Chapter 151
Emma intensely disliked losing. Erza's words soothed her immediate frustration. She was determined to excel today; she aimed to investigate Dummy's situation and secure first place.
Fatefully, Emma and Riley were in the same group, the very first to compete. The announcement ignited a commotion. "Oh my god! The two heroines are competing! First place is a given," someone exclaimed. Another student commented, "I feel sorry for whoever loses; it's going to be tough." Speculation swirled: "Who do you think will win?" "I'm guessing Emma; she's always consistent," one student offered. Another countered, "It's hard to say. Riley's been exceptionally fast lately. In the last test, she was only two seconds behind Emma, and she's still improving!" "Two seconds? That's practically a step..."
Unfazed, Emma focused on her commitment to give her best.
Bang! The gunshot signaled the start, and the girls sprinted forward. Emma exploded from the starting blocks in the 100-meter dash, leaving Riley far behind. She was the first to reach the first obstacle and quickly navigated it. The second obstacle was a high wall. Emma leaped, using her toes for purchase, and scaled it with both hands. "Wow! Miss Wilson is amazing! She's so cool!" someone exclaimed. Another student shouted, "Miss Wilson, would you consider having a girlfriend?" The nearby onlookers stared in confusion.
Behind the wall lay a high-plank jump platform. Using one hand for support, Emma effortlessly flipped over, showcasing impressive arm strength.
At this point, Riley began to close the gap. Riley excelled at precise jumps and landings; Emma's agility was her strength. The outcome remained uncertain. "Oh no! Riley's catching up! I'm so nervous!" someone cried. "Emma, come on, come on!" Emma, however, remained remarkably calm.
The trenches favored Riley; the subsequent wooden bridge, ladder, and low pile net were Emma's strengths. They both cleared the trench almost simultaneously. Emma then swiftly bent and shot through the low pile net—a net requiring quick crawling—leaving Riley trailing.
Reaching the turnaround, Emma took the lead, speeding back. She even ran past the 6.56-foot ladder while standing on it! "Damn!! Emma's crazy!" the audience gasped.
Suddenly, Emma slipped. Someone had sabotaged the wooden bridge with fine sand. A collective gasp arose; a fall would mean failure. Emma, with fierce determination, regained her footing. The students screamed, their hearts pounding. "Damn, that's so cool!"
Less than 200 meters from the finish line, Riley had overtaken her. Emma had lost a crucial opportunity. Riley excelled at both high and low walls; Emma fought to catch up.
Approaching the final 100 meters, a childhood memory surfaced. At nine, in the countryside, she’d trained relentlessly for army selection, running until she was bloodied, pushing herself relentlessly through five, then eight miles. Malnourished and underweight, she’d ultimately been disqualified.
On the track, she saw herself, blood-stained under the setting sun, and Justine lying in a coffin. An overwhelming force surged through her. The grief of past failure and anger over Justine's death intertwined. She felt invisible wings unfold.
She wanted to soar; to reach the pinnacle!
"She did it!" The crowd roared as Emma burst through the streamers. She won in 1 minute and 30 seconds, beating even the boys' best time, finishing over 164 feet ahead of Riley.
Exhausted, she caught her breath, turning to see a similarly winded Riley. The short race had been grueling. Finally feeling the exhilaration of Dummy’s memory, she concealed her emotions and left decisively. The second group began.
Emma and Riley were the strongest. Emma broke the record, undeniably the champion among the female students. Erza also broke the male student's record. Lane placed in the women's top ten, and Bob, despite lacking athletic skill, finished fourth among the men.
Erza, as expected, sought out Emma. "Emma, don't be so shameless. Don't you have time for a meal? We both broke records—a perfect match! We should celebrate!" Emma ignored her.
The sabotage during the race fueled her determination to find the culprit and investigate their possible connection to Dummy's death. With it being the holidays, she postponed the investigation, planning to discuss it with Liam.
Erza followed Emma to the school gate. "Emma, we're at the gate. Stop ignoring me!"
At the gate, Emma spotted Liam. A luxury Maybach was parked nearby, and a strikingly handsome man in a black suit stood beside it. Emma smiled, a childlike expression, tiptoeing to Liam and throwing herself into his arms. "Hubby, I miss you so much!" Liam hugged her tightly, kissing her forehead. "Finally got you." He asked gently, "Are you tired?"
"Nope! Seeing you makes me feel like I could run another race," Emma replied. Liam smiled. "You're so sweet. If you're not tired, let's go to dinner?"