Chapter 116

Hannah

My heart sank as an attendant approached, a rope in his hands. I eyed it warily, already envisioning the tangled disaster Noah and I were sure to become. We hadn't trained for this since that one day last week, when our fierce competition had ended in a fall.

"For the final challenge, you'll tie your legs together," the man explained, gesturing for us to sit. "Once the buzzer sounds, race from the starting line to that flag and back."

I followed his finger to the yellow flag erected downfield. Goddess, it seemed miles away. We'd never make it, not with our terrible chemistry and significant height difference.

But there was nothing I could do. With a resigned sigh, I watched as the attendant tied my left leg to Noah's right. I glanced at Noah, but his expression remained unchanged—stony, as it had been all morning.

I wondered what he was thinking. Excited? Nervous? Annoyed? All of the above? His impassivity was infuriating. If he showed even a sliver of personality, I might feel like I was competing with a real person, not a stoic shell.

Once tied, I tested the rope, my calf brushing against Noah's. A shiver ran up my spine, heat rising in my neck.

Get a grip, I scolded myself. This was just a stupid challenge.

But his face remained that irritating mask—grim lips, narrowed eyes fixed on the other couples. Of course, he wasn't looking at me.

The other couples seemed relaxed, laughing and playfully shoving. Even Drake had his arm around Zoe, who was smirking at something he said despite trying not to.

But Noah was coiled, every muscle tense. Goddess forbid he have a little fun. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad if we could laugh about it.

A hush fell over the crowd, drawing my attention to the platform. The Luna Queen raised the microphone.

"The final challenge tests teamwork and synchronicity," she announced. "Once the buzzer sounds, race to the flag and back. The winners host this year's Lunar Festival. Understood?"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. I saw Noah sharply nod, his focus intense.

Chapter 116 (Continued)

This was it.

The buzzer sounded, and my heart leaped. I surged forward—then felt the rope go taut as Noah didn't move. The other couples hopped and laughed, but not us.

"Noah!" I hissed. "You need to go when I go!"

"Then don't take off without warning me," he snapped.

We started again, this time in better harmony, bunny-hopping in a comically uncoordinated gait. Other couples bounded ahead, some dissolving into laughter as they tripped. I had no breath for laughter. My thighs burned from dragging Noah's weight. Morning sickness hit, twisting my stomach.

Oh, Goddess. We'd be last.

Then, as if reading my mind, Noah angled his body and wrapped an arm around my waist. Our strides evened out.

We picked up speed, closing the gap on the third-place couple. My heart pounded as I glanced at Noah. His brow was furrowed, muscles rippling beneath his damp shirt.

We passed the next couple, then were neck and neck with Drake and Zoe, their expressions equally determined.

The turnaround was a blur, all of us jostling to minimize wasted motion. Drake practically shoved Noah, nearly sending us sprawling. I cried out, hooking my arm around Noah's waist, catching myself just before falling.

We raced back, the grass whipping at our ankles. My lungs burned, my vision tunneled until all I saw was Noah's face—clenched jaw, sweat-damp hair, flaring nostrils.

We were giving it our all. Despite focusing on the finish line, I sensed a growing gap between us and Drake and Zoe, putting us in first place.

It was just Noah and me, racing. He pulled me along; I looped my fingers in his shirt, moving in tandem.

The roar of the crowd was muted by my focus. So close! I shoved away my nausea, lengthening my strides.

The finish line—two attendants holding a streamer. Noah and I surged forward, bursting through.

For a moment, I heard only the roar of the audience and cheers. Then, Noah crashed into me, the force knocking me off my feet. I glimpsed his surprised face before we tumbled.

Dimly, I registered screams, cheers, and the buzzer. We had won! Though breathless, I grinned.

I was hauled to my feet, the world a dizzying kaleidoscope. I saw Noah—smiling, finally—his hands under my arms. He picked me up and spun me around, the crowd fading into the distance.