The school's main hall buzzed with energy—students, teachers, and guests all crowded around sleek tables showcasing the year's most ambitious projects. Cameras flashed, parents clapped politely, and the smell of fresh varnish from the newly polished floor lingered in the air.
Riven stood beside their booth, forcing a smile for the judges. Their robot—the culmination of months of sleepless nights—moved flawlessly, performing its pre-programmed tasks with precision. He should have been proud.
But he couldn't stop scanning the crowd for him.
Eli appeared at last, weaving through the sea of people. His hair was slightly tousled, his shirt sleeves rolled to the elbows. Riven noticed the faint smudge of grease on his wrist—a sign he'd been working up until the last second. But Eli's eyes avoided him, focusing instead on adjusting the robot's calibration.
"You weren't here for the opening," Riven said quietly, keeping his tone neutral for the sake of the onlookers.
"Had to fix the power drive," Eli replied without looking at him.
"That could've waited," Riven said, his voice tight.
Eli finally met his gaze, his own expression strained. "Not if I wanted it to work when it mattered."
The words hit harder than they should have. Around them, the audience applauded as the robot completed its final task. But Riven barely registered the sound—his chest was a mix of pride and frustration.
Then it happened. One of the local journalists approached with a microphone, grinning.
"Fantastic teamwork, boys! Can I get a quick interview? Everyone online is talking about you two—especially after that photo went viral yesterday. How does it feel to be… well, the most talked-about duo in the competition?"
The question was like a spark in a room full of gasoline.
Riven's smile faltered. Eli's jaw tightened. For a moment, neither spoke. Then Eli said, "We're just here for the project. That's all."
Something in Riven snapped. He forced a laugh, but his words came out sharper than intended. "Yeah, because the project's all that matters, right?"
The crowd went awkwardly quiet. The journalist glanced between them, sensing the tension, but Riven had already stepped away from the booth, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.
Eli didn't follow.