Chapter 6
“Evelyn, don’t feel too bad. Vocational college isn’t that bad! Sure, the faculty’s not great, but hey–it’s expensive! And okay, the job prospects suck, but the campus environment’s crap too, so at least it’s consistent!
You-”
The next second, the screen refreshed. Rebecca’s smug smile froze on her face
She let out a shriek. “What is that?! That can’t be real!
“Dad! Dad! Get the IT guy in here! The system’s glitched! Call someone now!”
But no one paid her meltdown any attention. Because on the big livestream screen, a row of blank scores had appeared–followed by a single bold line of black text. The room went silent. Then, like someone had flipped a switch, the chat exploded.
“Holy shit! Did I just see that?! No scores showing–she’s been hidden?! Top 50 in the entire state?! A top student exempt from public ranking?! I thought she was heading to a vocational college, what the hell, sis?!”
“Thank god I was bored and clicked in. I think I’m witnessing the birth of a provincial top scorer?”
“Okay, slow down. Being top 50 is already insane, but a top scorer? C’mon, there’s only one of those in a whole state….odds are crazy low…”
Just then, my phone buzzed on the desk with a new notification.
“Hello Ms. Evelyn Mitchell, this is Mr. Munoz from the Princeton University admissions team for the state of Wisconsin. Congratulations on
0.00%
01:28
Chapter 6
your outstanding performance in the SAT! We’ll be arriving at 2 p.m. today to…”
The livestream chat stalled for two full seconds.
11 288 (Vouchers
“No way! Princeton just slid into her texts? That’s it, she’s definitely the top scorer!”
“Princeton admissions flying in same–day. If Princeton’s here already, Harvard’s probably halfway through customs. How is this real life?
Someone gets me out of this simulation.
“Everyone move–I need to touch this girl for luck. Sweetheart, bless me, my daughter bombed math again!”
“+1 for good luck touch!”
“+1008611 for luck!!!”
***
Gabriel stared at everything unfolding in front of him in disbelief. His eyes had lost focus from wave after wave of shock, and it wasn’t until Rebecca, finally unable to accept reality, started screaming like a maniac that he seemed to snap out of it and turned toward me.
“Eve-”
But he didn’t even get the chance to finish. He was shoved out of the crowd by a swarm of reporters rushing in.
He was just a nameless nobody now. What chance did he have competing for attention with the first–ever state top scorer in the county’s history?
Even the principal and his daughter–the ones who had invited all the reporters in the first place–were screaming themselves hoarse on the sidelines, but not a single person gave them so much as a glance.
39.15%
01:28
Chapter 6
Rebecca could only stand there, powerless and furious, spiraling into a rage she had no way to release.
The livestream hit a record–breaking 1 million+ viewers.
288 Vouchers
Clips from the stream went viral almost instantly, and my name became the hottest topic across the country.
People were obsessed with the twist, the girl everyone thought was bound for vocational college turning out to be a Harvard–level genius.
Curiosity over whether or not I had really taken the top spot soared. Someone even launched an online betting pool-“Will the vocational college girl become this year’s top scorer?“–and the number of participants crossed seven figures.
Then, three days later, my official SAT score was released: a total of 1550. It shattered the record for Wisconsin. And just like that, the entire internet exploded.
