Chapter 14

I didn't notify any old acquaintances of my return to the US for the competition. On the day of the finals, the venue was packed. I wore a simple white shirt, my hair tied back neatly. Standing on the podium, I presented our team's underlying architecture project in fluent English. The international judges in the audience nodded frequently, their eyes full of admiration. Beck and Miles saw me through the state university's internal livestream. They practically went crazy, running two yellow...