Chapter 30: The Announcement
456 Words
A week later, the entire architecture department gathered in the main lecture hall.
The students had been waiting anxiously for the announcement of who had been officially accepted into the prestigious training program.
Daniel sat near the front of the room, his hands clasped tightly together. Even though he had received the initial letter, the final list of participants had not yet been revealed.
Behind him, several students whispered nervously.
Amara sat a few rows back.
She wasn’t part of the architecture department, but she had come to support Daniel.
Her eyes occasionally moved across the room, searching for one particular person.
Emily.
After a few minutes, the department head walked to the front of the hall and adjusted the microphone.
The room slowly became quiet.
“Good afternoon, everyone,” he began. “Today we are announcing the students who have been officially selected for the international architecture training program.”
Daniel felt his heart begin to beat faster.
Amara watched him carefully from behind.
The professor opened a folder and began reading the names.
One by one, students reacted with excitement or disappointment as their names were called.
Then—
“Daniel Carter.”
Daniel exhaled in relief.
A few students clapped softly, and he smiled.
Amara felt proud as she watched him.
But her attention quickly shifted back to the professor.
He continued reading the list.
And then came another name.
“Emily Harper.”
The room buzzed with murmurs.
Amara’s heart sank.
Across the room, Emily stood up calmly with a confident smile.
For a brief moment, her eyes met Amara’s.
It was not an angry look.
It was something else.
Almost like a quiet challenge.
Daniel turned around in his seat when he heard Emily’s name.
He saw Amara sitting behind him, and he immediately noticed the change in her expression.
After the announcement ended, students began talking excitedly about the program.
Daniel quickly walked toward Amara.
“Amara—”
“I heard,” she said softly.
Daniel sighed.
“I didn’t know she would get accepted.”
Amara forced a small smile.
“It’s fine.”
But Daniel could tell it wasn’t.
Across the hall, Emily picked up her bag and walked toward the exit.
As she passed Daniel and Amara, she stopped for a second.
“Congratulations, Daniel,” she said politely.
“Thank you,” Daniel replied.
Emily then looked at Amara briefly.
“I guess we’ll be seeing a lot of each other soon.”
With that, she walked away.
Amara stood there quietly.
The program would begin in just a few weeks.
Daniel would leave the city.
And Emily would be going with him.
For Amara, the future suddenly felt more uncertain than ever. 💔📖
- Writer
