2nd Place

"Congratulations! The 2nd place is.. Albert Wilson! Give an applause for him! "

The crowds clapped and cheered for Albert. However, does anyone know how he actually felt?

As Albert received the trophy he got from a science competition, he saw the person next to him that got 1st place.

Full of jealousy, his eyes were twitching. His heart full of anger to that person. But that person was his childhood friend as well as close friend, how could he be angry at him?

"Now, for the best. The first place In the National Science Competition is... Liam Carter! Give a big applause for him! "

The crowds were cheering on him, as if he was a celebrity. A music was played because of this.

Albert watches Liam gets his 1st place trophy. Liam seemed normal, not happy or sad because he always gets 1st place.

As time passed by, they all went off the stage. Liam hugged Albert from behind.

"Ey! You got second place again!" He smiled at Albert.

Albert forced his smile and said "And you got first again, how lucky. ". Liam laughed and replied " I'm bored of getting first now.. I rarely got second and third place. "

Albert faked laughed and excuse him self to go to the restroom.

"God damnit! Why?! Why is he always first?!" He said while slamming the sink.

Suddenly, someone came in to the restroom. It turns out it was the person who got 3rd place.

"Oh hey, how are you when you got second place? " said the person.

Albert quickly change his face expression.

"It's okay, but firstly, who are you? ".

"Oh sorry for late introduction. I'm Oliver. " said Oliver while offering a handshake.

Albert shaked his hand and when out of the restroom.

•••••

After the competition was over, Albert packed up his things to go back to his apartment.

At his apartment, his phone suddenly vibrate. It was his mom that texted him an hour ago.

He looked at his phone and opens the message.

-Mom ' Hey Bert, how did you do in the National Science Competition? '

Albert reads the message and replied.

' It was good, I didn't win again but I got 2nd.'

-Mom ' Again? You rarely get 1st place. Did Liam get 1st again? '

' Yes. He did. '

-Mom ' Amazing! You should be like Liam, Bert! He always gets 1st every time he's competing with you! ------'

Albert red half of the message only and turned off his phone. He took a deep breath and sat down on his desk.

His eyes seems empty as he thought.

*Why am always second?! Am I not enough to beat Liam and be first? Am I not good enough? *

•Ding! •

Albert looked at the phone and saw an invitation from an unknown email. He opens the email and reads it.

'To= Albert Wilson '

---------------------------------------------------------

Hello Albert, we saw your last competition just now and we would like to invite you to a competition that we held called World Intellect Competition (WIC).

This competition is invites only, you're lucky that we chose you!

We saw your miserable face when you got 2nd place again, and we wanted to help you by creating this opportunity for you.

If you would like to accept this invitation, please click this link:

WorldIntellectComp.com

After you click this link, please enter your number which is: 467

And also enter your full name.

If your done, you will able to see othe participants there. An announcement will only be shown after you registered it.

' -Thank you. '

*Huh, what's this? An invitation? *

•Ding! •

-Liam ' Hey Albert. Did you get this invitation? *screenshot* '

Albert was shock to see that Liam did also get the invitation. However, when he red it, he noticed that there was a sentence that goes like.. 'We invited your friend, Albert too.'.

Albert replied Liam.

'Yeah, I did. Do you wanna accept it? '

- Liam ' So it wasn't lying! If you accept, then I'll surely accept too! '

Albert knew that he was going to say that since he's always been like that.

'Yeah, I think I might accept it. What number did you get? '

-Liam ' I got 462, you? '

'467. '

- Liam ' Wow, our numbers are close. Anyways, when are you gonna register? '

' Rigth now. '

-Liam ' Okay, I'll register tomorrow. I'm going bed. Bye. '

-Liam Offline-

Albert clicked the link from the invitation then enters the number and his name.

He starts looking at the participants, scrolling for an hour.

*It seems that many smart people joined. Oh rigth, the announcement. *

Albert opens the announcement and it was unexpected.

-On July 4th, 12.15, you will have to go to *location* and you will meet some bus there. Pack your things because you guys will move to another place.

Countdown: 1 days-17 hours -

*... A countdown..? *

-to be continued