Liah's pov
"Alright students, it's time for the long awaited annual quiz competition. Hope you are all excited?" The MC's voice boomed on stage.
"Yes, we are" we all cheered. We were all so excited. Some of the Brighter knowledge academy students looked at British high students with mocking grins and British high students weren't ones to back out either.
"Alright. I will call on the teams for each school and each class to come on stage so the competition may commence" the MC continued.
All representatives climbed the stage and claimed their seats. Once we were all comfortable and in our positions, the MC continued "Alright students, I will now explain the rules of the competition. You will have 10 seconds to answer each question. If a team fails to answer, the question will pass to the opposing team, and a correct answer will earn them the point."
The competition commenced, starting from the junior classes and I must admit even though Brighter knowledge academy students are tough opponents, British high students are not going easy on them either.
British high students are leading with a score of three to one. The competition has 6 levels with each level having 10 questions and British high students won three levels while the opposing school won two levels. Now it's the final level, my team against Annie's team.
Annie looked at Sophie and I with disdain but we couldn't even bother to care.
My team was team 1 while Annie's team was team 2.
The questions were asked, six questions had been asked already and each team answered the questions given correctly and now four questions left for the competition to come to an end.
"Which element has the highest melting point?" The MC asked my team.
"Tungsten" Sophie smiled and answered
"That's correct. 10 points to team 1" the MC said
"Who was the first human to travel into space?" He asked Annie's team
Annie smirked before answering, looking all proud "Neil Armstrong"
"Neil Armstrong is wrong. Try again" he said
"Buzz Aldrin" her boyfriend answered
"Buzz Aldrin is wrong. Your 10 seconds is up. Does the opposing team want to try" he turned to my team.
I smiled at this opportunity before answering
"Yuri Gagarin"
"Yuri Gagarin is correct. 10 points to team 1" he said. At that moment, my eyes caught Dylan's face among the crowd and I could see the proud smile on his face.
"Which U.S. document begins with the words "We the People"?" He asked my team. I was about to answer but Sophie beat me to it "The constitution"
"The constitution is correct. 10 points to team 1" he said. I noticed Annie's team grim expressions but who cares.
"This question concludes the competition. What is the only number that is both the sum and the product of three consecutive positive integers?" He asked Annie's team. Annie bit her lip and turned to look at her boyfriend whose expression wasn't so good either.
"Your time is almost up, won't you make an attempt" the MC reminded them making me smirk.
"Uhhm, 12?" Annie answered, sounding so unsure.
"12 is wrong, does the opposing team have the answer" he asked my team
"The answer is 6" I answered.
"6 is correct, 10 points to team 1" he announced causing the crowd to erupt with cheers. Sophie hugged me and I hugged her back. It was already obvious which school won even though the results have not been announced yet.
"You can all go back now. The results will be announced in the next five minutes". The MC said.
We all went back to join the crowd below and after exactly five minutes, the results were announced. My team won against Annie's team with a total of seventy points to thirty points. Overall, British high won against Brighter knowledge academy with the score of four to two. It was an unexpected win. Who would have thought that British high would win against Brighter knowledge academy.
It was time for giving awards and each participant's parents were asked to come on stage to take pictures with their children. Mr and Mrs Cranes, Sophie's parents rushed over and stood beside their daughter, their faces beaming with smiles. I felt a sharp pang of jeslousy.
I didn't even bother to look for my parents among the crowds because I already knew they would be absent.
"Miss Martins, are your parents not here?" The photographer asked. I sighed disheartenly and was about to tell him to go ahead with the pictures when,
"We're here" Mark's voice was heard from amidst the crowd. I gasped in surprise as I followed the voice and spotted my parents with Mark coming towards the stage. I couldn't help the stray tear of joy that rolled down my cheeks. They really came.
"I'm proud of you my daughter" my dad said and hugged me.
"You're the best sis" Mark shouted enthusiastically. I smiled and ruffled his black hair. I glanced at my mom, hoping for even the smallest smile… but her expression remained unreadable which dampened my spirit a bit.
My family stood beside me and the pictures were taken. I could swear that today is the best day I've lived since I turned eight.
After the pictures were taken, I was about to go look for Dylan when I spotted someone I never expected to show up. It was Colton.
Colton James is the only child of the James couple and was pampered to the core. We have been close friends since forever. The James family have been friends with the Martins family for so long and were actually neighbors until the James family relocated out of the city.
"Liahhh" he screamed my name as he ran towards the stage. I groaned inwardly, this brat.
"Congratulations piggy" he said, grinning as he hugged me or should I say squeezing the life out of me.
"Ugh let go, I.. can't.. breathe" I said, feeling suffocated.
"Sorry sorry" he said and released me before ruffling my hair.
"Hello auntie and uncle" he greeted my parents
"Hey there Colton. You've grown so big and handsome. Where are your parents?" My mom asked him
"Oh, they're outside the gate" Colton replied.
"Alright, we'll leave you kids to chat. See you later at home" my dad said and pulled my mom as they left. They didn't take Mark with them.
"Hey Colton" Sophie greeted him as she reached us
"Hello Sophie. You look more stunning than the last time I saw you" Colton praised her making me roll my eyes.
So I'm the one who looks the same huh.
"Thanks Colton, you don't look so bad yourself" Sophie said
"Liah" I heard Dylan's voice.
"Congratulations to both of you. You made us proud" he said and smiled as he came to where we were, standing between Colton and I.
"Who's this?" Colton asked looking displeased. I'm sure it's because of Dylan's action. Colton have always been protective of me since we were children and I always looked up to him as an older brother.
"Yeah sis, who's this handsome brother?" Mark asked, his eyes filled with curiosity.
Sophie laughed as she answered them,
"This is Dylan's Matthews. He resumed at our school recently"
"Hello brother Dylan. You are so handsome. I want to look just like you when I grow up" Mark said, hugging Dylan's leg like a koala.
Dylan was so tall that Mark's head could only reach his waist.
Dylan smiled and ruffled his hair.
"I'm sure you would look better than me" he said, making Mark giggle in delight.
"Pleasure meeting you Dylan, I'm Colton" Colton said and stretched forth his hand for a handshake. Dylan stared at his hand blankly for a moment before taking it.
"Same here" Dylan said. They both stared at each other with intensity and anyone could feel the tension in the air.
"How about we go celebrate our victory" Sophie said, saving us from the awkward moment.
"Sounds like a great idea. Come on guys" I said and took Mark's little hand in mine and led the way, leaving the others no choice but to follow.