Public Retirement

“This is crazy…” I muttered underneath my breath just to hear Ace chuckling softly from next to me.

He must be used to how the host did something like this every year, but I was so far from being used to it. I chewed on my lower lip hard in my anxiousness as my hand squeezed Ace’s tightly. Time passed by so slowly that I started praying silently in my hearts of hearts that we would win the competition. What must have lasted a mere few seconds in reality felt like a year to me as I leaned forward in my seat with my eyes glued on the figure of the host who was standing on the stage as well as the large screen behind him.

“…Jessen’s and Hill’s. Congratulations!” the host announced so loudly into the microphone that his voice seemed to echo endlessly in the hall.

I didn’t know how to react, but my body and instincts took over immediately. Without thinking, I jumped up from my seat and cheered so loudly as I clapped my hands. Everyone on the team basically did the same thing. I turned a