The last supper 1

I'm sorry for my inability to update chapters for a really long time , I had a major exam to write and unfortunately I couldn't make it in😞my mind has been everywhere yet nowhere at the same time but hopefully I can make it up to you guys.

P.S I made the chapter longer. Lots of love 😘

The dim glow of the computer screen reflected in Xavier's eyes as he sat hunched over his desk, fingers poised over the keyboard. His room was quiet except for the occasional hum of the laptop's fan. The phrase, "GUR PENML XRL VF ZL FR", flashed mockingly in front of him, a jumbled mess of letters daring him to unravel its meaning.

He had been at it for hours, leaning back every few minutes to stare at the ceiling, running possible solutions through his mind. Codes and puzzles had always come easily to him, but this one? This one was different. He couldn't afford to miss any details, not with the looming threat of purple lotus hanging over them.

Leaning forward, he cracked his knuckles. His mind raced through various encryption techniques. He tried basic anagrams first—nothing. Then, substitution ciphers—still no dice. Finally, something clicked.

A ceaser cipher

He recalled the old trick he'd learned years ago: letters shifted by a certain number of spaces in the alphabet. It was simple but effective, a go-to method for many low-level hackers. But how far was the shift? A few keystrokes later, he wrote a quick script to shift the letters one by one.

As the results spilled out on the screen, he whispered the letters under his breath:

"T… H… E…"

"THE"

His pulse quickened.

He adjusted the shift, watching as the rest of the phrase unfolded:

"THE CRAZY KEY IS MY DH"

Xavier frowned, leaning back in his chair and running a hand through his messy hair."Crazy key? he muttered. The phrase made little sense at first glance, but he knew there had to be more to it.

Just then, his phone buzzed. It was Gilbert.

"You figured it out yet?" Gilbert asked, his voice steady but tense.

"I think so. It's a Caesar cipher—nothing too complex. The message is: 'The crazy key is my DH.'

"DH?" Gilbert paused for a second. "That doesn't make much sense. What the hell's a crazy key? And who's DH?"

"I don't know yet," Xavier admitted, frustration creeping into his voice. "But 'crazy key' might be a term used by hackers. If we dig into it, we might find a clue. As for 'DH,' I'm guessing it's someone's initials. A signature, maybe."

Xavier turned back to his screen, mind racing as Gilbert kept talking.

"I'll look into it," Gilbert said, already formulating a plan on his end. "I'll cross-reference recent hacks and see if anything related to 'crazy key' or 'DH' pops up."

Xavier nodded, eyes still glued to the screen. "Good idea. Meanwhile, I'll keep working on this. There's something else here, something we're missing."

Gilbert hesitated for a moment, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "We've got to be careful, Xav. Whoever's behind this isn't just playing around. If they're going after companies like your dad's, this could be big."

Xavier swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Gilbert's words settle on his chest. He nodded, though Gilbert couldn't see him. "Yeah. I know. We'll get to the bottom of this."

As the call ended, Xavier sat in the silence for a moment, staring at the decrypted message. Crazy key… DH…The answers were right there, just beyond his grasp.

Determined, he cracked his knuckles again and dove back into his search, his mind racing to connect the dots. Every keystroke, every new search was leading him closer to the truth behind purple lotus—and whoever the hell DH was.

This wasn't just about uncovering a hacker group anymore. This was personal.

The next day after school...

Gilbert greeted Kamsi with a warm smile as he slid into the library seat, his usual easygoing energy making the air between them feel lighter. "Hi," he said, his voice soft yet cheerful.

"Hey," Kamsi replied, her smile tight, her lips barely lifting. Gilbert's eyes flicked to her face, noticing the subtle tension that clung to her shoulders. Something was off, though she tried to hide it.

"Sorry for not making it the other day," Gilbert apologized, his expression sincere. "Something came up that needed my attention."

"It's cool," Kamsi responded, her smile widening just a fraction. But there was something in her voice—something distant. Gilbert's brow furrowed slightly. He wasn't entirely convinced.

"You sure?" he asked, his voice probing, laced with gentle concern.

Kamsi nodded quickly, her hand making a dismissive wave. "Yeah I'm sure. I just hope everything's been resolved," she added, her eyes softening as genuine concern for him slipped through the cracks of her guarded demeanor.

"Hopefully," Gilbert muttered, but his gaze drifted momentarily as if his mind was still tethered to whatever had happened earlier. A shadow passed over his features before he shook it off, turning his focus back to her. "Anyway, let's get to work."

The session stretched on for over an hour, but time felt as though it passed in an instant. Kamsi absorbed the material with growing confidence, and Gilbert couldn't help but feel proud. Her focus was sharp, her mind clearly capable, and he could see the determination in her eyes. When they finally wrapped up, Gilbert leaned back in his chair, a satisfied grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

"You've made massive progress," he said, his voice brimming with optimism. "At this rate, you're going to ace your test."

Kamsi gave him a small smile, her chest swelling with gratitude. "Thank you. You've been an excellent tutor." The words weren't just polite—they were true. Gilbert had a way of breaking things down that made her feel capable, something few people could manage. He was smart, patient, and so easy to talk to—so unlike Xavier.

Her mind stumbled at the thought of Xavier, and she bit the inside of her cheek. Why am I thinking about him ?she chastised herself, mentally shaking her head as if to clear his image from her thoughts. She hated how he slipped in, uninvited, like a shadow she couldn't escape. A quiet sigh slipped past her lips, her inner turmoil hidden beneath her calm exterior.

But Gilbert noticed the shift. His eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned in. "Are you okay?"

Kamsi blinked, startled, quickly masking her thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, her voice steady, though she could feel her heart quicken.

Gilbert studied her for a moment, his eyes searching her face, but he didn't press further. "Alright then. How about we grab something to eat? McDonald's is nearby, my treat," he offered, a hopeful smile playing on his lips.

Kamsi glanced at her phone, frowning at the time. "Oh no, it's getting really late," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of regret. "I need to get home, and if I stay any longer, I doubt I'll catch the bus." It wasn't a lie, but she wasn't entirely being honest either. Her stomach had been growling for the last half hour, but admitting that felt... embarrassing.

Just then, her stomach betrayed her, letting out a loud, unmistakable rumble. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she clutched her belly, her face scrunching in mortification. She could feel Gilbert's eyes on her, and when she finally glanced up, he was grinning, his chuckle soft but amused.

"Right," he said with a laugh, his tone light and teasing. "It's fine. I can drop you off. Don't say no." His eyes sparkled with a playful challenge, but there was something else—a sincerity that made it hard to refuse. His puppy-dog look was unfairly cute, and Kamsi found herself wavering. He wasn't pushing, but his expression made it clear he wouldn't let her decline without a fight.

"Are you really going to deny your teacher, who made time for you, this one little request?" he coaxed, his voice low and teasing, knowing he was breaking through her resistance.

Emotional blackmailer, she thought with a reluctant smile. But she couldn't help it—Gilbert had helped her so much, and saying no felt... wrong.

"Okay, fine," she finally relented, the corners of her mouth lifting into a small, amused grin.

Gilbert s face lit up immediately. "Great!" His earlier pleading look vanished, replaced by a wide, victorious grin.

But just as the moment lightened, the atmosphere around them shifted. Kamsi felt it before she saw him—like the air had suddenly grown heavier, darker. She glanced up, her breath catching in her throat as Xavier came into view. His stride was casual, his posture relaxed, but there was something in the way he moved, like a predator confident in his domain. His gaze locked onto hers for a split second, and she tensed instinctively, every muscle tightening in response.

Xavier's expression was unreadable—calm and composed—but beneath it, his presence was sharp, dangerous. The smirk that tugged at the corner of his lips told her everything: he noticed her reaction, and worse, he enjoyed it. Kamsi's heart pounded in her chest, her stomach twisting into a knot she couldn't untangle. She hated the way her body betrayed her every time he was near, hated the power he seemed to have over her nerves.

"Bro," Gilbert called out, oblivious to the tension between them. "Kam and I are heading to McDonald's. You coming?"

Kamsi's breath hitched, her pulse quickening. She looked from Gilbert to Xavier, her mind spinning. Please say no , she begged silently, her stomach tightening further. Please, please say no. She could already feel the discomfort settling in at the mere thought of Xavier joining them.

Xavier's gaze shifted lazily from Gilbert to Kamsi, lingering on her for just a moment too long. His lips curved into a slow, almost mocking smile, his eyes gleaming with amusement. He was enjoying this—enjoying her discomfort, her tension.

"Yes," Xavier replied, his voice smooth, deliberate. There was a glint in his eyes, something dark and mischievous that made Kamsi's stomach drop.

She exhaled, defeated. Her shoulders slumped as the weight of his decision settled over her. Great, she thought bitterly. This might aswell be my last supper, Her mind raced as she tried to brace herself for what was sure to be a long, uncomfortable evening. She could already feel the tension building, the air between them thickening with unspoken words and buried emotions.

And Xavier knew it. He was playing his part to perfection.