Chapter 94 FINAL SURGE
Godiva POV
We quickly aborted our restroom mission and went in search of Mama to discuss it with them, since we couldn’t get through to Jerald and Ben, who were still in school.
“Easy, girls. Don’t get yourselves worked up,” Mama cautioned after we told them what we had seen earlier and how they got into the competition even after the deadline.
“Girls, maybe they were having a totally different conversation,” Mrs Job added, trying to make us feel better.
“Just after the first round of the competition?” I asked anxiously.
“Whatever it may be, girls, you just need to put in your very best. Don’t make cheating you an easy task for them. You got this,” Mama encouraged optimistically.
Without anyone telling us, Dina and I found a spot where we revised our practice over and over again. Alas, the one-hour break came to an end, and we were asked back into the hall for the results to be announced.
At that point, I felt dizzy all of a sudden.
“What if we don’t make it through this round?” I asked Dina, who was sitting beside me.
“Then so be it,” she muttered. “At least we weren’t dropped from the regionals.”
“Attention everyone,” one of the judges boomed into the mic, making the hall fall silent.
“Isn’t this the judge she was with?” Dina whispered into my ear.
“It’s definitely him,” I breathed, holding tightly to my skirt.
“At the end of the first round, these are the schools that will proceed to the private quiz, Cherub High, Greenland Academy, Blackridge High School...” the judge announced over the mic, pausing deliberately.
My heart began thudding after he mentioned Blackridge High School for the first time. He was delaying the mention of the last school, and each second felt like punishment.
“And Bread of Life High School,” he finally declared, making the hall erupt with cheers and boos.
“Yes!” Mama screamed beside me, pulling us both into a hug at once.
“I told you girls you got this,” Mrs Job chimed in, joining the embrace.
“Mum, last I checked, it wasn’t you who told us we got this,” Dina retorted playfully.
“Shut up,” Mrs Job laughed.
We were taken to a private room where we began answering the quiz. We were timed sixty seconds each to solve every problem.
I felt almost discouraged at first by the responses coming from the others, how swift they were in answering the questions as if the answers had been living inside their heads since birth.
After an hour of battling, that round was over. It was hard to say who would reach the finale since they weren’t telling us whether we got it wrong or right.
“This competition is bullshit. Can we just go home already?” Dina murmured as we stepped out of the quiz room.
“Yes, you better quit before you get embarrassed,” Lis’s annoying voice slithered from behind, accompanied by the type of laughter you may only hear in a coven.
We walked away, ignoring her, and continued interacting as we went back to the hall.
“The finale is going to be even more dangerous and scary, so you don’t have the luxury of worrying right now,” Mama insisted, handing us our study materials.
“Mama, honestly, there’s no need,” I muttered, looking downcast.
“What do you mean by that?” Mrs Job snapped, who hadn’t been paying attention to our discussion.
“What she’s trying to say is, we doubt we’ll make it to the finale,” Dina explained.
“Yes,” I agreed in a whisper.
“We’ll only leave after the scores have been announced,” Mama declared aggressively.
In a twinkle of an eye, it was time for the results to be announced and for the finale to begin.
“Here on this paper, we have the names of two schools competing at the finale of Students Making a Difference. Quickly, we have Greenland Academy and Bread of Life High School!” he screamed, and the hall broke into a great celebration, except for Dina and me.
“Told you, Mama,” I muttered, turning to her dispirited.
“We’re not sure of that yet,” Mama rebuked, placing her finger on her lips.
“And the pair representing Bread of Life High School is...” he announced over the mic, making the hall pin-drop silent.
I stopped breathing.
Beside me, Dina’s fingers locked around mine.
“...the pair is Dina and Godiva from Bread of Life High School!”
I began jumping in celebration so wildly that I didn’t realize when Ben and Jerald walked in. I only noticed when I turned and saw Dina sobbing on Ben’s chest.
Running to where Jerald stood, still smiling at me, I threw myself on him in excitement. Without saying a word to him, I only chanted thanksgiving to God as I remained locked in his embrace.
“Congratulations on reaching the finale, Miss Godiva Scott,” the principal’s voice sounded from behind, making me let go of Jerald hurriedly.
“I appreciate it, sir,” I stammered, looking terrified as he shook my hand.
It was finally time for us to head backstage and prepare for the finale.
“You got this, girl. Know this and take charge,” Jerald murmured, gently pecking my forehead.
“Wow, so today I get a forehead kiss?” I teased, laughing as I attempted to walk away.
“Yes. If I kiss your lips, you’d get confused, and I wouldn’t want that,” he whispered with a wink.
“You’re not serious,” I scoffed, shaking my head as I turned to leave.
“Wow, girl, so no goodbye?” Mama barked jealously.
“I’m sorry, Mama,” I laughed, running back to hug her.
I felt really accomplished at this point, we had defeated Lis and Leo, and we were the pair representing bread of life Highschool in the finals.
Finally, we were on stage, facing the multitude who sat anxiously, waiting for the competition to begin. The judge came in, set the rules for the finale, and also discouraged the crowd from any sort of communication with us.
Coincidentally, at that moment, my eyes c
aught Jerald’s.
He winked at me. And somehow, in the middle of that terrifying stage, my heartbeat steadied.