Jovan was still standing in front of the old house, staring at the person who had just appeared. Many questions swirled through his mind, but his mouth seemed unable to form the words.
The man wore a simple black jacket, his face looking serious. His gaze wasn't that of a stranger meeting Jovan for the first time, but of someone who had known Jovan for a long time.
"I'll ask you one more time," Jovan said firmly. "Who are you?"
The man took a deep breath.
"My name is Dimas."
Jovan remained wary.
"Which Dimas?"
"The Dimas who used to come to your house all the time."
Jovan furrowed his brow. He tried to remember his childhood, but no images came to him.
"I've never seen you before."
Dimas smiled faintly.
"That's because you were too young back then."
Jovan tightened his grip on the old photograph in his hand.
"Why do you have this photo?"
Dimas looked at it.
"Because I know the story behind it."
"Who is this person?"
Dimas was silent for a few moments before answering.
"Someone who has a lot to do with your life."
Jovan began to grow frustrated.
"Why does everyone always talk in half-truths? That letter, you, and maybe even my family. Everyone knows something, but no one wants to explain."
Dimas looked at Jovan seriously.
"Because the truth isn't always easy to accept."
Jovan let out a humorless laugh.
"At least I have the right to know."
Dimas nodded slowly.
"You're right."
The afternoon wind blew through the yard of the empty house. Dry leaves skittered across the ground.
Dimas then pointed to the old house behind them.
"Come inside. There's something you need to see."
Jovan hesitated.
"Why should I trust you?"
"Because if I wanted to hurt you, I wouldn't have waited until now."
The answer left Jovan silent.
After thinking for a while, he finally followed Dimas into the old house.
The inside of the house was dusty. Many old items were covered with white sheets. Old photographs still hung on the walls, though some were already damaged.
Jovan walked slowly, taking in his surroundings.
"Who used to own this place?"
Dimas didn't answer right away.
"This place used to be where the people who kept your family's secrets would gather."
Jovan stopped.
"More family secrets?"
Dimas opened a small door at the back of the room.
Inside was an old cabinet.
Dimas took out a wooden box stored inside it.
"This is why I've been looking for you."
Jovan looked at the box.
"What's inside?"
Dimas handed it to him.
"You have to open it yourself."
Jovan accepted the box. His hands felt heavy as he opened the lock.
Inside were several old letters.
But one of them made him freeze instantly.
The same name as on the first letter was written across the front.
Jovan.
"This..."
Dimas stood behind him.
"The first letter you found wasn't the only one."
Jovan picked up the letter.
"How many letters are there?"
"There used to be seven."
"Seven?"
"Yeah."
Jovan looked at the stack of letters.
"Why am I only finding them now?"
Dimas gazed toward the window.
"Because the person who kept those letters wanted to make sure you were strong enough to read them all."
Jovan felt even more confused.
"Who is that person?"
Dimas didn't answer.
Instead, he picked up another letter.
"This one might answer some of your questions."
Jovan opened it.
The writing inside looked older than the previous letter.
His hand began to move as he read.
"Jovan, if you're reading this letter, it means the secret I've been hiding all this time has begun to come to light..."
Jovan stopped reading.
"Me?"
He looked at Dimas.
"This letter was written to me?"
Dimas nodded.
"Yes."
Jovan continued reading.
"Don't hate the people who chose to remain silent. They did it because they wanted to protect you."
The sentence left Jovan silent.
He began thinking about his mother.
All this time, his mother had always seemed to be hiding something whenever he asked about the past.
"Does my mother know about all this?"
Dimas didn't answer directly.
"Jovan, there's a reason your mother never told you everything."
"What reason?"
"Because she's afraid you'll look for someone who doesn't actually want to be found."
Jovan stared at Dimas.
"Who do you mean?"
Dimas looked toward the door of the old house.
"Someone who made all these letters exist."
Suddenly, the sound of something falling came from outside.
Jovan and Dimas immediately turned around.
"There's someone outside," Jovan said.
Dimas's expression grew serious.
"We have to go."
"Wait, I'm not finished!"
"Jovan, listen to me. If that person already knows you've found this letter, everything will change."
Jovan still wanted to ask more questions, but Dimas was already walking quickly toward the door.
When they stepped outside, the yard was empty.
There was no one there.
However, on the ground, right in front of the gate, lay a small object.
A new envelope.
Jovan picked it up.
One sentence was written across the front.
"I know you've met Dimas."
Jovan's expression immediately changed.
Because this time, the letter wasn't meant to give him a clue.
It felt more like a warning.
Dimas looked at the letter, his face turning pale.
"Jovan..."
"What?"
Dimas looked at him.
"We're too late."
Jovan slowly opened the letter.
There was only one sentence inside.
"Stop searching before you lose someone you care about."
Jovan read the sentence over and over.
For the first time since finding the mysterious letter, he felt that he wasn't just searching for a secret.
Someone was trying to stop him.