"I can't deny it. I really wanted to go to my graduation ceremony,"
Ayan said calmly, but the emotions of sorrow and discouragement were clearly reflected on his face. He could not skip his father's funeral just to attend his graduation ceremony. Last night, his father committed suicide by jumping from the terrace of his apartment.
Although the incident appeared quite straightforward, people and officials refused to believe it. The man who had always inspired others, the man who was a living example of perseverance, had given up on his own life.
As Ayan was lost in these thoughts, a girl with black hair and glowing blue eyes, dressed in mourning clothes, caught his attention. She was not a random person, but someone Ayan was familiar with.
"What are you doing here?" Ayan asked out of curiosity. The girl he was talking to was his classmate and also his club leader.
"What do you mean?"
"Won't you attend the ceremony?"
"I'm not that heartless to abandon my comrade in hard times."
Ayan was confused. He never imagined that the girl he had ignored for a long time, believing her to be useless, would say something so humble.
At the same time, someone tapped Ayan's shoulder.
"Dad! What are you doing here?" the girl asked.
"Oh! Kyle, you are here too. I just came to my friend's funeral. We both usually shared wine, but he went away without taking back the debt he gave me."
"So you are Arvin's son. Nice to meet you. My name is Arthur. I never expected you to be close to my daughter."
"We aren't close, Dad."
"Well," Ayan spoke, "what do you want from me?"
He had never seen a government official this talkative. Maybe it was because he was his father's friend.
The funeral ended, and Ayan remained busy seeing the guests off. Even though he had asked Kyle to look after his little sister, the worry in his heart refused to fade.
"My little Alice, I hope you are okay," he murmured while finishing the last of his duties.
As he worked, Arthur's words resurfaced in his mind.
"Can you meet me at my hotel at the end of the day? There is something I want to ask you."
You didn't do anything strange to him, Dad, Ayan thought. Because I can't sense any positive intentions behind his words.
The hotel room was dimly lit, wrapped in an unnatural stillness that felt heavier than silence itself. Thick curtains blocked the evening light, while the faint hum of the air conditioner echoed like a distant whisper. The scent of old wood and polished floors lingered in the air, giving the room a cold, detached elegance. It felt less like a place of rest—and more like a space meant for secrets to surface.
"So you've arrived, lad," Arthur said.
"Yeah. So could you please hurry up and ask what you want? I still have a lot of business to deal with," Ayan replied.
"Kyle, are you sure you want to be part of this conversation?" Arthur asked.
"Why not? I'm his leader," Kyle answered casually.
"So, where is Alice?" Ayan asked out of concern.
"She's sleeping in my room. Don't worry about it."
"Well," Arthur spoke calmly, "do you believe that your father's death was natural?"
"It seems so."
"Then let me ask you this—was your mother's death natural?"
"Who knows," Ayan replied calmly.
"You really are an interesting person."
"I'm honoured."
"Then here is my last question. Do you believe that supernatural and abnormal things exist?"
"I won't answer that."
"May I ask why?"
"My decision or belief won't change the fact of whether they exist or not," Ayan said calmly.
"When will you stop pretending?" Arthur asked, a faint smile on his face.
Silence spread across the room for several seconds.