The Afterglow

Chapter Five

"I bet that Matthew will go bald at the forehead if he keeps on pulling his hair like that," Kate nudged Kylie who was a year younger to her. With the team of youngsters Kate had to attend Star Quest organised by an esteemed university in the country. According to their potential, Kate was aware that she could not take the shiny trophy to school so she was watching the finals of the quiz comfortably.

Matthew was seated next to Ryan. They were of the same school and represented their quiz team along with Raymond, Richard and Shawn. Kate's eyes observed Ryan; he didn't panic like others. He was concise and confident in his answers. Inside her head, Kate accounted his behaviour to ego.

Until the results were announced they were given a break, thus Kate had to accompany a couple of younger sisters to the restroom.

"Did you even notice how capricious was he! His sense of pride is unfathomable and I despise him. Too bad that Matthew couldn't be the President of the astro society."  Kate was sad about Matthew. She liked his coolness of the temper.

"There is something about Ryan Hartford's eyes. Enigmatic, yet so ... con-de-scend-ing."

Kate pronounced the syllables at her leisure to Kylie despite Kylie's persistent cough.

"What's wrong with you Kylie? Are you sick? ... See. That Hartford can make any healthy person sick!" Kate turned to face her as she had been engaged in her soliloquy facing the wall.

If Kate could, she would have evaporated herself as Kylie was just next to her and she was facing Ryan Hartford of the Elite Four!

"Damn it!" Kate muttered. 

"Oh ... Time to go Kylie, we had some work, remember?" Kate held Kylie's hand and was going to vanish into the auditorium to save her soul from disgrace hoping that Ryan had not heard what she had been uttering.

"But the auditorium is on your left,  this door will take you into the Men's restroom. I highly doubt you have some business there, " Ryan said with a smirk.

Kate grabbed Kylie's hand tightly and hurriedly walked to the left though Sandy was in the restroom. Kate had no choice but to walk away cursing sarcastic Hartford with every breath she inhaled for the next few minutes. Public humiliation was something she hated.