Chapter 12

Everyone simultaneously looked at Juliana and Hanley

Feeling the collective gaze, Juliana straightened up and flashed a smile at Hanley, asking, “What if Cordelial starts hounding you?”

Hanley lifted his chin with an air of finality. “Our engagement is set. It’s not changing for anyone.”

With that, Juliana relaxed,

She and Hanley had grown up together, their relationship always teetering on the edge of something more. Now, with their engagement on the horizon, she trusted that Hanley harbored no feelings for Cordelia.

Their conversation was neither hushed nor loud, but just enough for the onlookers to overhear.

A few snide voices began to mock Cordelia, “Being the top of the class doesn’t mean you can win Hanley’s heart, huh?”

“If I were her, I’d stay well away. How shameless can you get, always hovering around Hanley…”

Cordelia cooled her gaze but before she could speak up, Merry interjected, “Some folks really have nothing better to do than to poke their noses into others‘ business!”

Merry had a sing–song quality, even when she was hurling insults.

The teasers promptly shut their mouths.

Merry then glanced at Juliana and Hanley with a snort, “And some people really have the gall!”

The classroom fell silent. When it came to quick wit, no one could outdo Merry.

Seeing that Merry had defused the situation, Cordelia nodded to show her thanks and made her way to her seat, but Merry turned and headed for the door.

The class president called out, “Merry, class is about to start, where are you off to?”

Merry looked back, blowing a bubble with her gum, “Arcade.”

Cordelia blinked in surprise.

Merry didn’t return for the rest of the day.

time for the afternoon study period.

session. Juliana stood up as well, heading

in their direction. She couldn’t resist asking. “What if

seemingly conflicted, “That’s true…

Η

at the stairwell. As they hesitated on whether to acknowledge her, Cordelia walked past them without a glance, not even sparing them a

Juliana stopped in their tracks,

only a handful of students had

walked in. He discussed a few competition problems and set the class to work on them before approaching Cordelia with a test in hand, “Try this out, I want to gauge

I

got to

watched her from a not–too–distant seat, unable to

Latham handed to Cordelia was standard competition level, Hanley, a seasoned math competitor,

in one,

graded the test on the spot, announcing the result, “Failed!

A sense

math didn’t guarantee success in competitions, which were more complex and

him at the last test. He was sure to reclaim the top spot next time.

marked with three red wrong signs and asked, puzzled, “How could they

voice to not disturb the others, “You got the answers right, but

her head.

sighed, “Calculus is a college subject. Where did

replied, “Self–study.”

reasoning, which means you need to solve these problems

your

is beyond the syllabus, not using the

misty eyes filled with confusion.

some notes for

her, “Don’t worry, it’s good we caught this early. There’s still time.

have any questions,

murmured, “Oh.” She glanced at the test on

were new to her. Without college knowledge like calculus, they indeed seemed challenging,

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