The Charity Founder

The Boy Behind the Headlines, The anonymous message haunted Dani all night. She was replaying the message on her head.

"I am coming tomorrow."

She barely slept. She couldn't sleep in the midnight.

Every creak of the house sounded suspicious.

Every passing car made her glance toward the window. By morning, dark circles sat beneath her eyes.

"Dani, sweetheart, did you sleep at all?" her mother asked while pouring tea.

Dani forced a smile.

"A little."

Her mother gave her a look that clearly said I don't believe you. Before Dani could answer, her phone vibrated.

It was a message notification. A new message, Her heart immediately raced.Her heart beat faster.

She grabbed the phone Then blinked. It wasn't another stranger. It was Zaf.

Zaf: You okay?

Are you okay?

For some reason, her chest loosened.

Dani: I have been better.

Three dots appeared instantly.

Zaf: Meet me after school.

Dani: Why?

Zaf: I want to show you something.

Dani: That sounds suspicious.

Zaf: Trust me.

Dani stared at the message.

Trust him?

She keeps staring at the message over and over again. The strange thing was, She already did

And she wasn't entirely sure why.

School was even more chaotic than the day before. Students whispered whenever Dani passed.

Anytime she is passing they start whispering to each other ear. Teachers kept giving her sympathetic smiles.

Even the principal had asked if she needed "additional support." By the end of the day, she felt exhausted.

She is very exhausted and tired. As she exited the school gates, she spotted a black SUV parked across the street.

Zaf leaned against it with his hands in his pockets.

He rest his back against the car engine.

Several girls nearby immediately started whispering.

They start whispering to each other ear.

"He is even more handsome in person."

He is even more handsome in real life than picture.

"Do they know each other?"

Are they dating each other

"I think they are dating."

Dani rolled her eyes.

When she reached him, she crossed her arms.

She folded her hands together tightly.

"You realize people are writing entire fictional stories about us online?"

Zaf sighed.

"I know."

"I read one this morning."

"Was it bad?"

"It had dragons."

He blinked.

"What?"

"There were dragons, Zaf."

For the first time all day, both of them laughed.

They were both laughing together. The tension eased.

"Come on," Zaf said.

"Where are we going?"

"You will see."

Forty minutes later, the SUV stopped in front of a large building painted with bright colors.

The building was very beautiful. Murals covered the walls. Children laughed somewhere inside. Dani looked confused. She is very confused.

"This isn't a restaurant."

Zaf smirked.

"You sound disappointed."

"I was expecting food."

"That is fair."

Above the entrance hung a sign. There is a sign board at the entrance. Bright Tomorrow Foundation, Dani frowned.

"What is this?"

For a moment, Zaf looked strangely nervous.

Something she had never seen before Then he answered.

"It's mine."

"What?"

"The foundation."

Dani stared.

"You own this?"

He nodded.

"You started a charity?"

Another nod.

Dani looked genuinely shocked. She is very shocked.

The internet had painted Zaf as a mysterious hero.

Others called him a wealthy celebrity. Some thought he was an athlete. Nobody had mentioned this.

"You never told anyone?"

Zaf shrugged.

"I don't do it for attention."

For some reason, that answer felt exactly like him.

The moment they entered the building, chaos erupted.

"ZAF!"

A tiny girl launched herself at him like a missile. Zaf barely had time to react before she wrapped her arms around his waist.

Another child followed. Then another. Then five more.

Within seconds, he was completely surrounded.

Dani stood frozen. This was not the same Zaf she knew. The serious expression disappeared.

The guarded eyes softened. His smile became effortless. Real. Warm.

"Dani, meet the monsters," he said.

"We heard that!" one boy shouted.

The room exploded with laughter. A little girl tugged Dani sleeve.

"Are you his girlfriend?"

Dani nearly choked.

"What?!"

The room erupted again.

Even Zaf looked amused.

"No," Dani said quickly.

"We are friends."

We are just friends.

The children exchanged suspicious looks. They were staring at each other surprisingly.

"That is what adults always say."

Dani covered her face.She cover her face with her hands.

"I cannot win here."

As the children played nearby, Dani finally learned the story. Years ago, Zaf had volunteered at a children shelter.

He discovered many children lacked access to education, food, and healthcare. One shelter became two.

Two became five. Eventually, he created Bright Tomorrow Foundation. Now it supported hundreds of children.

Dani listened quietly.

"You built all this?"

"Not alone."

"But you started it."

Zaf nodded.

She looked around. Children studied in classrooms.

Others painted. Some played games.

Several volunteers helped with homework.Everywhere she looked, there was hope.Something tightened in her chest. Her chest hurts.

"This is incredible."

This is so ridiculous.

A faint smile appeared on Zaf face.

"It's not enough."

"What?"

"There are still thousands more children who need help."

Dani stared at him.She keep staring at him.Most people would celebrate what they had already accomplished.

But Zaf was focused on those he couldn't reach yet.

That realization changed something inside her.

Later that evening, the children gathered for dinner. They sat down on the chair quietly. One little boy sat beside Dani.

"Do you know why Zaf comes every week?"

She smiled.

"Because he cares?"

The boy nodded.

"Even on bad days."

"What do you mean?"

The boy lowered his voice.

"Sometimes he looks sad."

Dani glanced across the room. She keep looking at everything inside the room. Zaf was helping a little girl open a juice box. He looked happy.

Didn't he?

The boy continued.

"But he never lets us see it for long."

Before Dani could ask more questions, dinner ended. As volunteers cleaned up, she found herself standing beside Zaf outside.

The sun painted the sky orange and gold. For a moment, neither spoke. Then Dani broke the silence.

"You really love them."

Zaf smiled softly.

"Yeah."

"They love you too."

His eyes followed the children through the window.

"That is the part that scares me."

Dani frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"What if one day I fail them?"

The vulnerability in his voice surprised her For the first time, he didn't sound like a hero. He sounded human.

Someone carrying responsibilities that felt impossibly heavy. Without thinking, Dani touched his arm.

She touched his arm gently.

"You won't."

Their eyes met. Neither looked away immediately. The moment lingered. Longer than it should have.

And suddenly the air felt different. Very different.

Neither knew exactly what was happening between them. But both felt it.

Just as they prepared to leave, the front doors burst open. The door opened slowly. A volunteer ran inside.

Out of breath. Panicked. Terrified.

"Zaf!"

Everyone turned. The room instantly fell silent. Everywhere was very silent. The volunteer struggled to catch his breath.Then spoke words that made the entire building freeze.

"It's Noah."

Zaf expression changed instantly.

"What about Noah?"

The volunteer face had gone pale.

"We can't find him."

Silence. Absolute silence. One of the youngest children. Gone. Missing. Zaf heart dropped.

His heart beat faster.

"How long?"

"Thirty minutes."

Dani felt cold fear spread through her body.

Thirty minutes?

A child could disappear completely in thirty minutes.

Zaf was already moving.

"Call everyone."

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

"Lock down the building."

The volunteers rushed into action But as Dani watched him, she noticed something frightening.

For the first time since meeting him. Zaf looked scared.

He was very sacred.And deep down, Dani had a terrible feeling.

This wasn't an accident.

Someone had taken Noah.