The Competition

Viktor

Thursday morning, the first bell rings, and I head to my foreign language class with a mixture of anticipation and seriousness. The previous day's focus on my science project was invigorating, but today it's back to business as usual. I navigate the hallways and slip into my seat just as the teacher begins the lesson. French verbs and vocabulary fly through the air, and I try to concentrate, though my mind keeps drifting to my major: Chemistry. Finally, the bell rings, freeing us from conjugations and sentence structures. I gather my books and make my way to the lab. Today is about refining the experiment for my sustainable energy project. As I enter the lab, I see Yelena already deep in her work. Our eyes don't meet, but her presence is a constant, silent reminder of what's at stake - not just the competition, but the unresolved tension between us. I immerse myself in my project, fine-tuning the details and making sure every aspect is meticulously documented. The hours pass quickly, each experiment and calculation drawing me deeper into the rhythm of scientific inquiry. There's a satisfaction in the precise, logical world of chemistry that makes it easier to set aside personal concerns, at least temporarily.When the bell rings to end the period, my stomach growls, but lunch is in two hours. I have math next, and as much as I love Chemistry, Math has its own challenges that demand my attention. I grab my books and head to the math classroom, hoping for a smooth transition. As I enter the room, I see Carson sitting in his usual spot, a carefree grin on his face. Despite everything that's happened lately, he still manages to find a way to be his usual easy-going self. I slide into the seat next to him, dropping my bag on the floor.Hey, man," Carson greets me, his voice full of his usual cheerfulness. "How's the project going?"

"Pretty good, actually," I reply, a hint of pride in my voice. "Made some decent progress yesterday."

"Good, good," Carson nods. "We'll have to celebrate if you win."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," I say with a laugh, though I appreciate his confidence.

Math class begins, and we dive into the complexities of calculus. Carson and I exchange notes and ideas, helping each other through the more difficult problems. Despite the recent tension and secrets between us, there's a familiarity to this routine that's comforting.Finally lunch. We meet up with Natalia, but I notice Yelena taking her tray on her way out.

"Car, get my usual, I'll be right back," he nods without looking at me and I head out of the cafeteria. "Why aren't you sitting with us anymore?" I already know the answer, but I want her to admit it anyway.
"Fresh air."
"Bullshit, it's freezing. Get your ass inside." "Fuck off, Viktor."
"You have no right to tell me that after the lie you kept up, you know?" I say as I sit down next to her on the bench and she slips away from me.
"The day you saw me all over Sofia was just to get back at you when I found out. It obviously worked, didn't it?"
"What do you want from me, Viktor?" she replies in a stern voice.
"I want to know why you kept the truth from me. You're just like your father, Yelena."
"No, I'm not-"
"Yes, you are."
"I am not!" she shouts, tears stinging her eyes. "Then tell me, did your father tell mine what he did?" She remains silent. "See, it's the same thing you did to me. You didn't want to tell me, but my sister did. That is the thing that hurts the most, you know."
"I didn't want to lose you. Either of you," her voice comes out small. I scoff and look at her in disbelief.
"Now it is done, Malyshka."
"What do you mean by that?" she asks, but I don't answer. "For your information, I did not fuck Sofia. I just made out with her. Good luck with the competition," I say goodbye to her as I enter the cafeteria again. Only to find Carson and Natalia on their way back to our table, their plates untouched. "Eavesdropping?" I ask.
"No, we-"
"Definitely," Carson replies and Natalia glares at him. "We're sorry we eavesdropped, Vito."
"We can't stay mad at her forever, can we? At least not me."
"She hid the truth from us but...I don't know..." she trails off. "It was her father's fault, and I can't blame her for that." She adds. "She is like her father. She wanted to hide the truth."Carson chimes in, "She's nothing like her father. If she was, she wouldn't have told me." Natalia corrects him. "What? You want to forgive her?" Carson throws back. "I don't know. I feel betrayed, but I don't want to lose my best friend." Natalia says, picking at her untouched food. Lunch is almost over as we all leave our untouched food and head to our next class, Geography. Did I say untouched food? I mean they left their food untouched, I obviously took my Crème Brûlée with me.