Chapter 5
682 Words
I didn't contact either of them again for the rest of the summer.
Sophia kept updating her i********: as usual.
She posted photos from pool parties and music festivals, along with silhouettes of herself kissing David at sunset.
I scrolled past without liking or commenting. Her posts might as well have belonged to any random influencer on my feed.
On move-in day, I dragged my suitcase across campus alone and stopped outside one of CIT's classroom buildings.
The sunlight in Westvale felt brighter and harsher than it had in Ravenport.
I had just finished moving into my dorm when an iMessage from Sophia appeared.
Sophia: What a shame, Emma. You should have come to AIT. Now you won't be here to watch us take the school by storm.
'Take AIT by storm? With my model?'
Before I could block her, another photo arrived.
She was posing in front of AIT's main building, with David's arm wrapped around her waist.
I replied.
Emma: Congratulations.
Then I blocked them both.
I brought the algorithm files on my encrypted hard drive to Professor Warren's office.
He spent more than 1 hour reading my paper and examining the model in detail.
He reread several sections two or three times, staring at me as though he could hardly believe I had created the work.
"Emma, do you understand what you've created? Once this model is published, it could advance our quantum computing program by 3 or 4 years. We might even have a chance to challenge the top-ranked school this year."
He looked up from the screen. "When would you like to present it?"
My voice remained calm. "September 26th at 10:00 a.m."
I remembered every word of the encrypted email. According to the warning, Sophia planned to publish my algorithmic model under her own name at 10:00 a.m. on September 26th.
This time, I would let Sophia try to steal what had never belonged to her and see how far she got.
On September 25th, AIT and CIT posted announcements on the front pages of their official websites at the same time.
AIT: Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., we will unveil groundbreaking research by incoming students. Tune in live.
CIT: Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., we will unveil groundbreaking research by incoming students. Tune in live.
The news sent the academic community across Ardenia into a frenzy.
A: [AIT and CIT are presenting research by incoming students at the same time? Are they trying to prove which school recruited the better student?]
B: [CIT is getting a little full of itself, isn't it? It chose the same day as AIT even though it has always ranked lower. Isn't it afraid of being crushed?]
C: [Both schools are presenting first-year student research tomorrow? I'm definitely watching the livestream.]
A call came in from an unfamiliar number.
It was David.
He didn't ask why I had blocked him or explain why he had disappeared all summer. He spoke as casually as though we had eaten together the day before.
"Emma, is the research CIT is presenting tomorrow yours?"
He continued before I could answer. "Listen to me. You just started college. Drawing this much attention will only put a target on your back. Why not postpone the presentation for 1 week?"
I raised an eyebrow and answered in a tone even more casual than his.
"What are you talking about? I haven't even submitted my algorithmic model. I've been too busy."
The other end of the line went quiet for several seconds.
Then David let out a soft sigh of relief. It was faint, but the phone still picked it up.
"That's good. I'm only looking out for you. I'd hate to see a model this promising get held back."
'He's worried about my model being held back?'
I almost laughed.
He wanted Sophia to present first. Then, even if I sued later, the earlier timestamp on her presentation would make me look like the plagiarist.
I didn't call him out. I simply ended the call.
At exactly 10:00 a.m. the next morning, both schools began livestreaming their research presentations.
- Writer
