The following Monday, Agatha was at school, spending a typical day in the library with her friends—Connor Miller, Allison Green, and Ezra Thompson—studying for the upcoming exam week. Ezra, a 20-year-old aspiring business analyst, had met Agatha on their first day of classes. Since they were pursuing similar majors, they shared several lectures and quickly bonded over their academic journey.

Connor, 23, joined their circle through his cousin, Allison, who was also 20. Allison had met Agatha and Ezra by accident—she had walked into the wrong classroom at the start of the semester but found the lecture interesting enough to stay. When she later asked Agatha to explain unfamiliar terminology, the blonde took a liking to her, and they soon became friends. And just like that, their group was formed.

That Monday, Agatha and Ezra were preparing for the test they’d soon face. Agatha, however, was doing her best to ignore Donovan, who sat across from them with his elbows on the table and his chin resting in his hands. His smitten smile made it obvious he was practically drooling over someone, his eyes glued to the group’s every move.

They were calmly discussing their exams and personal lives when Agatha’s phone suddenly vibrated. ‘One new message: Koray.’ She quickly excused herself, slipping away from the table. She never knew if Koray’s messages were gang-related or just a random meme, so it was safer not to let her friends see what she was about to type.

Agatha laughed at her brother’s texts; she was one of the few who had the privilege of knowing his funny side—the side that wasn’t a terrifying gangster but just a 25-year-old who looked after his sister. Not the feared ‘leader’ of the country’s most notorious gang, but simply a young man. She was both proud and grateful to have him as her brother.

After their brief exchange, she returned to her friends, only for Ezra to tease, “Ooooh, who was that? Your boyfriend?”

Agatha had never told them about Koray. But now, after knowing them for a couple of years, she figured it was time to share more about herself. “No, my brother,” she replied casually, as if the revelation were nothing more than a passing comment.

Grabbing her backpack, she stood up with deliberate grace and made a dramatic exit—despite the fact that her next class wasn’t for another 30 minutes.

Her friends were left stunned, their minds racing to process the new information. Agatha had never mentioned her family, and they had all assumed she had a strained relationship with them, having received nothing but silence when they’d once asked. So why had she kept it a secret for so long?

“Wait! Agatha Quinn!” Connor’s shout broke the silence, his voice sharp and full of disbelief. His outburst startled Donovan, who now found himself deeply concerned. Why was the love of his life so rattled by the blonde’s sudden departure? “What the hell?”

They exchanged glances, the realization settling in—yes, Agatha had just said she had a family member. But before they could react, Agatha flashed them a playful wink and seized the perfect moment to make her dramatic exit, fully aware that her friends would follow, eager for answers.

“Sooo… did anyone know she had a brother?” Ezra asked, breaking the stunned silence.

“No,” Allison replied. “She never really talks about her family. We figured there was a reason for that, so we never asked.”

“So… are we going after her or what?”

“Oh, definitely,” Connor said with a laugh. “That exit was practically an invitation.”

Laughter rippled through the group as, one by one, they left the cafeteria in pursuit of Agatha. Meanwhile, she was already outside, sitting at a table, casually waiting for them—mentally crafting a cover story.

She was thankful for Koray—he had given her the perfect excuse to escape Donovan’s unrelenting gaze. It was getting uncomfortable.

Leaning against the cold metal table, she let the crisp breeze cool the frustration burning beneath her skin. Around her, the campus buzzed with students, their chatter blending into a distant hum. But here, away from him, she could finally breathe.

Donovan was a problem she hadn’t figured out how to solve yet. He wasn’t dangerous—not in the way she was used to—but that didn’t make him any less of a nuisance. She was certain Koray had handled everything—ensuring Donovan blacked out after stumbling into the warehouse, yet the mere thought of him still grated on her nerves.

His gaze was relentless—always watching, always lingering. Agatha couldn’t stand it anymore. Not after he had stumbled into the Shadows’ territory. There was something about the way he looked at them that made her skin crawl. She wanted to pry open his mind, to see what thoughts slithered beneath the surface.

Exhaling sharply, she shut her eyes for a brief moment. She couldn’t just tell him to leave her alone—that would mean acknowledging him, giving him the satisfaction of knowing he had gotten under her skin. And he wasn’t worth her time. Yet, like an unwelcome shadow, he refused to disappear.

Before her frustration could boil over, her friends arrived, their chatter effortlessly breaking through the tension. As soon as the topic shifted back to her brother, the tightness in her shoulders eased. He let the conversation carry her, pushing Donovan from her mind. For now, at least.

The familiar rhythm of their gossip was a welcome distraction, but a part of her still simmered with unease. Connor, ever perceptive, caught onto her mood and nudged her playfully. “Alright, Aggie, who was that mysterious text from earlier?” she asked, curiosity dripping from her tone.

Agatha hesitated for a moment before answering. She wasn’t used to talking about her family, but now that she had revealed her brother, the floodgates felt a little less intimidating. “It was from Koray,” she said softly, her voice steady but carrying a quiet fondness. “My older brother. He’s... well, he’s—he’s always been there for me, even when things weren’t easy.”

Allison leaned in, clearly intrigued. “You’ve never mentioned him before. I didn’t know you had family. What’s he like?”

Agatha’s lips curled into a small smile, a rare softening of her usual guarded expression. “Koray is… fiercely protective of me. He’s the one person I can count on, no matter what.”

Ezra raised an eyebrow, clearly picking up on Agatha’s tone. “Sounds like you two have a strong bond. I’d love to meet him someday.”

Agatha chuckled, shaking her head. “You’d have to be on your best behavior. He’s... protective, like I said.”

Just then, her phone alarm rang, signaling the end of their brief respite from the upcoming chaos of their day. With a sigh, Agatha stood up, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Anyway, we better get going. We’ve got tests to survive.”