maybe I've been playing hard to get because I was waiting for the right moment to say yes."

Som blinked, momentarily caught off guard by Waan's sudden shift in demeanor. "Wait, really?"

Waan smirked, tracing a finger along Som's arm. "Maybe. If you can handle it."

Milo barely registered their banter, his mind preoccupied with the haunting memory of Kiet's menacing eyes. He could still see that cold, unyielding stare in his mind, and it made his skin crawl.

Waan noticed Milo's distracted state and called his name twice. "Milo? Milo!"

Milo didn't respond, lost in his thoughts. It wasn't until Som shook his shoulder that Milo snapped back to reality, gasping in surprise.

"Hey, are you okay?" Som asked, concern etched on his face. "You look pale."

Milo took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "I'm fine," he lied, though his pallor betrayed him.

"Seriously, Milo. What's going on? You've been acting weird all day." Waan said, echoing his earlier teasing but with genuine concern this time.

"Is you're family having a financial crisis again?" Som asked.

"No, it's nothing. Don't worry," Milo said.

"You look pale. You can tell us," Waan said, looking at his pale face.

"Really?"

"Yeah, tell us what happened. Maybe we can help you," Som said gently.

Milo opened his mouth to speak, to tell them about the men watching him and about the terror that Kiet's presence invoked. But before he could say anything, his eyes caught sight of his boyfriend, King, across the cafeteria. King was with Jay, and they were laughing and giggling together, completely absorbed in their conversation.

A pang of hurt and confusion shot through Milo. King had been distant lately, and seeing him so happy with someone else made Milo's heart ache. The worry on Som and Waan's faces deepened as they followed Milo's gaze.

"Is everything okay with you and King?" Som asked gently.

Milo shook his head, feeling the weight of his fears and insecurities pressing down on him. "I don't know," he whispered. "I just feel like everything's falling apart."

His stomach twisted in knots, a mix of jealousy and fear gripping him. He wanted to confide in King, to tell him everything and hug him tightly. But seeing King so happy with Jay made him hesitate. What if King thought he was overreacting or, worse, crazy?

"Milo?" Som's voice broke through his thoughts. "You can talk to us, you know."

Milo looked at his friends, their faces full of genuine concern. He realized that he couldn't carry this burden alone. Taking a deep breath, he began to speak, his voice trembling. "There's something I need to tell you guys."

But just as he started, the two men in casual clothes entered the cafeteria, their eyes locking onto Milo. He froze, his fear returning with full force. He knew in that moment that whatever he was about to say would have to wait. The danger was closer than ever, and he had to be ready.

Waan noticed Milo's distress and said, "Hey, Milo," Waan said softly,  "We're here for you. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together."

Som nodded, "Yeah, Milo. You're not alone. We've got your back."

Milo couldn't carry the weight on his heart any longer. His tears fell, and his body shivered as he finally said, "I saw something that I shouldn't have seen."

Som and Waan, noticing his distress, immediately moved closer, each taking one of his hands in theirs. "Hey, it's okay," Som said softly. "We're here. What did you see?"

Milo glanced at the two men who had been watching him from across the cafeteria. They were still there, their eyes fixed on him. Clenching his fist, he said, "I saw something terrible—something very terrible."

Som and Waan exchanged worried glances, their confusion evident. "What did you see, Milo?" Waan asked gently.

Taking a deep breath, Milo began to recount everything he had witnessed. He told them about the video he recorded, the gruesome scene it depicted, and the menacing eyes of Kiet. As he spoke, his voice trembled, and the fear he had been bottling up spilled out.

When he finished, Som and Waan were silent, their faces pale with shock. They turned to look at the men who were still observing Milo from a distance, realizing the danger he was in.

Som's expression darkened with anger. He stood up abruptly, fists clenched. "That's it. I'm going to punch those guys and beat them to a pulp."

Waan grabbed his arm, pulling him back down. "Som, no! They're mafias. They won't hesitate to kill you."

Som's eyes blazed with fury, but Milo's trembling voice stopped him. "Please, Som. I can't afford to lose my friends. I can't lose you."

The tension was thick as the two men, who had been following Milo, exchanged glances. One of them discreetly dialed a number on his phone. Kiet answered on the other end, his voice calm and cold. "What's the update?"

"It looks like Milo told everything to his friends," the man reported. "He showed them the video."

Kiet, who had been reading Milo's detailed information, smirked. "The boy is brave."

"Should we bring Milo and his friends to you, or take care of them here?" the man asked, his tone devoid of emotion.

"Keep watching them," Kiet instructed. "I know how to handle such boys."

"Okay, sir."

Kiet hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair, looking at a picture of Milo on his desk. "Looks like we're going to have lots of fun," he murmured, a sinister smile curling on his lips.