Rumors
739 Words
Chapter 6
Rumors
Monday mornings were always the busiest on campus.
Students hurried across the walkways with books tucked under their arms, while others rushed to submit assignments before the deadline. The Faculty of Business buzzed with the familiar noise of conversations and laughter.
Nadia had barely stepped into the building when she noticed something unusual.
People were looking at her.
Not just looking.
Whispering.
She ignored it and continued walking.
As she passed a group of students, fragments of their conversation drifted into her ears.
"...I heard she's after Ethan."
"They've been spending every day together."
"Isn't she using him because he's rich?"
Nadia frowned slightly but kept walking.
She had learned long ago that rumors only grew stronger when people chased after them.
Inside the lecture hall, she quietly took her usual seat.
A minute later, Ethan walked in.
He greeted a few classmates before sitting beside her.
"Morning."
"Morning."
He noticed the thoughtful expression on her face.
"Is everything alright?"
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
Before she could answer, their lecturer entered the classroom, and the conversation ended.
The lecture lasted almost two hours.
As soon as it ended, Ethan closed his notebook and turned to Nadia.
"You've been distracted all morning."
She hesitated.
"Have you... heard anything?"
"Heard what?"
"The rumors."
He looked genuinely confused.
"What rumors?"
She let out a small sigh.
"Nothing."
"Nadia."
She looked at him.
"If something is bothering you, you can tell me."
For a moment, she considered it.
Then she shook her head.
"It isn't worth talking about."
Ethan didn't push any further.
He simply nodded.
"Alright."
"But if anyone is giving you trouble..."
"...I'd like to know."
His voice was calm, but there was sincerity behind it.
Nadia smiled.
"I'll remember that."
Later that afternoon, Ethan sat alone in the university computer laboratory.
Several students stood behind him, watching his screen with amazement.
"How did you write that program?" one of them asked.
"It solves a simple business problem," Ethan replied.
"I built it to help small businesses keep track of their inventory and expenses."
A student shook his head.
"You make it sound so easy."
Ethan smiled.
"It wasn't."
"I just enjoy building things."
The lecturer supervising the lab walked over and glanced at the screen.
"You've improved it again."
"I added a forecasting feature."
The lecturer nodded with approval.
"This could become a real business someday."
"I've thought about that."
From the doorway, Nadia watched quietly.
She had never seen Ethan this focused before.
His fingers moved confidently across the keyboard.
For the first time, she understood why people respected him so much.
He wasn't showing off.
He simply loved what he did.
When he finally looked up and saw her, he smiled.
"You're just in time."
"For what?"
"I need someone to tell me if my business projections actually make sense."
She laughed softly.
"So I'm your unofficial consultant now?"
"The best one I know."
Across campus...
Vanessa sat beneath a large tree with Clara.
"Did the rumors spread?"
Clara nodded uneasily.
"Most of the class has heard them."
Vanessa smiled.
"And?"
"It didn't work."
"What do you mean?"
"Ethan doesn't seem to care."
Vanessa's smile slowly faded.
She looked toward the Faculty of Business, where Ethan and Nadia were walking out of the computer lab together, discussing their project.
"So..."
"He really doesn't care."
Her expression hardened.
"Then rumors aren't enough."
Clara looked worried.
"What are you planning?"
Vanessa stood up and picked up her handbag.
"I'm going to find something that will make Ethan lose his trust in Nadia."
She walked away without another word.
Clara watched her leave, a knot forming in her stomach.
For the first time...
She was beginning to fear how far Vanessa might go.
That evening...
In a luxurious mansion on the other side of the city, a black envelope lay on a polished wooden desk.
A middle-aged man entered the room, loosened his tie, and noticed it immediately.
There was no name.
No stamp.
No return address.
He slowly opened it.
A single black card slid onto the desk.
At its center...
A silver raven spread its wings.
The man's face drained of color.
His trembling hands dropped the card.
"No..."
He whispered.
"Not me..."
Outside the mansion, hidden in the shadows beyond the gates, a hooded figure watched the lights inside the house.
The figure turned away without a sound.
Then disappeared into the night
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