Chapter 1
Most students hate being called to the principal's office, so why did I feel so happy?
It was because the principal had just told me that I would be representing the school in the Annual General Science Competition. For most people, it might not sound like a big deal, but for me, it felt like a once-in-a-high-school opportunity. We were graduating soon, and chances like this didn't come around twice.
As I walked down the hallway, trying my best to hide the smile threatening to spread across my face, excitement bubbled inside me. The feeling was overwhelming. It felt like I had already won before the competition had even begun.
And the best part?
The school had chosen me.
Not Damien.
My nightmare.
Damien Matt Monteverde is the kind of student that everyone loves- students enjoy having him in group work cause he always submits right on time while teachers are enlightened when he speaks with confidence in every recitation.
He was always one step ahead in basically everything- he's part of the music club, a math genius, always first to answer, always correcting someone even when they didn't ask. The type of person who'd made you question your worth in class.
And somehow, for the longest time, I always ended up competing with him.
Not because I wanted to, but because he made everything feel like a challenge. And knowing myself, I never backed away from one.
When our school principal Ms. Angelle picked me instead of him, I just felt my heart beating faster than ever, and my stomach hurt so much I wanted to throw up the meal I had earlier.
It's kinda hard to convince myself that I wasn't dreaming.
"You've earned this," she said, smiling. " I believe you are the perfect person to represent our school."
Earned and perfect are the two words so powerful that they could make me forget about the nervousness and pressure inside.
I'm happy that I get to do this once in a high school life experience, but competing is like drinking juice when you know that's pure poison.
At the end of the hallway, I saw my friends Avery and Tala carrying my bag, signaling for me to hurry up.
I didn't even realize it was already late.
"I heard you were summoned to the principal's office? Is it the same thing I'm thinking of?" Avery asked, her voice full of excitement.
"Let her tell us the exciting part," Tala shushed her immediately.
"I'm the one representing," I said.
Both of them jumped in excitement, fighting the urge to scream so people wouldn't think they were crazy.
These girls had always been this supportive in my life. Avery was the one who helped me organize my schedule, while Tala was the one who helped me with styling myself and anything creative. People always said that trio friendships between girls don't work-but we were proof that they do.
There was no jealousy, no competition, just three people genuinely happy for each other's achievements. Maybe it helped that we had been friends since kindergarten, but somehow, it just worked.
