Oh, Desiree. Your pretention shines like a flicker of candle in the dark. Subtle, but in a battle stage like this. . . noticeable.
She dragged us onto the battle stage by uttering that sham compliment. I knew that there's something off with her! I don't buy compliments, especially when they are uttered by someone I had known long enough. I'm more of a fan of an insult-based friendship. An open book, they say? They'd better start calling me the looking glass. This transparency works both ways.
Pretty Desiree. Two can play at the game. And three if you count Mazmur, who - not so much to my surprise - supported me. And four if you count Iqbal. I pouted. It's an overstatement to say my attempt to copy her pseudo humility succeeded, but that was natural. I, after all, had never been one to speak insincerely and was not planning to become one. I was sure she'd seen through my sarcastic praise.
I loathed Iqbal who addressed me like that, like I was a target that must be defeated. I hadn't done anything to him. Why did he put it that way? It's not like I had problems whatsoever with him. I stared at him, deciding what I should say to that.
I smiled.
"Sure. We will have fun competing, won't we, Desiree? I won't go easy on you, but don't lose."
Normally, I was not the kind of person who would openly challenge others because I hate losing. Challenging others and then losing. . .that's more than what my pride can take, but this with Desiree was an exception. I was determined to not lose and was prepared to embrace the damage if I must lose.
Mazmur chuckled because I said it in a playful tone, but Desiree and Iqbal knew it wasn't meant to be a joke. I saw her flinched before responding: "Aw, don't say that. What am I, really, compared to you? Everyone knew you were the goddess of competition." She was toying with me. God, has she always been this nasty? Again, I smiled reluctantly.
"Is that so? Then I wish to live up to my reputation."
There, it was out. I meant every word. Everybody laughed awkwardly. Girls were taught to be modest at all cost, to not recklessly bare their competitive spirit - precisely like Desiree. Well, I was known to be reckless with my speech whenever I was annoyed. But then again, it worked both ways. I was too proud to cancel my word, too proud to give excuses to myself. The only option left for me was to make the statement come true. That's why that night, the moment I arrived at my dorm, I went straight to Grace's room and asked her to be my sparring partner starting from then.
[M]
