An adversary, not a friend.

The day of the date had been one of the most memorable days since the start of classes, but nothing prepared me for the rest of the week.

The day after the date...

I had gone out because I wanted to give Ícaro something for the date. I arrived at the door and rang the doorbell, my thoughts completely filling my attention.

Should I have invited him to my house? Does my being here mean I care? Isn't visiting him to give him a gift without warning a bit excessive? I thought.

After some time, Ícaro finally opened the door.

"Oh Maddy, what a surprise, what are you doing here?" he said.

"Sorry for the unexpected visit...it's just...I wanted to thank you for the date..." I said.

My hands were trembling, and I carefully placed a box in his hands. Why? Why was I nervous?

Ícaro smiled, raised an eyebrow, and said:

"A box?"

I nervously looked away, clenching my fists, and said:

"Yes...they're cookies. I should warn you, I'm not the best cook, so don't get your hopes up..."

Ícaro smiled provocatively and said:

"Oh, so you made an effort to prepare them for me?"

I crossed my arms and said dismissively:

"It's a matter of good manners. I interpreted the meeting as a gift and wanted to reciprocate! Nothing more! Simply good manners!"

Ícaro smiled slightly and said:

"Actually, I was going to invite you, Maddy. There's something I'd like to talk to you about." 

At that moment, I became more than anxious. What could the subject be?
We went inside Ícaro's house, and the first thing we did was sit on the sofa.

"Well, about the subject I wanted to talk about...since you're on the student council, you must know Mika Dollyan?" he said.

Mika Dollyan is a student known for being calm and extremely elegant; most of her specialties are physical. She's on the student council with me; she's the representative of the Ruby class. At my school, I.G.D., short for "Institution of Geniuses in Development," each class is named after a gemstone and has its respective representative; in my case, I'm the representative of the Sapphire class. 

"Yes, I know who she is, I've never spoken to her in person, why ask? " I said.

"Well, Mika is kind of my childhood friend...and let's just say she has a little problem..." he said.

I rolled my eyes and arrogantly said:

"And what does her problem have to do with me?"

It might seem mean of me, but lately I've been tired, stressed, and confused. Besides, it might not seem like it, but I was continuing my investigations into Ícaro's dirty secrets.

"Oh, it's just that since you two have problem—" he said.

Before he finished, I interrupted, angrily clenched my fists, and said:

"I DON'T have problems!"

Ícaro smirked and sarcastically muttered:

"Of course, it's obvious you don't have any problems."

I calmed down a little reluctantly and said:

"Tell me what you want!"

"Well, I'd like you to become friends with Mika and help her with her problem" he said. 

I smiled arrogantly and said:

"Ah! I never—...forget it, I do."

Being under threat is a drag... I thought.

Ícaro smiled and said:

"Great, ah! And about the date...I also enjoyed going on a date with you!"

I smiled arrogantly and rolled my eyes and said:

"Also? I never said I enjoyed it!"

I felt a little embarrassed and a little regretful because besides lying to him, I also lied to myself because, even without admitting it, I enjoyed the date a little too much.

I couldn't look at him after saying that.

Was he upset? I thought.

"I think I'll go home..." I said a little hesitantly.

I left and started walking home.

What's wrong with me?! I thought.

Suddenly I stopped; I had forgotten the most important detail. 

I forgot to ask what Mika's problem was! I thought.

I started walking towards Ícaro's house but stopped and gave up. After all, after what I said, it would be shameful and awful of me to go back and ask about that little detail.

The next day...

In class, I was determined to find Mika and make friends, especially after what I had said to Ícaro. I was already losing heart; after almost a whole day, I hadn't found Mika.

In my last class, already bored, I asked my teacher to go to the bathroom. Whatever the answer, I knew the yes was guaranteed. When I left, I walked down the corridors towards the bathroom, but I didn't expect Mika to suddenly appear and bump into me, making me fall to the ground. When I got up, I saw Mika at the bathroom door doing a kind of victory dance. What's wrong with this girl?

I just wanted to go to the bathroom... I thought.

Mika, with a victorious smile and a superior tone, said:

"Ah! I won!"

I know what her problem is... I thought.

Surely that Mika was completely different from the image I had of her.

Mika, with an elegant smile, said:

"Ícaro told me you already know my little secret, so I didn't think it necessary to hide it from you!"

I smiled gently, activating cute mode, and said:

"Ah! Mika... I would be very pleased to be your friend!"

Mika smiled coldly.

Before I could react, Mika pushed me and pinned me against the wall, holding my wrists.

Why this habit of pinning people against the wall?! I thought.

Mika smiled coldly, tightening her grip on my wrists, and said:

"Your friend? No... I'm your opponent! No matter how perfect they say you are in everything... I can surpass you!" 

Mika slowly let go of me and smiled elegantly, and as she left she said:

"I'm going to be your worst nightmare, get ready! You'll have to get used to second place!"

When she left I couldn't help but think:

Why do I attract so many crazy people?!

Even after that I continued to maintain my social mask around her; after all, from my conversation with Mika, she didn't seem to know about my double life, or she hadn't revealed it, or she didn't know, meaning that since I wasn't sure if she knew or not, my agreement with Ícaro remained in place.

It was true, Mika was right, she had turned into a real nightmare. Everything I did became a competition I wasn't willing to participate in: races on the stairs, in the hallway, the cafeteria, and even home—everything was a race, well, at least until the sports festival. Our school has a sports festival whose objective is to encourage us to improve our physical qualities and also develop the habit of competitiveness—that is, the event where Mika would deposit all her energy. 

At the start of the sports festival day, everything was going normally; after all, activities are distributed among classes at the beginning. But as expected, the challenges began in the afternoon, and the classes interacted in the same environment. At school, I was known for having the best time on the obstacle course, but this year I wasn't interested in participating. To my dismay, I didn't have to wait long before I was finally thwarted; the moment I had been waiting for and avoiding had arrived. 

Mika approached me with a smile and elegant posture and said:

"Maddy... I bet someone like you loves collecting victories and filling what we call a resume... so I grant, no, I declare that at this moment I give you the privilege of a race against you on the obstacle course!"

Wow! So self-assured! I thought.

Around me were people doing what they do best: gossiping! After all, it's understandable, no one had ever challenged me to a race on the obstacle course.

What a mischievous girl! She knows I can't refuse in front of so many people, it would damage the social mask I've worked so hard to create! I can't take that risk... I thought.

She knew, Mika could have challenged me privately, but she knew it wouldn't have had as much impact.

I smiled gently and said:

"Of course! It'll be a great race!"

I'm going to give you a beating! You conceited manipulator! I thought.

About five minutes later, we both went to the start of the track.

"You still have a chance to change your mind, Mika..." I said, looking ahead.

Mika glanced at me briefly and said:

"Giving up? That doesn't rhyme with victory!"

When the whistle finally blew, I sprinted ahead.

I was completely certain that this race was in my hands. I may seem conceited, but all my training sessions were on this obstacle course; I knew it like the back of my hand.

Mika was right behind me.

She runs well, I admit... I thought.

I was about to look ahead again, but I glanced back and noticed that Mika was having trouble overcoming the obstacles, so I started to slow down. If I supported my opponent, my saintly image should earn me at least ten points, right? 

I slowed down until I was at the same speed and pace as her and kept up with her.

"Go Mika!" I said with a gentle smile.

Unfortunately, when I jumped over an obstacle right next to Mika, I gave her exactly the opportunity she so desperately wanted. As I jumped over the obstacle, before I could react, Mika pulled my foot, making me fall face-first to the ground.

Obviously, I got up as quickly as I could, but my ankle hurt, the pain was unbearable. Of course, I had to endure it; after all, if I accepted, it was to go all the way, no matter how much Mika cheated. What I don't accept is not standing up to unfair circumstances.

Unfortunately, Mika crossed the finish line before me. She had cheated, cheated! 

Mika is right, she's not my friend, but she also doesn't have the right to even be my adversary. I thought.

The worst thing that happened next was the group of people who surrounded me, looking for a drop of sadness in me. I wasn't sad, I was disappointed.

At the end of the afternoon, as always, I helped tidy everything up and clean. When I finished, I went to the student council room, but I remembered that because it was the sports festival, there wouldn't be a meeting.

Did I forget there's no meeting today? Since when does this happen? I thought.

I remembered I had left my materials and books in my classroom. I started walking down the corridors towards the room, but suddenly Mika knelt down in front of me. 

What on earth is she doing? Did she drop something on the floor? I thought.

Mika clenched her fists as if fighting against her own pride and said:

"Maddy, I'm so, so sorry!"

At that moment, I wanted to yell, I wanted to lecture her and make that moment the worst day of her life, but I didn't because I'm still a prisoner of my social mask.

"Oh! You don't need to apologize!" I said, maintaining my posture and gentle smile.

I bent down a little and extended my hand and with a gentle smile said:

"Go on! Get up!"

"NO." Mika said.

No? What do you mean no?! I thought.

Mika looked directly into my eyes, her hands trembling, and said:

"Maddy! I really need to apologize! I cheated! How could I consider myself your opponent like that?! And you were so good to me! So kind to everyone!"

These compliments are piercing me like knives! I feel so hypocritical... I thought.

"Two years ago I suffered a terrible accident and ended up losing my right leg, I started to feel useless! So I wanted to be the best I could be! To win! To surpass my limits! But I was awful! A horrible person! I know apologies don't erase anything, but please forgive me!" Mika said. 

Wait...she doesn't have a leg?! How is that possible?! I thought.

Noticing my astonishment, Mika carefully pulled down the sock on her right leg, revealing the prosthesis. At that moment, my thoughts were divided between confusion and self-criticism.

I feel blind! My goodness, the poor thing lost half her leg! For someone with a prosthesis, she did very well! I thought.

Mika, with an expression divided between confusion and amusement, smiled slightly and said:

"So you didn't know? I thought everyone knew! Wow, how ignorant you are!"

She was apologizing and now she's saying I'm ignorant? She really has no shame! I thought.

"Well, what matters, Mika, is that I forgive you! Everyone makes mistakes!" I said.

Mika stood up, returning to her elegant posture and smile, and said:

"That's good, but I'll reaffirm that you continue to be my opponent. This wasn't a moment of friendship! Only of mutual respect between opponents!"

I agree, our current relationship is barely working! Friendship would be disastrous! I thought.

"Of course! As you wish!" I said with a gentle smile.

Then I said goodbye to Mika and returned to my initial objective: to get my things and go home. After reaching the living room and putting my things in my suitcase, I was about to open the living room door to leave when I heard voices outside. I recognized one of them; it was Mika's. To identify the other person, I bent down and tried to see behind the keyhole. It was Luara Mitasaski. Luara Mitasaski, the representative of the Amethyst class, known for being independent, stubborn, ignorant, and free-spirited, despite most of the representatives being part of the student council, refused to join. Unfortunately for her, her class has the worst rankings. What were the two of them talking about? Luckily, they were nearby, and I started listening to their conversation:

"Okay, what do you want, Luara?" Mika asked.

"What do I want? I want to help you!" Luara said with a soft laugh.

"Help me? If I know correctly, your class has the worst grades!" Mika said mockingly.

"That's true, my class is in a deplorable state, but yours isn't much better, is it? I heard your class's grades dropped, you were overtaken by the Emerald class, right? Come on! Give me a chance! I promise it will be a good deal!" Luara said.

"Okay, I'm listening! Just say what you have to say!" Mika said a little hesitantly.

Judging by the way Mika talks to Luara, Luara must already know about Mika's little problem... I thought.

"So, as you know, the exams are coming up, and this time they're harder than ever, so I made sure my class would pass. Look, I have the answers to all the versions here! You can trust me! Maddy gave them to me! And you know how she is, right? She's a woman of her word!" Luara said, extending her hand with the papers.

Those papers... I thought.

"What do you want in return?" Mika asked.

"You know, I want the money we need for any penalty..." Luara said, smiling slightly.

"2500, why? If you have the answers, why do you need the money?" Mika said, raising an eyebrow.

"I said for any penalty, the money doesn't necessarily have to be for the test penalty! Come on! Do you accept or not?" Luara said.

I can't let Mika accept, those answers are false, if Mika does badly on the test my agreement with Ícaro could be in trouble... I thought.

Before Mika could answer Luara, I opened the door to the room and stood in front of Mika, my expression was serious, after all this was clearly a trap for me, but even so I couldn't let it go. 

"Mika, don't accept them, the answers are fake" I said.

I knew the answers were fake because a few days ago I negotiated with Luara; it was a simple exchange: I would give her the answers to the next exams in exchange for a sum of money, but why would I help the enemy improve their ranking? It wouldn't be logical.

Luara smiled slightly and said:

"Finally you've appeared, snake! So, our dear, honest, true, and faithful Maddy is actually a treacherous snake! You gave me fake answers!"

"How did you know? How did you know they were fake?" I said.

"I didn't know, so I decided to check!" Luara said.

Luara dropped the papers with the fake answers on the floor in front of me and said:

"Keep them, it seems I won't need them anymore, I want the real answers."

"You know very well I can't give them to you..." I said.

"We'll see!" Luara said.

As Luara walked away to leave, without looking back she said:

"Until our next meeting!"

When she finally walked away, I froze. Mika had heard everything. What would I do? I couldn't keep my mask on around her if she heard this conversation. Since I was somewhat confused and in shock, I left without saying anything.

The next day...

I went to the Student Council room. After all, since I was part of the Student Council and the best candidate for the position of future president of the Student Council, the teachers gave me the task of taking care of the answers to the upcoming exams. I left the answers on the table and went to the bathroom for a short time. When I returned, the answers had disappeared.

The answers? Someone took them... probably Luara! I thought.

During the break, I went to Luara's corner to talk.

"To clarify, I don't like to accuse anyone, so I'll just ask, was it you who stole the exam answers?" I said in a serious tone. 

Luara looked away for a brief moment, smiled, and said:

"Yes and no, stealing is a strong word, don't you think?"

"Yes and no?" I said.

"I didn't literally steal, I hired someone! I don't like getting my hands dirty!" Luara said.

"Give it back, you know I'll be in trouble if the teachers find out I don't have the exam answers." I said.

"Then pay, I want 3500, if you pay I'll give it back." She said.

"I don't think that's very fair, you probably already made copies of the answers, that gives you an advantage." I said.

"Since you cheated me, I think we're even." She said.

"Agreed." I said, sending the money via Pix. 

Luara took her cell phone out of her pocket, glanced at it briefly, and said:

"Yes, I've already received the money..."

Luara handed me the answer sheets, smiled slightly, and said:

"Here, I don't need them anymore."

No need? Then the person who stole it must already be making copies... good! I thought.

I started to walk away with a wide smile on my face; the interesting part of the game had finally begun.

We'll see who smiles last... I thought.