Scene: Table chess room 1_1
Battol: Wow, where did you learn that?
James: From my grandpa. He taught me so I could play with him when I visit.
James: The poor man was sick, so I put a little effort to learn so I could entertain him.
Battol: It takes way more than little effort to learn that. You're a professional at this point. There is no way you learned that just to entertain your sick grandpa.
James: Well, I guess he was secretly a retired chess champion.
Battol: Stop messing around and tell me the truth!
James: You're so easy to tease, I couldn't help it.
Battol: Alright, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Let's carry on with the game.
James: Why do you insist on using the queen's gambit?
Battol: My dad taught me that move. My coach, Warda, never said anything about it. She just said that either newbies or professionals would use it.
James: Yeah, she's right. Personally, I'm not a big fan of that opening. But if you think it suits your style, you should use it. I'll be your training partner; keep doing your best until you completely crush me.
Battol: Alright, prepare yourself. In a few days, I'll leave you in the dust.
James: We will see.
Battol: Are you packing?
Nora: Yeah, we're leaving for the Olympics. It starts next week, so we gotta be there in 2 days.
Battol: Good luck, inshallah you will win.
Nora: Thank you. Good luck to you too, with your chess tournament.
Battol: Thanks. I still have time, it will take place in a month.
Nora: I see. Good luck.
Battol: Did you finish your online project?
Nora: Yeah, I still need to get it licensed and to get a few papers signed here and there. Other than that, I hope it's all good.
Battol: I see. Good job, it's amazing that you managed to create a whole website by yourself in a few months.
Nora: Didn't you do the same?
Battol: Nah, my project is much simpler than yours. I'm very proud of you, you've been working so hard without complaining.
Battol: You know what, I'll make rice and curry today for dinner. You need to eat well and sleep well before the tournament.
Nora: Don't bother, you need to study, don't waste your time cooking.
Battol: No way, you need real food; you've been having Ramen every day this week.
Nora: I'm telling you it's fine; don't waste your time.
Battol: No way, I've already decided we're having curry today.
Nora: Alright, whatever, just stop yelling.
Battol: Now, finish packing and I'll go make dinner.
Nora: Yes mom.
James: So your friend is leaving today?
Battol: Yeah, she already packed yesterday.
James: I heard she's the best player in the table tennis club.
Battol: Yeah, she's been training so hard. I know she can win.
James: I hope she wins too.
Battol: By the way, I've been wondering. How come I caught your attention yet you never tried to recruit Nora? We were always together; you must have noticed her too.
James: Nah, I was only spying on you. I never thought about recruiting her.
Battol: Why? She works harder than anyone, she's smart, persistent, creative. I believe she's the smartest girl I know. Why are you not interested in her?
James: Because I've seen many students like her in this place. This is an institution that only recruits geniuses from all around the world. She's not the only smart and hardworking student here. She's so dull for my taste. There is nothing exciting about her, you know? No sparks.
Battol: You're wrong! You don't know her as I do; she's a very inspiring person. She's not a crybaby like me; she never whines or complains. She's the kind of person who works silently and elegantly. She's the type of girl who would do her best till the very end; her determination is much stronger than anyone else.
James: Sorry, she seems like a great girl. But she's still not fit to join the peace seekers. I don't want soldiers who would do as I say without asking questions and workaholic colleagues. I've already analyzed her mentality when I was watching you. She's not compatible with our group's ideology.
Battol: What is that supposed to mean? Why do you have to be so vague?
James: Anyway, you did well today; I'm looking forward to seeing your improvement next time we play.
Battol: But the game is not over yet!
James: Sorry, I gotta go. See you later.
Battol: Ok, see you later.
After classes and chess training, Battol was heading to her room. She ran into Maha who was also heading back to her room.
Maha: Hi girl, long time no see.
Battol: Hi, how are you?
Maha: I'm good; today was a nice day. My classes were enjoyable, and I love this cool breeze in spring.
Battol: Yeah, it's such nice weather. Listen, there is something that I wanted to apologize for. You, Manal, and Ahlam were so kind to me. I did not mean to be rude when I canceled with Manal and Ahlam.
Maha: It's okay dear; we were not offended. You know now, right?
Battol: "Yes, I do."
Maha: I knew it. Who told you?
Battol: A guy named James.
Maha: James! James of the peace seekers?
Battol: Yes, he was too straightforward. Such a weirdo; he basically forced me to join.
Maha: Wow, I had a feeling you were approached by a strong group.
Battol: Did you get everything you need?
Nora: Yeah, I double-checked everything.
Battol: Good, have a safe journey.
Nora: Thanks, see you later.
Battol: Goodbye.
Maya: Wow, what an amazing view!
Maya: Look, Nora, isn't it gorgeous?
Nora: Yeah, it's very beautiful.
Maya: I can't believe we made it.
Maya: When I first found out they are making us compete in the Olympics, I freaked out.
Maya: I had zero hope of qualifying. I've always played for fun, and I never dreamt of participating in a competition and competing against the professionals.
Nora: Same here.
Maya: But look at us now, I can't believe we made it.
Nora: But this is only the beginning. The real challenge starts now.
Maya: I know, but now that we came all the way, we won't be easily defeated. We practiced day and night and received the best training. Let's do our best till the very end.
Nora: Alright, let's do our best.
Lili: Wow, look at this place!
Katrina: It's huge and so grand.
Lili: Even if we don't win, at least we got to enjoy this luxurious trip.
Katrina: Indeed, I've never dreamt of traveling in a private airplane and staying in 5-star hotels.
Coach Zaid: Attention everyone. After each of you receives your room keys, you're free to go rest. I'm sure you are all tired from the journey, so we will start training tomorrow at 6 am. Have a nice time till then, but I'm recommending you go straight to bed. Please don't do anything reckless.
Maya: Hey Nora, wanna share a room with me?
Nora: Sure.
Maya: Are you going straight to bed?
Nora: Yeah, but I'm hungry. I'm going to eat something first.
Maya: Yeah, I'm hungry too.
Nora: Let's call room service and order something.
Maya: No, let's take a look around the hotel and go have dinner in the dining hall.
Nora: I don't know, it's better to just eat and sleep; we have to wake up early tomorrow.
Maya: Come on, we won't stay out late.
Maya: Wow, I didn't expect you to agree so easily.
Nora: But first, we will have dinner, then we will take a look around. We need to exercise after dinner anyway.
Maya: Ok.
Lili: I'm telling you, this is our room.
Katrina: No, it's not. It says A11, this is B11.
Maya: Hey girls, I see you haven't found your room yet.
Katrina: Yeah, you see, Lili brought such a heavy suitcase with her. We waited for an employee to come and take it for us. He dropped us here and said our room is the first one on the left.
Lili: No, he said it was the first one on the right.
Katrina: On the left.
Nora: Just let me see your key.
Katrina: Here.
After taking a look around, Nora opened the first door on the left.
Katrina: See, I told you this is our room.
Lili: Whatever.
Maya: Anyway, girls, we were heading to the dining hall to eat. Would you like to come with us?
Lili: Sure, I'm starving.
Katrina: Yeah, I'm hungry too. We will put our things in the room and be right behind you.
Maya: Alright, let's go.
Nora: But first, we will have dinner, then we will take a look around. We need to exercise after dinner anyway.
Maya: Okay.
Scene: High-end hotel corridor
Lili: This place reminds me of the palaces that we see in movies.
Katrina: I know, right? It's so royal, everything is classy and elegant.
Lili: I'd love to get used to these places.
Maya: If you do well this week in the Olympics, you will have a chance to live this luxurious life.
Lili: Yeah, I wish this dream would never end.
Katrina: It's not a dream. This is actually happening. We are students at the most prestigious university in the world. We qualified to participate in the Olympics and here we are now, having dinner like VIPs at luxury hotels.
Maya: I like your thinking. We should indeed enjoy this.
Lili: Yeah, let's enjoy it while it lasts.
Katrina: Stop being so negative, Lili! Who cares whether we win a medal or not? The fact that we made it here gives us the right to enjoy this luxury.
Lili: But what are we going to do once it's all over? How am I going to get back to my miserable life if I fail here? If I waste this once-in-a-lifetime chance, what am I supposed to do?
Nora: I understand you're scared, but you should know that even losing here is a huge chance for you. Once you appear on TV as a participant in the Olympics, you will be officially an athlete in the eyes of the media. Even if you fail all the courses, you will still have a chance to pursue a sports career. And even if you fail to pursue a sports career, your online project could still save you.
Maya: That's right. One of my friends already made an app and launched it. Even though it provides a free service, she's already receiving money from the ads.
Katrina: Even if we get kicked out of the campus in the end, we are still the 1% that got selected by the elite to enroll here. Wherever we go next, they will be lucky to have us with all the skills and knowledge that we gained here.
Nora: Indeed, no matter how you look at it, we can only go up from here.
Maya: I'm glad I did not quit.
Lili: Yeah, me too. When we first arriv
ed, things seemed impossible. I thought I wouldn't stand a chance.
Katrina: Yeah, but here we are, I learned things about myself I never knew before.
Maya: I learned to push my boundaries and realized I was capable of way more than I thought.
Nora: I never expected myself to come this far either. I didn't anticipate getting so invested in this.
Nora: Now that I realize how significant this is, I can't stop shaking.
Coach Zaid: Is everyone here?
Coach Zaid read the names of his students, ensuring they were all present before making them run in the halls for 30 minutes.
Lili: Is it okay for us to do this?
Coach Zaid: Yes, I talked to the hotel's manager before we came here. Professional teams stay here often, and they are accustomed to morning training and athlete routines.
Maya: I see, good job coach for finding this place.
Coach Zaid: Now catch your breath and do some muscle training. We will have breakfast when you're finished.
Coach Zaid: Those who are done can head to the dining hall for breakfast. Remember, breakfast is the most important meal for an athlete.
Lili: I don't think I'll be able to eat anything today. I'm so nervous; if I eat anything, I might throw up.
Katrina: Take some pills and try to relax. You need to eat to have the energy to train.
Lili: I know, but I can't help it.
Coach Zaid: Alright, those who are ready can go to the dining hall for breakfast. Make sure to eat well; breakfast is crucial for an athlete.