The next morning came too fast.
Ridgeway Boarding High looked the same — the same pale yellow buildings, the same trimmed lawns, the same chatter of students rushing to class — but for Team Seven, everything felt slightly… tilted. Like the world had shifted a few centimeters to the left while they slept.
Maliya stood in front of the mirror in her dorm, brushing her hair slowly. She could hear Khadija humming softly behind her while tying her scarf, but her own mind was too busy to sing. Her thoughts kept circling the same questions:
Why them?
Why that presentation?
Why the President?
And what did stay prepared really mean?
Her fingers paused in her hair.
"Maliya?" Khadija's reflection looked at her through the mirror. "You're too quiet. You were quiet all night."
"I'm fine," she said automatically.
But she wasn't.
Last night had carved something open inside her. She had felt seen, exposed, maybe even chosen — but that came with a strange weight. A responsibility she hadn't asked for. And she was terrified that whatever was coming next, she wasn't ready for it.
"Come on," Khadija said gently, bumping her shoulder. "Whatever is worrying you… we'll deal with it together."
Maliya tried to smile. "I know."
But the truth still sat heavily in her chest.
When they walked out toward the hallway, students stared. Some whispered. Some pointed. Some even pulled out their phones, pretending not to record when they obviously were.
"There they go — the President's kids."
"Team Seven… the famous ones."
"Do you think they're going to Washington D.C.?"
"I heard the news is talking about them."
The attention made Maliya shrink into herself. Khadija lifted her chin proudly — but even she looked uncomfortable around the dozen eyes watching them.
Leo was waiting by the lockers. When he saw the girls, he let out a breath.
"Good morning," he said. "Or… whatever this is."
"What happened?" Khadija asked.
Leo jerked his head at a nearby group of students pretending not to stare. "People have been watching me since I stepped out of the boys' dorm. Someone literally followed me to the bathroom."
Khadija snorted. "Be serious."
"I'm serious."
Amir and Matteo arrived next. Amir looked exhausted — probably from all the congratulations he still hadn't processed. Matteo looked tense, like he was listening for something beneath the usual morning noise.
For a moment, Team Seven just stood there. No one said it aloud, but the same thought hung between them:
Everything changed. And none of them knew what to do with it.
Leo broke the silence.
"We should talk. Somewhere private."
They walked together to the courtyard behind the cafeteria — the place where students rarely went in the morning. The sun was still low, casting long shadows across the pavement. Birds hopped around the fountain, picking at crumbs from yesterday.
Maliya sat on the edge of the fountain. Amir placed the trophy between his feet. Matteo leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Khadija hugged her books to her chest.
"So…" Leo began, "do we talk about it or pretend yesterday was normal?"
Amir rubbed his face. "There's nothing normal left to pretend."
"Exactly," Leo muttered.
Maliya finally lifted her gaze. "Do you think… the President wants something from us?"
Everyone went quiet.
Matteo was the first to answer. "Nobody shows up at a high school for fun. Especially not twice in one night."
Khadija swallowed. "Do you think it's bad?"
"I don't know," Matteo said. "But it's something."
Maliya stared at the trophy's reflection in the fountain water. It shimmered slightly, like the world itself was trembling.
"But why us?" she whispered.
No one had an answer.
Just as the silence settled again, a sharp sound cut through the courtyard — the door to the cafeteria opening abruptly.
A teacher stepped out. Not just any teacher — Mrs. Valdez, a strict literature teacher known for her sharp eyes and sharper memory. Her gaze swept across the courtyard until she spotted Team Seven.
"There you are," she said briskly, walking toward them. "The school office asked me to find all of you."
Everyone stiffened.
"For… what?" Leo asked.
Mrs. Valdez folded her arms. "There's something at the reception for your group. It arrived this morning."
The words fell like cold water.
Khadija exchanged a nervous glance with Maliya. Amir slowly stepped away from the fountain. Matteo pushed off the wall, jaw tightening.
"What kind of something?" Amir asked.
"A package," Mrs. Valdez said. "Addressed to Team Seven."
Their hearts dropped in unison.
"Who sent it?" Maliya asked quietly.
Mrs. Valdez hesitated — the first sign that something was off.
"We're not sure," she said finally. "But… the sender's information is restricted."
Restricted.
Leo froze. "Restricted by who?"
Again, she hesitated. "By the government."
The courtyard fell silent.
The wind picked up, brushing past them, rustling the pages of Khadija's notebook.
Matteo's eyes sharpened. "Where is it now?"
"In the principal's office."
Mrs. Valdez motioned for them to follow.
No one moved for a moment. It felt like stepping into a story they hadn't agreed to write. A path they didn't understand. A future they weren't sure they wanted.
But slowly, one by one, they began walking.
Through the courtyard. Through the hallway buzzing with whispers. Through the line of students who made space for them as if they were something fragile or dangerous.
When they reached the principal's office, they stopped.
Because sitting on the principal's desk was a flat black envelope, sealed with a gold emblem they had definitely seen before.
The official presidential seal.
Everyone stared.
Maliya's pulse thundered in her ears.
Khadija whispered, "No way…"
Amir's hand trembled.
Leo's face paled.
Matteo's jaw clenched.
The principal cleared his throat nervously. "It arrived at 6:15 a.m." His voice shook slightly. "And it's addressed to… all of you."
The room felt smaller. Tighter. The air colder.
Maliya stepped closer, her breath shaky.
On the front of the envelope were four words, handwritten in black ink:
"Team Seven — Open Alone."
Her stomach dropped.
Khadija grabbed her arm gently.
Amir exhaled in disbelief.
Matteo whispered, "This is real…"
Leo stared at the envelope like it might explode.
The principal stepped back. "This… is your decision," he said quietly.
The room grew still.
Maliya slowly reached out a trembling hand…
And just as her fingers touched the edge of the envelope—
The lights flickered.
Once. Twice. Then snapped back on.
Everyone froze.
The envelope remained untouched.
Silent. Waiting.
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