They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 496: Just Another Warm Up

One that did not have to be forced or chased.

Even if it took years... even if her heart ached every time she saw Somto and Nnenna together... she would move on.

Quietly.

Gracefully.

And one day, she would find someone who loved her the way her father loved her mother.

She opened her eyes and gave a tiny, determined smile.

’You’ll be okay,’ she told herself. ’One day, this won’t hurt anymore. And when that day comes, I’ll be ready to love again, with someone who chooses me back.’

She sat up straighter and glanced at Nnenna, who was humming to herself and flipping through flashcards. Ava nudged her shoulder playfully.

"Teach me one more trick," she said with a soft laugh, voice lighter than before.

Nnenna blinked and grinned. "I thought you were done already?"

Ava shrugged. "Well, you never know when a good hack could save your life."

Somto glanced at them in the mirror and smiled quietly to himself.

And just like that, the ache in Ava’s chest softened.

She would be fine.

Eventually.

The car rolled to a smooth stop near the academy gates, where other families were already gathered. Students clutched their notes, hugged their parents, or exchanged nervous jokes.

But inside Somto’s car, the atmosphere was calm, almost still.

He turned off the engine and looked at the two girls beside him. His gaze settled on Nnenna first, then Ava.

"This is your first major exam here," he said, voice steady and low. "But don’t let that shake you. You already know everything you need to. Just stay focused."

Nnenna nodded. "I’m ready."

He gave a short nod back, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly in approval. "Good."

Then he turned to Ava, his expression still calm, but less soft. "You too, Ava. Don’t rush your answers. You’ve worked hard. That will carry you through."

Ava gave a small smile, more comforted by his quiet confidence than she expected.

Just as Nnenna reached for the door, Somto’s voice stopped her.

"Nnenna," he said, and she looked back.

His eyes held hers for a long moment. "No matter what anyone else says or does today... trust yourself. You always land on your feet."

Nnenna blinked, the weight of his words sinking deeper than she expected. She nodded once, firm, quiet. "Thank you."

He did not say anything more. He didn’t need to.

The girls stepped out, adjusting their bags as they walked toward the gates, blending into the sea of students heading toward the halls.

Somto remained behind the wheel, his fingers resting lightly on the steering wheel. He watched their retreating figures, Nnenna’s determined stride and Ava’s quiet focus, until the crowd swallowed them up and they were gone from sight.

Only then did he start the engine again and drive off, his face calm, unreadable... but his gaze, for a moment, had held something warm and quietly proud.

The exam began right on time.

As the invigilators handed out the question papers, a heavy silence settled across the hall... until the first few students flipped their sheets over.

A beat of stunned silence.

Then

"What the—?"

"Are we writing year two exams?"

"This can’t be real..."

Low, panicked whispers began to ripple through the room like waves crashing on a shore. Pens hovered in midair. Eyes widened.

Some students let out small gasps, others clutched their heads in disbelief. The questions were brutal, not impossible, but far more complex than what they had prepared for.

No one had expected the exam to be easy, but this felt cruel. Like the questions had been handpicked to humble them.

Still, it was all within the curriculum. Barely.

With trembling hands and horrified faces, they began scribbling answers. Some sweated profusely, chewing on their pens, muttering definitions like prayers. Others took deep breaths, bracing themselves as they dove into battle.

But not Nnenna.

To her, this was just another warm up.

As her eyes scanned the questions, a calm, almost amused smile tugged at her lips. Seriously? This was nothing compared to what she had drilled herself on back in Lionara. In fact, she had covered most of these topics a year ago.

She picked up her pen and began writing, fast, efficient, methodical. Her handwriting neat and clean. While others were panicking, Nnenna was solving with ease, her mind sharp and unbothered.

When she finished the last question, she leaned back and let out a quiet breath. Then she began cross checking her answers, line by line.

Once satisfied, she checked the time.

More than half the time still left?

She glanced around the hall.

Everyone else was still writing.

Some were furiously flipping pages, their hands moving like they were racing death itself. A few students had frozen mid sentence, eyes blank with confusion. The air smelled faintly of sweat and tension.

But then her gaze found Emily, calm and focused, head bent over her work, and just a few seats away, Ava, her brow slightly furrowed, but writing steadily with quiet determination.

Nnenna’s chest loosened.

They’re fine, she thought. That was enough for now.

She leaned back in her seat, fingers lightly tapping her pen against the desk, and waited. Calm. Confident.

Why didn’t the students just cheat, you ask?

Simple. This was Omniora Academy. noveldrama

A place where academic excellence wasn’t just expected, it was sacred. The rules here weren’t just strict, they were unyielding. Cheating wasn’t considered a minor offense. It was academic suicide.

Every student had undergone orientation the moment they were accepted. They were shown videos, given booklets, and even sat through a live tribunal reenactment of past offenders being expelled in disgrace. No second chances. No warnings.

And in certain cases, depending on the severity of the malpractice, legal action was involved. Parents sued. Futures shattered.

So no one even thought about cheating. Not if they had plans to ever wear that graduation sash.

Back in the hall, the tense energy only thickened as minutes ticked by.