I eat up the stairs two at a time, checking the time on my phone at the same time. I was supposed to be here five minutes ago. Hope this tardiness won't cost me an exclusion from this competition or I might burn the bus I took to come here. It's the driver's fault if I'm late.

I arrive at classroom number 15 and push the door open without even knocking. Too stressed to even think straightly. I wonder how I would be able to win with a running head.

One of the teachers gestures to me to take a seat. Smiling nervously, I walk to sit in the the second table of the middle row. There were a few students seated already, but each one more nervous than the other they barely glanced my way. I check the time one last time before I turn off my phone and hide it in my bag.

I clasped my fingers together on the desk, bouncing my knee in a quick, nervous pace as I watch the door. Just one more student required to complete the targeted number of students, and then we will finally start.

The top five students of my class are already here so the one left could not be from mine. I bet it's Amy, or Michael from class B. Maybe even Claire from class C.

Whoever it is, they're making the whole class more anxious. How could someone be this late when they have an intellectual competition that happens only once every two years?

After what feels like eternity, the door finally swings open for the last_tenth_ student. This time, all of us drift our frustrated gaze toward the student who made us waste ten minutes of the granted time. My eyes were burning with resentment more than the others, not because of the time only but because this student is no one else but Victor from class B. The guy I hate most in the entire school__hell in the entire world.

He enters the class, flashing an unapologetic charming smile at the teachers before slowly passing rows like a model, and not missing on knocking my shoulder__deliberately__while passing by me.

I tighten my grip on my pen, as I way to control my irritation so as not to knock his head with my chair. This seat is too precious to lose it on some arrogant boy.

I manage to calm my nerves and focus my attention on the paper in front of me. If I want to place the first in this competition, I need to glue my eyes on this Math paper for the remaining three hours.

I will take the first place.

The announcement of the results was only one hour after we finished. So we waited in class until a teacher comes back.

"First of all, I want to thank you all for your participation. You all achieved high scores but you can't all win, unfortunately." she clears her throat before announcing the name of the winner. "The student who reached 95 out of 100 is..."

I clench my bag between my arms, heart pounding heavily in my chest.

"Stella Axell..."

I grin so wide it threatens to split my face in two. I stand eagerly, rushing to go receive my prize, but the teacher adds another phrase that makes me freeze mid-step.

"And Victor Wreckly. They both had the same score."

I turn around, seeing Victor smirking and walking towards the stage with his hands in his pockets.

"You're everywhere I go. Careful or I might start to think that you actually love being with me," he whispers to me before stepping on my foot and precedes me to the stage. Leaving me whining in pain and cleaning my shoes___cursing on the way to join him.

"These two students will not only get to have medals and tuition discounts but also.." she hands us each one a ticket. "Both of them will be travelling together to New York for an internship," she says cheerfully.

Students around us whistle and applaud, but me and Victor only share a hateful look that says__

This is the worst prize ever.