Hera maintained her position near Xavier, with the smug Zen still in the lead. No one had expected him to take the lead, as he was considered the least favored to win. However, it seed that Zen was unexpectedly skilled at riding horses.
If Hera hadn’t discussed the horse’s breed with Zen yesterday, she might have believed he was simply joking or pretending not to know. Now, she suspected Zen might possess a remarkable affinity with horses, perhaps even earning him the title of a horse genius who can assimilate with any horse.
She felt like she had been deceived by both of them. She hadn’t anticipated that they would both excel in this, but with the challenge escalating, Hera’s smile widened even more.
"Are you ready, Diamond?" She whispered to her horse. She knew Diamond couldn’t understand her words, but she felt she had communicated her intentions to her faithful steed and it let out a steam in its nose.
As they neared the second lap, Xavier abandoned his efforts to keep tabs on Hera. He surged ahead, swiftly closing the distance until he was neck and neck with Zen. Though Zen’s smug smile had vanished, he remained composed, his gaze fixed ahead with determination.
"Giddyup!!!" Hera urged, her voice filled with determination as she urged Diamond to accelerate, pushing the horse to surpass their previous speed from when she initially ran a few laps on the racetrack.
The villagers erupted into cheers as Diamond surged forward, their excitent palpable as they watched the horse run at such an exhilarating speed. With hearts pounding in their chests, they were swept up in the thrill of the race, eagerly anticipating the outco with each passing mont. No one could tell who would be the winner of the race.
As the second lap drew to a close, the three riders found themselves neck and neck. Zen couldn’t help but steal a glance at Hera, positioned in the middle. Her face radiated with confidence and happiness, her hair flowing gracefully in the breeze. She looked truly beautiful, and for a mont, Zen found himself srized, montarily losing his concentration.
That montary lapse allowed Hera and Xavier to surge ahead, leaving Zen trailing behind. By the ti Zen realized what had transpired, he found himself several ters behind. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he berated himself for losing focus at such a crucial juncture.
After completing the second lap, Hera and Xavier accelerated once more. Their horses began to exhale heavily, steam billowing from their nostrils, yet they continued to run side by side. Both riders hunkered down in the saddle, their bodies pressed closer to their mounts.
They poured every ounce of effort into the final sprint, pushing their horses to the limit until they crossed the finish line. A hush fell over the crowd as Hera and Xavier reached the finish line simultaneously. Confusion hung in the air as spectators tried to comprehend the outco. Slowly, Hera and Xavier brought their horses to a halt at the side of the track, the tension palpable in the silent aftermath.
[AuntieNextDoor: Who’s the Winner?]
[PasserbyGod: I don’t know too...]
[HeraismySister: 1]
[JustReading: 1]
Hera’s legs felt numb as she dismounted from Diamond, causing her to stumble and nearly fall to the ground. Thankfully, Xavier was there to catch her, his strong arms circled her small waist supporting her as she regained her balance.
"Are you alright?" He asked, concern evident in his voice as he helped her stand upright. Though he too felt the strain in his legs after the intense ride, he remained steady compared to Hera’s unsteadiness.
Hera nodded with a smile. "Yeah, thanks." She couldn’t resist giving Diamond a pat on its sweaty neck, acknowledging its efforts in the race as it breathed heavily from exhaustion.
Shortly after, Zen joined them. "You two are so fast!" he comnted, admiration evident in his voice.
"We are not the ones running, it was the horse," Xavier stated matter-of-factly, his gaze fixed ahead.
Hera couldn’t help but laugh at his statent. It was undeniably true, but the deadpan delivery from Xavier, combined with his poker face, made it amusing.
Their banter brought everyone back to attention, and the Director seized the mont, replaying the recording of the finish line live a few more tis. The caraman stationed there had captured the mont perfectly.
Realizing the need to inform everyone that they had to review the footage before announcing the winner, he quickly exited the OB van and hurried to the race track.
"Xavier! You were amazing out there!" Alice’s sweet voice interrupted Hera’s lighthearted conversation with Xavier and Zen. Though Hera maintained a neutral expression, she couldn’t help but observe Alice’s every gesture.
Alice sprinted directly in front of Xavier, positioning herself right where Hera stood, effectively blocking Hera’s view. Her long red hair flowed down her waist, and her aquamarine eyes sparkled with admiration for Xavier, as if he were the sole focus of her attention, oblivious to anyone else’s presence.
Hera didn’t dwell on it and simply left after spotting Bry and his father heading their way. She walked over to them, leading Diamond by the reins.
"Sister! You were amazing!!!" Bry exclaid, leaping in front of Hera with wide-eyed admiration as if he had discovered a new idol to emulate. Bry’s teenage brother joined them, pushing his uncle sitting in the wheelchair closer to where Hera and his father were.
"It truly was a remarkable race," Bry’s uncle remarked with a smile directed at Hera. There was sothing poignant in his gaze, a mixture of fondness and lancholy that Hera couldn’t ignore. She felt a pang of empathy knowing how much he must have cherished horseback riding and racing.
The way he looked at Diamond was filled with longing, a silent yearning for the exhilaration of riding, a joy now beyond his reach due to his condition. Despite his physical limitations, his enjoynt of watching the race was unmistakable, his eyes reflecting the thrill of the competition.
"It was all thanks to Diamond’s superb speed and endurance that we were able to reach that far," Hera replied, subtly acknowledging their ticulous training thods and the dedication they put into nurturing Diamond’s abilities. She didn’t want to claim all the credit when their success was the result of their collective efforts in raising and training the horse.
Bry’s father’s laughter thundered, and he said lightheartedly, "Don’t be too modest. I’ve been so busy lately that I’ve neglected the horse’s training. It’s thanks to you that Diamond could run to its heart’s content since yesterday."
"That’s true, I’ve heard a lot about you from the kids, especially how you managed to ta Diamond. That alone is already admirable," Bry’s uncle comnted with a gentle smile.
Hera suddenly felt her face growing warm, but she managed to smile and accept the complint graciously.
"Ladies and gentlen, may I have your attention, please?"
The Director positioned himself near the entrance of the racetrack, addressing the crowd with earnestness. "I understand the anticipation surrounding the announcent of the race winner. However, as you are aware, the close finish has made determining the victor a challenging task. Rest assured, my team and I are committed to thoroughly reviewing the footage to ensure accuracy before declaring the winner. In the spirit of transparency, we will present a slow-motion version of the footage for all to see, enabling you to collect your winnings with confidence. Thank you for your patience and understanding."
Upon hearing the Director’s announcent, the villagers, who had been anxiously awaiting news of their winnings, erupted into joyful celebration. With renewed hope, they eagerly awaited the completion of the show crew’s review, anticipating a fair and accurate outco.
"I’m hungry," Xavier whispered in Hera’s ear from behind, causing her to jump in surprise. Despite her racing heart, she fought to maintain her composure, forcing a smile. However, Xavier seed to sense her unease, a mischievous grin spreading across his lips as if he had seen right through her facade.
"We haven’t collected our points for today’s work yet, so we don’t have anything to cook," Hera stated matter-of-factly.
Xavier’s smile broke, concern evident in his voice as he asked, "No food at all?"
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