Anna had come to the aptitude test ground as one of the invigilators, and John’s face lit up when he saw her. In that crowded hall, she was the only familiar face he could hold on to, the only reminder that he was not entirely alone.Anna’s eyes softened as she spotted him too. They had not seen each other for days; John had buried himself in his books, and Anna’s duties had kept her busy.“Hey, what are you doing here?” Anna asked as she passed by his seat, smiling warmly.“Are you stalking me now? I know I’m your number one fan,” John teased, surprised yet overjoyed to have her so close.Anna chuckled. “Save the flattery for after you pass this test.”“Yeah, right,” John replied, covering his deep excitement.She looked striking in a simple black mini dress paired with yellow heels. Anna always knew how to carry herself, and today was no different. She looked elegant, refined, almost untouchable.“I heard this year’s test is tougher than the previous ones,” she whispered. “But I hop

“Rita, Rita, wake up dear.” Jerry yelled as he shook her shoulders, panic flashing across his face when she didn’t move.“Bring water!” one of the invigilators cried.“Get a soft cloth,” another ordered, already checking her pulse.“Call an ambulance now!” the invigilator who had been siding with Jerry shouted, her voice trembling as though Rita’s life was slipping away.The hall descended into chaos. Contestants rushed around, some fanning Rita, others shouting useless suggestions. But still she lay motionless, her eyes closed, her body limp.The detective, however, stood silent, unmoved. He folded his arms and waited. Only when someone finally brought a bowl of water and a damp cloth did he step aside, his eyes sharp, watching every second with suspicion.“Here, take it.” A contestant thrust the items forward.“How close is the ambulance?” one invigilator asked, her voice on edge.“Five minutes away,” another replied. Relief washed briefly over their faces.But the detective knew be

The room felt colder than ever. Rita sat on one side of the ward, her arms folded tightly around herself, while Jerry sat opposite, hunched over with his head in his hands. Hours slipped by in silence. Neither spoke. Both were trapped in their own storm of thoughts.It was enough that John was their sworn enemy, but now they had a complication no one had planned for. Rita was pregnant. And one of the iron rules of the competition was clear: no participant could be pregnant.For Rita, this competition was her dream, the crown jewel she had been chasing since the day she enrolled. Nothing would stand in her way, not even a child. But for Jerry, the news had struck differently. He had always feared fatherhood was beyond his reach. Now, though Rita was far from his perfect choice, this might be his only chance. He had to convince her to keep the baby.Their eyes met across the room for a brief second, and then, just as quickly, they looked away. The tension between them was suffocating. J

John woke up with a stinging headache, the kind that felt like the aftermath of a heavy night of drinking, though he had not touched a drop. He tossed and turned, unable to push away the thoughts that weighed on him, before finally dragging himself out of bed and heading to the in-built gym.Normally, John never started his mornings without a glass of yoghurt. It was his small ritual before a workout, but that day he skipped it. He needed to clear his mind, not just his body.The steady rhythm of his workout became a way to think. For an hour, he pushed himself harder than usual, as if sweating could force away confusion. By the time he stopped, his chest heaved, his skin glistened, but his thoughts were only slightly clearer.After freshening up and having breakfast, John picked up the folder Anna had given him. He settled down to revise, his eyes moving quickly across the pages.The school’s history fascinated him. He learned about its famous musical club, a group that had travelled

The doorbell echoed through the quiet apartment.John froze.At that hour, no one was supposed to be at his door. Fear rushed through him like cold water. What if it was her? What if the woman had somehow found his address and was standing there, ready to corner him in his own home?His palms grew damp. Slowly, carefully, he took a deep breath and reached for the handle. The hinges groaned as the door opened.What he saw left him speechless.The eyes that met his were brighter, more sparkly than he had ever imagined. And the embrace—sudden, fierce, overwhelming—was everything he had once dreamed of but never dared to believe.Before he could gather his thoughts, their lips met. Ten minutes passed, maybe more, yet time no longer mattered. John’s mind spun in disbelief. Never in his wildest dreams did he think this would happen.He wished the setting were more romantic, yet in that moment nothing else mattered. She was in his arms. She was his reality. His hands traced down her back, th