Our Secret Diary

Our Secret Diary - The Spotlight

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"Dear Diary,

"People often say courage is standing in front of a crowd without being afraid.

I don't think that's true.

I think courage is standing there even when your hands are shaking... even when your heart is racing... even when every part of you wants to turn around and run away.

Maybe courage isn't about feeling fearless.

Maybe it's about refusing to let fear win."

The alarm on Lena's phone rang earlier than usual.

She stared at the ceiling for a few seconds before reaching over to switch it off.

Presentation day.

The words alone were enough to make her stomach tighten.

She sat up slowly, letting out a long breath.

"You can do this," she whispered to herself.

Somehow, the words didn't sound convincing.

A few minutes later, she met Maya and Chloe outside their hostel.

Maya was humming happily while carrying a small paper bag.

Chloe noticed Lena's unusually quiet expression.

"You barely touched your breakfast, didn't you?"

Lena smiled weakly.

"How did you know?"

"Because you're holding it."

Lena looked down.

The sandwich she had bought was still wrapped.

Maya laughed.

"I knew it!"

"I just wasn't hungry."

"Nervous?" Chloe asked gently.

Lena nodded.

"A little."

"A little?" Maya repeated dramatically. "You look like you're about to write your final exams."

Lena couldn't help smiling.

"It feels worse."

Maya slipped her arm around Lena's shoulder.

"Listen to me."

Lena looked at her.

"If you faint in front of the class..."

Lena's eyes widened.

"...I'll drag you back up and make you finish your presentation."

For a second, there was complete silence.

Then Chloe burst into laughter.

Lena laughed so hard that she almost dropped her bag.

"Maya!"

"What? I'm encouraging you."

"In the strangest way possible."

"It worked."

Lena wiped away a tear from laughing.

"I actually feel better."

"I know."

Maya smiled proudly.

"My methods are unconventional."

"They're ridiculous," Chloe corrected.

"But effective."

The three girls continued toward the faculty building, chatting about everything except the presentations.

For the first time that morning, Lena's heartbeat began to settle.

---

Outside Professor Harris's classroom, students stood in small groups, revising notes one last time.

Jason was reading quietly from a notebook.

Chloe stood beside him, occasionally pointing out small details.

Noah, on the other hand, looked unusually calm.

Too calm.

Maya narrowed her eyes.

"Why are you smiling?"

"I'm confident."

She laughed.

"No, you're pretending."

"I'm not pretending."

Jason looked up.

"Your hands are shaking."

Immediately, Noah hid both hands behind his back.

"I'm cold."

Maya looked around dramatically.

"In this weather?"

"It's... emotional cold."

"There is no such thing."

"There is today."

Everyone laughed.

Even Ethan, who had been quietly checking their presentation slides, shook his head.

"You'll survive."

"I know," Noah replied.

"I'm just trying to make the atmosphere less tense."

"You mean louder," Chloe said.

Professor Harris opened the classroom door.

"Good morning, everyone."

"Good morning, sir."

He smiled.

"I hope you're all ready."

A few students answered confidently.

Others simply nodded.

"Excellent."

He stepped aside.

"Let's begin."

The classroom slowly filled as each pair took their seats.

Lena glanced at Ethan.

He noticed immediately.

"Nervous?"

She nodded.

"A little."

He smiled reassuringly.

"Remember what we practised."

She took a deep breath.

"I'll try."

"No."

He met her eyes.

"You will."

His confidence in her was strangely comforting.

For the first time that morning...

She believed him.

Professor Harris adjusted the stack of papers on his desk before looking around the classroom.

"Let's begin."

A few students exchanged nervous glances while others straightened in their seats.

"I've arranged the order already," he continued. "Each pair will have fifteen minutes. Remember, this isn't only about the story you wrote. It's also about how well you worked together."

He glanced at the list in his hand.

"The first pair... Chloe Bennett and Jason Reed."

Jason stood first, offering Chloe an encouraging smile before they walked to the front of the class together.

Unlike most of the students, they looked surprisingly relaxed.

"Good morning, everyone," Jason began.

"Our project explores how forgiveness can rebuild broken friendships."

Chloe smoothly continued where he stopped, explaining their characters and the inspiration behind their story.

Neither interrupted the other.

Neither hesitated.

When Jason forgot one small point, Chloe picked it up naturally without making it obvious.

By the time they finished, several students nodded in appreciation.

Professor Harris smiled.

"Excellent."

The class applauded warmly.

"Your teamwork was very impressive," he added. "It was clear that both of you respected each other's ideas."

"Thank you, sir," they replied before returning to their seats.

As Chloe sat down, Maya leaned over.

"You two looked like professional speakers."

Jason chuckled.

"I was nervous."

"You hid it well," Lena said sincerely.

Before anyone could continue the conversation, Professor Harris called the next names.

"Maya Thompson and Noah Parker."

Noah stood dramatically and straightened an imaginary tie.

"Ladies and gentlemen..."

"We're not starting like that," Maya whispered sharply.

"It adds confidence."

"It adds embarrassment."

The class laughed before they had even reached the front.

Noah cleared his throat.

"Our story is about—"

"It's actually about resilience," Maya interrupted.

"That's what I was about to say."

"No, you were going to say friendship."

"They're connected."

"You changed the introduction."

"I improved it."

"You changed it without telling me."

Professor Harris removed his glasses for a second, trying to hide an amused smile.

"Would you two like to finish your discussion first?"

The classroom burst into laughter.

Maya covered her face.

"No, sir."

"We're ready."

This time, they managed to continue without interrupting each other for almost three minutes.

Almost.

Halfway through the presentation, Noah explained one of the characters' decisions.

Maya quietly leaned toward him.

"That wasn't in our draft."

"It sounds better."

"It sounds made up."

"It isn't."

"It definitely is."

Jason coughed softly into his hand, trying not to laugh.

Even Ethan had to look away for a moment.

Somehow, despite all the playful bickering, Maya and Noah delivered a thoughtful presentation.

When they finished, Professor Harris folded his arms.

"I have one observation."

The classroom became quiet.

"You two argue..."

Everyone smiled.

"...far more than necessary."

Laughter echoed around the room.

"But underneath those arguments is something very important."

Maya and Noah looked at each other.

"You listen to one another."

Neither of them spoke.

Professor Harris smiled.

"Good teamwork isn't about agreeing all the time. Sometimes it's about learning how to disagree respectfully."

For the first time that morning, Maya and Noah didn't have a clever reply.

They simply smiled awkwardly before returning to their seats.

As Maya sat down, she whispered,

"Don't let that compliment get to your head."

Noah grinned.

"I already framed it."

She rolled her eyes.

"You are impossible."

"And yet you survived being my partner."

Before Maya could answer, Professor Harris looked back at his list.

"Lena Brooks and Ethan Carter."

Lena's heart skipped a beat.

Ethan stood and quietly looked at her.

"You ready?"

She took a slow breath.

"...Let's do this."

Together, they walked toward the front of the classroom.