The big awaited moment Ilinca wished to come faster and faster, was actually here, the fencing championship for the country title. This championship was really important for her because she was competitive as nature just like her family; maybe that’s from where she took the competitive stage, and it was also important because she wanted to go on towards the nationals for the next stage in fencing. Lots of parents with their sons and daughters were there, or friends that had come to watch their friends do their best in the competition. The crowds were full with talking people, waiting for the matches to start, only very few sets were empty but that was because they were probably just being late.

In the middle of the two tribunes filled with people, there was an empty space where the contests would battle.

In the hall that was connecting the main place of battle and the two lockers, the one for the boys and the one for the girls, there were most of the contestants talking, chilling, and Ilinca was playing chess with one of the contestants, a boy two years older than her with spiky and blonde hair.

“When did you start playing?”

Asked the boy, pretty curious about how Ilinca is moving the pieces.

“I played a few times, two years ago, but it didn’t really spark any interest for me, I just play from time to time, you know? On occasion.

“Really? You’re playing better than some of my friends that play this game way more often than you do”

“No way, haha”

They both chuckled, and while that was happening, Ilinca blocked the boy’s King with her Queen and Knight.

“I’ll be damned, that was a good one… sorry, what was your name?”

“I’m Ilinca”

And she forwarded her hand a little bit lower towards the boy for a greeting handshake.

“I’m Eli, nice to meet you Ilinca”

And he gave out a slight smirk, starting into her eyes, while accepting the handshake.

The match for the country title was about to begin, and everyone from the hall, gathered right outside the hall’s exit, to watch the match together, all sat down or standing up, however they wished.

“THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING TODAY, PARENTS, BROTHERS, SISTERS—”
Started the principal of the school, doing the start of the announcement for the competition

Ilinca was standing up right near Eli who had his arms crossed around his body.

“Look at mr.Romroad, do you see the recoil in his long mustache when he starts talking?”

“Yeaaah!”
Slightly chuckled Ilinca, followed by a laugh

Eli laughed as well

“It’s like it’s own entity, like a small pet”

“A hairy pet”

They both laughed loud until they were stopped by the elbow bump of another contestant, a boy, who showed them with the gesture of his finger, for them to stop talking

But the two did not care and continued whispering, looking and pointing at the old man principal naming all the contestants in age order.

The fencing competition started with two boys of the same age, maybe twins because they looked alike but both talented. It progressively got more and more interesting because they put the first ones with the lowest rank score, and they worked their way up

Unfortunately, in the last rounds, Ilinca didn’t make her way up to the final fight, but she got third place, which is also very good.

Ilinca looked at her two friends that went home with her when they had training, and was totally amazed at their speed, their movements they had.

In the end, Ilinca went on the podium with the other two, which she hugged and took a picture with them. Afterwards, Ilinca went out with the two, who called her out at a museum where they talked and saw a lot of art.

They took a bus at the museum and they entered.

“I got it, Ilinca, don’t worry about it”

“It’s alright, I got it”

Barged in Eli with the choice of words, using his credit card to pay for the tickets.s

“I’ll pay that back”

Said Ilinca, with a serious expression

“You can pay me back with a dinner next week”
He smiled, seeing Ilinca charmed a little bit by his choice of words but she tried to not show it too much.

Inside the museum, they saw all kinds of obnoxious portraits that they pictured, and pictured themselves in selfies recreating the same facial expressions, amusing themselves with them before and after they saw the final results.

Long minutes later, the two were sitting down on a bench. Eli was drinking from a bottle of water and Ilinca was taking bites from an ice cream standing on top of an edible cone.

“Oh what—”

He was shocked

Ilinca stopped from eating her ice cream

“Your teeth, doesn’t it hurt?”
Asked Eli, pointing at his pure-white teeth, barely opening his mouth

“I don’t know, I just feel like taking bites, hahah!”

Eli took out a slight chuckle

“So, what are you doing this summer?”

“You know, I was asked this very question”

“I mean (nods), there is no problem in that”

”To Be honest, I don’t really know, because I have all these things to do. Me and my family we’ll go in a lot of vacations, you know, a lot of work and stuff”

But Eli did not realise how much Ilinca was lying. Even she knew that she was to spend a lot of time in the summer trying to find out what to actually do with her free time.

“That’s neat, neat”

He smirked, staring into her eyes

Ilinca stared back

They were very very close to each other, where the edge of their bodies would touch.

Eli lowered his eyes and his neck to get towards Ilinca’s level, and when he was about to kiss her, Ilinca moved, sparking a shock in Eli’s mind, where he didn’t understand if he should have made the gesture or not.

“I’m sorry”

Whispered Ilinca, before taking her purse and leaving the bench, hurrying towards the exit.

“Wait, Ilinca, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…”

Exclaimed Eli, trying to call Ilinca back, but when he realised that he could be the one at fault, he got angry and annoyed at himself

“Eli, you dumb stupid son of a bi—”

At home, Ilinca was staring at the wall, with the same plushie from before between her arms, hugging it tight.

Suddenly, her mom comes inside the room

“Mom…”

“Sweetie, aren’t you sleeping? It’s late”

“Am I a bad person for leaving Eli at the museum?”

“What? Oh no, no, no, sweetie, you just did what you thought was right to do. No one can tell you what to do… you just feared a relationship with him and you just wanted to be friends with him… is my guess, correct me if I’m wrong”

“Wow, that was actually on point, mom”

Continued Ilinca slightly confused

“What can I say, I know my daughter that lived with me for fifteen years. But now go to sleep, alright, tomorrow you got another school day”

“Got that”

She closed the door and Ilinca, now feeling a slight comfort, within a few minutes, she fell into a deep sleep, imagining the burden of her shoulders to be lifted for a little bit.