Ava Carter didn't waste another second.
[TIME REMAINING: 4 HOURS 02 MINUTES]
"…One more," she whispered.
Two people already remembered her name.
Just one left.
It sounded easy.
But now—
it didn't feel that way anymore.
Because this time…
she could feel it.
Serena Blake's eyes were still on her.
Not openly.
Not obviously.
But Ava knew.
That cold, annoyed gaze hadn't left.
[WARNING: SOCIAL PRESSURE INCREASING]
Ava exhaled slowly.
"…I noticed."
Her fingers tightened slightly around her bag.
Running away wouldn't help.
Avoiding it wouldn't help.
She needed to finish the quest.
Now.
Ava looked around again.
Students were leaving.
The crowd was thinning.
Time was moving.
Then—
she saw her.
Mina.
Standing a little away from Serena and Aria.
Not fully part of their conversation.
Just watching.
Observing.
Ava hesitated.
"…Her?"
Mina wasn't as intimidating as Serena.
But she wasn't easy either.
Still—
Ava took a step forward.
Then another.
No hesitation this time.
She stopped in front of Mina.
"…Hi," Ava said.
Mina blinked, slightly surprised.
"…Hi?"
There was a small pause.
Ava held her gaze.
"My name is Ava Carter."
Mina looked at her carefully.
Not confused.
Not dismissive.
Just… thinking.
"…Ava Carter," Mina repeated slowly.
[PROGRESS UPDATED: 3/3]
Ava's breath caught.
Completed.
[QUEST COMPLETE]
REWARD: ₦10,000 CREDITED
Ava froze for half a second.
"…I did it."
A small, quiet relief washed over her.
She didn't smile.
But something inside her loosened.
"…Thank you," she said softly.
Mina tilted her head slightly.
"You're acting like this is important," she said.
Ava paused.
"…It is."
Mina didn't press further.
But her eyes lingered a little longer.
"…You really are different today," Mina murmured.
Ava didn't respond.
Because she couldn't explain it.
She turned to leave—
"Wait."
Ava stopped.
Mina stepped a little closer.
"…Be careful," she said quietly.
Ava frowned slightly.
"…About what?"
Mina's gaze shifted briefly—
Toward Serena.
"…Her," she said simply.
Ava followed her gaze.
Serena Blake stood there.
Watching.
This time—
not hiding it at all.
Her arms were crossed.
Her expression calm.
But her eyes—
sharp.
Cold.
Annoyed.
Ava felt it clearly now.
That hostility.
"…I see," Ava murmured.
Mina stepped back.
"I just thought you should know," she said.
Ava nodded once.
Then turned and walked away.
She didn't rush.
Didn't look back.
But her mind was no longer calm.
[NEW STATUS UPDATE]
SOCIAL TENSION: INCREASING
"…Of course it is," Ava muttered.
₦10,000 earned.
But at a cost.
Attention.
And now—
something worse.
Conflict.
Across the distance—
Serena's gaze followed her.
Cold.
Unmoving.
"…She really thinks she can stand there?" Serena said quietly.
Aria crossed her arms.
"It's just a name, Serena."
Serena's lips curved slightly.
But there was no warmth in it.
"No," she said softly.
"It's not."
Her eyes didn't leave Ava.
"Not when Ethan is involved."
Ava didn't hear those words.
But she felt something change.
Like the air around her had shifted.
Like something had just begun.
And this time—
it wasn't something she could ignore.