The first day of the internship arrived quickly. Stefan felt a little anxious but also excited. After weeks of preparation and attending interviews, the opportunity had finally come. He dressed in his best clothes, brought his laptop, and made his way to the company's magnificent building.
Standing in front of the building, he couldn't help but be amazed. The towering structure was full of energy, and Stefan could feel just how important this company was in Terra Coders' tech world. As he entered the lobby, he was welcomed by a friendly staff member who directed him to the internship room. There, he met several other new interns who had just joined as well.
"Maybe I'm not the only newcomer here," Stefan thought as he sat at his desk, opened his laptop, and started setting up his workstation. But the feeling of anxiety lingered. This was a big, professional place. It wasn't like campus, where classmates supported each other; this was the real world, full of expectations.
The first few hours were spent on orientation—introductions to the team, explanations of ongoing projects, and an overview of the company culture. Stefan was a little surprised at how organized everything was. Everyone had a clear role. But along with the orderliness, he also felt the heavy pressure that came with the job.
"The real challenge starts now," Stefan thought as he was assigned his first task: helping to develop a new feature for one of the major apps under development. Aiden, his mentor and a senior developer, gave him an important message: "We need efficient, error-free code. Remember, this app is widely used. Stability is critical."
Stefan got to work. He wrote his code carefully, making sure there were no flaws. His first evening as an intern ended with immense exhaustion—but beneath that, there was a deep satisfaction. A pride in having stepped into the professional world he had only dreamed of before.
The following days passed quickly. Stefan began to adjust to the work rhythm, grew more comfortable with the team, and even earned Aiden's trust to handle more important tasks. He started voicing ideas, identifying problems before being asked, and helping to fix bugs that could have major impacts.
However, over time, Stefan began to sense an uncomfortable shift in the atmosphere. Some coworkers who were initially friendly started keeping their distance. Casual conversations turned formal and cold. Most noticeably... there was Darren.
Darren was one of the seniors who hadn't been very close to him from the start. But lately, his behavior had become more obvious. His gaze was cold, and his comments, though delivered with a thin smile, were sharp.
One night, while working late, Stefan sat alone in the pantry, sipping coffee. Darren entered, grabbed a drink, and paused at the door.
"You've adapted quickly here," he said quietly, not making eye contact.
"Yeah… I'm trying my best," Stefan replied cautiously.
Darren smiled—a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Be careful, Stefan. Sometimes... standing out too much makes you a target."
Stefan said nothing. That sentence lingered in his mind.
And sure enough, the next day, something strange happened. The code he had committed suddenly changed. Bugs appeared in parts he was sure he had thoroughly tested. Aiden questioned his work. His teammates began to doubt him. For the first time, Stefan felt like he was losing control.
He checked the commit history. Something was off. But there was no concrete proof. Someone was tampering with his work from the shadows. At his workstation, Darren sat staring at his screen, lightly tapping a hidden shortcut he had created himself. His smile was satisfied.
Aiden began sensing that something was wrong too. Project reports started to become inconsistent. But without proof, all he could do was remind Stefan, "If you need help, don't hesitate to ask." Stefan simply nodded. But inside, he was battling a storm alone.
The pressure intensified. Stefan felt trapped. He worked harder, faster, and more carefully. But the sense of insecurity grew. He was no longer just fighting bugs and deadlines—he was fighting an invisible enemy.
Meanwhile, Darren was building influence. He spread rumors, shaping opinions that Stefan was just an arrogant intern trying to rise too quickly. "He's just lucky," he whispered to colleagues from other divisions.
However, by the end of that week, a glimmer of hope appeared.
While cleaning up an old repository, Stefan stumbled upon a leftover log file. It recorded code access using his credentials—but from an unknown IP address. Quickly, he copied the file onto a flash drive. It was proof that someone had tried to frame him.
His eyes widened. "Someone really wants to bring me down..."
That night, the sky was dark. Rain poured heavily. Lightning flashed, illuminating the empty room where Stefan kept the evidence. From a distance, someone watched him in silence.
And at that moment, Stefan realized: the working world wasn't just about skills and hard work. There were intrigues. There were games. And to survive, he had to be more than just a "diligent intern."
He had to be ready to face the shadows behind the light.