"Why are we called here?" Penny looked around the room. Anaya was the one to speak but no one replied to her. Lucas sat there leaning on the chair at ease. But his eyes were too sharp for a person enjoying leisure time. Nora was leaning against the railing while Kane was sitting on the sofa with a book in his hands. He did not want to waste time on fools.
Jennifer, the second ranker, was staring at Nora with a curious look. Amber was playing with her phone. Aiden was silent as if he was not even there. While the twins Kelly and Riley were talking to each other as if others did not matter when the door finally opened. The one who had collected them was there to see them.
It was principal Kai followed by a young man in his early thirties. The students stood up at once and greeted the principal. The man eyed all of them from left to right.
"You are the selected students who have cleared the pretest from our school for the annual scholarship competition. As you already know, the second step would be an inter school contest where all the schools or our city would participate. Ten winners would be chosen from the whole state after that.
The winners would fight for nationals and then ten students would be taken at international platforms. Since seven countries are offering admission, many fools believe that only those seven countries would participate. But that is your folly. Since it is an international competition. Any country could participate in it and send their citizens to fight. You all must be prepared all the time. Since you have already won the first round. I am giving you a chance. My friend Gabriel will help you in learning more. He will guide you about the important topics and help you with your classes. It is the chance we are providing you in exchange for results. We have high expectations from you." all of them looked at them with confusion.
They have already believed that the way to announce pretest results was already too grand. But now they have been called here as if they were going to battle for their country!
"Isn’t it just a scholarship exam? Even if we do not get selected through it, we can always give the entrance test of the following university and get admission there?" frowned Jennifer. Many of them have the same question in their heart. Only Penny was calm. She had long since expected this speech. She was staring at Nora instead.
When her eyes met Nora’s, she smiled with a condescending look.
"Not only the written exam. I have heard they would take our interview and perform a medical test on us." she added, earning a strange look from all the students. She was not the only one who knew about it. Nora had been long prepared. In her past life, she had not given the exam but Penny had.
She had reached the nationals with her hard work. But she had failed there. Nora regretted not looking at the question papers seriously. She only remembered a few questions and was surprised to see all of them there.
She might have changed her life from the past but the world was still going in the same direction. Although she did not remember many questions. She still had the benefit of the study she had done to accompany her sister. Thanks to that, she was able to perform so well.
She even knows this man. He was the one who had taught Penny in the past too. Thanks to him, Penny had reached the nationals. If the position of other students were fixed in this life too. Then she had to steal Penny’s position. That would be part of her revenge. She would snatch everything from Penny and give Penny the trash that belonged to her.
"We would be in your care, sir!" Penny was the first to bow her head. Others, either believed or not in the capabilities of the man in front of them, followed suit.
Gabriel looked at the bunch of students with a cold sneer.
"Do you think you have achieved something great by clearing the pretest? Let me inform you, the marks you have gained is still too less than the average of this year’s result. You are just frogs of the well who have no idea how vast the world is. All of you would be eliminated in the next round if you did not give your hundred percent to it. I am here only to guide you. I can not take your place and perform for you.
So those who believe that you do not have the determination to sacrifice everything for this exam, can leave right now." he spat those words coldly as he stared at all of them as if waiting for their reply. But the students keep staring at him without moving an inch. Even if they did not trust him, they would not embarrass themselves in front of their principal.
"Fine! Since all of you are standing there, I believe that you are ready to give whatever it takes. For the start, I am going to take a history test tomorrow. I will not only ask for the course covered by your teacher. But I can ask anything if I seem fit. So be prepared. Those who perform badly in the first test do not expect any kind of help later." he announced in a cold voice and then looked at the principal. When the principal nodded, he did not wait for the reply from the students. He turned and left the room at once.
"Sigh! I know that Gabriel may sound harsh. But he had the ability. His guidance had provided many genius to our country in the past. If you all work hard, he will help you to soar higher!" they all nodded with determination and joy but Nora only looked at Penny! She had to find a way to outshine Penny only then she could change her future.