Episode 6: The Anonymous Gift
729 Words
The shadow was gone.
Amara blinked several times, scanning the gardens outside the towering windows.
Nothing.
Just swaying trees and soft lights illuminating the pathways.
"You okay?"
Lily appeared beside her with two glasses of sparkling juice.
"You look like you've seen a ghost."
Amara forced a smile.
"I thought I saw someone outside."
Lily looked through the window.
"At this time of night?"
"Maybe I imagined it."
"Or maybe it's one of the campus gardeners wondering why you're staring at him."
Amara laughed.
"You're probably right."
Still...
The uneasy feeling refused to leave.
It was as though invisible eyes were following her every move.
---
From the balcony overlooking the reception, Kael watched Amara discreetly.
He had seen the shadow too.
Only unlike Amara...
He knew it hadn't been her imagination.
The barrier surrounding Eclipse University had been tested.
Not broken.
Just... tested.
Someone was searching for a way in.
"Ronan."
His friend appeared almost immediately.
"You saw it?"
"I did."
"Track the patrol reports."
"They're already searching the perimeter."
Kael nodded once.
"And don't let anyone get close to Amara without us knowing."
Ronan folded his arms.
"You keep saying this isn't personal."
"It isn't."
"Really?"
Kael didn't answer.
Ronan chuckled.
"You're becoming a terrible liar."
---
The reception ended an hour later.
Students spilled out onto the moonlit campus, laughing and exchanging phone numbers.
Amara inhaled the cool evening air.
"I'm exhausted."
Lily linked their arms together.
"But you survived."
"Barely."
"And..."
Lily wiggled her eyebrows.
"...the mysterious Kael applauded your speech."
"I think everyone applauded."
"Not the way he did."
Amara rolled her eyes.
"You've created an entire romance in your head."
"No."
"I've created three."
Before Amara could respond, someone called her name.
"Miss Cole?"
She turned.
A middle-aged woman wearing the university crest approached with a small gift box.
"This was left for you."
"For me?"
"Yes."
"There wasn't a name."
The woman handed her the box before walking away.
Lily's eyes widened.
"Open it."
"Here?"
"Obviously."
Curiosity won.
Amara carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the lid.
Inside was a fountain pen.
Elegant.
Black with silver detailing.
Nestled beneath it was a handwritten note.
For the student who reminded everyone tonight that hard work still matters. Never stop believing in yourself.
There was no signature.
"No name?" Lily asked.
Amara shook her head.
"That's... actually really sweet."
Lily narrowed her eyes.
"You know what I'm thinking."
"I'm not saying it."
"It was Kael."
"It could have been anyone."
"It was totally Kael."
Amara slipped the note back into the box.
"We don't know that."
But for some reason...
She carefully placed it in her bag instead of throwing it away.
---
On the opposite side of campus, Serena stood beside her car.
One of her classmates hurried over.
"I found out who approved Amara's invitation."
Serena looked up.
"Well?"
"It wasn't the dean."
"It wasn't the scholarship office."
A slow smile spread across Serena's face.
"I knew it."
"The approval came directly from Student Council."
Her smile widened.
"Kael?"
"I'm... not sure."
"The paperwork only had presidential authorization."
Serena's expression darkened.
There was only one person who could authorize invitations without explaining why.
Kael.
"So..."
She murmured.
"Why are you interested in her?"
---
The following morning, Amara arrived early for her Principles of Finance class.
She chose a seat near the window and pulled out her new pen.
It wrote beautifully.
Smooth.
Effortless.
"Nice pen."
She looked up.
A tall student she hadn't met before smiled warmly.
"I'm Daniel."
"Amara."
"I've seen you around."
She laughed.
"I think everyone has this week."
"Occupational hazard of becoming campus famous."
He grinned.
"Mind if I sit here?"
"Not at all."
They chatted easily while waiting for class to begin.
Across the hallway, Kael was leaving a faculty meeting when he glanced through the classroom window.
He saw Amara smiling.
Laughing.
Talking comfortably with another man.
His steps slowed.
Something unfamiliar tightened in his chest.
Ronan, walking beside him, followed his gaze.
"Oh."
A knowing smile spread across his face.
"There it is."
Kael frowned.
"What?"
"Jealousy."
Kael looked away immediately.
"I don't get jealous."
Ronan laughed.
"You keep telling yourself that."
Kael continued walking without another word.
But for the rest of the morning...
He couldn't stop wondering who Daniel was.
And why Amara's smile came so easily when she was with him.
- Writer
