Rivals

The Only Part (Short Story)

Lee Minho was the school's top student. He always got the best scores and the highest grade in the class, earning the favor of every teacher and envy of every student. That is, of course, until Emily came along.

Emily transferred into the school mid-year and there was an immediate shift in the atmosphere, as if the entire student body could feel a change in the top spot:

"Hi," Minho stuck his hand out to the girl standing in front of him. Her smile was as bright as the sun. "I'm Minho. Ms. Chan asked me to welcome you to the school. I hear you have some pretty good scores?"

"I'm Emily." She took his hand. "And yeah, I try to do my best."

He let go of her soft hand, eyes scrutinizing. Emily lifted her chin high, as if sensing Minho's guard going up. The teacher had told him that the girl had some of the highest scores she had ever seen, nearly passing his own. He just had to see the so-called genius himself before believing any rumors.

"I wish you the best of luck. I'm sure you'll need it."

He had left the conversation there, already feeling his pride swell up inside of him. It was best he left before things escalated. Later, Minho found that the girl had been tested in order to place her in the appropriate classes. Sure enough, Emily was put in the same ones Minho was in, and in each class she entered with the leading score on everything.

Minho didn't like that. Lee Minho, or Lee Know as everyone else knew him—simply because he Lee Knows everything—was a competitive guy. He never let anybody show him up, and so when this girl came out of nowhere and tried to steal his throne, he could not allow it. The moment Lee Know watched the girl step into class, he knew they would be enemies. It didn't matter that she had the softest eyes, or the most stunning smile. Lee Know ignored the way her hair tumbled over her shoulders, swaying with her walk. He was the top student. And he always would be.

And so the war began. It went on for weeks, the two of them trying to top each other on the quiz of the week or get a higher score on every assignment. They both recognized each other's competitiveness and yet neither backed down. It was a perfect match. And everyone could see it.

Except them, it would seem.

Minho trumped down the hallway, a frown settling on his face as he thought of the last quiz's scores. He had gotten two points less than Emily on a technicality and it infuriated him. This unfortunately brought Emily and him to a tie for the end of term grades, neither of them quite being the top.

"How does it feel to be bested at your own game Minho?"

He rolled his eyes at the sound of Emily's sweet voice, echoing through the hall towards him like honey. He didn't bother turning her direction, knowing he would get distracted by her smile. Instead, he walked on.

"You got lucky. You only beat me because it was a trick question and I didn't see the other answer."

"I thought you would have seen it coming." Emily falls into step next to him. He keeps his eyes forward though he can feel her peering at him from the side. "I thought you know everything.""I do."