"THA GEY PANTS HAADHA CUTE EYY"

The Midnight Mystery

The news of Raaidh's murder had shaken Shaii to her core. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, that there was a connection she was missing. Her curiosity gnawed at her, compelling her to dig deeper, to find out who was behind all these horrifying events. Just as she was lost in her thoughts, her phone buzzed. It was a text message from an unknown number.

"On Ameenee Magu, where students thrive,
A building stands in pure white, where knowledge comes alive.
Seek the main campus where the eager convene,
And there begins your mystery scene."

Her heart raced. The riddle was clearly pointing to her college. Could this unknown person be the culprit? She had to find out. But when she glanced at the clock, it was nearly 3 AM. She immediately called Pop, but there was no answer. Next, she tried Shiny, but her call went unanswered as well.

A deep sense of dread filled her, but she knew this might be her only chance to uncover the truth. With her torch, phone with location tracking turned on, and a dagger tucked securely in her bag, Shaii steeled herself for what could be a dangerous encounter. The roads were desolate at this hour, with not a taxi in sight, so she walked her way to the college.

The night air was eerily quiet as she approached the entrance, spoting the guard fast asleep. She tiptoed past him, moving like a shadow into the building. The college was engulfed in darkness, except for one lone light illuminating a table in the center of the hall. Cautiously, she approached it and found a note under the light.

"In front of knowledge's grand abode,
Where fish swim in a liquid road.
Koi in colors swim with grace,
Find them and you're in the right place."

She puzzled over the clue for a few minutes until it clicked—the fountain near the library, with its colorful koi fish. She made her way there, her footsteps barely audible on the tiled floor. The fountain was just as she remembered, and floating on the surface was an origami boat. She carefully picked it up and unfolded it to reveal another message.

"Enter where stories are kept in ink,
Black sofas by the door, for you to think.
To the left, an elevator will rise,
Take it up and unveil the prize."

The library. It had to be. But what was waiting for her on the upper floors? The library should have been locked by now, but to her surprise, the door was ajar. She pushed it open, the creak of the hinges echoing ominously in the empty building. Inside, the darkness was oppressive, so she switched on her torch and headed towards the elevator.

On the floor of the elevator, she found yet another note.

"To the fifth you must asccend,
Where few footsteps ever wend.
A floor that's quiet, almost unseen,
There you'll find the final scene."

The words "final scene" sent a chill down her spine. Her hand tightened around the dagger in her bag as she pressed the button for the fifth floor. The elevator ascended with a soft hum, and as the doors opened, she was greeted by a figure standing with their back to her.

It was Bible. Relief washed over her, and she lowered the dagger. "Bible, is that you?" she called out softly as she stepped forward.

Bible turned around, and suddenly, there was a loud pop from both sides. Confetti burst into the air, and the lights flickered on, illuminating the room. A chorus of voices sang out, "Happy birthday, Shaii!"

Shaii was stunned as she looked around. Shiny, Pop, Bible, Lamb, Alson, and her favorite lecturers, Rihulaa Miss and Minna Miss, were all there, smiling and clapping. The table in the center held a massive cake, nearly the size of five laptops combined, adorned with intricate decorations—courtesy of Ainthu, the top cake bakers in Malé.

It was only then that she realized the date—February 5th, her birthday. The past few days had been so consumed with tragedy that she'd completely forgotten. But here, surrounded by her friends and mentors, she felt a warmth she hadn't felt in days.

Rihulaa Miss and Minna Miss were the masterminds behind this surprise, having arranged everything, including opening the library late. The celebration was filled with laughter, and for a brief moment, Shaii let herself relax, enjoying the love and care from those around her.

After the celebration, everyone headed home. Shaii, Pop, and Bible lingered outside the college, waiting for the bus. Bible had his arm around Pop's shoulder, and they looked like a couple deeply in love. Shaii stood a few feet away, a smile on her face as she watched them.

When the bus arrived, they all hopped on, flashing their student cards for the free ride. However, Bible seemed to hesitate.

"Babe, you always carry your student card with you! What happened to it?" Pop asked, puzzled.

"I don't know, babe. It's lost," Bible replied with a shrug, pulling out coins to pay for himself.

Shaii felt a small flicker of suspicion but waved it off as she took a seat at the very back, letting Pop and Bible sit together. The bus was nearly empty, save for one passenger sitting a few rows ahead.

As the bus rolled through the quiet streets, the passenger suddenly turned around, and Shaii's eyes widened in surprise. It was Sayya, the stripper in his sky blue leotard with his shades on even at midnight.

"Omg gurl! How are you?" Sayya greeted her with excitement.

"I'm good. What about you?" Shaii replied, masking her unease.

Sayya leaned closer, whispering conspiratorially. "I just finished my shift. Took a VIP overtime because Gofi and Aik booked a threesome at 2 AM. They paid extra cash for it."

Shaii's stomach churned with disgust. The idea of Aik and Gofi indulging in such things behind Lamb's back made her blood boil. But she forced herself to stay calm, sinking into the bus seat.

"Crazy IKR!You should book an appointment with me, gurl. I don't disappoint!" Sayya teased, offering a wink.

Shaii shook her head, ready to refuse, but then she realized Sayya could be a key player in exposing Aik and Gofi's true nature to Lamb. She quickly changed her mind. "Actually, yes. Let's do it."

Sayya beamed. "OMG, gurl! Since it's your first time, I'll make the whole service free for that night!"

Shaii faked a smile, pretending to be excited, even as her mind raced with plans. Just then, the bus came to a stop, and Sayya got off, humming a song "Karma's a bitch, I should've known better. If I had a wish, I would've never F'ed around...." as he strutted away.

Not long after, Pop and Bible also got off, waving goodbye to Shaii. Left alone on the bus, Shaii stared out the window, her thoughts swirling. The celebrations, the surprise, and even Sayya's unexpected appearance couldn't erase the nagging sense that something was still terribly wrong.

As the bus continued its journey through the sleeping city, Shaii knew that tonight's events had only deepened the mystery. The real culprit behind the murders was still out there, and she was more determined than ever to uncover the truth, even if it meant facing danger head-on.

:)