Chapter Four: love Against the storm
912 Words
Two days after the attempted attack, Evergreen University no longer felt like the peaceful campus it once had.
Security officers patrolled the roads.
The university gates were searched more thoroughly.
The investigation into the stolen project had expanded into a criminal case after the attempted hit-and-run.
Students whispered everywhere they went.
Some were afraid.
Others were simply curious.
But Kane and Liana knew one thing:
This was no longer just about an engineering competition.
Someone powerful was trying to silence them.
---
Kane insisted on walking Liana to every lecture.
"I can walk by myself," she teased one morning.
"I know."
"Then why are you treating me like I'm a child?"
He smiled.
"Because I made you a promise."
She laughed.
"And what promise was that?"
"That I'd protect you."
She shook her head with a smile.
"You're impossible."
"And yet..."
He gently took her books.
"...you still like me."
Liana rolled her eyes playfully.
"I haven't decided."
"Oh?"
"I might change my mind."
Kane placed a hand dramatically over his heart.
"That hurts."
She burst into laughter.
Students passing by smiled as they watched them.
The sadness that once surrounded Kane had begun to disappear.
For the first time in months, he looked genuinely happy.
---
Not everyone was pleased.
Brandon watched them from the balcony of the Engineering Building.
Victor stood beside him.
"I've never seen Kane smile like that."
Brandon's expression was blank.
"He deserves to be happy."
Victor looked at him in surprise.
"What?"
Brandon sighed heavily.
"I've spent so much time hating him..."
"...that I forgot who I used to be."
Victor frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Brandon leaned against the railing.
"My mother called me yesterday."
"She cried."
Victor remained silent.
"She said she didn't raise me to become this kind of man."
For the first time since the story began...
Brandon looked ashamed.
"I don't even recognize myself anymore."
---
Later that afternoon, Professor Okafor received a phone call from the university's Digital Forensics Unit.
He listened quietly for several minutes before standing up.
"Are you absolutely certain?"
A smile slowly spread across his face.
"Thank you."
"I'll inform the Vice Chancellor immediately."
He ended the call and looked out of his office window.
"The truth has finally arrived."
---
An emergency disciplinary hearing was scheduled for the following morning.
Every member of Brandon's team was ordered to attend.
Kane, Liana, Ethan, and several lecturers were also summoned.
The atmosphere inside the university senate chamber was tense.
The Vice Chancellor himself presided over the hearing.
Professor Okafor stood and addressed the room.
"After examining the recovered server records, laptop metadata, access logs, witness statements, and forensic evidence..."
He paused.
"...the committee has reached a conclusion."
The room became silent.
Professor Okafor continued.
"The original project files were created on Mr. Kane Williams' laptop over a period of four months."
He looked toward Kane.
"The files submitted by Mr. Brandon Cole's team are identical copies."
A murmur spread through the audience.
"The committee also confirmed that the files were copied illegally from Mr. Williams' computer."
Brandon slowly lowered his head.
The Vice Chancellor spoke firmly.
"Mr. Brandon Cole..."
"Do you wish to say anything before this committee announces its decision?"
For several moments...
Brandon remained silent.
Then...
He stood.
His voice trembled.
"I..."
He looked toward Kane.
Tears formed in his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
The room fell completely silent.
"I was jealous."
"Every time Kane succeeded..."
"I felt like a failure."
"He never insulted me."
"He never looked down on me."
"But instead of becoming better..."
"...I decided to destroy the person I envied."
Victor began crying.
Kelvin wiped tears from his face.
Desmond looked down in shame.
Brandon continued.
"Kane treated us like brothers."
"He paid our school fees when my father lost his job."
"He bought us books."
"He defended us whenever lecturers accused us unfairly."
His voice broke.
"And I repaid him with betrayal."
Several students watching from the back of the hall lowered their heads.
Even the lecturers looked emotional.
Brandon turned fully toward Kane.
"I don't deserve your forgiveness."
"I only wanted you to know..."
"...that I'm truly sorry."
The entire hall became quiet.
Every eye turned toward Kane.
What would he do?
Would he finally seek revenge?
Or would he remain the same humble young man he had always been?
Kane slowly stood.
He walked toward Brandon until they were only a step apart.
Brandon couldn't even look him in the eyes.
Kane placed a hand gently on his shoulder.
"I forgive you."
Brandon looked up in disbelief.
"But forgiveness..."
Kane continued calmly,
"...doesn't erase consequences."
"You must accept responsibility for what you've done."
Brandon nodded through tears.
"I will."
The Vice Chancellor smiled quietly.
"Mr. Williams..."
"You have reminded everyone in this room that true strength is found not in revenge..."
"...but in character."
The hall erupted into applause.
Yet Liana noticed something strange.
At the back of the senate chamber, a man wearing a dark suit quietly stood up and walked out before the hearing ended.
She recognized him.
He was the same man she had seen near the black SUV.
He wasn't interested in Brandon's confession.
He had been watching Kane.
And when he left, he made one phone call.
"The boy refused to break."
A cold voice answered,
"Then we move to the final phase."
The call ended.
Liana's heart sank.
Brandon's betrayal was over.
But the real enemy...
...was still out there.
To be continued...
- Writer
