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The qualifying exam was today, and the hall had been meticulously prepared for a smooth, focused competition. Every student looked anxious; the fair-skinned ones flushed red, the darker ones seemed even darker, and the black-skinned students—I couldn’t quite tell. Each of us had an assigned number; mine was 056. I briefly wondered who 057 might be, but I forced myself to focus, putting everything Bliss had taught me into practice. I pulled out my Natural Display Calculator and tapped "on," double-checking that it worked.

Earlier, Bliss had swapped her calculator for mine. "Honestly, mine will serve you better in the hall. I know calculators aren’t easy for me, but you need it more than I do. I'll teach you the logic behind this one,” she had said. I felt incredibly lucky to have a friend like her—so selfless, so caring. I only hoped I could repay her kindness someday.

The microphone crackled. “JULIE JACKSON! NUMBER 057.” My heart dropped. What?! I’d be sitting right next to her. Julie came over, dragging her seat right up to mine. “Don’t worry; I’ll be here to help you. You’re lucky to have me by your side,” she said smugly.

Her attitude irked me. She may have meant well, but the way she flaunted her intentions was always prideful and off-putting. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be fine, and I wouldn’t want to break the exam ethics,” I replied, trying to sound gracious.

“Okay, if you say so. Since you want to play the holy boy… But if you change your mind, just give me a sign, and I’ll help right away,” she said, finally backing off. Bliss had told me that those who relied on cheating lacked confidence. “Trust in your abilities,” she’d always said. I was committed to upholding that principle.

The exam began, and the papers were handed out, along with the two-hour time limit. As I looked at my test paper, panic bubbled up. The questions were intimidating, and I felt tears prickling. Is this how my journey ends? I wondered. But then I remembered Bliss’s words that morning: “Start with the questions you know; even one mark counts. And don’t forget your lucky charm.” She had given me a bracelet that morning, insisting it would help me if I felt stuck. Shaking myself out of it, I realized I’d already wasted five minutes. I decided to focus on what I knew first. No matter what, I had to break into the top ten.

Two hours flew by, and the exam ended. We were all dismissed to our classrooms, but I immediately went to find Bliss, only to see her crying. I’d never seen her this way. My heart ached.

“Sam, I couldn’t finish the test…” she choked, breaking into fresh tears. I hated seeing my friends in pain. It was unbearable.

I knelt beside her and gently said, “You know, a wise girl once told me to believe in myself. She said I have the strength to shape my success. Do you know who that wise girl is? You, Bliss. You’ve given me hope—a life worth fighting for. I can’t just stand by and watch you cry.” I felt my tears starting to fall.

To my surprise, she stopped crying and burst out laughing. “Look at you! What, did you think I’d fail that simple test? I was just messing with you!” she said, cheeks still flushed from laughter.

“Oh, so I thought you’d lost it for a moment there,” I admitted, embarrassed. “But you’re kind and caring… Julie is really lucky,” she added with a sigh.

Hearing Julie’s name felt like a punch. I wished I’d never met her; I wished she didn’t exist. Why did she have to haunt every part of my life? I was spiraling in my thoughts when Bliss nudged me. “You’re still holding onto that grudge, aren’t you?” she asked, resting her head on my shoulder.

“Yeah… I still feel hurt whenever I think of her. Everything about our past just… hurts,” I admitted, feeling a weight settle in my chest.

“But she’s changed, Sam. She cares about you. Why not give her a second chance?” Bliss pressed.

I couldn’t understand why Bliss wanted me to go back to Julie. Deep down, I could sense Bliss’s feelings for me, visible in the warmth of her gaze. Or was I wrong? Did she truly love me? I had to know.

“Bliss, do you really love me?” I asked, looking deep into her eyes, holding her close.

She froze, speechless, then quickly pulled away and ran without saying another word. It felt like my world had just fallen apart. What had I done? Had I been too direct? Now, I could only hope she wouldn’t start avoiding me.

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