Disguised As A Boy To Attend Belmont High School
Chapter 58: The Debate Of A Lifetime

Chapter 58: The Debate Of A Lifetime

"Best o luck to us." Henry said with a bright expression as he stretched his hand forward while Olive and Desmond placed their hands on top.

"To victory!" They all chorused excitedly, raising their hands in the air.

The competition kicked off with excitement as the first topic was announced. Olive felt her heart race as she surveyed the room, focusing on the judges’ table. Taking a deep breath, she mentally prepared herself with arguments and counterarguments.

The first speaker, a confident student from another school, took the stage. Olive listened attentively, analyzing the speaker’s points.

Subsequently, students from various schools took their turns on stage, showcasing their talents and striving to impress both the judges and the audience.

When it was her time to speak, Olive rose to the occasion. Her voice was strong and clear as she presented her arguments with conviction, infused with passion and logic. The audience was captivated, hanging on her every word.

As the competition unfolded, Olive’s confidence grew. She spoke effortlessly, her arguments flowing smoothly. The judges nodded in approval, clearly impressed by her performance.

Just as Olive thought she had the debate in the bag, a surprise twist threw her off guard. The opposing team’s speaker, a tall, dark-haired boy, delivered a devastating counterargument. Olive’s heart sank, her mind racing to come up with a response.

The audience from Belmont held their breath, waiting for her next move.

Olive stood confidently at the podium, her eyes fixed on the opposing team from another school. She was speaking for the motion and was determined to win.

The opposing team’s speaker, a tall and confident-looking student, sneered at her. "You’re dreaming if you think this motion will ever pass," he said. "It’s a recipe for disaster."

Olive smiled sweetly. "I understand why you might think that," she said. "But let me tell you, you’re mistaken."

The debate continued, with Olive and the opposing team’s speaker clashing in a frenzy of words. Despite their best efforts, Olive’s arguments seemed to be gaining traction. She was persuasive, passionate, and well-prepared.

The judges nodded along, impressed by her performance. The audience was on the edge of their seats, cheering and chanting Olive’s name.

Olive eventually emerged victorious in the competition by speaking for the motion while the student from the other school argued against it. However, the final results were yet to be announced as the competition was still ongoing.

Now it was Lucas’s turn, Olive’s teammate, to speak against the motion with another student from a different school who would be speaking for the motion.

The judges called out the name of the student who would be competing with Lucas, and she took the stage. When they called Lucas’ name, he was nowhere to be found.

The audience searched for Lucas among themselves but he was still missing.

Olive had already anticipated that Lucas wouldn’t show up, so she had resigned herself to losing the competition. However, she was grateful that she had been able to convey her message to the audience.

Suddenly, Mr. James approached one of the judges and whispered something in his ear, causing a shocked expression to spread across the judge’s face.

"I’m sorry, but Olive will be disqualified from the competition since her teammate Lucas is absent," the stern-faced judge announced.

The audience gasped in disbelief.

The judges shook their heads. "You should have ensured your teammate was present before entering the competition," one of them scolded.

Olive’s expression dropped, tears welling up in her eyes, but she fought to hold them back. She had mentally prepared herself for losing, but now she felt devastated.

Just as Olive was about to leave the stage, the auditorium doors swung open, and Lucas entered, his gaze fixed on Olive.

I apologize for my tardiness," he said, his tone laced with sarcasm. "But I couldn’t resist making a grand entrance."

The crowd erupted in cheers, their expressions filled with relief. The judges smiled, clearly impressed.

"Well, well, well," one of them remarked. "It seems we have a competition on our hands."

Olive locked eyes with Lucas and grinned.

"Stop smiling, it’s not your style. I want to win on my own merit and earn this scholarship without relying on my mother’s wealth," Lucas stated firmly.

"Thank you, Lucas!" Olive exclaimed, embracing him tightly, unconcerned about potentially revealing her true gender. She simply wanted to hug him, and as she did, tears she had been holding back began to flow freely down her cheeks.

Lucas comforted Olive by placing a hand on her back and patting her gently. He then cleared his throat, prompting Olive to end their hug and look out at the audience, who were watching them with curiosity.

Feeling self-conscious under their intense stares, Olive nodded in response to Lucas’s words and made her way off the stage.

The debate continued with Lucas arguing against the opposing team. In the end, they emerged victorious, their arguments strong and convincing.

The audience erupted in cheers, their faces filled with joy. Olive and Lucas shared a triumphant smile, their eyes reflecting their success.

While their debate was compelling, the ultimate decision rested with the judges, who would determine the true winner.

Lucas walked down the stage and joined Olive, who was still focused on the ongoing performances of other students.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Olive asked, chuckling lightly.

"I need to win this scholarship too," Lucas replied firmly."It’s time to stop relying on my parent’s wealth."

"Why now? When did you stop relying on your parents’ wealth?" Olive inquired, raising her eyebrows.

"My mom allowed that criminal onto the school grounds. I gave her an ultimatum - choose between me and him, or forget she has a son. I have enough money in my bank account to last a lifetime, and with a scholarship prize up for grabs, I need to prove myself and win it," Lucas explained, his expression determined.

Olive shook her head, thinking, "The George Lucas I know never changes." Although, she was relieved that he had joined the competition, increasing their chances of winning a scholarship.