Chapter 32 — The Night That Would Not Stay Quiet
"Go straight back to campus," the sergeant continued. "Stay inside the hostel tonight. Don't go anywhere alone, not even to the shop. If this person messages again, don't reply. Just come and show us. Understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Don't worry, we will investigate. You did the right thing."
Rayyan thanked him and walked out.
Monica was waiting in the car, leaning forward on the steering wheel. The moment she saw him, she straightened up.
"Well?"
"He said it's serious," Rayyan replied as he got in. "They will try to trace the number. And he told me not to go anywhere tonight. Just stay in the hostel."
Monica let out a slow breath. "Okay. Then that's what you'll do."
She started the engine and drove off. The sky outside had turned into a dull grey, clouds gathering thicker as evening slowly approached.
"Rayyan," she said softly, eyes still on the road, "listen… don't think you're facing this alone. You have me. You have your friends. And now the police also know. That is already a lot."
He turned to look at her. In that moment, her words felt like a small light in a very dark place.
"Thank you, Monica," he said quietly. "Really."
She smiled a little. "Just promise me you'll be careful. If anything strange happens, call me."
"I will."
They reached the hostel area. Monica slowed down in front of the gate.
"Go inside and rest," she said. "You had a long day."
"What about you?" Rayyan asked. "You'll be okay?"
She gave him a tired smile. "I'll manage. My father may scold me later, but it's okay. At least I know you're safe."
Rayyan hesitated, then nodded. "Text me when you reach home."
"I will."
He stepped out of the car and watched her drive away before entering the hostel building.
Inside the room, Amir and Naveen were already there, playing FIFA as usual. The sound of cheering from the TV filled the space.
"RAYYAN!" Naveen shouted when he walked in. "Bro, where you went? Disappeared the whole afternoon!"
Amir paused the game when he saw Rayyan's face.
"Eh, you okay or not? You look… different."
Rayyan dropped his bag near the bed and sat down slowly.
"There's something I need to tell you guys," he said.
Amir grabbed the chair and turned it around to face him. Naveen muted the TV and sat cross-legged on the floor.
Rayyan then told them everything. He started from Lisa's breakdown at the hospital, the pregnancy claim, her putting his name as the father, the police report, and finally the messages from the unknown number.
By the time he finished, both Amir and Naveen were staring at him with wide eyes.
"Bro…" Naveen said, shocked. "This is like drama series sia."
Amir, however, looked serious. "That girl is dangerous, Rayyan. But don't worry. You're in campus now. No outsider can simply come in and kacau."
Naveen nodded quickly. "Yea. Our hostel full of guys. If anyone comes disturb you, we all go down together and break lah," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Rayyan managed a small smile. "Thanks, guys."
Amir put a hand on his shoulder. "We're your brothers here, okay? Whatever happens, you're not alone. If you feel scared, just come to our room or call us."
Rayyan nodded, feeling warmth in his chest. Despite the fear, he was grateful for them.
While Rayyan was with his friends, Monica was just reaching home.
She parked the car and took a deep breath before going in. Her father was sitting on the sofa, waiting, a worried look on his face.
"Monica, where did you go?" he asked as soon as she entered. "You left earlier and didn't even tell us properly."
Monica put her bag down. "Dad… I need to tell you something. It's about Rayyan. And Lisa."
Her father frowned. "That girl again?"
Monica nodded and sat down. She told him everything — the clinic incident, Lisa's lies, the fact that she wrote Rayyan's name as the baby's father, the police report, and the threatening messages from the unknown number.
Her father listened without interrupting, his face growing more serious with every sentence.
When she finished, he rubbed his forehead. "This is serious, Monica. Very serious. And you were with him all this while?"
"Yes, Dad. I drove him to the police station. Twice."
He sighed deeply. "I'm worried about you. If this person is dangerous and they know about Rayyan, they might also know about you."
Monica shook her head. "I'm more worried about him, Dad. He's the one being targeted."
Her father fell silent for a moment, then suddenly stood up and took his phone.
"Who are you calling?" Monica asked.
"A friend," he replied. "Someone who can actually do something about this."
He dialed a number. After a few rings, a deep, authoritative voice answered.
"Commissioner Ariff speaking."
"Ariff, it's Me," Monica's father said, his tone respectful but urgent. "I need a favour. It's about my daughter's friend, a college student. He's getting threatening messages from an unknown number related to a false pregnancy accusation. He already lodged a police report today."
"Give me the report number," Ariff said immediately.
Monica's father turned to her. "Do you have the report number?"
"Yes." She quickly opened the WhatsApp message Rayyan had sent earlier and read it out.
Her father repeated the number to Ariff.
"Alright," the commissioner replied. "I'll check on it personally. Tell your daughter and her friend not to panic. But they must be careful. These days we can't take such things lightly."
"Thank you, Ariff. I owe you one."
After ending the call, Monica's father turned back to her.
"I've spoken to the city police commissioner himself," he said. "He'll look into the report. From now on, you don't go anywhere alone, understand? And stay away from that Lisa girl. I don't like the sound of her."
Monica nodded. "Okay, Dad. But… I won't leave Rayyan alone if something happens. He's not that kind of guy. He doesn't deserve this."
Her father studied her face for a long second, then sighed.
"I know you care about him," he said quietly. "Just be careful, Monica. That's all I ask."
Back in the hostel, night had fully settled.
Amir and Naveen had gone to the pantry to fill their water bottles, leaving Rayyan alone in the room for a while.
He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, when his phone buzzed again.
He hesitated before picking it up.
Unknown Number:"You went back to the police. Clever."
Rayyan's heart dropped.
Immediately, another message came in.
"Let's see if your friends can protect you."
Rayyan's fingers trembled. Whoever this was, they clearly knew where he was and what he had done.
A third message followed.
"Don't trust anyone, Rayyan.""Especially her."
His mind instantly went to Monica.
He sat up straight, breathing hard. No… there's no way, he thought. Monica has been helping me since the beginning.
But the doubt, once planted, refused to move.
Slowly, he stood up and walked to the window. He pulled the curtain to the side just a little.
Down near the streetlight, someone was standing in the shadows. The figure was too far to recognise, but it was clear — the person wasn't walking, wasn't moving.
Just standing there.
Watching.
Rayyan's hand slipped from the curtain.
He stepped back, his heart racing.
For the first time in his life, the campus he once called home didn't feel safe anymore.
It felt like a cage.
And someone outside that cage was waiting for him to break.