In class, Tharaa's phone rang. She looked at the screen—it was Tamizh calling. She didn’t answer. The phone rang again. This time, she picked up.
"Why didn’t you answer my call?" Tamizh asked.
Tharaa replied calmly, "I was in class, that’s why."
Tamizh sighed. "Okay, after class, wait in your classroom. I’m coming."
Tharaa hesitated for a moment, then said, "Okay."
Meanwhile, Kathir was talking to Yaraa.
"Come to my house. I’ll teach you how to earn money so you can give," Kathir said.
"Nope, I don’t want to give it," Yaraa replied.
Kathir smirked. "Then you can’t join my group. You have two skills, but without money, you won’t be a part of my team."
Yaraa smiled. "So, without that, I can’t join? Think again. There must be another way."
Kathir thought for a moment, then said, "Alright. I’ll tell you after class."
Waiting for an Answer
After the final bell rang, Tharaa remained in the classroom, waiting for Tamizh.
Her friends noticed and asked "Hey, why are you still here? Class is over. Let’s go."
"You guys go ahead. I’ll come in a few minutes," Tharaa replied.
They exchanged glances but eventually left.
At the same time, Kathir was looking for Yaraa. He spotted him walking in the corridor and called out, "Yaraa!"
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Yaraa stopped and turned around.
Kathir approached him. "There is a way for you to join my group without money."
Yaraa’s expression remained calm, but inside, he was pleased. This was exactly what he wanted to hear.
"I spoke with my leader," Kathir continued. "He wants to meet you. Be at the ground at 7 PM."
Yaraa nodded. "Okay."
Meanwhile
Tharaa waited in the classroom, but Tamizh never came. She sighed, feeling as if she had missed something important.
Just as she was about to leave, Tamizh suddenly came running toward her.
"I told you to wait in the classroom!" he said.
Tharaa turned to face him, and the moment he grabbed her hand, she slapped him.
"How dare you touch me without my permission?" she snapped.
Tamizh stood there, stunned. For a brief moment, a memory flashed in his mind—a girl from the previous year had reacted the same way. He didn’t ask any further questions.
Tharaa glared at him. "I said I love you, but that doesn’t mean you can touch me without my consent."
Tamizh nodded. "Okay. From now on, we’re officially dating. I’ll come to pick you up tomorrow at your home."
Tharaa was shocked. "No! Wait 50 meters away from my house. I’ll come on my own."
Tamizh smirked. "Alright." Then he added, "Before you go, tell me—how did you get my number?"
Tharaa hesitated. She had a diary that contained details about Tamizh and the college system. After thinking for a moment, she simply said, "A friend gave it to me. Why?"
Tamizh narrowed his eyes slightly but then shook his head. "Nothing. Just curious."
Then, he walked away. Tharaa sighed and headed home.
At 7 PM, Yaraa stood in the ground, waiting for Kathir. He tried calling him, but there was no answer.
Suddenly, he felt something behind him.
Before he could react, a heavy blow struck his head.
His vision blurred.
Everything spun.
When he finally regained some sense of awareness, he realized something was wrong.
He was no longer outside.
Yaraa found himself in a dimly lit room.
In front of him stood Kathir, speaking in hushed tones with someone else. Yaraa couldn’t make out the words, but he could feel it—this other person radiated danger.
The mysterious figure stepped forward.
Before Yaraa could react, a strong hand grabbed his hair, yanking his head up. His vision was still hazy, but now he could see the man’s face—cold, calculating eyes staring directly into his.
The man turned to Kathir. "Are you sure this is the one who said that to you?"
Kathir didn’t respond.
The man then looked at Yaraa. "So, you refuse to give us money, but you still want to join the fifth group?"
Yaraa gave a slight nod.
The man smirked. "There is a way. You can join my group—but for that, you have to defeat me in a fight."
Yaraa nodded again.
Then—without warning—a sudden, sharp impact.
Darkness.
Yaraa had been knocked out.