The moment I saw Liam stepping in through the door, my face transformed from excitement to frustration. I had been so sure that I had won, that I had made it back first and would be declared the winner. I had been imagining the look of pride and admiration on the princess's face, and the congratulations from the Boss. But now, with Liam's arrival, everything had changed. It was remaining just a minute for the countdown to be through, but here he was, making his way towards us, looking really tired.
I felt a surge of disappointment and anger. Why had he had to arrive now? Why couldn't he have been just a minute later? I thought to myself. I looked at the clock on the wall, seeing the countdown timer ticking away. It was almost over, and now Liam's arrival had ruined everything. I felt like I had been punched in the gut, all the air knocked out of me.
The moment Liam saw that I was already there, he fell to the floor, probably feeling like he had failed, that he had lost. I could understand how he felt. I had felt the same way just moments before. I had been so sure that I had won, and now it was all being taken away from me. But then I saw the Boss gently walking towards him, probably to go tell him that he hadn't lost, rather it was a stalemate, a draw.
Just the way I never knew the countdown activation, Liam probably didn't know it either. I watched as the Boss shared the information with Liam, giving him the last-minute hope. Liam's face changed from despair to surprise, and then to determination. He looked up at the Boss, his eyes wide with understanding.
Me and the princess were watching the scene unfold before us. "I know you're definitely feeling angry and sad right now," the princess said, her voice soft and gentle. I knew she was referring to me, but her eyes were fixed on the distant Liam and the Boss.
"Yes, I wish he could have been more late, maybe a minute from now," I replied to her, my face looking down at my feet. I couldn't help but feel disappointed. I had been so sure that I had won. I had been imagining the prize, the recognition, the pride. And now it was all being taken away from me.
But then the princess said something that made me look up. "You don't have to be disappointed, Gabriel. Because right now, you've just regained the trust I had in you."
I nodded my head, pretending to be grateful for the princess's trust in me. "Your Highness, I appreciate your kind words," I said, forcing a smile onto my face. But in my mind, I was thinking something entirely different. What use is her trust in me? Can her trust make me the champion of the competition? I thought to myself. I knew that her trust was not going to give me the victory I so desperately wanted. I had been so sure that I had won, and now it was all being taken away from me.
"I understand that you're not pleased with the outcome, Gabriel," the princess said, her voice soft and understanding. "But sometimes, things happen for a reason. Maybe this is an opportunity for you to grow and learn from your experiences. Maybe this is a chance for you to prove yourself in a different way."
I nodded again, still pretending to be grateful. "Yes, Your Highness. I believe you're right. I'm just glad that I can feel relaxed now, knowing that I didn't cheat my way to the top. Liam and I are now on equal footing, and if I happen to win in the end, I know that I truly deserve it. I won't have to worry about Liam accusing me of cheating, or wondering if I really earned my victory."
The princess smiled, seeming to accept my response. "That's the right attitude, Gabriel. And who knows, maybe this is all part of the plan. Maybe you and Liam are meant to be equals, and the true challenge is yet to come. Maybe this is just the beginning of something greater."
I nodded once more, still thinking to myself. But what if I don't want to be equals? What if I want to be the champion, the winner, the best? I thought. But I knew that I couldn't say that out loud, not now, not in front of the princess. I had to keep up the charade, pretend to be grateful and humble.
"Liam and I have been through a lot, Your Highness," I said instead. "We've been pushed to our limits, and we've both come out on top. I think that's what matters most, not who wins or loses, but how we've grown and learned from our experiences. Even though We've never had support each other, or trust each other, or to work together."
The princess nodded, a small smile on her face. "I couldn't agree more, Gabriel. You and Liam have both shown great strength and determination. Whatever the outcome may be, I know that you'll both emerge from this competition as a winner and a loser. You'll both have proven yourselves, and you'll both have earned your place in the history books."
I agreed with her, nodding my head in feigned enthusiasm, trying to hide the feeling of defeat that was growing inside me. "Yes, Your Highness, I couldn't agree more," I said, forcing a smile onto my face. But the princess saw right through me, her piercing gaze seeming to bore into my very soul. She could see the frustration and disappointment that I was trying to hide, and she knew that I was not as pleased with the outcome as I was pretending to be.
"You just can't stop proving me wrong, Gabriel," she said, a small smile playing on her lips. "And I like that. You're very intelligent and smart, but you hide it too well. I'll be watching you, Gabriel, always." Her words were laced with a subtle threat, a reminder that she was always in control, and that I should never forget it.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as she spoke, her words sending a chill through me. I knew that I had to be careful, that I couldn't let my guard down around her. She was a master manipulator, and I couldn't trust her as far as I could throw her. She had a way of getting inside my head, of making me doubt myself, and I couldn't let that happen.
With a bow of my head, I excused myself, trying to escape the princess's piercing gaze. "If you'll excuse me, Your Highness," I said, backing away slowly. "I see that Liam is approaching, and I wouldn't want to intrude on your conversation." I was trying to make a quick exit, to get away from the princess and her suffocating presence.
The princess nodded, her eyes never leaving mine. "Of course, Gabriel. You're free to go. But remember, I'll be watching you." Her words echoed in my mind as I turned and walked away, feeling like I was escaping a trap. I knew that I had to be careful, that I couldn't let the princess get the better of me. I would have to stay one step ahead of her, always.
As I walked away, I could feel the princess's eyes on me, boring into my back. I knew that I would have to be careful, that I couldn't let my guard down. But I was determined to win, to come out on top. I would do whatever it took to succeed, no matter what the cost. I would not let Liam defeat me, not now, not ever.