Believe - Episode 15

Hidden Intentions

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“Audience, what do you think?” the quiz master began, after the first round ended. “It’s been an interesting and amazing first round.” He faced the contestants.

The first round had just ended and the quiz master is yet to call the scores for that round.

He smiled before he continued, “I would have loved to see all of your faces in the semifinals but that’s not just possible.”

The contestants looked at one another and wandered which three among them won’t proceed to the second round.

“Wow!” He looked down on the digital screen and up at the audience. “The scores are really close . I mean really… really close and definitely there would be a tie break round.

“Only one of you is clear to qualify for round 2 without a tie break and one of you to be disqualified.” He slid his fingers across the digital screen as he said, “Oreoluwa Adams, congratulations on qualifying for round 2. Please go and wait backstage as you would be called back in after the tiebreak.”

The audience applauded him. He was so happy not only because he was in the lead but also because he was ahead Ayo and Damilola, the current famous Olympiad. He looked back at the big screen as he left the stage and he felt pleased within.

The screen displayed: Francis 50pts, Damilola 50pts, Oreoluwa 55pts, Lateefah 50pts, Ayomide 50pts, and Opeyemi 45pts.

Opeyemi looked up at the screen and knew he has been disqualified but he waited for the quiz master to say that before he would leave

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. That’s the rule. The quiz master looked at him and said pleasingly, “Well done to you Opeyemi. You really tried your best but unfortunately your best wasn’t enough. This is where your journey ends in this year’s Olympiad.”

He left the stage as the spotlight that has been shining on him was put off.

“It’s the tiebreak round and the first time in this year’s Olympiad that four contestants would have a tiebreak round.” He faced the contestants. “Remember, there are only 3 questions and whatever you score in this tiebreak would not be added to the overall score.”

“Yes, quiz master.”

“Also, you need to input your answers very quickly because if neither of you fail a question, your average response time in the tiebreak would be used to break the tie. Is that clear?”

“Yes quiz master.” They chorused.

“First question, the result of adding n to …”

***

“Who was saying Ore won’t qualify?” Al-ameen asked rhetorically as the quiz master congratulates Oreoluwa on qualifying for round 2. He watched as Oreoluwa left the stage happily.

Funmi bit her lips. She wished she hadn’t said that. “I did, so what? Round 2 is yet to come and we would know for sure if he qualifies.”

“Don’t you ever stop arguing?” Bukky sat back on her seat. “I’m sure you’ve been at it since I left.”

“Don’t mind Al-ameen jare. He’s just glad that Ore qualified ahead of Ayo.”

Bidemi who was sitting beside Funmi whispered something to her but she didn’t hear clearly.

“What did you say?” she whispered back to her.

“Do you think Ayo will win this tiebreak?”

“Win!” Funmi scuffed. “To be honest, I wouldn’t want her to win.”

“But…”

“I only said that to please that fool.” She pointed to Bukky when the latter wasn’t looking. “I just dislike her.”

“That makes us one also.” Bidemi said still whispering.

“Which?”

“Both!” She raised her voice now. “I wouldn’t want Ayo to win, neither do I like her friend. The girl poke nose a lot.”

Funmi laughed lightly. “I told you the other day.” She looked at Bidemi and folded her arms on her chest. “Senior Bidemi, if I may ask?”

“Yes.”

“Why don’t you want Ayo to win?”

“It’s so simple.” Bidemi stared angrily in the direction of Ayo. “She made my father disappointed in me when she won the Annual math quiz, the first time.”

“Oh! Same with me. She doesn’t deserve to win. The judges were partial.”

“Aside that, if she should qualify for the finals. My father would be more disappointed in me because I never made it that far.”

“That’s a lot.”

“Yes.” Bidemi faced dropped and tears welled up in her eyes. “At home, he talked about her often. Sometimes he would say can’t you see Ayo. She did this, she did that.”

“That’s bad,” Funmi said. She didn’t notice Bidemi’s tears.

Read " Hope " by the same author ( HABEEBLLAH DAMILOLA )

. “I think the tiebreak is over.”

“Oh! Yes.” She immediately wiped her tears with the sleeve of her shirt.

***

“This is still very interesting.” The quiz master sighed. “All four contestants answered all three questions correctly leaving…”

The audience applauded.

“Leaving us to the point where their average response time must be used to break the tie.” He glanced at the screen in front of him. “Congratulations, Damilola. Your average response time is 0.65 seconds. I will see you in round 2 and probably in the finals.”

Damilola sighed. She raised both hands in the sky and eventually brought them together as that of someone that was praying to God. There was a wide smile on her beautiful face.

After the audience had appreciated her effort by clapping, the quiz master called, “Francis” – he faced a fat boy in an orange school uniform – “Your average response time for this tie break is 0.87 seconds which is incredible but unfortunately it didn’t get you to round 2.”

The audience applauded him as he left the stage as fast as his fat legs could carry his body, before he burst into tears.

“Now, we are left with you two.” He looked from Ayomide to Lateefah and smiled. “Both of you look like you want to cry.”

Ayo and Lateefah looked down shyly and smiled faintly.

“You ought to be happy.” He stood upright. “Given that you were able to remove two of the boys.” He smiled.

They smiled back and the audience applauded yet again.

“Congratulations to you. Your average response time is 0.83 seconds.”

 

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