Episode 19: The Morning After
967 Words
The applause echoed through the Grand Hall.
“And the winners of this year’s Founders’ Treasure Hunt…”
The Chancellor smiled as he opened the envelope.
“…Team Seven!”
Cheers erupted from one side of the ballroom.
Amara looked at Kael.
“We didn’t even finish.”
“We got distracted.”
She laughed.
“I wonder whose fault that was.”
“I was going to blame the impossible clue.”
“I was going to blame you.”
“I’ll accept fifty percent of the responsibility.”
“Only fifty?”
“Sixty.”
She smiled.
“Deal.”
⸻
The gala came to an end shortly after midnight.
Outside, luxury cars lined the circular driveway while students waited for rides or walked back to their dorms.
Lily linked her arm through Amara’s.
“So…”
“No.”
“I haven’t even asked anything yet.”
“I already know.”
Lily grinned.
“Did you almost kiss him?”
Amara nearly stumbled.
“What?”
“I leave you alone for thirty minutes.”
“You disappear into the gardens.”
“You come back wearing his jacket.”
She pointed dramatically.
“And you’re blushing.”
Amara looked down at the jacket still draped over her shoulders.
She had forgotten she was wearing it.
“I’ll return it tomorrow.”
“Mhm.”
“That’s all.”
“Mhm.”
“Lily.”
“I’m just saying…”
“…I’ve never seen you smile this much.”
Amara didn’t answer.
Because Lily was right.
⸻
Across campus, Ronan tossed Kael his car keys.
“You looked happy tonight.”
“I was.”
Ronan blinked.
“…You admitted it.”
Kael realized his mistake too late.
“I meant the gala went well.”
“You almost smiled yourself unconscious.”
Kael shook his head.
“You exaggerate.”
“I’ve known you for six years.”
“You only smile like that around one person.”
Kael stared out of the passenger window.
His silence was answer enough.
⸻
The next morning…
Eclipse University woke to chaos.
Students crowded around notice boards.
Phones buzzed nonstop.
Voices echoed across campus.
“Have you seen it?”
“No way…”
“Is it real?”
Amara frowned as she walked toward the Business School.
“What happened?”
A first-year student looked up from her phone.
“You haven’t checked the campus forum?”
Amara pulled out her phone.
At the very top of the homepage was a post that had already gathered hundreds of comments.
STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT SECRETLY DATING SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT?
Beneath the headline…
Were photographs.
Kael catching her beside the Reflection Pond.
The two of them laughing beneath the fairy lights.
Him placing his jacket around her shoulders.
And the last picture…
Taken from the gazebo.
They looked only seconds away from kissing.
Her face went pale.
⸻
“Oh, this is bad.”
Lily appeared beside her, staring at the screen.
“Someone followed you all night.”
Comments continued flooding in.
I knew something was going on.
She just wants his money.
She’s using him for status.
Lucky girl.
She’s definitely after the Vale family.
Amara’s stomach twisted.
None of them knew her.
Yet they had already decided who she was.
⸻
A black luxury sedan pulled up outside the Student Council building.
Kael stepped out.
Students immediately fell silent.
Every eye followed him.
He noticed the whispers.
The phones pointed in his direction.
Then Ronan handed him his own phone.
“You should probably see this.”
Kael looked at the screen.
His expression hardened.
“Who posted it?”
“We don’t know.”
“But it was uploaded anonymously.”
Kael looked at the photographs again.
His jaw clenched.
Not because people were talking about him.
Because they were attacking Amara.
⸻
Before classes began, Serena walked through the crowded courtyard.
Students immediately made way for her.
She overheard the gossip.
A slow smile crossed her lips.
She hadn’t leaked the photographs.
But whoever had…
Had done her a favor.
She stopped beside a group of girls.
“What a shame.”
“I always thought President Vale was more careful.”
The rumor spread even faster.
⸻
Amara had almost reached her classroom when someone called her name.
She turned.
Kael was walking toward her.
Students instantly stopped to watch.
Every phone seemed to rise into the air.
Recording.
Amara’s heart sank.
“They’re watching,” she whispered.
“I know.”
“You shouldn’t be seen talking to me right now.”
Kael stopped in front of her.
His voice was calm.
“They’re going to talk anyway.”
She looked into his eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Because this is hurting your reputation.”
He frowned.
“My reputation isn’t what concerns me.”
She blinked.
“What concerns me…”
His eyes briefly scanned the crowd around them.
“…is whether you’re okay.”
For the first time since seeing the photos…
Amara felt the tightness in her chest ease.
Before she could answer, a sharp voice cut through the silence.
“There you are.”
Everyone turned.
A tall, impeccably dressed man in a charcoal suit stood at the entrance of the courtyard.
Two security officers flanked him.
His gaze settled on Kael.
“The Chairman of the Board requests your immediate presence.”
The man’s expression was cold.
“And Miss Amara Cole…”
He looked directly at her.
“…you are requested to attend as well.”
The courtyard fell completely silent.
Neither of them had any idea why the university’s Board wanted to see them together.
But one thing was certain.
Someone had turned a rumor…
Into an official investigation.
- Writer
