Screen of Secrets

Chapter 9

Fredric

I told Nathan about the program, but he didn’t believe me. He found it hard to accept that I could jump from the bottom to the top of the list in just two weeks with the help of a program. I mean, yeah, it’s unbelievable.
Even I can’t wrap my head around how the program prepared me with questions similar to those on the second monthly test, almost as if it knew what the questions would be. They weren’t the exact same questions, but they were similar.

The program covered many topics that weren't even on the test. Still, in the last three days before the exam, it seemed to prepare me very thoroughly for it, even more than necessary for a monthly test.

Nathan didn’t believe me, but he said he would tell Evan and that they would visit me to see the program for themselves.

When I got home, my mom was standing at the door, happy. I guess she knew I got sixth place. It would probably be like a festival at home now.

Since I came home from school, I’ve started studying with the program again. I thought I’d relax a bit, but the program doesn’t want me to chill. It says it's study time, and I’ve been busy with it for the last hour and a half.

The doorbell rings. Nathan and Evan must have arrived.

"IT’S BREAK TIME."

A message pops up from the program. Great timing for a break, almost as if it knew my friends would arrive and gave me a break right when I needed it. Well, that’s practically impossible.

I hear chatter outside my door. My mom must have let them in, so I open the door and invite them into my room.

Evan looks annoyed, probably still mad at me for lying to her.

"Is it true?" Evan asks, looking irritated, as if she was forced to be here. Nathan must have convinced her.

"What is true?" I ask, even though I know what she's referring to.

"The program, you idiot. Don’t tell me you lied to Nathan too." Evan says.

"Evan, you said you weren’t angry," Nathan chimes in.

"I’m not." Evan says.

"Well, you seem angry, my love, though you look cute when you’re pouty." Nathan kisses on her forehead, then her nose, then her lips. It’s hard to watch them being all lovey-dovey.

"Okay, Nathan are you done kissing her?" I ask.

"I think she’s okay now", Nathan says as both of them blush. He’s never done this in front of me since they started dating, except that one time when they were kissing while watching a movie.

"Okay, listen, Evan, I’m sorry for lying. I didn’t meant to hurt you, and I sincerely apologize. But this program is not a lie." I say.

"It’s okay, but don’t do it again. What’s with the program?" she asks, still looking a bit mad, though Nathan's arms are around her waist.

"Here, look at my laptop," I say, turning it toward them so they can see.

They are astonished by the program and how it sends messages. I join them and explain how the program works.

"It’s amazing", Nathan says, clearly impressed.

"Yeah, it is amazing, but it’s also scary how it knew the test schedule. And if Fred is right, that means it gave him a break just when we were coming", Evan says with a tense look.

I guess her concern is justified.
The way it always gives me breaks at the right time is suspicious.