Sunlight poured in through the tall windows, creating elegant shadows on the gleaming marble floor. The walls were a soft gray, except for one wall adorned with a striking geometric pattern in gold and silver hues. In the middle of the room, a plush white leather sofa was arranged in a U-shape, where Lucas sat dressed in a blue shirt and white pants, grinning happily from ear to ear as he sipped his wine from a glass.
On the opposite side of the sofa, Aiden was engrossed in a zombie game on the console, his eyes fixed on the screen with determination. "Darn it!" he soon cursed, tossing his controller onto the coffee table as he lost the game. "I was so close!" He lamented as he glanced over at Lucas, who seemed unfazed, still sipping his wine with a smirk. "What's got you grinning like that, Lucas? You look like a fool smiling like that."
"He's been grinning like that ever since the new scholarship student arrived. He loves picking on people," Mark added as he joined Lucas on the sofa. "I'm sure he's thinking of the next torture to inflict on the poor guy."
Lucas burst into laughter, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "The new guy is quite amusing, to be honest. He's the first person to stand up to me, and I'm curious to see how long he'll last."
"Did you come to class today because you knew the national competition was starting soon and would be a huge opportunity for the scholarship students, so therefore you came to ruin it?" Mark asked, expression stern.
"Of course. This debate competition is crucial for the scholarship students, as the winning party will receive a college scholarship," Lucas replied with a smirk.
"You are really bent on making life difficult for the new guy in this competition. Maybe you should reconsider; it's not fair," Mark said, shaking his head in frustration. "You purposely got paired with him; you're a devil."
"Why do you keep defending the scholarship students, especially this new one? Is he your new friend now? If so, then you should distance yourself from Aiden and me. It's that simple," Lucas retorted with a fierce look, glaring at Mark. "And if it's that you're feeling lonely and need some company, let's go to the club. You shouldn't settle for less as long as you're part of the 3RM, unless you've decided to leave us."
"I never said that. I'm just trying to persuade you because the scholarship is important to him, not to you," Mark replied with a frustrated sigh. "You are unbelievable, I swear. A devil and an obstacle to progress.
"Yes! I want to be an obstacle to this new dickhead guy's progress, and I'll want to keep doing it over and over again. Let's see how he fares in this school without submitting to me," Lucas said, a sinister smile creeping onto his face as he stared into the distance.
_____
The school library was a grand space filled with towering shelves of physical and electronic books, various textbooks, comfortable seating areas where students sat, and sleek wooden tables with computers for research. Soft light streamed in through large windows, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The air was rich with the scent of old books, and the overall ambiance was peaceful and welcoming.
Students were already busy preparing for the upcoming debate competition with their partners, conducting research from both books and the Internet.
Olive stood at the library entrance, her expression downcast. "Am I really going to lose this competition?" she muttered to herself with a heavy sigh. "That crazy jerk!"
"Arthur!" a voice called out in a hushed tone, causing Olive to look up. It was Austin, accompanied by Samuel. "Come here!" Austin beckoned, motioning for Olive to join them. She then moved closer with a smile and took a seat beside them.
"Hi!" Olive greeted with a smile as she settled into the chair. "Hey there! You've been standing at that entrance for more than thirty minutes. Aren't your legs getting tired?" Samuel inquired softly, twirling his pen cap between his lips.
"Am I really that obvious?" Olive responded, looking surprised. "I thought no one would notice me since you're all busy doing your research.
You're standing at the entrance, so of course, we saw you. But hey, it looks like your teammate won't be joining you for the competition prep. Looks like you're in for a tough time, buddy," Austin teased with a grin. "Maybe it's time to accept defeat, especially with Lucas throwing obstacles your way."
"Yeah, he just showed up in class out of the blue today. I'm sure he did it on purpose, knowing the national debate competition is around the corner," Olive sighed, her expression downcast.
"You should speak to him. Maybe he will change his mind. Just plead with him, because I think that's what he wants," Samuel suggested. " The 3RM are bullies right from the onset, but pleading with them might make things less difficult for you," Samuel added.
"No way! I didn't do anything wrong. If anyone should apologize, it should be Lucas, not me," Olive replied, rolling her eyes in frustration.
"Well, it's just a suggestion. You can ignore it if you want," Austin said with a sigh. "Would you like to hang out with us sometime, though?" He asked, placing his hand on Samuel's shoulder.
"Really? I would love to," Olive responded excitedly.
"There's a two-week vacation coming up soon, and I'm planning a party at my house to celebrate mine and Samuel's one-year anniversary," Austin said, looking happy.
"Vacation? Why wasn't I informed about this?" Olive asked, looking confused. "And congratulations on your one-year anniversary to both of you."
"Yes! You may not be aware of it because you're new. This two-week vacation is actually meant for us to prepare more for the national debate. You and your partner will meet up at your houses, conduct research together, and gather information from each other," Samuel explained. "You should be fully prepared for the competition by the end of the vacation because once it's over, the national debate will begin."
"I haven't even been able to get him in school. How am I supposed to get him to do research with me outside of school?" Olive said with a disappointed expression. "That crazy guy is impossible."
"Anyway, this two-week vacation is a break. And as I mentioned earlier, you're invited to my house party. I'll send you the invitation card, so just provide your address via email," Austin offered.
"And welcome to our club, even if you and Lucas didn't work together this time. There will be more competitions in the future, and I'm confident you'll succeed in them. So, cheer up!" Samuel said with a smile, prompting Olive to force a smile as well.
An idea soon struck Olive, making her eyes brighten up in happiness, and a beautiful smile appear on her lips.
"I'm not giving up on this competition. I've decided that I must win it, and as for Lucas.. he will definitely participate," Olive declared, her expression serious, causing Austin and Samuel to throw a puzzled expression at each other.