Part- 402:
The tension simmered beh the surface, thiing as the two girls exged smiles that barely cealed their petitive edge. Though her said it ht, their words carried the unmistakable uone of rivalry, a battle for unspoken stakes that James could only sehout fully uanding. The air between them felt charged, as if this moment wasn’t just about his achievement but an unspoken shift in the bance of their friendship.
One of their cssmates, Amir, leaned in with a grin. “Man, James, what’s the secret? The whole css is talking about you beating Rafi,” he said, nudging James pyfully. “I think you’ve just bee a legend here. Even Rafi looks like he’s been hit by a truck,” he joked, earning a few chuckles from the nearby students.
James chuckled, shaking his head modestly. “Nothing like that. Just focused a bit more this time.”
But Amir wasn’t buying it. “Nah, e on. You’ve got Mili helping you, plus you’re spending time with Toya too.” He winked, sparking ughter from a few others. “I’d say that’s some top-tier motivation.”
Mili rolled her eyes but didirely disagree. “Well, maybe I did help a little,” she admitted with a smile, her gaze softening as she looked at James. “But he deserves the credit. He put in the work.”
Toya crossed her arms, tilting her head in a pyful challenge. “Maybe he didn’t hat much help,” she chimed in. “Some people just naturally excel when they focus.”
Mili raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at the er of her lips. “Oh? So are you saying he could’ve do all by himself?” she asked, her tone just sharp enough to cut through Toya’s words.
The pyful banter had a hint of tension, and James noticed the subtle rivalry that had emerged betweewo girls. Mili and Toya’s voices were calm and steady, their smiles polite, but the underlying challenge in each of their statements was unmistakable. They both seemed determio assert their p his life, each hinting that her support had been more instrumental in his success thaher’s.
James chuckled awkwardly, feeling the unspoken petition intensify around him. “Alright, alright,” he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “I appreciate both of you, okay? Couldn’t have do without my amazing friends.” He gnced between them, hoping to lighten the mood, but the petitive spark in their eyes remained.
For a moment, the three of them stood in silence, aridercurrent linking them in a way James hadn’t expected. He khis was more than just friendly banter—something about his ret success had shifted the dynami his friendships, making every iion feel slightly more charged, more yered. It was as though both Mili and Toya were staking their cim in his life, each vying for a position he hadn’t realized they wanted.
As the day wound down and students began dispersing, James caught o gween Mili and Toya, a look that spoke volumes without a single word. He khings might never be the same. But for now, he could only enjoy the strange, ued thrill of success—and the subtle, unspoken es it had stirred.
