The next morning, Rayyan woke before his alarm even rang.His body felt heavy, but his mind was determined.
Enough.He couldn't let the chaos swallow his future.
He showered, dressed, packed his books, and stepped out of the hostel before the sun fully rose.The crisp morning air felt cleaner than his thoughts — but this time, he forced his thoughts into silence.
"My exams are close. I can't lose everything because of this."He repeated the sentence like a mantra.
When he reached campus, the hallways were still quiet. Only a few early birds were around. Rayyan found a spot near his classroom, opened his notes, and forced himself to revise. He underlined formulas, reworked problems, reread past chapters.
Slowly, his breathing steadied.
For the first time in days, his mind wasn't drowning.It was… focused.
Just minutes before class began, Monica arrived.
She approached quietly, placing her bag beside him."How are you today, Rayyan?" she asked gently.
He looked up, surprised at how comforting her voice sounded."I'm okay," he replied, closing his book. "Trying to keep the problem aside. Just want to focus on my studies today."
Monica smiled — soft, steady, proud."That's good, Rayyan. Really good. Your studies are more important than anything else happening around you."
Her words felt like a warm shield around his shaking world.
"And after class," she added, "we'll go to the police station. One last step, and you'll be free from all this."
Rayyan nodded slowly. "Yes. Let's settle it today."
The lecture began. And though he tried to listen, the fear of the police report lingered at the back of his mind like a shadow. But he stayed strong — writing notes, answering questions, pushing through.
When the class finally ended around noon, Rayyan sighed with relief.
Monica looked at him. "Lunch first?"
He nodded.
They walked to the campus café, found a corner table, and quietly ate. Both of them avoided the topic of Lisa. They didn't want to spoil the brief peace of that moment.
After lunch, Monica drove Rayyan to the police station.
When they arrived, Rayyan unbuckled his seatbelt immediately.
"I'll go in," he said. "You wait in the car."
Monica frowned. "Why can't I come with you?"
Rayyan looked away, eyes soft but firm."Monica… I don't want to drag you into this mess. Not anymore. I don't want your name involved. Your father already doesn't like me, and this will make it worse."
Monica opened her mouth to argue — but then she stopped. She could see the fear behind Rayyan's calmness, the pressure crushing him.
"Okay," she whispered. "I'll wait here. Call me if anything happens."
Rayyan nodded, stepped out, and walked toward the station.
He showed his IC at the counter."I need to make a police report," he said.
A sergeant at the desk nodded and gestured him to sit.
Once Rayyan sat down, the officer opened a form on his screen."Tell me everything from the start."
Rayyan took a breath and began.
He told him about Lisa calling at night.The clinic incident.Her false claim.Her putting his name as the father.Her lies.Her manipulation.
Every detail, every line of the messy story, he laid out honestly.
The sergeant typed steadily, nodding occasionally.
When Rayyan finished, the officer leaned back in his chair.
"You did the right thing by coming," he said. "We haven't received any report from anyone named Lisa regarding pregnancy or harassment. So your report is the first record of this incident."
Rayyan swallowed hard.
"Don't worry," the officer continued. "We will investigate this. If we need your statement again, we'll call you. For now — go home, stay away from her, and keep yourself safe."
Rayyan exhaled slowly, relief washing through him.
"Thank you, sir."
He left the station and walked back to the car.
Monica rolled down the window. "Everything okay?"
"Yes," Rayyan said. "The officer was understanding. He took my report and will investigate. He said he'll call me if they need my statement."
Monica nodded firmly."That's good. Now let's put an end to this. If Lisa calls or messages — don't answer. No more. Enough is enough."
Rayyan agreed silently.
They drove back toward campus.
Halfway there, Rayyan's phone buzzed.
Ayden.
Rayyan looked at Monica."It's Ayden."
"Go on, answer. Tell him everything," she said.
Rayyan picked up the call."Hello?"
"Bro!" Ayden sounded cheerful. "Did you call me yesterday? Anything urgent?"
Rayyan took a breath. "Yes, Ayden. I need to tell you something. It's… important."
"Go ahead, bro. Sorry I didn't pick up — there was some event here, party stuff. My phone was with my girlfriend. Not Lisa," he added. "I found someone new here."
Rayyan didn't even have time to process that.
"Ayden… it's about Lisa," he began.
Then he told him everything.
The clinic call.The pregnancy claim.The accusation.Lisa putting Rayyan's name as the father.Her erratic behaviour.
Ayden went silent — completely silent — for a few seconds.
"Rayyan…" his voice dropped. "What did she do?"
Rayyan didn't answer. He felt Monica watching him, her hands gripping the steering wheel tighter.
Ayden continued, stunned."Bro… there's no way — NO WAY — she's pregnant because of me. You know she stayed at my house before I left, but what you didn't know is… we NEVER shared the same room. She slept in my parents' room. We never had any… intimate relationship. Nothing. Zero. So her being pregnant — and accusing YOU — that's insane."
Rayyan's mind froze.
Then Ayden asked, "Did you make the police report?"
"Yes," Rayyan said. "Just now."
Ayden exhaled, relieved."Good. Good, bro. You needed to do that. Lisa… I don't know what she's going through, but this is too much. She's dragging everyone down with her. Lucky I'm in London now. If not, my life would've been hell."
Rayyan felt a sharp sting of sadness at his friend's words — but also agreement.
"Just stay away from her," Ayden continued. "Leave this to the police. Focus on your studies, bro. Anything you need, call me."
"Okay," Rayyan said softly.
They hung up, and Rayyan lowered the phone slowly.
Monica glanced at him."You okay?"
Rayyan nodded, but his expression was unreadable.
Monica looked forward again."Rayyan… we're ending this today. After this, no more chaos. You deserve peace."
Rayyan looked out the window as the trees blurred past.
He wished it were that simple.
Just as they reached the hostel entrance, Rayyan's phone buzzed again.
A new message.
From the unknown number.
Rayyan opened it.
His heartbeat stopped.
Unknown Number:"You think the police can protect you? You think Ayden told you the truth?"
Rayyan's hands trembled.
Another message arrived instantly.
Unknown Number:"If you want to know what's really happening… meet me tonight."
Rayyan stared at the screen, feeling the world tilt beneath him.
Someone was watching him.Someone knew.Someone wanted to meet him.
Rayyan swallowed hard.
"I…"He couldn't finish.
Before he could hide the phone, Monica gently reached out and took it from his hand.
"Rayyan, let me see."
He didn't stop her.
A second later, her eyes widened in horror.
"Rayyan… this is not normal."She looked up at him sharply. "This person is watching you. Maybe following you. This is dangerous."
Before he could respond, Monica suddenly twisted the steering wheel and made a U-turn so fast Rayyan had to grab the handle.
"Monica—where are we going?"
"Back to the police station," she said, her voice firm, breath tight. "Right now."
"But—"
"No, Rayyan. Someone is threatening you. Someone knows everything you're doing. You can't ignore this."
Her hands tightened on the wheel; worry sharp in her eyes.
"This isn't just Lisa anymore," she whispered. "This is something else."
They pulled up to the police station again. Monica put the car in park, turned to him, and grabbed his hand.
"Listen to me," she said. "You need to show the sergeant this message right now. This is proof someone is watching you. This could protect you."
Rayyan hesitated.He already felt like a problem, a burden.Dragging Monica into this felt wrong.
But she squeezed his hand once more.
"Rayyan… please," she said, almost pleading. "Don't try to protect me by hiding things. Your safety matters to me too."
The sincerity in her voice broke something inside him.
He nodded.
"Okay," he whispered.
Monica exhaled in relief."Good. Go in. I'll wait here."
Rayyan stepped out of the car, heart pounding.Every shadow near the station felt darker.Every passing motorcycle felt too close.Every stranger's gaze felt like a threat.
He pushed open the station door and went straight to the sergeant who handled his report earlier.
"Sir," Rayyan said, voice unsteady. "I… I got a message. Someone wants to meet me tonight."
He showed him the phone.
The sergeant's expression changed immediately — calm, then serious, then deeply concerned.
"This…" he muttered. "This changes things."
Rayyan watched him carefully.
The sergeant looked up slowly.
"Don't go anywhere tonight," he said. "Not alone. Not even to the shop downstairs. We will look into the number. And Rayyan…"
Rayyan's stomach knotted.
"…someone sending this message means they know more than we thought."
Rayyan felt the blood drain from his face.
Behind him, through the glass door, Monica stood at the car watching him with worried eyes.
The sergeant leaned closer.
"If they contact you again… don't reply. Don't go. Don't trust anyone. Do you understand?"
Rayyan nodded, even though a tremor ran through him.
Because one thing was clear:
This nightmare wasn't ending.
It was just beginning.
…but he couldn't bring himself to speak.
Not yet.
Because this wasn't over. Not even close.