SOAP OPERA – Chapter 10: The Calm Before the Storm
The campus of Riverside University seemed quieter than usual, but it was a deceptive calm. Behind closed doors and library corners, tension simmered. Every remaining contestant—Johnson, Raphael, Gift, Ella, Praise, and the twins Mary and Martha—was aware that the next round could make or break them.
Johnson had returned with a renewed fire. After his elimination in Chapter 8, whispers had swirled across the campus. Some doubted he could recover. Others quietly hoped he would. Now, sitting at a secluded corner of the library, Johnson spread his draft before him, eyes scanning each line with meticulous focus. The pages smelled faintly of ink and determination.
Raphael, seated across the hall, observed quietly. Calm, collected, and calculating, he didn't write a single word at first. Instead, he watched everyone else, noting how they reacted under pressure. His mind was a chessboard; every glance, every whisper, every small act of doubt or confidence was a piece he could move.
---
The Twins' Confidence
Mary and Martha were at their usual table, their heads bent low, fingers flying in perfect synchronization. The twins had always been inseparable, their thoughts interwoven as seamlessly as their writing. They shared quick glances, small nods, and whispered comments. Confidence radiated from them—almost arrogance.
Yet, beneath that exterior, subtle cracks were beginning to form. Martha hesitated over a paragraph, biting her lip, while Mary's hand shook ever so slightly as she revised a dialogue line. No one else seemed to notice. But the seeds of vulnerability were planted, and the storm was approaching.
---
Strategy and Rivalry
Gift, ever quiet but intensely focused, leaned over his notebook, muttering lines of dialogue under his breath. Ella, calm and meticulous, adjusted her chair and reread each sentence with precision, correcting, refining, reimagining.
Praise paced the room in small circles, his notebook clutched tightly. He whispered to himself: "I can't afford mistakes… not now… not after the twins' last round." His voice betrayed anxiety, though his expressions attempted composure.
Across the room, small alliances were forming in subtle ways. Whispers floated between Gift and Ella, strategies discussed in hushed tones. Raphael watched these interactions silently, noting which relationships could fracture under pressure and which could be leveraged in future rounds.
---
Mentor's Warning
Professor Nwagu appeared briefly in the library, his presence commanding instant attention.
"Remember, writers," he said, voice low but sharp, "talent alone will not save you. This competition rewards more than skill—it rewards strategy, foresight, and composure under pressure. One mistake can cost you everything."
The words hung in the air like a heavy fog. Every contestant absorbed the warning differently: Johnson felt reinforced, Raphael smiled faintly, the twins exchanged a tense glance, and Praise bit the inside of his cheek.
---
The Quiet Storm
As the day progressed, the library transformed into a battlefield of ideas. Pencils scratched, fingers typed, and whispers swirled like shadows across the room. But beneath the surface, tension festered.
Mary and Martha, despite their outward perfection, began to argue softly, a disagreement over character arcs and plot details. It was subtle, almost imperceptible to an outsider, but it revealed a small vulnerability. Johnson noticed, but kept his distance. He had learned the value of patience.
Raphael continued his quiet observation, noting the smallest details—who flinched when criticized, who paused over a sentence too long, who whispered secretively to another. He was ready.
Meanwhile, Gift and Ella quietly shared ideas, their whispered collaboration almost invisible. Praise, restless, scribbled notes furiously, trying to anticipate the judges' preferences.
---
Foreshadowing the Next Round
As the sun dipped behind Riverside University's rooftops, the library emptied slowly. Students left with their notebooks clutched to their chests, eyes burning with anticipation. The calm was deceptive; everyone knew it. The next round would test not only talent but nerves, strategy, and the faintest cracks in composure.
In the quiet, Johnson whispered to himself:
"This isn't just about winning anymore. It's about surviving… and proving that the unseen can rise above all."
Mary and Martha, walking out together, linked arms as always, whispering reassurance to each other, unaware that the seeds of their downfall had already been sown.
The storm was coming. And when it hit, no one would escape unscathed.
-