Chapter 9
Those back in Riverside High School had given me a space of my own. It was pretty run–down and basic, but at least Tina
couldn’t shut off the electricity, claiming that it was disrupting her sleep.
I was fully immersed in my studies here as I prepared for the competition. It was the only way I could prove that I hadn’t
cheated. I was determined to outperform Tina.
In what felt like no time, a fortnight had passed, and the competition commenced.
I headed to Evergreen High School with the others during winter break to complete our papers.
I did see Tina there, just as I expected. Yet, instead of paying any attention to me, her gaze was fixed, almost mesmerized, on something or someone behind me.
It was by the window, where a good–looking man’s face seemed to shimmer faintly in the soft sunlight. Zachary caught me looking at him, so he nodded slightly in my direction and flashed a radiant smile. His thick glasses couldn’t even conceal the brilliance in his gaze.
Yet, Tina merely smiled sweetly and said while looking up at him, “I can’t do that, Liam. I have to prove
Liam, who was proctoring nearby, saw what happened. He then, with a deep look of concern, rushed over to bandage Tina’s hand while repeatedly urging her to give up on the competition.
It wasn’t until Tina followed Zachary’s gaze that she finally realized that I was there. She then glared daggers the pen in her hand so hard that it ended up cutting her.
