After a soft knocking sound, the door of Laura's rented house creaked open, revealing Calvin Zachary standing tall with his signature smile. Laura's gaze locked onto the man before her, utterly unprepared for his sudden appearance at her doorstep this early in the morning.
But what shocked Laura even more were the items Calvin held out toward her—a smartphone and a wallet, both unmistakably his own.
"Sorry, I messed up your plan last night. These things should be yours now," Calvin said sincerely, his eyes fixed on Laura without the slightest hint of hesitation.
Laura frowned, her expression a mix of surprise and irritation. "Don't joke around, sir!"
Calvin only offered a small smile before lifting the large paper bag in his other hand, completely ignoring Laura's rejection. "Alright, it's fine if you don't want these. But you have to accept this one instead."
Laura remained silent, her gaze shifting to the paper bag, unable to hide her curiosity.
"This is our breakfast," Calvin continued, trying to sound casual. But Laura stayed frozen in place, her eyes narrowing with excessive caution and suspicion.
"Hey, do we have to eat outside?" Calvin teased, attempting to lighten the mood.
Still, Laura didn't respond. But slowly, the corners of her lips almost curled into a faint smile—though she quickly suppressed it. Reluctantly, she pushed the door open wider, allowing Calvin to step inside.
However, just as Calvin crossed the threshold, he suddenly stopped. His eyes flicked downward, catching the way Laura's hands were discreetly folded behind her back, moving ever so slightly.
He sighed softly, then raised both hands in surrender.
"Put the knife down, Sweetheart. I'd rather not have you use it to dismember me," he said playfully, his tone laced with amusement.
Laura flinched, her eyes widening for a brief moment before she bit her lower lip, trying to mask her embarrassment. But Calvin had already closed the distance between them in one swift motion, effortlessly prying the small knife from her grasp. Holding it in his palm, he met Laura's gaze with an understanding look.
"You don't need this when I'm around, Laura," Calvin murmured gently before setting the knife down on a small table near the door.
Laura lowered her head—whether out of uncertainty or an attempt to hide the blush creeping onto her face, it was hard to tell. But she said nothing, simply turning on her heels and walking deeper into the living room, allowing Calvin to follow with the paper bag of breakfast meant for the two of them.
Calvin stepped in carefully, letting the door close softly behind him. His gaze was immediately drawn to the living room, which was far more organized and structured than he had expected.
From the outside, this rented house looked bleak—almost like an abandoned place with no signs of life. But inside, there was something different. A quiet, orderly atmosphere, yet filled with hidden activity.
A bookshelf stood in one corner of the wall, packed with thick books on programming, encryption, and cybersecurity. On the central table, two high-spec laptops were turned on, displaying lines of running code and complex diagrams. Beside them were several tools: a modified router, a network sniffing device, and several large-capacity external hard drives. Calvin recognized them all immediately. As an IT teacher, this was a world he was familiar with—the cyber world, full of potential but also dangerous if in the wrong hands.
He stepped closer, his fingers lightly touching one of the laptops. He muttered unconsciously, "Hmm, neat wireless handling."
Then his attention was drawn to a small telescope lying near the window. He picked it up and walked towards the curtain, opening a small gap to look outside.
His small suspicion was confirmed. From this window, Harrow Elite International High School was clearly visible. The building stood tall, like a castle filled with secrets. Calvin lifted the telescope and began observing. The view gave him a clear picture—this wasn't just an ordinary workspace. Laura must have sat here often, spying on the school with intense focus.
"You do this a lot, don't you?" he asked without turning around, his voice low but meaningful. He could sense Laura's presence behind him. "Observing, finding loopholes, making sure you know everything they're hiding."
Laura didn't answer. She simply stood in the small kitchen, watching Calvin with an unreadable expression. Her hands were busy pouring water into a glass, but her eyes never left him.
Calvin lowered the telescope and turned around. "Laura," he called softly. "Have you also been spying on me with this?"
Laura gasped, as if her cover had been blown. Though her lips remained shut, and her voice was still restrained, the expression that flickered across her face was undeniable.
Calvin smirked slightly. "So, it's true?"
"N-no! Not just you! I spy on everyone there. You don't need to feel special, sir."
Calvin still wore that small smile as he sat down on the soft black velvet carpet. Then he pulled out the contents of the paper bag he had brought: warm croissants, two sandwiches, and two bottles of orange juice. He arranged them neatly on the small table, making sure everything looked inviting—or at least appetizing for Laura.
"Let's have breakfast first, Laura."
The girl hesitated but eventually moved closer, responding to Calvin's invitation, though her expression remained cold. She sat down, taking a seat directly across from him. Her hand reached out for a croissant without saying a word.
Calvin observed her closely, noting every small detail in her movements—the way she held her food, how she avoided eye contact, and how she remained alert, as if ready to flee at any moment.
"Laura," Calvin spoke again, his voice softer this time, almost a whisper.
"I know it's hard for you to trust me. And I don't blame you. This world has been too cruel to you. But I won't hurt you. I just want you to know… I'm here to help. At the very least, to make sure you don't have to go through this alone."
Laura stopped chewing, her gaze finally locking onto Calvin's for the first time since they sat down. Her stare was sharp, filled with suspicion. But beneath that sharpness, Calvin saw something deeper—a vulnerability hidden behind Laura's well-guarded walls.
"Do you even realize what you're saying, Mr. Calvin?" Laura finally spoke, her voice soft yet layered with meaning, like a breeze carrying a storm. Her words made Calvin straighten his back, fully focusing on her.
"You walked into my house, saw all of this…" Laura waved her hand vaguely toward the table full of tech equipment. "I don't know if that means I trust you or if I'm just being stupid."
"I understand. And there's no guarantee that you'll still be here tomorrow," Calvin responded with a small, patient smile.
Laura put down her food and crossed her arms over her chest. "If I decide to disappear tomorrow morning, what will you do?" There was a challenge in her voice, daring him.
Calvin leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on the table. His gaze was no longer just calm—it carried firmness and a quiet intensity.
"Hey, Miss Hacker. Did you forget that I'm an IT teacher? You're not the only skilled hacker here."
A small smile played on both their lips.
"If you disappear, I'll find you wherever you hide, Laura. You might vanish from the world's view, but not from mine."
Silence filled the space between them for a few moments. Only the soft ticking of the wall clock and the chirping of birds outside accompanied their presence.
Laura continued staring at Calvin, trying to read the intent behind his words. But this time, something felt different. His words—somehow—felt like a promise she couldn't ignore.
The girl remained silent, her breathing heavy, as if something was tightening her chest. Calvin's gaze seemed to penetrate deeper, breaking through all the walls she had built, leaving her feeling exposed. His words weren't empty; there was an unshakable determination behind them. And that made Laura feel strange. Afraid, yet oddly safe.
"You're insane," Laura muttered, smiling bitterly, feeling like those words fit her more than him. She looked down, playing with the croissant crumbs on her plate for a moment before standing up to getting ready for school.
.
.
(To be continued)