Elise found him to be childishly funny. Why does he even care whether I participate in the Math Olympiad, or if I humiliate myself? It‘s not like he‘s the one to be humiliated!
“Give me my book back!” She was angered.
However, the foolhardy Danny couldn‘t care less about her. He then countered with a provoking face, “Nope. What are you gonna do?”
Somehow, she was amused as the vexation in her diminished. If that‘s how you wanna do it, I‘ll play along with you.
“How are you so sure I‘d be shaming myself? What if I got first place again?” Upon those words, Danny couldn‘t contain himself and instantly chortled aloud.
Despite his stupidity, he was well aware of the standards of the City Mathematics Olympiad Competitions‘ participants.
The participants viewed studying as life, and had never rested from training themselves, which allowed them to achieve such a level. You, Elise Sinclair, on the other hand, are just a country bumpkin who merely got first place in the Math Olympiad out of sheer luck. Know your place, bumpkin!
If she were to go head to head with those life–long learners, she‘d die from embarrassment!
“Don‘t worry about getting first place, Elise. If you could even get a consolation prize, pigs would start to fly.”
After all, the City Mathematics Olympiad Competition isn‘t meant for amateurs. And with Elise‘s level, all she can do is be a filler.
Danny was pretty confident about that.
Elise proposed, “Oh, is that so? Why don‘t we make a bet, then?”
Upon the suggestion, Danny started hesitating. In spite of his words, he felt somewhat timid. If she somehow managed to harvest all the luck in the universe and got herself a participation prize, he would be in grave loss.
Hence, he added, “Let‘s make this clear. Participation prize doesn‘t count. Your choices are the winner, first runner–up, or second runner–up.”
Elise lifted the edges of her lips and grinned, as if she had seen through his hesitation.
“Fine by me. So are we doing this or not? Not gonna chicken out, are you?”
Hearing that, Danny was visibly tilted. “What for? It‘s on, then. What do you wanna bet on?”
Elise, seeing how her provoking was effective, raised her brows. “If I win the competition, you‘ll have to stay out of my way from now on. Oh, and greet me as ‘Boss‘ too while you‘re at it.”
The nerves she has to make such demands! Danny was still hesitating for a moment earlier, but he instantly grew resolute. “Very well. It‘s on now. But I shall warn you now: if you lose, leave the Griffiths alone and get the hell back to your countryside.”
“Deal.”
And so, the two reached an agreement. Danny seemed to have noticed nothing odd, confident that she
would lose. When she eventually bid farewell to the Griffiths, he would never have to face such an unglorified mug any longer. How refreshing!
With that in mind, he couldn‘t hold back the joyous look on his face. Then, he returned the exercise book to Elise and stopped bothering her.
Of course, he had to spread the news.
Danny: ‘Valorous news, mine own brethrens! Elise the ugly monster is about to packeth her bags! Praise to the Lord!
Jack: ‘For real?‘
Danny: ‘Trusteth in me, for the day shall cometh very lief! And brethrens, thou shan‘t forget a mead fest for me!
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