Chapter <b>54 </b>


    <b>“</b>Last week, the school’s official forum announced a big deal the BrainSpark Nationals. It’s like a whole tieredpetition, starting with city–level prelims<b>, </b>then moving up to state, and finally the national showdown. The top three contenders get to wave the g at the International stage.” Jenna <b>sald </b>while pulling out her phone, quickly logging onto the <b>school’s </b>forum and finding the post. “Here, look at this.”


    “The deadline to sign up online is in a couple of days<b>. </b>I think you should throw your hat into the ring. With it being <b>a </b>national event, the cream of the crop will be there. We’re not gonna get ahead of ourselves and talk about taking home the gold or anything, but making it through the city prelims alone would be a serious feather in <b>your </b>cap.”


    Mirabe <b>nced </b>at the phone Jenna handed her, gave It a cursory <b>look</b>, and flopped back onto her desk with anguid air. “Well, not interested.”


    Jenna’s mouth twitched, and she nudged Mirabe’s arm. “Come on Mira, this could be your ticket to a clean te, <b>a </b>real game–changer. It’d be a shame to miss out.”


    Mirabe yawned and closed her eyes. “Then I’ll miss out.” She didn’t need a clean te anyway.


    Jenna sighed silently, looking at Mira, who seemed to care about nothing.


    —


    During the second period that afternoon, Mirabe was summoned to the office.


    Ate, usually stern, softened her expression as she looked at the seemingly well–behaved Mirabe. “So, you’re interested in the BrainSpark Nationals?”


    Mirabe looked puzzled, with a question mark practically floating above her head.


    “I wouldn’t normally rmend that someone who’s just transferred schools jump into apetition like this. But since you’ve signed up, I won’t try to stop you. Just make sure you carve out extra time for your studies, okay? This is your senior year, pivotal for your future.” Ate said with earnestness.


    Mirabe’s mouth opened to say she hadn’t signed up, but then she remembered Jenna’s persuasive tactics from earlier that morning. After a few seconds of silence, she gave a nomittal “hmm.”


    Then, in a quieter tone<b>, </b>she asked, “Ms. Ate, what’s the prize for first ce in thispetition?”


    Ate was taken aback as if she’d misheard.


    Seeing Ate’s confused expression, Mirabe understood the situation and her enthusiasm deted. Her voice. became listless, “I should head back to ss.”


    “Wait.” Ate regained herposure just as Mirabe was about to step out. “There’s no cash prize, but the winner gets a guaranteed spot at Prestige College one of the top three universities in the country. A spot that many would break their backs for, given the limited admission spots each year. A guaranteed admission is worth way more than any cash prize.”


    Prestige College, a dream institution for many, represented <b>a </b>future that was beyond measure. But Mirabe<b>, </b>upon hearing her teacher’s words, didn’t seem thrilled. In fact, her shoulders slumped even more. Without looking back, she replied with a dull “got it” and left the office.


    Ate watched Mirabe’s retreating figure with a frown. She had a nagging feeling that this new student wasn’t in it for the guaranteed college spot but the cash prize instead. But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, sheughed at herself. Was she crazy? Entertaining such a preposterous Idea for a student who had essentially back–doored her way into the school? Shouldn’t the focus be on advising her to know her limits?