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.

it was time for

Juliana stood up as well, heading to her

the door, Juliana caught a glimpse of Cordelia rising a beat slower and heading in their direction. She couldn’t

seemingly conflicted, “That’s

Η

up, they were at the stairwell. As they hesitated on whether to acknowledge

their tracks,

the classroom to find only a handful of students

walked in. He discussed a few competition problems and set the class to work on

I

got

a not–too–distant seat, unable to keep from monitoring her progress.

level, Hanley, a seasoned math competitor, had gotten them

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

test on the spot, announcing the result, “Failed! All wrong!”

of relief. A sense of superiority

competitions, which were more

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

three red wrong signs and asked, puzzled, “How

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

shook her

sighed, “Calculus is a college subject. Where did

simply replied,

math competition tests logical reasoning, which means you need to solve these problems with high school knowledge. Your answers are

your

is beyond the syllabus, not using the designated knowledge

her misty eyes filled with confusion. This

some notes for

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

added, “If you have any questions, you can also ask Hanley.”

She glanced at the

to her. Without college knowledge like calculus, they indeed seemed challenging, but she found them

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