17 First Day

The competitions held by Q.A.E.S is a  three  days event. On first day, we have cultural, essay writing, elocution  competitions, on the second day we have sports competitions, students of all the twenty schools which are under the management  of Q.A.E.S( Q Archdiocese of Educational Society ) Participate in the competitions. And on the third day we have prize distribution for the winners .

Few days ago my teacher gave us  three topics for the Competition. Last time when I gave my speech I wasn't satisfied. So, I've been preparing for my speech day and night as I wanted to give my best in front of people especially Austin.

Finally the day has come. Even though I was prepared I was nervous. I stood in front of the mirror and practised before going to school and then after coming to school I practised once again in front of Rachel.

Different competitions are  held in different schools. We have sports competition  in my school, which is tomorrow.

Along with the students who were participating in  essay writing competition, we five students were taken to another school along with our English teacher and few other teachers in our school bus. All the girls sat in the  front seats. I sat beside Veronica and Austin sat in the last row as all the boys were sitting at the back. We started around eight in the morning and reached by eleven.

As soon as we got down from the bus ,an old man around his late fifties came and took us to a room where other school students were present. There were more than a hundred students in that room. He told us to take our seats and before leaving he  told our teachers that the competition would start by thirty past eleven in the morning.

The Competition began sharp at thirty past eleven  After sometime, my teacher  informed me that the next speech was mine.

I started to get nervous. Veronica was sitting beside me. She was talking something and I wasn't in mood to talk to her .

"What are your plans this weekend ?" Austin asked me.

I tilted my head and looked at him. I was so nervous  that I didn't even look who was sitting beside me until he spoke. And I didn't understand why he asked about my plans.

I shook my head and said that I had no plans.

"Then what are you going to do at home ?" he asked me. Why did he ask me? I have no idea.

"I might just sleep or watch movies?" my answer came out as if I was questioning myself.

"That's it ? what about  hobbies ?" he asked.

"I do, I have a habit of writing  things which are happening or took place in my life and I love sketching .... I mean, I  design dresses  whenever I'm free," I replied.

I don't even want to imagine Austin reading my personal diary, I might have to bury myself if at all he looks at my diary but I know that there was no way he would read it.

Even though it was a normal conversation, I wasn't nervous anymore to have conversations with him, I even forgot that I had to give a speech in few minutes.

I was called by my teacher. I looked at my teacher and then at Austin.

As I was on my feet, my heart dropped a beat.

"Don't stress yourself and loose your confidence. You will do well,  trust me," he whispered into my ear. I held my breath when he whispered into my ear, I could only give a smile  before I strode towards my teacher. I didn't know why but I wasn't nervous.

I was called to give my speech. They gave me the mic to hold and told me to start. I paused for few seconds, I was blank. But when I saw Austin's face I don't know how but I was able to give my speech confidently. I was satisfied with the  speech I gave.

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The fifteen year old Jessica didn't understand why he asked her  about her  hobbies and about her  plans at that time. But now when she was reading she understood why he asked her.

She was able to give her  speech confidently because he  tried to divert her  so that she would stop being nervous and be confident while giving the  speech. Jessica had a smile on her face when she recollected that moment with him.