HARD WORK PAYS OFF

“tic tic tic tic.”. the alarm hits my ear plugs and I hit the snooze button. I roll over and cover my body with the duvet, as I was about to fall in the world of my dream, a splash of water is poured over me. I get up and look a devilish grin on my Grandma’s face.

“What is this for? Look, I am drenched!” I complain and look at her with disbelieve.

“You better get your ass up before I whop it for an excellent reason, Blaine.” She states with a threat in her eyes and I slid down from the wet mattress. I take the towel in my hands to wipe and lead to the bathroom to shower.

“where are you going?” Grandma asks.

“to shower, obviously!” I roll my eyes behind.

“You don’t need shower right now, just change your clothes and meet me in the ground within 10 minutes.” She declares and leaves.

“Shit!” I curse and remove the drenched clothes, tossing them in the laundry bucket. I pull a nice pair of sweat suit and head to the ground while slipping the shoes on.

“I am here!” I state and my jaw drops to the floor to see my Grandma where a nice athletic outfit, “whoa!! Slow down my damn pulses as someone is looking coolers then the atmosphere.”

Grandma smiles slightly and replies, “I can slay every kind of outfit, you should’ve seen me in earlier ages.” I notice a faint blush on her rosy cheeks.

I chuckle, “so what’s the plan?”

She turns serious this time and states, “40 laps of the ground for the warmup, followed by the 5 sets of crunches and squats.”

My jaw gets stiff but I close it forcefully and follow her instruction like a baby. I take my job seriously and finish the 40 laps of the ground in 80 minutes, “Not bad! Hun!” I smile and follow the other command from Grandma.

After the hardcore session from my personal trainer, I run to grab a healthy breakfast as my stomach grumbles like a thunderstorm. I ate the meal like a pig, finishing the whole plate and follow the routine afterwards. My hot tutor takes my test regularly to prepare me for the annual. I take online classes from a different platform to learn one single topic.

Tomorrow, I will join the school again and there will she, I want to see her. I have this excitement running in my veins to destroy the pride of Sinclair heritage. My soul speaks one language, language of revenge.

Earlier in the morning, I wake up before the alarm close hits. I went to take the shower and dress into my school’s uniform. I glare at my reflection in the mirror. The old Blaine is gone for long and the now Blaine is ready to conquer the world under his fist. I take my steps to the Grandma’s taking her blessing before reaching the examination hall.

“you are blessed by the god himself, I know you will turn out victorious.” Grandma smiles and hug her tightly.

I left the house in my car and reach at the school’s premises with a new confidence surfacing over. As I enter in the class, I hear few gasps near around and smirk. With each step I take, I feel powerful in my way.

I stand in front of the plain white door of the Principal's office. I knock softly on the door and wait for a response from the inside. The assistant opens the door, guiding me inside, and I wait for Principal Louise.

She shows up with a blank expression on her round face, “oh! Blaine Ashford, here is your admit card and good luck.”

“Anything else you want to say?” I ask.

“No, but still you asked so, I want you to prove your right.”

“Thank you, Miss Louise.” I smile and leave the office in haste.

As I run through the corridors joyfully, looking for the examination hall. I hear from crappy words from the invigilator, or maybe someone is arguing with him. I enter inside and notice a familiar face in my run way, Rebecca Sinclair.

I roll my eyes and ignore her like a plaque. Taking my respective seat in the examination hall, I hear her arguing with Mr. Thomas Davis, the invigilator.

“I can’t sit here, it’s too cold and I need a personal heater for myself.” She yells.

“Sorry Princess but this is not your castle and I am not your maid. Take your seat before I cancel your exam for today!” Mr. Thomas warns her and the rest of the class laughs.

“Silence, this is not a joke. I have papers from authority to cancel or expel a ward if found suspicious or guilty.”

Rebecca glares and went up to her seat, I turn to look at her poor face but find her staring me already. I work hard to control my laugh and I am sure that she noticed that too.

Soon the exam started and everyone indulge their nose in the examination booklet. The time seems like stopping for a while when I scan the questions from my eyes. A smirk follows the suit to my lips as the grip on my pen tightens. I finish the exam within half time and submit it to the invigilator. He stares at me from head to toe and looks back at the paper.

He furrows and put the booklet aside, “did you cheat? How is this possible that you end solving every question within half time?” he asks with a doubt.

I shrug my shoulders and look directly in his eyes, “if you doubt then you can check my belongings and seat, more I can still give exam on another sheet if you insist.”

The sweat forms on his head and he waves his arm to me, I turn to leave but I glance at Rebecca, who is smiling with a smug on her face. Wait, bitch! I will make you smile into the deepest frown.

As I walk out the door, I saw Oliver standing, actually waiting for me outside, I smile instantly, “buddy?”

“Whoa! Are you done?” He raises suspicions.

“of course! But I strike the shot this time. I can’t wait till the results.” I sigh.

Oliver pats my shoulder and we left together to the café. The loud bell rings and the exam is officially over. The rush of students fills the campus with screams and noises. In between the rabble, I notice Rebecca approaching us to the table.

“Are you lost or forget the way?” Oliver chuckles and snorts loudly.

“We Sinclairs’ never forget a single thing in our life; let’s talk alone about the ways.” She turns to me after spitting her rude words at Oliver, “you ruined my expectations, Ashford. I thought you will give a tough competition to me but you left the battlefield before the war even started.” She states with a smirk.

“Only a warrior knows about his skills and what damage he can give to his opponent.” I stand up from the seat, “we will meet again, in the PTM.”

I left her speechless, standing in the café's midway. I leave the premises after bidding goodbye to Oliver and went straight to home. I discuss the day with Grandma and she prepares my favorite dishes for the dinner.

After the dinner, I went back to my room to prepare for the next exam. My days follow the same routine till the last exam. I leave the examination hall after the time is over, with a confidence that I did my best in all subjects.

The most awaited day arrives and my heart beats like a drum. If it wasn’t about the challenge, I wouldn’t have cared about the result either. Grandma and I reach to the school premises for the PTM, one hour prior to the result declaration.

“Grandma! I am nervous.” I state in a gloomy voice.

She holds my hands and smiles gently, “forget about the challenge, Blaine. Even if you lost it, you have already won the challenge in my eyes and that’s what matters to me the most.”

Her words make me breathe in relief and boosts my confidence a little, “thank you!”

Soon, the class teacher comes out with the merit list and pastes it to the bulletin board. The student gathered around the board to survey the merit list. I hear gasps and whispering but stay rooted to my place.

“Don’t you want to go and look at your position in merit?” Grandma asks me.

“hmmm. I am not sure..” I stutter when I hear a familiar voice screaming in the crowd.

The staff and other student approaches to look into the matter and I do went there. Rebecca is crying loudly on her so-called friend’s shoulder.

I see people looking at me like they spotted an alien from outer space and suddenly, Oliver grabs me into a brotherly hug, “you did it man! You did it!” he congratulates me.

It feels like I can’t breathe and I personally go through the list, and I got shocked to see my name on top on the list but what shocked me more was the second person to top the exam was Oliver not Rebecca. She came 4^th in the exams and I feel bad about it, but not much. I turn to Oliver and hug him back. The teachers congratulate us as well.