Crossing Fates

Chapter 19: Secrets Unveiled

The more time Win spent with the group, the more Pond and Phuwin's suspicions grew. It wasn't just the fact that Win seemed to be everywhere they turned; it was the way he always seemed to know just a little too much—about them, about the strange events on campus, even about the people who were starting to act oddly. The unease surrounding him never faded, and soon, their casual investigation into Win's background deepened significantly.

The group found themselves meeting late at night, huddled in the library or sneaking into one another's apartments to discuss their findings. Joong and Dunk provided comic relief, with Dunk often on the verge of blowing their cover due to his inability to keep a straight face. But it was clear that, as much as they joked, they were taking this seriously.

One particular night, they gathered at Pond's apartment. It was late, and tension hung heavy in the air. Phuwin sat cross-legged on the floor, a collection of Win's records and campus files spread out before him. Dunk and Joong were on the couch, both leaning forward, eyes trained on the documents. Pond paced the small space, unable to sit still.

"Okay," Phuwin said, pushing his hair back from his face. "Here's what we know: Win is definitely not an ordinary student. His background—or at least, the one on record—is almost too clean. Prestigious schools, no blemishes, no family listed. It's like someone created this perfect cover for him."

Dunk frowned. "But why? I mean, what's he doing here if he isn't really just a transfer student?"

Joong shrugged, tossing a balled-up piece of paper across the room. "My guess? He's here on some secret mission—something shady, maybe."

Pond paused in his pacing, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at the papers scattered across the floor. "Or," he said, his voice tinged with frustration, "he could be after something—or someone. The way he always shows up at the weirdest moments, right when things are happening... It can't be a coincidence."

Phuwin nodded. "But then the question is—why us? Why is he so interested in our group?"

There was a moment of silence, each of them pondering the possibilities. Theories ranged from Win being an undercover agent to some kind of corporate spy, but nothing made complete sense.

Joong eventually broke the silence with a loud yawn. "Honestly, at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if he was from some secret society trying to recruit us into their club. I mean, we are pretty awesome."

Dunk rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, I'm sure that's what this is all about. They want to enlist the world's worst detectives."

Pond shot them both a glare, though his lips twitched in amusement. "Focus, guys. We need to figure out what to do next."

Unplanned Confrontation

The next day, Pond and Phuwin decided to follow Win after class. They kept their distance, careful to blend into the crowd, though it didn't stop Phuwin from grumbling every now and then about how obvious they looked. Pond tried to ignore him, his eyes trained on Win as he moved smoothly through campus.

Win eventually led them away from the crowds to the old library—a place abandoned after the new one was built. Pond felt his heart rate increase as they approached. This wasn't just a random stroll across campus. Win was heading somewhere, and he clearly wanted to avoid being seen.

Phuwin nudged Pond, whispering, "Should we get Joong and Dunk?"

Pond shook his head. "No time. Let's just see where he's going."

Win slipped through a side door into the library, and Pond and Phuwin exchanged a glance. This was it—their chance to finally see what Win was hiding. With a nod, Pond moved forward, quietly pushing the door open just enough for them to slip inside.