Half a Mark!

Sometimes, the closest rival is the one who sees you the most.

At Seattle College of Business and Economics, Sera Westbrook has only ever known life through the lens of pressure. The pressure to succeed. The pressure to prove herself. The pressure to make up for the sister she lost and the father who reminds her daily that she was never what he wanted.

Across the aisle - both in class and in life - sits Gray Bennett. Brilliant, confident, effortlessly admired, and her closest competitor in everything that counts. Their silent rivalry has spanned years, measured not just in grades and rankings, but in sarcasm, unspoken glances, and the war between who cares more and who dares less.

But beneath Sera's flawless academic record lies a girl quietly unraveling. And behind Gray's easy charm is someone who's seen her - really seen her - from the very beginning.

As graduation nears, one announcement changes everything. Applause echoes. Expectations crack. And in a moment of public silence, someone finally speaks up for the girl who was never allowed to speak for herself.

Then they part ways.

No confessions. No promises. Just the memory of what almost was - and the weight of all that wasn't said.

Years later, fate brings them back together in a world far beyond the classroom, where success is louder, reputations sharper, and feelings... harder to ignore. But some distances can't be measured by numbers. And sometimes, the deepest connection begins with the smallest difference.

"Half a Mark" is a deeply emotional, slow-burning story of quiet strength, unspoken love, and the lifelong impact of being almost enough - until someone shows you you've always been more than that.