Mick and Paul made their way to class Thursday morning. The remnants of the previous night's hangover lingered as they walked, both lost in their own thoughts.

Paul glanced sideways at Mick, who frowned every few steps, occasionally mumbling to himself before shaking his head.

"He's gone mad," Paul muttered under his breath.

But he was no better.

They were no closer to understanding what was happening, and the uncertainty gnawed at him. Through tired eyes, Paul stared across the courtyard—

And froze.

For the briefest moment, he thought he saw Ken.

"Hold this," Paul said abruptly, tossing his bag at Mick.

Mick barely had time to react before it hit his chest and dropped to the ground. Paul was already sprinting across the courtyard.

"Hey!" Mick called after him, but all he could do was stare at Paul's retreating figure.

With an exasperated shake off his head, Mick picked up the bag and continued toward class alone.

Paul darted through clusters of students, heart pounding—not from the sprint, but from hope.

It was him.

He was sure of it.

The glimpse had been fleeting, but Paul would recognise Ken anywhere.

He pushed through the outdoor corridor along the back of the building, refusing to slow down. The only thought in his mind: Find him.

Rounding the corner, Paul wasn't expecting anyone to be there—and collided straight into someone.

Strong hands caught him around the waist, stopping him from falling.

Paul immediately tried to pull away to continue his chase—

Then he looked up.

And met Ken's eyes.

Time stalled.

Then Paul shoved himself upright, stepping back and straightening his shirt, staring hard at the man in front of him. Even in casual clothes, a cap pulled low and a mask covering half his face, Paul knew.

"You!" Paul snapped, pointing a finger at him. "Where the hell have you been? Do you have any idea how worried I've been? You'd better have a damn good explanation or so help me—"

Ken didn't let him finish.

He pulled down his mask, stepped forward, and kissed Paul.

The force of it stole the rest of Paul's words.

The kiss wasn't gentle—it was urgent. Desperate.

Paul felt it immediately.

Something was wrong.

When Ken finally pulled back, Paul searched his face, concern replacing anger.

"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

"I'm sorry," Ken said, remorse heavy in his voice. "I didn't have a choice. I had to stay away from you."

"Why?" Paul asked, reaching for Ken's hand. "What's going on?"

Ken exhaled slowly, releasing Paul's hand only to rest his forehead briefly against Paul's shoulder, his arms wrapping around his waist.

"If I tell you everything," Ken murmured against Paul's neck, "you have to promise not to tell anyone. Especially Mick."

Paul's breath caught. Ken's warmth, his voice, the tension in him—it made Paul's heart pound even harder.

"I don't understand," Paul said softly, turning his head slightly to look at him.

Ken pulled back. "Not here. Come with me."

He took Paul's hand again and led him away from the building, off university grounds, toward his car.

They didn't let go of each other the entire way.

When they reached the car, Ken opened the passenger door.

"Are we going somewhere?" Paul asked.

Ken shook his head. "What I'm about to tell you needs privacy."

Paul nodded and got in.

Once seated, Ken joined him and immediately took Paul's hand again.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Paul asked, worry deepening.

Ken inhaled slowly, then exhaled.

"Luke's life depends on the events that take place with Mick," he said. "We can't interfere. We can't do a damn thing." He dragged his free hand through his hair in frustration.

Paul stared at him, confusion mounting.

"Have you always known what's going on?"

Ken nodded. "From the moment Luke first met Mick last year."

"Then why didn't you say anything?" Paul demanded.

Ken's jaw tightened.

"Because... Luke gets poisoned. And Mick is the answer."

Paul's expression shifted in alarm. "You're not saying Mick poisons him?"

Ken shook his head immediately. "No. Not Mick. But we can't interfere—not yet. If the timing changes... if they realise I've told you... it could cause Luke to get hurt again."

The pain in Ken's face hit Paul harder than the words.

Paul squeezed his hand.

Ken blinked rapidly, fighting emotion.

"You need to tell me everything," Paul said firmly. "And I mean everything."

Ken searched his face.

"You promise you won't tell Mick? No matter how hard it is? Even if it hurts to see him struggling?"

Paul hesitated.

Mick was his best friend.

But if keeping the truth from him meant saving someone's life—

Paul swallowed and nodded.

"I promise."

Mick left class extremely irritated with Paul.

Not only had Paul abandoned him that morning, but Mick had carried his bag around all day. Worse still, Paul had left his phone inside it—so Mick had no way of contacting him.

By the time Mick returned to the dormitory that evening, his frustration had only grown.

He found Paul sitting in one of the foyer chairs, waiting.

"What happened to you?" Mick demanded as he approached. He slid the extra bag off his shoulder and waved it pointedly in front of Paul. "I've been carrying this around all day."

Paul stood and took the bag back quietly.

He looked at Mick—but only for a second.

Everything Ken had told him echoed in his mind. The promise. The warning.

Paul quickly looked away.

"What's wrong?" Mick asked, his irritation fading as he picked up on Paul's strange mood.

Paul bit down on his lower lip, avoiding Mick's eyes.

"I have some news," he said carefully. "About Luke."

The tone alone was enough to make Mick's stomach drop.

"What happened?" he asked, dread creeping into his voice.

Paul shifted the bag over his shoulder and turned toward the stairwell.

"Let's go up to your room first."

The fear in Mick's chest deepened. For a split second, he considered walking away—pretending he hadn't heard.

But he needed to know.

Inside Mick's bedroom, Paul sat in the desk chair while Mick perched on the edge of his bed.

They hadn't spoken on the way up.

Now the silence pressed heavily between them.

When Paul finally let out a long breath, Mick couldn't take it anymore.

"What?" he asked.

Paul looked at him.

"I found out... Luke was poisoned."

Mick went still.

"How?" he asked immediately. "When? Is he—" His throat tightened. "Is he alive?

"I don't know," Paul said quickly. "All I heard was that a student was poisoned. They believed it was Luke."

"But they don't know for sure?" Mick pressed.

Paul hesitated, then shrugged. "They seemed confident."

"How would they know?" Mick asked, suspicion flickering beneath his fear.

"They know Ken," Paul replied. "He mentioned it before."

Mick's eyes sharpened. "Do they know where Ken is now?"

Paul shook his head but didn't elaborate.

"I don't believe it," Mick muttered, standing abruptly and moving to the window. He turned his back to Paul, not wanting him to see the fear overwhelming him.

Silence settled again.

Then Mick turned around suddenly.

"If he gets poisoned," he said, thinking aloud, "then all I have to do is warn him. If I tell him, it changes the past."

Paul's eyes widened.

For a split second, panic flashed across his face.

"Do you really think that would help?" Paul asked carefully. "He's not here right now. And what if telling him is what causes it to happen?"

Mick froze.

The idea struck hard.

Slowly, he sank back down onto the bed.

"Then what do I do?" he asked quietly.

Paul swallowed.

"You need to talk to Luke," he said.

~

The week had been uneventful. Luke attended classes and kept in regular contact with his mother about his grandfather. So when Jan called Friday afternoon to say she and Jamie were waiting for him at the front of the dormitory, Luke practically ran out to meet them.

Jamie stood beside the car, while Jan sat in the driver's seat with the engine running.

"What happened?" Luke asked as Jamie motioned for him to sit in the front passenger seat, while she took the back.

Jan pulled out into traffic, her expression tense. "No one knows for sure. Our mothers asked us to come to the hospital."

The fact that his mother hadn't called him directly left Luke feeling uneasy.

Jamie leaned forward from the back seat. "But I thought he was getting better."

"So did we," Jan said. "No one knows exactly what's happened."

Luke chewed his nails nervously, staring out the window. If his grandfather were to die, what would happen to him—and the family business?

When the three cousins arrived at the hospital, they found the entire family gathered around the bed. The doctor stood with his stethoscope against their grandfather's chest. When he straightened, he addressed the family.

"We'll continue to monitor him for any changes," he said.

Luke's father asked, "Will he be okay?"

"His condition declined over night before he lost consciousness. Until we can get more test done, we won't know what caused this to happen. Be assured, we will do everything possible to find the cause of Mr Grandfathers illness." The doctor concluded and quietly left the room.

Luke glanced at his cousins, then back at the adults. His mother and aunt sat on either side of their father, each holding a hand, while he lay looking peacefully asleep. His father and uncle stood behind their wives, and Jan indicated that the cousins should step outside.

Out in the corridor, Jan was the first to speak.

"I don't say this lightly, but it's been on my mind for a while... it almost feels like someone might be trying to end his life."

Jamie nodded, while Luke looked between them, stunned.

"It's far too suspicious," Jamie added.

"Wait—you think someone's trying to kill grandfather?" Luke asked, struggling to believe it.

Jan shrugged. "I don't know. I thought maybe him being here was to protect him, but... now I'm not so sure."

Luke's mind raced. "Would this explain why he handed over the business to me."

Both Jan and Jamie nodded.

"You need to be careful, Luke," Jan warned.

"But it hasn't been made public yet that I now own the business," Luke said.

"Which is even more concerning. If grandfather did this because he thought it was an outsider he shouldn't be in the condition he is in now." Jan added.

Luke shook his head, trying to make sense of it.

"Should we tell our mothers?" Jamie asked.

Jan shook her head. "They already have enough to worry about. Sharing our concerns will only make it harder on them."

Luke and Jamie nodded, but Luke couldn't shake the fear gnawing at him—something bad was going to happen.