Bryan POV
The air in the stadium felt heavier as the final round was announced. The sun blazed high, and the crowd's energy was electric. Teachers, students, even guests from other schools were on their feet, cheering and waving flags.
Bryan's team had made it to the finals — something he hadn't expected when Maria first volunteered.
"Alright, Team Four! Who's running this last round?" the coach shouted.
Before anyone could speak, one of the teammates said, "Maria should do it again. She's better than we thought."
The other boy nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, let her run. She surprised everyone last time."
Maria's eyes widened, a small smile tugging at her lips. She hadn't expected to be chosen again, but hearing their voices made her chest tighten with pride. For once, they believed in her.
Bryan looked at her, slightly uneasy. "You sure you can handle it?" he asked, trying to sound indifferent.
Maria turned to him with quiet determination. "Yes. I can."
Bryan didn't argue this time. Something in her voice told him she meant it.
The coach called out the final teams.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is it! The final round! Representing their groups: Freda, Rachel, Maria, and one other student!"
The crowd erupted in wild cheers. Rachel smirked as she walked to the starting line, her long ponytail swaying behind her. Freda laughed under her breath.
Rachel glanced at Maria and sneered. "Let's see how far you'll go, you pig. This time, you'll trip before you even reach halfway."
Freda snorted, joining in. "She can barely breathe when she walks, let alone run."
Maria said nothing. She simply stretched, fixing her eyes on the finish line. Every insult, every cruel word only fueled her determination. She had come too far to back down now.
From the sidelines, Bryan clenched his jaw. He hated the way Rachel spoke to Maria. He told himself it was just irritation—but deep down, it bothered him more than he expected.
The whistle blew.
The runners exploded from the starting line. Rachel shot ahead instantly, her movements sharp and practiced. Freda kept close behind, while Maria trailed slightly at the back, her strides heavy at first.
The crowd began to laugh again.
"Rachel's winning already!"
"Maria's too slow!"
Bryan stood up, eyes glued to the track. "Come on," he muttered under his breath.
By the halfway mark, Rachel was still leading—but Maria had found her rhythm again. Her steps grew faster, her breathing steadier. She remembered the early mornings, the pain, the workouts, the hunger, the tears. This is what I trained for.
Slowly, she began to close the gap. The laughter turned into shocked murmurs.
"She's catching up again!"
"No way!"
Bryan's heart pounded. "She's actually doing it," he whispered.
Maria's legs screamed in pain, but she refused to slow down. Every part of her wanted to give up, but something stronger pushed her forward. She could hear Becky shouting from the sidelines, "Come on, Maria! You've got this!"
With one final burst of strength, Maria sprinted past Freda—then Rachel.
The crowd went wild. Cheers thundered across the field as she crossed the finish line first.
"She did it!"
"Maria won!"
"She actually won the Runner Cup!"
Bryan's mouth fell open. He couldn't believe it. The same girl he once mocked, the one everyone laughed at, had just beaten the school's best runners.
Maria bent forward, panting heavily, her chest heaving with exhaustion—but her face glowed with triumph.
The announcer's voice echoed through the speakers. "And the winners of the 5 Million Naira Runner Cup Award are Team Four!"
The crowd roared. Becky ran to the field, jumping and screaming with joy. Bryan and the others surrounded Maria, clapping and cheering, even the ones who had doubted her. For a moment, Maria felt like she was floating. She had done it. She had proven them all wrong.
Bryan smiled genuinely for the first time, looking at her with pure admiration. "You did it, Maria," he said softly. "You actually did it."
Maria turned toward him, smiling faintly, her vision blurring a little from the sunlight—or was it exhaustion? "I told you… I could."
But before he could say anything else, her smile faded.
Her knees buckled.
"Maria!" Becky screamed, rushing forward.
The crowd gasped as Maria collapsed to the ground. Students screamed. Teachers hurried onto the track. Bryan dropped to his knees beside her, his heart racing in panic.
"Maria! Hey, wake up! Come on, don't do this!" he shouted, gently tapping her cheek.
She didn't move. Her skin was pale, her body limp.
Someone poured cold water over her, but there was no reaction. The noise of the stadium faded into chaos as a group of teachers rushed her onto a stretcher.
Bryan's chest tightened painfully. His hands trembled as he stood there, watching the girl he had once mocked being carried away. For the first time in his life, he felt fear — real, raw fear.
Joe touched his shoulder. "They're taking her to the hospital."
Bryan didn't respond. He just stood there, frozen, the cheers and laughter from moments ago echoing painfully in his ears.
The room was quiet. Too quiet.
A soft, steady beep… beep… beep echoed somewhere close to her ear. The smell of antiseptic filled her nose. Her eyelids felt heavy, her body weak, and her throat painfully dry.
Maria tried to move, but a sharp ache ran through her legs and chest. Slowly, she blinked her eyes open. Bright white light blurred her vision for a moment before everything came into focus — the white ceiling, the IV line in her hand, and the heart monitor beside her bed.
She was in the hospital.
"Maria! You're awake!"
Her mother's voice broke through the stillness, trembling with relief. Mrs. Sarah rushed to her side, tears glistening in her eyes as she held her daughter's hand gently. "Oh, thank God! You scared me so much."
Maria's lips parted, her voice faint. "Mom… what happened?"
Mrs. Sarah sniffled, wiping her cheeks. "You fainted on the track, sweetheart. They said your body couldn't handle the pressure — too much stress, not enough food. You pushed yourself too hard."
Maria's mind began to replay the race — the sound of the crowd, the finish line, Becky's voice shouting her name. And then… everything went dark.
Her throat tightened. "Did… did I win?"
Mrs. Sarah smiled weakly. "Yes, baby. You did. You made everyone so proud."
Maria's heart swelled with emotion. Despite the weakness, she managed a small smile. "I… I told them I could do it."
"You did, sweetheart," Mrs. Sarah whispered, stroking her hair softly. "But promise me, no more starving yourself. Please. You don't have to hurt to prove anything to anyone."
Tears welled in Maria's eyes, but before she could speak, the door creaked open. Becky rushed in, her hair a mess, her face pale with worry.
"Maria!" she cried, hurrying to the bedside. "Oh my God, you scared me half to death!"
Maria let out a small laugh, her voice hoarse. "I guess I gave everyone a show, huh?"
"Don't joke about that," Becky scolded lightly, her eyes misty. "You were out cold, Maria. They poured cold water, shouted your name—you didn't move! I thought I lost you."
Maria's chest ached, but not from pain — from the warmth of knowing suomeone cared that much. She reached for Becky's hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you."
Becky squeezed her hand tightly. "Just promise me you'll take care of yourself from now on, okay? No more skipping meals, no more overdoing it. You're already enough."
Maria nodded weakly. "I promise."
Just then, the door opened again. Footsteps echoed softly. Maria turned her head—and froze.
Bryan stood there.
His uniform was slightly wrinkled, his expression unreadable. He walked in slowly, holding a small bag of fruit juice and bottled water. His usual smirk was gone; instead, his eyes held something else—guilt, maybe even regret.
Becky stepped aside, crossing her arms and watching him carefully.
Bryan cleared his throat awkwardly. "Uh… hey."
Maria blinked. For a moment, she wondered if she was dreaming. Bryan Benson—the most popular boy in school, the same one who called her names and laughed at her pain—was standing beside her hospital bed.
"I, uh… brought this," he said, placing the bag on the side table. "You probably can't eat much, but… juice helps."
Mrs. Sarah gave him a polite nod. "Thank you, Bryan." She quietly stepped out with Becky, giving them space.
For a few seconds, silence filled the room. Bryan rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable.
Maria broke the silence first. "You don't have to pretend to care. I'm fine."
He sighed and sat down in the chair beside her bed. "I'm not pretending."
Maria frowned. "Then why are you here?"
He hesitated, looking at his hands. "Because… I feel like a jerk. You proved me wrong out there. Everyone thought you'd fail—including me. But you didn't."
Maria's lips parted in surprise. She had never expected to hear that from him.
"I thought you'd give up after a few steps," he continued quietly. "But you ran like your life depended on it. You made me shut up for once."
Despite her weakness, a small smile crept onto her face. "That's… probably the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
Bryan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Don't get used to it."
Maria laughed faintly, wincing at the soreness in her chest. "I still can't believe you're here."
He looked at her, his gaze softening. "You almost scared me to death when you collapsed, you know."
She raised an eyebrow. "Scared you?"
"Yeah," he said quietly. "I didn't think seeing you fall like that would hit me so hard. I guess I just…" He trailed off, looking away. "I guess I was wrong about a lot of things."
Maria felt her heart skip. For a moment, the room was quiet again—just the steady beep of the monitor and the faint hum of the air conditioner.
She whispered, "Thank you… for coming."
He nodded. "Yeah… just don't ever do that again, okay? You win, I get humbled, and then you faint? That's too much drama for one day."
Maria laughed softly, tears glimmering in her eyes. "No promises."
Bryan smiled faintly. For the first time, he didn't see Maria as the girl everyone mocked. He saw her as strong, brave, and real.