"You alright?" Chloe's concern eyes trailed over her bandaged head.
"yes I am fine. Just a little scratch" Layla smiled, happy internally it was just a small injury.
"today, you shall compete against each other. First with the other teams of our own and then individually" Chris explained not darting an eye to Layla.
Layla expected this but those 6 months of attention and then she was ignored. She can't deny she had a pang of sadness.
"So all the best. Who is gonna represent our team in archery?" Chris asked.
Everyone looked at Layla. Layla sighed. "It's me." she mumbled.
"Great. Who is the other one?"
Kay raised his hand. "Now, you do know your responsibility you carry. Your individual score is what is gonna determine which team will win. Layla, if I find you doing something fishy I shall do something and you won't like it" Chris explained sternly.
"yes sir" she bowed.
__________
"Hey"
Layla looked up and found Kay staring at her. Not with the usual fire eyes but doubtful.
"yes, sir Kay?"
"Don't you dare think you are off hook just because you are a girl. All the best" He shouted and left.
Layla blinked. 'what just happened ?'
__________
"Welcome back my Budding soldiers, now we are at the final stage of finding the champion. Team red has done a great job of winning the blue team. But only the respective unit can win, so the red team shall fight with each other through a series of competitions. And the it will scored individually. The unit that has highest individual score in total will be the winner" The bald man shouted and the crowd echoed excitement.
"Now onto the first game, let's call out the teams...
Team 151...."
A group of six with a banner team 151 stepped into the ground.
"Team 152...."
"team 153...."
Layla saw Sam as beautiful as she is with her shining brown locks.
"Team 154..."
The crowd cheered more. Layla smiled and waved. So did others. Because team 154 was known to be team Handsomeness.
"Wow, so about Eren's charm and Kay's hotness and Jack's mysteriousness was no joke" The bald man spoke.
"Now let the game begin. First is archery. Lets see the representive of each team"
Two members from each team stepped forward. Sam glanced at Layla as she stepped in.
Her face frowned but she kept it straight.
"Wow the duo is here!!" The bald cheered as Layla and Kay stepped in.
"Let me make it clear. Individual score is the one that will help your team win. Now we shall begin"
_______
"Wow a bull's eye, finally!" The bald man's voice echoed.
Sam smirked at the crowd, swishing her hair at the wind as she darted her eyelashes flirtily.
Layla rolled her eyes and Saw Kyle, Kay and Reki behind her staring at Sam. 'boys are boys' she thought to herself. She stopped herself when she saw Jack staring right back at her.
She remembered her encounter with him. His mesmerizing starry silver eyes, his snowy scent..... She glared at him. He was the only one who knew her secret. There was no doubt that he told Kyle about it.
Jack frowned at Layla as she glared at him. He smiled to lighten the mood but her glare deepened.
"Another bull's eye" The crowd roared. "looks like we already know who the winner is..." the bald man shouted.
"Both of them hit perfect bull's eye. One less than 10 we are out" Kyle whispered to her as their shoulders touched.
Layla nodded. The burden was heavy to carry. Kay was perfect at bull's eye. But what about her? What if she messes up?
"Next up. The hot prince of the University, Kay!"
The crowd cheered. Girls swooned dreamily as Kay stepped into the ground. His gaze fixed on the blue rings with a red circle in the board. But Layla knew he is gonna hit the black dot in the board.
His arms streched as he aimed. The crowd silenced as he drew the arrow. The crowd broke out in cheer as the arrow took its path.
"As expected from the perfect prince!!!" The bald man shouted.
"Next up, Is Eren! The femine boy everyone talks about. Though he has no looks, he is got a feminity that made him quite popular" The bald man spoke teasingly. A group girls giggled and whispered to themselves.
Layla sighed. It was only because of Kay she got the popularity. Those jealous eyes followed whenever she was caught with Kay or others.
She stepped and looked straight ahead. The bull's eye. Anything from that,she is dead.
She gulped. The crowd stilled in the tension. Team 154 looked at the fragile girl who stood not taking aim.
Chloe caught the shivering hand of Layla's. "Um.... Sir Eren, time is ticking. You should take aim"
"AHH yes...." Layla chuckled nervously. Her wobbly hands pulled the arrow out. "OH my. Looks like our lady prince is shivering. Indeed, it is a huge burden"
The crowd 'oohed' at her wobbly hands. Layla breathed heavy. Her vision turned blurry. She heard her own breathing. She need to get the championship or else she would face the consequences.
Kay placed a comforting hand over her shoulder. "I don't care if you are man or woman. I just see you as a colleague to challenge. A friend" he whispered stressing the word 'friend' sweetly to her, close enough that she felt his breath over her ear.
New fire lit her eyes. Her grip tightened. Her chest expanded. Her vision cleared. Her aim sharpened. She will do this. She is gonna make the crowd go silent with amazement.
She let go of the arrow. It carried the new fire Kay had lit in her.
The crowd cheered. Jumping up and down. Everyone hugged each other....it was a celebration. Layla smiled.
"Congratulations, on winning. Let's give a a big round of applause for Team 153!" The bald man shouted as he held Sam's hand in the air.