The school courtyard buzzed with anticipation as students gathered around the notice board where the final exam results were about to be posted. The large corkboard, mounted just outside the staffroom, was surrounded by a growing crowd of students jostling for a closer look.

You stood at the edge of the crowd, your arms crossed tightly over your chest, watching the scene unfold. Nearby, groups of friends whispered anxiously, their faces alternating between hope and dread. Some craned their necks, trying to get a glimpse of the results before the board was cleared for viewing.

The sound of footsteps on gravel grew louder as the school clerk approached with the list. A hush fell over the crowd as she pinned the official grades sheet to the board, smoothing it down before stepping back. In an instant, the crowd surged forward, a wave of students clamoring for a clear view.

Your heart pounded as you wove your way through the throng, finally managing to find a spot near the front. Scanning the list, your eyes darted past the other names until they landed on the top rankings. And there it was: Ivan’s name in bold letters at the top, "First Place."

Your breath hitched, and you felt a familiar pang in your chest. Right beneath it, your own name stood proudly as "Second Place," but it might as well have been written in invisible ink for all the weight it carried in that moment.

Behind you, someone let out a loud cheer—probably one of Ivan’s friends. Turning slightly, you caught sight of him standing at the edge of the crowd, arms casually folded, a triumphant grin plastered across his face. He wasn’t even looking at the board anymore; he knew exactly where his name would be.

Finally, he approached, weaving through the crowd until he was standing right next to you. He tilted his head toward the board, then glanced at you, his grin widening.

“First again,” he said smoothly, his voice loud enough to draw a few curious glances from nearby students. “Guess second place suits you, doesn’t it?”