The notice board was surrounded before sunrise.
Students pushed and peered, hearts pounding, fingers crossed. The tension in the air was louder than any school bell.
It was Results Day.
I didn't rush.
I sat on my bed for a long time that morning, staring at the ceiling, unsure of what I wanted more — to pass, or to prove to myself that all the changes I'd made weren't for nothing.
Tope knocked gently on my door.
"You're not going to check?" she asked.
I looked at her. Calm, as always. Brave, even in uncertainty.
"I'm scared," I admitted.
She smiled and took my hand. "That's what makes it worth it."
We walked together to the board. My hands trembled as I scanned the list. And then, there it was.
My name.
Not just once — but right there on the Top 10 list.
I froze.
I read it again.
I had passed — and not just barely. I had excelled.
Tope squealed and hugged me tightly. "You did it!"
I pulled away, stunned. "We… we both did."
She grinned. "Hard work never lies."
Just as we celebrated, a teacher walked by, holding a white envelope with two gold seals.
"The competition winners will be announced during Friday's assembly," she said.
And just like that, another wave of anxiety rolled in.
Because passing the exam was one thing.
But being one of the two chosen winners?
That was a whole other level.
But for now, I smiled.
Because I had earned my spot.
And whether I won or not… I was no longer the same person who once failed to answer a simple physics question.