Chapter 2
I was the top student at Arona University, guaranteed a spot in the graduate program, and I had chosen to major in Computer Science.
In my field, everything had been going smoothly; I dominated my department, racking up accolades and participating in countless competitions.
As graduation approached, I finally mustered the courage to approach my long–time idol, Vincent Stewart, about pursuing further studies. His only condition was that I had to secure first place in an upcoming international competition.
Determined to meet his expectations, I decided to tackle the most challenging project I could find.
I spent countless hours in the computer lab, pouring over research and coding late into the night. But just when I thought I was on the brink of success, Megan swooped in and easily claimed the fruits of my labor.
As I strolled through the quiet campus, a nagging feeling crept in that I might be overlooking something crucial.
Just as I was lost in thought, a flash of inspiration struck me.
If my current project wasn’t working out, why not try a different programming language and structure?
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Once back in my dorm, I pulled out my laptop and began typing out a brand–new code.
With intense focus, I suddenly had a fresh perspective on the logical framework, and I set to work on building it up from scratch.
This way, my program wouldn’t be accused of plagiarism, and I could enhance its efficiency!
The excitement surged within me as I coded faster and faster, translating my ideas into reality.
That was when I heard my roommate’s worried voice from behind me.
“Keira, you’re pushing yourself too hard. Staying up all night isn’t good for you. You should take a break!”
I glanced at my phone, only to realize it was already 4:30 AM.
My roommate sighed and rubbed her temples, trying to reason with me.
“Keira, you’ve got a whole week until the competition. There’s no rush. What if you burn out before the big day? That would be such a waste.”
Her words hit me like a wake–up call.
Of course, I had a whole week left! I didn’t need to rush to
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submit anything just yet; I could wait for news from Megan.
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If there were still similarities or oddities in our projects, I’d have time to tweak and refine mine.
This way, I could avoid the plagiarism debacle that had haunted my previous life and finally present my own hard–earned work at the competition.
With that thought, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I thanked my roommate and dove back into coding, determined to finish the second version of my program.
After a trial run, it worked flawlessly!
I took a deep breath, staring at the completed program.
Finally, my creation was born.
But then, memories of my past life flooded back. Megan hadn’t just accused me of plagiarism; she had gone live on social media, spreading lies about me bullying her on campus.
With tears streaming down her face, she played the innocent victim, and her sweet, pure image captured the hearts of many.
The online backlash against me was relentless.
[I can’t believe there’s bullying happening in college. This girl is so arrogant; we need to make sure she pays for her actions!]
[Poor Megan! Not only was she bullied, but she was also
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plagiarized. Keira is just evil!]
[Megan is too kind–hearted. It’s up to us to stand up for her! Does anyone have Keira’s number?]
I couldn’t understand why she was lying. I tried desperately to clear my name, but it only fueled the fire of online harassment.
Someone maliciously leaked my family’s private information online, leading to my parents being harassed to the point where they had to move. Tragically, while on the road, they were involved in a serio accident caused by aggressive internet trolls, and they died on the spot.
As I thought about it now, my fists clenched in anger, my nails digging into my palms.
If I didn’t uncover the root of all this chaos, I couldn’t ensure my family’s safety.
Just as I was racking my brain on how to investigate, I heard a classmate exclaim nearby.
“Did you guys see Megan’s status? Someone stole her competition entry!”
“Seriously? With only a few days left until the contest? What’s she going to do now? There’s no way she can rewrite it in time!”
“Plagiarists are the worst! It’s disgusting!”
I felt as if I had been struck by lightning. I immediately pulled
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out my phone and opened Megan’s status, my heart racing.
