Actually...

Actually...this article is the continuation of this story: As Usual... You might want to read that first for this one to make sense, otherwise, you will be like reading a climax without knowing the context of the story. That's a fun way to read too, I don't judge but I recommend that you read the first part before this. I swear, it's just a short composition.

The nerves came back and they were stronger than before. I was just too nervous about the results. They explained the criteria for judging for each category and after some brief speeches from the judges, they started to announce the winning pieces.

As they announced that they will begin to call on the winners, I felt my hands get a bit colder and the shaking became more violent. I don't know why I was so nervous. I was used to joining quizzes and contests among schools but it was the first time that I was that nervous.

It may have been because of the fact that somehow at that moment, I really cared about the results. I used to join those events just for fun and just to take up the challenge so I didn't really care whether I win or lose. I was just happy to be part of those events and I take the things I learn from them as a big bonus.

But then again, it may have something to do with the desire to grab that bragging rights and to show off to my newfound friend that I could "break" the usual happening and have a win myself.

And then they proceeded to announce the winners. They started with the news articles. It was the third placer's turn. They read the title and then the name of the student who wrote it. And as they said the student's name, a part of the auditorium erupted in cheers and celebration. The same thing happened when they announced the second placer and the celebrations and cheers went wilder when it was the first placer's turn to be announced.

They went on just like that as they went through each and every category. As they go through the results, I realized that what Rizzie said was really the case. Most of the awards went to St. Vincent's school. They must really be doing something right over there, that's what I thought.

And then, at last, the category that I was excited about was going to be announced. I didn't know that it was possible but I swear that my hands shook even more violently than before. It was then when I saw her smiling from way across the room that everything seemed to calm down for me. I smiled back at her and we both waited for the announcements.

They read the title of the third placer for the feature category.

And it was not mine. They proceeded to read the article and it was really good. It was a really good article. It made me recall what I wrote on mine. I started to doubt if I gave justice to it or did I even make it worth the while of the judge. What did I even write again?

I'm sure it was about basketball, some sort of fictional match between the greatest names in the game that I know of back then. But what was the title I gave it? What was it again?

They read the title of the second placer and then the name of the author. Again, cheers and celebration filled the room as they acknowledge the student who won. Great win.

Why can't I remember the title of my article? What was happening to me? It was all a blur.

And then it was the turn of the first placer.

"Actually... I'd like to read this article aloud." said the announcer.

Silence took over the whole crowd and we intently listened to the announcer reading the winning article aloud.

"Shoot! Shoot! The crowd went wild as Michael Jordan threw the first shot from the free-throw line against the blinding lights of the cameras all over the arena..."

I listened closely to each and every word and they all sound familiar to me.

After the first 2 paragraphs of the article were read, the announcer finished it as she invited everyone to applause.

"Actually... the article does not have a title and the name of the author isn't written anywhere," she said as she flipped the paper to face the audience.

Laughter erupted and I was so embarrassed about it. I know who that article belongs to, I know who wrote that piece.

"Who wrote this? Can you stand?"

I looked around me for a bit and when no one else stood up, I slowly got up while raising my hand.

"I guess you were so absorbed in writing right away and forgot to put even your name on it huh?" the announcer teased me and I scratched the back of my head in an attempt to hide my embarrassment.

I looked over to Rizzie and she was smiling while applauding my win. I nodded softly towards her.

And it was really a great end to the day. At the end of it all, I didn't even care who was the grand winner because as usual, it was the same, and I don't even care. I am a winner. And I have a new friend.

We kept in touch from then on until she had to marry. And she was my very first text mate too. As it turned out, she was the nephew of my teacher so she knew exactly about me from the very first time.

And it's actually a great friendship.

Hi there!!!

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Series    : Random Articles
Title     : Actually...
Published : 06-Jan-2022
Author :  © RB