Faded Dawn Light

4. D-5

Arunika Dianti was still navigating the delicate balance between assignments, deadlines, and dreams yet to be fulfilled. As a final-year student majored in Industrial Engineering, her life was a blur of early morning classes, late-night study sessions, and the occasional attempt at a social life. But Arunika wasn't exactly the most social person on campus—reserved and cautious, she kept her circle small, her focus sharp. That was until she met Nano.

Nano was the kind of friend everyone needed at least once in their life—easygoing, funny, and always in the mood for an adventure, even if that adventure meant ditching a lecture for a spontaneous coffee run. Despite her introverted nature, Arunika found herself at ease around him. He treated her like a younger sister, protective and teasing in equal parts. It was through Nano that Arunika was introduced to Adi, Nano's friend.

At first, their friendship felt like an accidental collision—Arunika's quiet presence, Nano's carefree personality, and Adi's sarcastic humor. But over time, the three of them became an unlikely trio, finding comfort in each other's company amid the chaos of college life. Nano, Adi, and Nika—inseparable and mismatched, but somehow, it worked.

And for a little while, with their laughter and jokes filling the empty spaces in her heart, Arunika almost forgot the burdens waiting for her beyond the campus gates. Almost.

Adi swings by Nano's cramped apartment, the air thick with the scent of instant noodles and stale coffee. He kicks off his shoes and flops down on the worn-out couch with a grin, grabbing a bag of chips from the cluttered coffee table.

Nano, sprawled lazily across the opposite side in his oversized t-shirt and shorts, barely lifts his head from his phone. He scrolls absentmindedly through social media, his thumb moving with the speed of boredom.

"You're not gonna believe what I found out today," Adi says, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

Nano glances up lazily, his phone still in hand. "What now? Don't tell me you've gotten yourself in trouble again."

Adi leans forward with a smirk, popping a chip into his mouth. "Nika—Arunika—is Santi's half-sister."

That catches Nano off-guard. His eyes widen, and then, after a beat, he bursts out laughing, slapping his thigh as he doubles over. "You're messing with me! No way!"

Adi shrugs, trying to look nonchalant, but the amusement in his eyes betrays him.

Nano wipes a tear from the corner of his eye, struggling to catch his breath. "You've had a crush on Santi all this time, and Nika turns out to be her sister? Man, this is the kind of plot twist you only get in soap operas!"

Adi groans, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up."

"Oh, this is gold!" Nano says, still chuckling. "And you've been buttering Santi up without even realizing Nika was part of the same package? What are the odds?"

Adi throws a cushion at Nano's head, but Nano dodges it easily, his grin widening.

"Alright, enough," Adi grumbles, though he can't help but smirk. "But honestly, I'm not just worried about Santi. It's Danu."

At the mention of Danu, Nano's smile fades. His posture straightens, his playful demeanor replaced with suspicion. "What's that clown up to now?"

Adi sighs, leaning his elbows on his knees. "He's been circling Nika. Gave her a ride to the campus this morning and invited her out for coffee. He's making his move."

Nano frowns, his brows knitting in frustration. "Danu? That guy's bad news. Always sniffing around where he shouldn't."

"You think Nika will fall for him?" Adi asks, clearly uncertain.