School was garbage, a statement I'm sure everyone is acquainted with. I don't how Aurelia does it. She wakes up at 5 AM, gets her hair done, make-up done, changed, normal stuff that for some reason feels like a chore to me but the real kicker is the school. The school expects you to do 29 things all at once, study for a quiz, finish this assignment, finish this group project, finish this other assignment and get ready cause the quiz is starting.
And above all that there's more, like how the fuck do I around this place? It's like a mansion, the only reason I was able to find my way through class is because of those girls keep gawking at me and annoying me the whole day with questions like,
'How do you get your hair done?'
' Where did you get your bag?'
'What salon did you get your nails done?'
"Your makeup products?'
'Your shoes-'
It's like they're obsessed with me, no they are obsessed with me. It was as if these people saw me as some sort of fashion exhibit rather than a person. Lost in these thoughts, I hardly noticed the corridor ahead, I took a step forward, only to collide abruptly with another student.
Stumbling back, I looked up to see a girl about my age, dressed in a uniform markedly different from my own – a crisp combination of green and white, unlike the navy and gold of my school's attire. She had a stack of books in her arms, which now lay scattered across the floor.
"O-Oh, I'm so sorry," I stammered, bending down to help gather the fallen books. My gaze lifted, revealing a vision of cascading golden hair and eyes as clear as the summer sky. She stood there in her green and white uniform, and my eyes widened, words stumbled over themselves in my throat. "..I-I have to go!" I blurted out as I turned to flee.
"Wait!" She called out, "Please wait a moment."
I hesitated before I sighed, "Yeah..?" Slowly I looked over my shoulder.
"I'm completely lost here," She explained, "and since you're a student, could you please guide me to the auditorium?" she asked, pleading almost with her doe eyes.
"I don't know if I can help you.."
"What?" She tilted her head, "Why not?"
I chuckled awkwardly. "Funny story — you're going to laugh — I..don't actually know where it is."
She blinked. "But you go here."
"Yeah, well, this school's a maze, so you can't judge me for that."
"I-I'm not!" She quickly corrected herself. "I was just surprised."
I sighed, of all people I have to run into the heroine herself, lost and embarrassed myself.
"Hey," She said gently, "How about we find the auditorium together then."
It didn't take long for me to decide, not like I have any other options, "Sure whatever. Let's go." I shrugged as we began walking, "The competition is about to start any minute now."
"Oh!" Catherine's eyes lit up, "So you're participating in the competition too? What a coincidence!"
I nodded, "Yeah well I assume you are as well?"
"I am." She shakes her head energetically, "Isn't it exciting? I honestly never thought I would go this far. The grand finale, not only that I'm standing on the grounds of the most prestigious school in the country." She gleamed, "Hey, what's it like attending here?"
"Tiring."
"...and?" she prodded.
"That's it." I kept my voice even. As we drew closer to our destination, she glanced at me, her smile faltered for a moment.
"Hey are you okay?" She asked, "You don't look so good."
"I…I don't?" I glanced down at myself, it was only now I realized my hands were shaking, "I'm fine." I shoved my hands into my pockets, "Yeah, just... nerves, I guess,"
"Oh, but it's okay!" Her smile turned reassuring, I didn't know if that helped or not, "It's normal to be nervous, what's important is that you did your best in the end."
I snorted, unable to help myself. "Really? You're seriously going to lecture me with that bull crap?"
"Huh?"
"Don't you want to win?" I said, harsher than I intended, "I mean come on, you seriously didn't put out all this effort, all your best, to lose, right?"
"I-I mean.." Catherine stared down, as if she was pondering, "..winning is nice and all, but it's not everything right? I did my best, I lost, that can happen." she said with a calmness that somehow irked me.
"Lucky you." I mumbled, "Well we're here now so it's not like I can back out now."
With a final stride, we entered the auditorium, the grandeur of the room unfolding before us. High ceilings arched above, adorned with intricate frescoes that seemed to dance in the soft glow of the chandeliers. Rows of seats, filled with an expectant audience, fanned out from the stage, creating a sea of faces. The stage itself stood draped in deep blue curtains, flanked by banners displaying the school's emblem.
We made our way to the backstage area, the murmur of the crowd a distant hum. Behind the curtains, other competitors milled about. I cleared my throat, a sudden dryness I felt in it.
"Looks like it's our turn soon," Catherine whispered as she leaned slightly to me.
I only nodded in response as we watched as the current contestant, a boy answered a barrage of questions with impressive speed. The quiz bee was in full swing, questions volleying back and forth like a high-stakes tennis match.
Finally, our names were called. Stepping onto the stage, the bright lights seemed to wash over me, blurring the sea of faces into a single entity. The quiz master, a stern-looking woman with a clipboard, adjusted her glasses and looked at us.
"Welcome to the final round of the quiz bee. Are you ready?" she asked, her voice echoing across the auditorium.
To be told? I don't care whether I win or lose, not really. It's the same for me either way. But it was clearly not for Aurelia, those previous nights before studying, practicing, memorizing, they all came to me with the questions. I don't even know half the things I said.
"What is the atomic number of the chemical element with the symbol 'U'?" They asked.
I don't know
"92." I said.
"Correct! For three points, History, In what year did the fall of the Berlin Wall occur?
Why do the fuck should I know about that?
"1989."
"Who was the first female Prime Minister of India, serving from 1966 to 1977 and then again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984?"
Sorry can you repeat that I blacked out what you were saying.
"Indira Gandhi."
A ding ring from the right, the side my team is at. The score displayed on our podium rose, the audience cheered and clapped. I was stiff, I never was the spotlight of attention, at least the good kind of attention. Smiling faces, and a round of applause for every correct answer my body is giving out on its own? Not a bad feeling. Not at all.
I gripped the microphone, my muscles began to relax. For the first time I felt at ease, because I had the one thing I have been missing since coming here. Certainty. My answers come in smooth, and quick. Each one's correct.
It felt good, to be right and be liked, I never knew I could have this feeling but I did, and I never wanted it to end.
"For five points, Mathematics, what is the name of the theorem in geometry that states that in a right-angled triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides?"
I went to press the button, ding rang through, but it wasn't our team.
"Pythagorean Theorem." Catherine answered.
"That is correct!" The speaker announced. And it was like that for the rest of the game. Sometimes I press the button, sometimes I don't. And every time I feel frustrated, why? I don't know, this game shouldn't be important but I want to win. I want to keep making the audience cheer for me.
Round after round, we reached the finale, the score was 50 to 50. I blinked, I saw this scene before, a crucial moment in the show, a crucial moment in Aurelia's life, losing at something for the first time in her life.
Oh. Oh.
My palm presses the button, the audience turns their attention towards me but my mind comes blank.
"I…" I stare off to the side, "Plutonium,atomic number 94."
"That is.." The speaker paused, "..incorrect! Aurora Academy, would you like to steal?"
"Oganesson, atomic number 118." I heard Catherine say.
"That is..correct! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner, Aurora Academy!"
The winners squeal and cheer, they hug each other and celebrate. While I could feel everything utter shock and most of all embarrassment.
"Aurelia!" Seliana turned to me, "We need to do something."
"Like what? We already lost-"
"But we can't have lost! We..we.."
At least I'm not the only one feeling bitter. Now I'm bitter for more than one reason. I could have won.
"Now may we award the trophy to our first placer, Aurelia Academy."
The audience clapped but I could see some of them were disappointed and shocked. I am myself a little bit. I knew the answer was a critical part of the show after all. Sure I got little carried away but that doesn't mean anything. The story revolves around me. I know that.
The principal of our school awards the participates their medals, the speaker called out their names,
"Cassandra De Guzman, Margaret Robinson-"
And as long as I know that, then I'll be fine.
"-And Catherine Enderson!"
Right?