Chapter 1: Neck and Neck
Miracle "Mimi" Johnson did not do second place.
She refreshed the student portal for what felt like the hundredth time, her thumb tapping rhythmically against the edge of her phone. Outside the main departmental building, the afternoon sun was blazing, but inside her chest, it was purely cold, calculated anticipation.
Three years of sleepless nights. Three years of color-coded highlighters, skipped parties, and memorizing textbooks down to the footnotes. All of it came down to this afternoon’s release of the official cumulative GPA rankings heading into their final session.
The page finally refreshed.
The spinning wheel vanished, replaced by the bold blue header of the Faculty Notice Board. Mimi’s eyes scanned straight to the top of the list.
1. Miracle Johnson — GPA: 4.88
A breath of sheer relief rushed out of her lips. A 4.88. She had done it.
Then her eyes moved half an inch to the right.
1. Daniel O. Adebayo — GPA: 4.88
Mimi froze.
Tied.
Not #1 alone. Tied.
"Looking for your name at the top, Miracle?"
The deep, infuriatingly calm voice came from right over her shoulder. Mimi spun around to find Daniel leaning against the pillar behind her, holding a paper cup of iced coffee. He looked completely unbothered, his dark eyes sparkling with that quiet, effortless amusement that made her want to throw a heavy reference book at his head.
"Daniel," she said, keeping her tone clipped and professional. "You’re off by a decimal point if you think you're staying there."
Dan took a slow sip of his coffee, a slow smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "A 4.88 looks pretty snug next to yours, doesn't it? Though I have to admit, I didn't think I'd have to share the crown."
"You won't be sharing it for long," Mimi replied, stepping closer, her eyes locking onto his. "Final session starts tomorrow. Every mark, every assignment, every seminar score. I’m taking sole possession of that Best Graduating Student award."
Dan tilted his head, his smirk softening into a challenging, magnetic smile. "I'd like to see you try, Miracle. Just don't burn yourself out trying to catch up."
"Catch up?" She scoffed softly, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "I'm already ahead of you, Dan. You just don't know it yet."
As he watched her walk away down the corridor, folder clutched tightly to her chest, Dan couldn't suppress the grin spreading across his face.
This final year was going to be war. And he couldn't wait.
