Forbidden Tiles

Unraveling the Mystery

As the evening wore on, Donald's curiosity about Alex grew. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Alex than met the eye. Jennifer seemed to be enjoying Alex's company, but Donald's instincts were on high alert.

"Hey, Alex, what made you decide to transfer to this university?" Donald asked, trying to sound casual.

Alex's smile faltered for a moment before he recovered. "Oh, just looking for a change of pace, you know? I heard great things about this school, and I'm excited to be here."

Donald nodded, but his doubts persisted. There was something about Alex's story that didn't quite add up.

As they chatted, Donald noticed that Alex seemed to be avoiding certain topics. When Donald asked about his family or his past, Alex would quickly change the subject or make a joke.

"Hey, Alex, what's your favorite hobby?" Jennifer asked, her eyes sparkling with interest.

Alex grinned. "I love playing guitar. I've been playing since I was a kid."

Donald's ears perked up. "No way, I'm a musician too! What kind of music do you play?"

Alex's eyes locked onto Donald's, and for a moment, Donald felt like he was staring into a void. "I play a little bit of everything," Alex said, his voice smooth as silk. "I'm always looking to learn new styles and techniques."

As the night wore on, Donald found himself growing more and more uneasy. There was something about Alex that didn't feel right, and he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Suddenly, Alex's phone buzzed, and he excused himself to take the call. As he walked away, Donald turned to Jennifer.

"Hey, what's your take on Alex?" Donald asked, his voice low.

Jennifer raised an eyebrow. "He seems nice, but I don't know much about him. Why?"

Donald hesitated, unsure how to articulate his concerns. "I don't know, there's just something about him that doesn't feel right."

Jennifer nodded thoughtfully. "I'll keep an eye on him. Let's see how things play out."

As Alex returned, his smile was back in place, but Donald's doubts lingered. What was Alex hiding, and what would happen if Donald uncovered the truth?

*A Glimpse into Alex's Past*

As they continued to chat, Donald tried to steer the conversation towards Alex's past. Alex skillfully dodged the questions, but Donald caught a few glimpses of something beneath the surface.

"I used to live in a different city," Alex said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "It's not really relevant to my life now, though."

Donald's curiosity was piqued. What city had Alex lived in, and why didn't he want to talk about it?

Jennifer, sensing the tension, intervened. "Hey, let's not pry. Alex, tell us more about your guitar playing. What kind of music do you enjoy playing?"

Alex's face lit up, and he launched into a passionate discussion about music. Donald listened intently, trying to reconcile the charismatic stranger with the hints of vulnerability he'd glimpsed.

As the evening drew to a close, Donald felt like he was no closer to understanding Alex. But he was determined to uncover the truth.

*The Investigation Begins*

As they said their goodbyes, Donald turned to Jennifer. "I think I'm going to do some digging on Alex," he said, his voice low.

Jennifer raised an eyebrow. "Be careful, Donald. We don't know what we're dealing with."

Donald nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. What would he uncover about Alex's past, and how would it change everything?