Chapter 11

Marcel's POV

As I was cooking the quesadillas in the kitchen, it seemed like Gemma and Tiana were slowly getting along with each other-- which made me glad. It's great to know that your sister likes your crush.

Yes, Tiana's my crush. Not that long though, just recently. It all started when we teamed up at the academic decathlon in Mathematics last semester competing with the brainiacs in other schools here in London.

-Flashback-

Tiana and I were listed as one of the students to participate in the academic decathlon in Mathematics last semester. 2 out of 5 members in the decathlon, including me and Tiana, backed out since one of them is also going to participate at the school's football championship and the other one's participating in the Science quiz bee in another school. So basically, the school's winning streak at the academic decathlon depended on Tiana, Clint-- our other member and me.

We tossed a coin to know who would answer the questions twice in behalf of our other team members. In the end, Tiana and I were to answer twice individually while Clint would answer the third equation which was to be answered.

Tiana was the first one to answer. She and her competitor  was to answer an equation about the Probability of E Occurring which luckily she got correct first which gained us one point and the other team, zero.

I was the second one to answer. I must admit, I was really, really nervous that time especially when I knew that my competitor was one of the students I last competed with which were undoubtedly really smart but Tiana just comforted me by shaking my shoulders.

"Shake things off! You can do it!" She said before I stepped forward for the next round.

The buzzer buzzed which signaled us to start answering and luckily I was to answer a problem using the Pythagorean theorem which I was somehow good at. It took us a while before one of us stopped the timer and got the correct answer which gained our team another point. Yeah, that was me.

Clint was the third one to answer a problem dealing with slopes. He was answering undoubtedly well but unfortunately, the other team got it first which gained them one point.

So now it's 2-1.

Tiana answered the fourth one about the equation of the sphere which was one of the hardest lessons we've had so far. She and her competitor were answering it for more than 15 minutes now until the other team stopped the timer and again gained another point.

We're on 2-2 now.

"And now, for the final equation, we have Marcel Styles from team one and Thomas James from team two," the MC said as we both stepped forward for the last round-- which is the tie breaker-- and which is such a pressure since the school's winning streak's depending on you.

I feel like vomiting.

But no, I can't do that.

"Okay, so open the paper which holds the problem for the last equation to be solved and timer-- starts-- now," he said as we both hurriedly to the white board.

When I read the problem, I panicked. It was about the Distance Formula in 3D which I knew less about.

I swore I read something about that. I know that I know the answer and the equation but I just forgot the formula.

"SqRt{(x[1]-x[2])^2+(y[1]-y[2])^2+..." I wrote but paused to think.

I swear there's something missing.

It took me a few moments to think and stare blankly at the whiteboard, hearing nothing but my own heartbeat until--

"Z on one minus Z on two squared!"

When I turned around, I saw Tiana half-whispering the continuation of the formula which hit me and answered the problem continuously.

  "SqRt{(x[1]-x[2])^2+(y[1]-y[2])^2+(z[1]-z[2])^2} ..."

10 minutes... 20 minutes...

STOP.

I finally stopped the timer as the MC opened his card with all the answers as Thomas, my competitor stopped writing. Then, finally...

"YES!!" We shouted as the MC pointed at us which means we won the competition.

"OH MY GOD YOU DID IT!!" Tiana exclaimed hugging me tightly in excitement.

"Thanks to you," I said as I hugged her back.

"We did it," she said smiling and pulled away to hug Clint.

So, yeah, we shook hands with our competitors and got extra extra credits for it.

-End of Flashback-

So yeah, after that, I started to have a crush on her and it slowly got bigger whenever she stands up for me. I'm glad she likes my new look though and I guess I'd have a chance with her if I keep it. I just like her-- so much.

"Marcel! Mum's here!" Gemma called out, going out to meet our mum outside as I finally finished cooking and placed it on the plate.

"Coming!" I said and placed the platter of quesadillas on the table.

When I went to the living room, there I saw Tiana standing near the front door waiting for my mum who was outside parking her car, to get inside.

She was playing with her hands while biting her lower lip. Is she looking nervous?

"Hey," I said approaching her "You okay?" I added as she breathed.

"Yeah, I guess I'm just a little nervous," she said as I held her shoulders and shook them.

"Heyy, shake things off! There's no need to be nervous, my mum's great, you'll see," I said as she smiled and blushed after I quoted what she said to me during the decathlon.

"Tiana?" Gemma said at the front door "This is our mum Anne, mum, this is Tiana. Marcel's--"

"Oh, hello, great to finally meet you!" Mum said as Tiana gave her a very warm smile and shook her hand. "I've heard so much about you," Mum added as Tiana raised her eyebrows.

"Really?" she said.

"Certainly! I remember the time when--" Mum started as I immediately went to Gemma and nudged her elbow signaling her to stop mum from saying something.

"Uh-Uhm, gosh, I'm hungry! Let's go eat! Marcel cooked quesadillas!" Gemma said as mum grinned at me and nodded.

"Okay, let's eat!" Mum said. 

I felt great relief as we all sat down on the dining table. Mum sat on the center-edge of the table while I sat beside her and Tiana beside me and Gemma in front of me.

When mum and Gemma took a first bite on the quesadillas, their eyes widened.

"What?" I said a little worried as Gemma looked at Tiana, signaling her to take a bite which Tiana did.

"Whoa," she said which made me even more worried thinking that my cooking was awful.

"Why? Is it too salty? Or too cheesy? Don't tell me you're lactose intolerant--" I stuttered, panicking as they all laughed.

"It's perfect," Tiana said smiling at me which calmed me down.

"Yeah, I mean where did you learn making this, honey?" Mum said, taking another bite.

"It is definitely better than that tuna thing." Gemma said as Tiana laughed which made me blush in flattery.

I'm just really glad they liked it. Especially Tiana.

While we were eating, mum started a conversation with Tiana.

"So, darling, I've heard you're running as the school salutatorian?" she said as Tiana smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Ma'am, but I really do want to catch up with Marcel as the batch valedictorian which is a bit hard to do though since your son is like, one of the most brilliant people I know," she said as I stopped chewing when Gemma and Mum turned and looked at me.

"Wow, you guys would really make a great pair," Mum said as Tiana smiled which made me slap my forehead slightly.

"Yeah, like two good-looking geniuses like you would make a great couple!" Gemma exclaimed as kicked her foot under the table which made her wince as Tiana chuckled.

"Thanks, Ma'am," Tiana said smiling "But I don't know... I think Marcel's too good for me." she added, blushing while looking down on her plate.

"What? Nooo," Mum said as she pointed her fork towards me "But darling, you like her, right?" she said which made my eyes widen.

Mum stared at me with wide eyes too realizing what she said as I fell dead silent as Tiana looked at me.

"Yeah! Tiana, you like him, don't you?" Gemma said, adding up the fire.

Nice work Gem. Best sister ever.

I don't really know what to feel. I feel so embarrassed and nervous and shy and tensed. I can't even look at her right now but when I did, I actually saw her smile while looking down and slightly biting her lip as she started to talk.

"Maybe," she said "But I think it'll just take a little while," she added, looking at me straight in the eye while smiling.

What did I just hear??

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