The hidden test
568 Words
Chapter 18
The Hidden Test
Monday morning arrived with renewed energy.
The university campus was crowded as students hurried to lectures, discussing assignments and the approaching Convocation.
Nadia walked through the main gate carrying only a notebook.
As usual, she observed everything around her.
A student rushing to class.
A security guard speaking on the phone.
A delivery van parked near the administration building.
Everything looked normal.
Yet...
Her instincts told her otherwise.
Someone was watching.
She continued walking without changing her expression.
Whoever it was, they were good.
But not good enough.
"Good morning."
Ethan caught up with her near the Faculty of Business.
"Morning."
"I have good news."
"Our presentation?"
He nodded.
"I finished the slides last night."
"Already?"
"I couldn't sleep."
Nadia laughed.
"I should have known."
"I'll show them to you after class."
"I'm looking forward to it."
They entered the lecture hall together.
From the last row, Vanessa watched them quietly.
Her eyes followed every smile...
Every conversation...
Every step.
Her jealousy was growing stronger each day.
After their final lecture, Ethan opened his laptop in an empty classroom.
"What do you think?" he asked.
The presentation appeared on the screen.
Professional.
Simple.
Well organized.
Nadia carefully read each slide.
"The design is excellent."
"But..."
Ethan smiled.
"I knew there was a 'but.'"
She pointed to one of the charts.
"The market analysis needs stronger evidence."
"And this conclusion is too short."
Ethan quickly began making changes.
"Anything else?"
She thought for a moment.
"No."
"Now it's excellent."
He looked at her with admiration.
"You always make my work better."
"And you make my ideas easier to understand."
They smiled.
Without realizing it, they had become comfortable around each other.
Outside the classroom...
Vanessa stood silently behind the half-open door.
She had heard every word.
"So..."
She whispered.
"They really trust each other now."
She quietly walked away.
That afternoon, she met a young man in a quiet café.
He wore a black hoodie and carried a backpack.
"I need another favor," Vanessa said.
The young man looked uneasy.
"The last one almost got me caught."
"I'll pay you double."
He remained silent.
"I don't want you to hack Ethan's laptop this time."
"I want you to follow Nadia."
The young man's eyes narrowed.
"For how long?"
"Until you discover what she's hiding."
He nodded slowly.
"I'll start today."
Neither of them noticed a woman sitting alone in the corner of the café.
She wore dark glasses and quietly sipped her tea.
From behind the lenses...
She watched the entire conversation.
When Vanessa and the young man finally left, the woman placed some cash on the table and walked out.
She never followed them.
She simply disappeared into the busy street.
That evening...
Nadia walked home alone.
Halfway there, she paused briefly to look at the display of a closed bookstore.
The reflection in the glass told her everything.
The young man in the black hoodie was still behind her.
He had followed her from the university.
He stopped whenever she stopped.
He walked whenever she walked.
Nadia smiled faintly.
Amateur.
Instead of confronting him, she continued toward home as if she hadn't noticed.
She wanted to know one thing.
Who had sent him?
The answer would come soon enough.
Behind her, the young man smiled confidently.
He believed his target was completely unaware of his presence.
He couldn't have been more wrong.
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