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.

for the afternoon study period.

for his tutoring session. Juliana stood up as well, heading to her physics. competition prep class in room 302, right next to the

and heading in their direction. She

seemingly conflicted, “That’s true…

Η

on whether to acknowledge her, Cordelia walked past them without a glance,

tracks,

only a handful of students had shown

found a seat. Soon after, Latham 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

got

from a not–too–distant seat, unable to

Cordelia was standard competition level, Hanley, a seasoned math competitor, had

finishing the two–hour test in one, causing a twinge of concern in

the test on the spot,

a sigh of relief. A sense of superiority

competitions, which were more

just an off day for him at the last test. He was sure to reclaim

hand, Cordelia stared at her test, marked with three red wrong signs and asked, puzzled, “How could they

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

her head.

college subject. Where did you learn it?”

simply replied,

impressed, then he explained, “The high school math competition tests logical reasoning, which means you need

your

syllabus, not using the designated knowledge

misty eyes filled with confusion.

some notes for

we caught this early. There’s still time.

you have any questions, you can also

glanced at the test on her

like calculus, they indeed seemed challenging,

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