First Year Challenger

It’s just past noon. The morning hues are long gone, with the moderate sunshine from the high-in-the-sky sun taking its place. Despite the natural temperature increase, the air still feels slightly crispy and the wind is slightly stronger but still relaxing. Just how I like it. It makes this walk after the introduction all the more refreshing. I’d describe this peaceful walk through this greenery filled walkway as a solid palette cleaner especially when I consider how that event ended.

Despite me using only a few words, I still managed to play up to the crowd’s expectations. That performance was exactly what I needed to perform. Like that weird art tutor said, all of these newcomers are fresh meat. I’ll be getting a great feast from seeing all of these new challengers hype themselves up, thinking they’ll be able to beat me, only to see that there is a reason why I am the top student on campus. Those reactions would be priceless victories that can't be framed on a wall, but I’d still savor that sweet taste in the moment. John Smyth would yet again live up to his reputation of being on top of the academic ladder.
My goal would be maintained.
I have nothing else going for me, so I need to stay successful.
My future only exists through these results.

    “Hey! Smyth!”
A breathless, unfamiliar voice accompanied by rapid footsteps began approaching me on this empty walkway. I did not expect to be challenged straight after the introduction ceremony. However, this still works in my favor. This is what I wanted, after all.
I turned around to see who was calling my name. A woman slightly shorter than myself appeared, gasping for air as she slowed her approach. She wore a suit strangely similar to George’s. Did they get it made from the same tailor? What’s even weirder is that she wore a side ponytail. Her blond hair reached down to her elbows, which seemed a bit excessive to me. Why a side ponytail? In my one year of attending this campus, I have not seen a hairstyle this odd.

While I had questions regarding her appearance firing off in my head, the unknown woman stood there, panting desperately. It was clear that she wanted to get some words out at me, but couldn't.
    “Catch your breath first.”
I waited a few seconds for her breathing to calm down before I asked her the obvious question.
    “How can I help you?”
She straightened up her posture as she regained her composure and faced me head on. She had a fierce look in her eyes, one that wants to prove herself.
    “Do an accounting exam with me.”
    “Sure. I can help you out with it.”
    “No! Don’t do it with me!”
She took a few steps backwards, noticed what she did, then stepped in even closer. Her face went from shocked, to embarrassed, to overwhelmingly determined. Messing with her is a guaranteed way of heightening her resolve.
    “I apologize for not being clear whit my intentions. I am challenging you to an accounting exam against me.”
    “I see. I accept your challenge… Miss…”
    “Alice Bedwyn.”
She shot her name straight out. Her commanding tone takes control of the surrounding air. If she’s that serious about challenging me, then I need to confirm if her pride is on the line.
    “Very well, Miss Bedwyn. First let me ask you something. Why are you challenging me right in this moment?”
    “To gain the reputation of beating John Smyth before the semester even began.”
She stated her intentions clearly. Her words had such willpower behind them that they could cut the air in half if welded as a weapon. You could faintly see the air around her warp in tune with her determination.
I had plans to study at the library, but now those plans have been turned to dust. I can’t possibly turn down a challenger like this, especially since no one this serious tried taking me down in a good while.
That’s what I’m seeking. True challenge.
The tougher the challenger, the greater the victory, the greater my gain.
It’s earlier than expected, but…

It’s showtime.

    “Okay Miss Bedwyn. I accept your challenge.”
Her serious stare briefly turned to one of excitement as she did a little fist-pump towards herself. I’d imagine she’d do a more exaggerated move if she let more of her feelings leak out. That one motion was enough for her to cough loudly and regain her serious posture.

    “Hold it you two!”
A third person with a familiar voice entered the scene running from behind Miss Bedwyn. Of course he had to show up now, of all times. Once he passes her, he comes to a dead stop in-between the two of us.
    “What’s this about a challenge?”
Miss Bedwyn snapped her head into George’s position and fired words at him.
    “I’m challenging the leader of the university, not you.”
    “Haha… not mincing words, are you, Miss Bedwyn?”
    “Of course not, Brillion. I’m not here to challenge you, am I?”
Miss Bedwyn’s words were heavily laced with hostility towards George, almost as if they had encounters like this before. You could see that George took noticeable damage from her words as he kneeled to the ground in response. Nevertheless, he swiftly pushed himself back up and continued.
    “It’s very admirable that you’re already challenging the university's top student academically. However, have you considered Mr Smyth’s opinion on this?”
    “He agreed to the challenge.”
    “Even if he did, he still has his feelings about the matter, no?”
He turned his head towards me, leaned back a little, and began to address me directly.
    “This is a waste of time, isn’t it, John?”
    “I never said that.”
As soon as I finished replying, George spun back around.
    “Let me tell you this, Miss Bedwyn. John Smyth is in a league of his own. You cannot beat him. No one can. Every challenge you propose to him is a waste of time for both parties.
George's tone remains serious throughout his speech. It isn’t matching with Miss Bedwyn’s deathly stare, but that doesn’t matter. It’s not about how serious he is. It’s about the facts, ones I assume he believes in.
George continues in his monotone voice.
    “I am aware of your achievements. Your father does like to boast about his future asset. Most people know who you are, and they know why you are here. So…”
He began walking towards her, signalling that his moment was done. As he walked past the still deathly serious Miss Bedwyn, George spoke his final sentence on the matter.

    “Keep in line. Back off.”

…
Just what was his deal? This snap in his personality felt too great.
Unfortunately, I was unable to decode why he snapped. I had a few ideas, but I couldn't elaborate on any of these thoughts as my attention was diverted to the movement coming from Miss Bedwyn, who was taking out papers from her backpack.
    “Unfortunately for him, I have my pride on the line. Here, take one.”
She handed me one set of exam papers. I took them with confidence.
    “No hesitation. That’s good.”
She commented on my quick update with positivity.
    “So, where can we do this?”
    “I know a place. Follow me.”
I proceeded to guide her into the east wing of the campus, the arts wing. For most of the way there, Miss Bedwyn kept quiet, only butting in with questions about the facilities in the arts wing.

It didn’t take us long to reach that classroom.

    “Wow…”
Miss Bedwyn let some wonder escape from her as she unknowingly commented on the atmosphere of classroom once I opened the door. Old wooden flooring covered the walkable areas while the walls had their plaster falling off in places. The ceiling had a few panels missing and the lights that hung from it were few and unprotected. All of the tables and chairs present had rust forming on all of the metallic parts, while their wooden parts looked just as worn out as the flooring. There was even a green chalkboard at the front of the room with a wooden stand for the tutor up front. The back of the room was filled with chairs and tables of the same condition as the ones on the floor, as if they were abandoned there to make space in other classrooms.

Compared to what she saw this morning, she had to be astonished at the contrast of this room when you compare it to the proper and polished environment of the main buildings. This place reeks of abandonment, rather than enlightened academia.

    “Impressed?”
I turned to her as I asked the question, since a short while has passed since she spoke. Her mouth was wide open, with a pinch of wonder sparkling in her eyes.
    “Well… yes. To be honest, I’m relieved that there’s a part of this university that isn’t polished to perfection. It gives it… more character.”

All of her hostility and determination has been replaced with a genuine curiosity and wonder for this hidden space. I’d even bet on her forgetting why we came here in the first place, with how clearly her guard is down. You’d think that if someone took you to an abandoned classroom far away from any of the main facilities, they’d have bad intentions. No, these elites keep up their guard at all times. There is never a moment in someone else’s company where anyone would let out their true thoughts like this.
Well… if she’s this interested, I can tell her the brief history.
    “This is the first building of the university. As the university grew, well, the management didn’t care to renew it, so it never changed. It even became a small dumping ground, as you can see with all the desks and chairs at the back.”
    “Really? You’d think they would want everything to be a perfect reflection of their own perfection, right?”
    “That’s right, but not even they are perfect, right?”
    “Mhm.”

Another period of silence fills the air of this special classroom. Even I’m feeling different than usual. Why am I having this frank conversation with this person? Is she really a member of the elites? I could not have a conversation like this with George, so why am I having it with a person I’ve never met before?

…
This question doesn’t matter.

    “So.”
I broke the still air, causing Miss Bedwyn to snap out of her trance. She had to brink a few times before she regained her previous composure.
    “Those exam papers. Let’s sit on each side of the room. We get two hours. You ready?”
    “Of course.”
    “No hard feelings afterwards, okay?”
    “Hah. No need.”
Right. Sure.

I had to focus too. I miss-calculated slightly. I didn’t expect my own feelings to be affected by this space. However, this shouldn’t matter anymore. That deathly serious expression returned to Miss Bedwyn’s face as we sat at our respective desk.

Usually when these challenges appear, I'd be fully serious about beating the other person.
This is not the case with this environment. A foreign feeling creeps in, causing the birth of a new idea. This leaves me with a choice.

I face her with everything I have. I will not lose.
Or.
I place a bet. A small but possible risk of losing, and in return it'll solidify my academic standing even harder than a perfect score.

In the heat of the moment, I chose to be a betting man for the first time on this campus.