Part- 400:
James allowed himself a satisfied smile. It was a rare moment of personal triumph that resonated deeply, even within his system. The reitio like a validation not only of his hard work but of his ability to challehe status quo, to break the expectations everyone—even he himself—had set for him.
A few mier, Rafi walked into the , his face a bnk mask, but James could tell his calm demeanor was straining. He took his seat a few rows n the gnces and quiet ents from their cssmates. He was doing his best to brush it off, but his body nguage betrayed him—shoulders a little too stiff, jaw ched.
The first bell rang, and the teacher entered, calling the css to attention, but the residual tension remained, simmering just beh the surface. Throughout the lesson, James caught Rafi throwing occasional gnces his way, eae tinged with a mixture of rese aermination. It was clear that Rafi saw this as a challenge, a disruption of the natural order he’d worked so hard to establish.
As the lesson tinued, James couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. For all his apparent nonce, he khis vieant something big. He hadn’t just bee the topper—he’d shifted the bance, and with it, the dynami the . And while he couldn’t predict what would e , he knew he’d be ready.
After css, as students began filing out of the room, Rafi approached him, a hint of a forced smile on his face. “Good job, James. Really. But don’t think I’ll let you stay there for long.”
James met his gaze, his own smile rexed but sharp. “Wouldn’t expeything less from you, Rafi. Guess we’ll see who’s got what it takes.”
Rafi’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. He gave a short nod and walked away, leaving James aloh the quiet, simmering satisfa of his aplishment. He khe road ahead wouldn’t be easy, that Rafi would do everything in his power to recim his title. But James had gotten a taste of victory, and he repared to fight to keep it.
As he headed down the hallway, he could still feel the lingering gnces of his cssmates. He wasn’t just the boy who trailed behind Rafi anymore—he was a tender, a force to be reed with. And for the first time, he felt a thrill at the thought of what might e . The petition was on.
The afternoon had an added air of suspense as teachers begaurning graded exam papers, sparkiement and apprehension in equal measure. When James received his papers, he ghrough them with satisfa. His lowest score was a 97, and in three of his eight subjects, he’d achieved a perfect score, which had catapulted him ten points above Rafi. He could already feel the weight of the eyes around him, a few hushed whispers cirg as students noted his ued leap to the top.
“Did you hear? James topped Rafi this semester!”
“Unbelievable! I didn’t even believe in the past someone could go beyond of that mpnster Rafi.!”
