The tense atmosphere was almost palpable as students gathered near the bulletin board, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the newly announced results. Among the crowd stood her and Ivan, their rivalry as sharp as ever. Though the corridor was buzzing with chatter, a bubble of silence seemed to envelop the two of them, the weight of their unspoken competition pressing heavily between them.

She stood still, her arms crossed, her eyes scanning the list with laser focus. Her breath hitched when she saw it—her name sitting comfortably in third place. A respectable rank, perhaps, but it was the gap between her and the top spot that sent a sharp pang of frustration through her chest.

Ivan’s name, as expected, gleamed proudly at the very top. His smirk was as infuriating as it was predictable. "Looks like I’m still holding on to that number-one spot," he said, his voice laced with a self-assuredness that made her teeth clench.