The Competition

Epilogue

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I stirred and felt a gentle nudge. Opening my eyes, I saw Carson standing by the bed, grinning down at us.

"Rise and shine, lovebirds. Breakfast is almost ready," Carson announced, his voice full of playful energy.
I groaned softly, not quite ready to leave the warmth of the bed. Viktor sat up next to me, stretching and rubbing his eyes. He looked at me, a smile forming on his lips.
"All right, we're coming," he said, his voice still groggy from sleep.

We made our way downstairs, the smell of pancakes and coffee wafting through the air. Natalia was already in the kitchen, flipping pancakes with practiced ease. She looked up as we entered, her expression brightening.
"Good morning, Viktor, come help me," Natalia asked, her tone casual but her eyes twinkling.
"Sure thing," Viktor replied and walked over to the refrigerator.
Carson and I settled into the living room, the comfortable silence enveloping us. Viktor returned with a tray of juice glasses and joined us, plopping down on the couch with a satisfied sigh.

"Smells good, doesn't it?" Carson says, sitting back and stretching his legs.

"Yeah, it does," I agre, my eyes drifting to the kitchen where Natalia was finishing up.

"So how does it feel to be the top scientist at the Velour Academy?" Carson teased, nudging me with his elbow.
I chuckled, a hint of pride in my voice. "It feels pretty awesome, actually."
I watched Viktor and felt a sense of satisfaction settle over me. The competition had brought its share of stress, but it had also forged new bonds and strengthened old ones. Seeing Carson and Viktor laughing like that made me realize how far we'd all come.
Natalia emerged from the kitchen, balancing a pile of plates. "Breakfast is served," she announced, placing the plates on the dining table.

We all gathered around, the atmosphere light and cheerful. As we dug into the delicious spread, Carson and his friend inhaled their food under minutes. Natalia turned to Viktor,
"Hey, Viktor, could you help me again?" asked Natalia, her tone hopeful.
"Of course, Nat. I'd be happy to help," Viktor replied with a warm smile.

Carson and I exchanged amused glances as Viktor and Natalia left for the kitchen with the dishes. It felt like a perfect morning, a peaceful moment amidst the whirlwind of school and competitions.

"You know, Carson," I said after a while, my tone thoughtful.
"What's up?"
"I got a video that Noah sent me."
"So?" he says, furrowing his brow.

"Admit it, Carson. You slept with Natalia just to win a goddamn bet."

The End