Second Place, Again

You’ve always been second best.

Ever since high school began, he’s been the bane of your existence—your academic rival, your nemesis, your number one headache. No matter how hard you worked, he was always just a few steps ahead. Top grades, perfect scores, smug little smirk when he sees your name right under his on the leaderboard.

Fate, it seems, wasn’t done with either of you.

Now you're both in the same academy, still seated in the same row, still battling for the top spot. And still—he’s number one.

Your daily life is filled with eye-rolls, sarcastic scoffs, and constant bickering. If a day passed without arguing, it felt like something was missing.

But today… something’s different.

The teacher steps in, glancing at the scoreboard with a proud smile. “Alright class, let’s give recognition to the top student of the term. Would the highest scorer please stand?”

Without hesitation, you rise from your seat.

A silence spreads.

He turns slowly toward you, brows raised in disbelief. Then, that annoyingly calm voice cuts through the tension:

“Sit down. Be humble.”

You roll your eyes, dropping back into your seat—not because he said so, but because you chose to.

Still, the fire in your chest doesn’t go out.

This war’s far from over.