Alina looked at her list of registered participants. From Class A, three girls had signed up. Twins with matching pigtails and a tall girl with long braids. From Class B, four girls, all giggling together. From Class C, two girls who were already stretching like professional athletes.
And from Class D—
Drake and Vlad Jr.
Vlad Jr. stood near the starting line, his posture perfect as always, his red uniform neat and unwrinkled. But his cheeks were pink. Very pink. He kept glancing at the other participants, then looking away quickly, then glancing again.
Drake noticed.
"Why is your face red?" Drake asked loudly.
Vlad Jr. stiffened. "It is not red."
"It is very red." Drake pointed at his face.
"The sun is bright," Vlad Jr. said, blaming the sky.
"The sun is behind a cloud," Drake said, looking up.
"Then... the sun is reflecting off something," Vlad Jr. tried.
"Off your face?" Drake grinned.
Vlad Jr. did not answer.
