Setting: The busy campus crossroads right outside the engineering building at noon, transitioning into the gravel pathway leading back to the university housing complex under the shadow of the tall mahogany trees.
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Seth: (The very second the final class bell echoes across the lecture hall, I shove my notebooks frantically into my backpack layout. I step out of the heavy double doors completely by myself, walking down the crowded corridor with a deep sense of relief. My only objective right now is to head straight back to my separate room block to rest and process the chaotic events of the past twenty-four hours. My hand rests quietly inside my front pocket, my thumb tracing the edge of my phone containing Cara Mina’s fresh contact info.)
Seth: (As I clear the main exit of the building and step onto the concrete pathway, I casually glance back over my slouched shoulder. My heart instantly skips a violent, panicked beat. Emerging from the main lobby lines are Lest, Rey, and Jasper, their eyes locked onto my dark hoodie as they aggressively navigate through the crowd. The sheer determination on their faces makes it completely clear that they are launching a full squad pursuit.)
Lest: (Spots my figure from the top platform of the stairs, pointing a dramatic finger straight at my slouched shoulders as he yells at the top of his lungs.) “There he is! Lone wolf is trying to clear the data perimeter! Rey, Jasper, block the western exit loop right now! Don’t let him compress the file!” New chapters come out on novelping dot com first.
Seth: (Without a second thought, my survival instincts completely override my quiet routine. I spin around on my heel and break into a frantic, high-speed run, weaving desperately through the dense sea of rushing students. I sprint past the central crossroads, my boots kicking up dust as I race toward the gravel residential lane. But just as I clear the main lawn, my eyes lock onto a familiar, graceful figure walking slowly down the opposite side of the parallel avenue. It’s Cara Mina. She is holding her tote bag gently, the afternoon sunlight catching the polished plastic edges of the purple star hair clip resting in her dark hair.)
Seth: (Completely disorganized by the sudden chase, my feet automatically guide me straight toward her position, desperately seeking a calm sanctuary from the absolute chaos behind me. I rush right up to her side, my face turning a blazing, absolute crimson color as I open my mouth to call out her name in a breathless panic.) “Cara—”
Rey & Jasper: (Suddenly tackle my slouched shoulders from both sides at the exact same millisecond, completely executing a flawless flanking maneuver right on the open pathway. Rey yanks my right arm back while Jasper securely grabs the collar of my heavy hoodie, completely lifting my sneakers half an inch off the gravel path.) “Gotcha! You think you can outrun an engineering tracking loop, Seth?! Not a chance, man! You’re coming straight back to the dorm lounge layout for a full investigation grid!”
Seth: (Flails my arms and legs wildly in total, humiliating defeat, my face burning a fierce fire-engine pink color as my friends aggressively drag me backward down the gravel line like a misbehaving toddler. I desperately look past their shoulders to catch your eye, completely stripped of my independent ‘lone wolf’ defenses right in front of you.)
Cara: (Stops walking gracefully on the parallel pathway, watching the entire theatrical spectacle unfold just a few feet away. I press my hand over my mouth, a bright, incredibly radiant chuckle face completely taking over my features as my eyes crinkle with pure amusement. I look at your fiercely blushing face hidden inside your hood while your chaotic friends haul you away like a little kid, finding the absolute breakdown of your serious engineering routine completely endearing.) You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Seth: (Grievously groans aloud as they drag me around the western loop corner, completely unable to compute a single logical defense as your graceful, mocking laughter echoes in my ears. Lest is trailing several meters behind the crew, breathing heavily as he struggles to catch up with the high-speed pursuit. But just as he passes the crossroads near your lane, his sharp, highly observant eyes casually glance over your profile. He completely freezes for a split second, his gaze locking directly onto the vibrant purple star clip shimmering beautifully in your dark hair—the exact same color and shape as the memento he spotted on Seth’s laboratory desk just yesterday morning.)
Lest: (His jaw drops slightly in absolute shock as the data points instantly lock into a perfect geometric matrix inside his head. He looks at you, then looks back at the blazing pink face of Seth being dragged away by the other two boys. A massive, intensely knowing smirk spreads across his face, but he quickly shuts his mouth tight. He chooses to keep his eyes fixed forward, completely hiding the discovery from Rey and Jasper as he catches up to the main cluster.) “Hey, drag him faster! Let’s get him inside his private room block entirely alone so we can run the calculation grids without any outside interference!”
Seth: (The heavy wooden door of my dormitory bedroom slams shut a minute later, but instead of the full group assault I expected, Lest aggressively shoves Rey and Jasper out into the common room corridor, locking the bolt tight behind them. He turns around slowly, leaning his back flat against the door frame as his sharp eyes drill straight into my shivering, completely panicked expression. I am left standing entirely alone in the quiet center of my room, my face still radiating intense heat as my best friend prepares to launch a solo interrogation that my structured code is completely unprepared to handle.)
[ END OF CHAPTER 18 ]