He was shaking.

Aisan noticed first.

“Dothu… what’s wrong?” she asked gently. “You look stressed today.”

Dothu didn’t answer right away. His eyes were fixed on the table, as if the wood itself held answers he was afraid to read. Atonix leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, watching him carefully. Too carefully.

After a long pause, Dothu finally spoke, his voice low and uneven.

“It’s… it’s Zynex,” he said. “The past few days haven’t been normal for him. The police, the news, his dad… everything is closing in.”

Aisan’s face slowly changed. Her lips trembled, and before she could stop herself, tears welled up in her eyes.

“No…” she whispered. “It can’t be that bad.”

“He’s being watched,” Dothu continued. “From every side. People think he did it. Even those who should trust him don’t anymore."

Aisan covered her mouth, a quiet sob escaping her. “Zynex would never…” she said. “He wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

That’s when Atonix finally spoke.

“We should leave him,” he said flatly.

The words hit the table like broken glass.

“What?!” Aisan shouted, standing halfway up. “What did you just say?”

Atonix didn’t flinch. His expression was cold, almost annoyed. He tapped his finger once on the table, slow and deliberate.

“Think about it,” he said. “First, two people are dead because of him. Then suddenly, Zynex is trying to involve me," he scoffed “he’s probably looking for someone else to blame.”

Aisan shook her head violently. “No. You’re wrong. Zynex would never do that especially, not to us.”

“Oh really?” Atonix replied. “Because from where I’m standing, he’s desperate. And desperate people do stupid things.”

Doggy clenched his fists.

“Keep your mouth shut, Ato—” Doggy started, but Atonix cut him off sharply.

“Were you even alive?” Atonix snapped. “Or you were just breathing like a dog sleeping in the floor.”

The café felt colder suddenly.

Doggy froze. His throat tightened, and for a moment, he couldn’t breathe.

Aisan looked between them, confused and scared. “Why are you talking like this?” she asked. “Why does it sound like you’re already convinced he’s guilty?”

Atonix didn’t answer her. Inside his mind, panic was growing.

 ---If Zynex talks… if he remembers… everything falls apart.---

There was no evidence. None that pointed to Atonix. But Zynex knew things things that could unravel everything he had carefully hidden. And Atonix wasn’t about to let that happen.

“I’m not going down for him,” Atonix said quietly. “Not when there’s no proof I did anything.”

Dothu looked up then, eyes filled with fear and guilt.

“You’re scared,” he said. “Not of Zynex but of the truth.”

Atonix stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.

“This conversation is over,” he said. “Choose wisely who you stand with.”

He walked out, leaving silence behind.

Aisan collapsed back into her chair, tears finally falling.

Dothu stared at the empty seat Atonix had left behind, his heart pounding.

Zynex was alone.

And now, his friends were beginning to break apart.

What will happen next?

Will the truth surface… or will