Chapter 274: sports fest opening II

Chapter 274: Chapter 274: sports fest opening II

The applause following the university president’s declaration had barely faded when the music changed.

The enormous screens surrounding the oval came alive once more.

OPENING PARADE

The words appeared across the screens as the first group of athletes began entering the field.

The crowd erupted.

The parade had begun.

The athletes moved in organized formations, each sporting division carrying its own banner and wearing its designated colors.

The runners came first, followed by the swimmers.

Then came tennis.

Basketball.

Volleyball.

Archery.

And several other sporting divisions, each receiving its own wave of cheers from the stands.

The athletes didn’t remain on the track.

The walking teams entered through the main gate and proceeded toward the center of the oval, where they gathered in their designated areas.

The track itself remained clear.

It was reserved for the equestrian divisions.

After each group had made its entrance, the next would follow, until the central field gradually filled with hundreds of athletes.

Vivienne watched with growing excitement.

She spotted familiar faces among the crowd.

Then—

"There’s Eleanor!"

Claire pointed toward the field.

Vivienne immediately looked.

There she was.

Eleanor was marching with the fencing team, dressed in her team uniform and carrying her equipment.

Vivienne waved enthusiastically.

Eleanor spotted them almost immediately.

She smiled and lifted a hand in acknowledgment before continuing toward the center.

"She’s actually competing today," Amelia said.

"I know."

Vivienne smiled.

"That gives us a very good excuse to watch the fencing."

Claire laughed.

"As if you needed one."

Vivienne ignored her.

More teams entered.

The applause rose and fell with each group.

The atmosphere became louder with every passing minute.

Then the announcer’s voice returned through the speakers.

"And now, we come to one of Saint Albion’s most anticipated sporting divisions."

The response was immediate.

"Polo!"

The stands erupted.

The gates at the far end of the oval opened.

The first four riders entered the outer track.

The announcer’s voice rose over the cheers.

"Representing the Saint Albion Student Council—last year’s champions!"

The response was deafening.

The four riders slowed as they entered, allowing the crowd to see them clearly.

Then the announcer continued.

"And as the reigning champions, they will lead this year’s ceremonial polo presentation."

The riders formed a line.

For a moment, they remained completely still.

Then the lead rider lowered his mallet.

The horses surged forward.

The crowd exploded.

The four horses accelerated together, moving smoothly around the outer track.

Vivienne instinctively leaned forward.

Then she saw him.

Christopher.

Her eyes widened.

This was different.

She had seen him fencing.

She had seen him sitting across from her over tea.

She had seen him walking through the university.

But she had never seen him like this.

On horseback, he looked completely at home.

There was no hesitation in his movements.

No awkwardness.

He guided the horse as naturally as though the two of them had been moving together for years.

His posture remained relaxed even at speed, his hands steady on the reins as the horse carried him around the track.

And the entire university seemed to know exactly what they were watching.

"Christopher!"

"Go, Christopher!"

"Christopher!"

The cheering rose from every section.

Girls screamed.

Boys shouted.

Some students waved banners.

Others simply stood and cheered for the team.

Vivienne’s face lit up.

"Oh my God."

Claire immediately laughed.

"There she goes."

"Look at him!"

"We’re looking."

"No, seriously!"

Vivienne laughed as she watched him.

"Christopher!"

She joined the cheering without hesitation.

Amelia cupped her hands around her mouth.

"Go, Christopher!"

Claire joined her.

"Christopher!"

Vivienne laughed.

For once, she didn’t care who heard her.

She was too busy watching him.

Christopher guided his horse around the curve of the track.

Then, as he passed the grandstands, he looked toward the crowd.

His gaze moved across the sea of faces.

And stopped.

Vivienne.

His expression softened.

A smile appeared.

Vivienne’s heart gave a sharp little flutter.

She immediately waved.

Christopher lifted his mallet slightly in acknowledgment before turning his attention back toward the track.

"Oh my God," Amelia said.

"He saw you."

"I know."

Claire laughed.

"You’re smiling like an idiot."

"I don’t care."

Neither did they.

The horses continued their circuit.

Then, as they approached the far end, the riders gradually slowed them down.

The gallop became a canter.

Then a trot.

The crowd applauded as the four riders passed through the designated exit.

At the far end, waiting stable hands stepped forward.

The horses were taken from them, and the riders removed their helmets before returning on foot toward the central field.

Vivienne watched Christopher dismount.

And somehow, that was another problem entirely.

He took off his helmet.

His platinum-blond hair, slightly flattened from beneath it, fell loose as he ran a hand through it.

Vivienne stared.

"Oh, come on."

Amelia laughed.

"What?"

"He looks even better without the helmet."

Claire glanced toward the field.

"Unfortunately, you’re right."

Vivienne laughed.

Christopher handed his helmet to the stable hand and adjusted his riding gear before walking toward the other athletes.

Vivienne watched him go.

She had only seen him three times before.

And every time, she had discovered something different.

At the tea room, he had been charming.

At the university, unexpectedly warm.

At fencing, focused and confident.

And now—

On horseback, surrounded by cheering students, he seemed completely in his element.

There was something different about seeing him this way.

The ease with which he handled the horse.

The confidence of his movements.

The way the crowd responded to him as though his presence on the field was something they had all been waiting for.

Vivienne couldn’t quite explain why it affected her differently.

She only knew that it did.

The second team entered.

The announcer’s voice rose again.

"And now, last year’s runners-up—the Strategic Business Management Society!"

Another four riders entered the track.

They received an enthusiastic reception, though the noise was not quite as overwhelming as it had been for the champions.

They completed their ceremonial lap at speed before slowing near the far end.

The riders dismounted.

Their horses were taken away.

Then they returned to the central field.

Finally, the announcer called the third-place team.

"And now, last year’s third-place finishers—representing the Saint Albion Polo Club!"

The crowd erupted.

Four more riders entered the track.

Vivienne immediately recognized the first rider.

Anthony.

The reaction was enormous.

"Anthony!"

"Go, Anthony!"

Cheers rose from every section of the stands.

Some girls screamed his name.

Students from the polo club waved their banners.

Even several of the athletes gathered in the center field turned to watch.

Anthony was one of Saint Albion’s strongest polo players.

Everyone knew it.

He rode with his usual composure, his attention fixed straight ahead.

Then the rider immediately behind him entered.

Damian.

The reaction shifted.

"Damian!"

"Go, Damian!"

"Damian!"

The cheers overlapped.

Some sections called Anthony’s name.

Others answered with Damian’s.

For a moment, it was impossible to tell which name was being shouted louder.

Claire laughed.

"Oh my God."

Amelia leaned forward.

"It’s both of them."

Vivienne laughed.

"They’re both ridiculously popular."

The girls around them were already screaming.

"Anthony!"

"Damian!"

"Look at them!"

"Holy—"

Claire grabbed Amelia’s arm.

"They’re unfair."

Amelia nodded emphatically.

"This is ridiculous."

Vivienne couldn’t disagree.

Anthony rode at the front of the formation, composed and focused, while Damian followed immediately behind him.

The two carried themselves very differently.

Anthony had a quiet authority that seemed almost effortless.

Damian, meanwhile, looked completely at ease beneath the attention, his confidence evident even from the stands.

Both commanded attention without seeming to ask for it.

Vivienne watched Anthony first.

He looked incredibly good on horseback.

Of course he did.

She couldn’t deny that.

Then she mentally shrugged.

Well.

Whatever.

That was over and done with.

Her eyes moved to Damian.

And she paused.

Oh.

He was unfairly attractive too.

Claire glanced at her.

"You’re staring."

"I’m looking."

"Same thing."

Vivienne laughed.

Damian’s gaze swept across the stands.

Then he found her.

His expression brightened.

Vivienne smiled and waved.

He lifted his mallet slightly in greeting.

The girls beside Vivienne immediately squealed.

"Oh my God, he saw her!"

Claire laughed.

"Of course he did."

Vivienne shook her head, still smiling.

Damian continued around the track with the rest of the team.

The crowd remained loud throughout their entire lap, alternating between cheers for Anthony and Damian.

It wasn’t a lesser reaction than the one Christopher had received.

If anything, it was louder in a different way.

There were simply two stars competing for the crowd’s attention.

At the far end of the oval, the four riders gradually slowed their horses.

The canter became a trot.

Then they came to a controlled stop near the waiting stable hands.

Anthony dismounted first.

Damian followed.

The horses were handed over, and the two removed their helmets before walking back toward the central field with their teammates.

The crowd continued cheering even as they left the track.

Vivienne watched them disappear among the other athletes.

Then the remaining polo teams began entering.

There was no need for another full ceremonial lap.

The riders came through in orderly groups, walking their horses along the designated track before proceeding toward the far end, where the stable hands waited.

One after another, the teams were introduced.

Thirteen more teams.

Thirteen brief appearances.

Until, eventually, every polo representative had joined the other athletes in the center of the oval.

The horses were led away.

The track cleared.

And the enormous field was now filled with competitors from every sport Saint Albion had to offer.

Vivienne looked across the gathering athletes.

Eleanor stood somewhere among the fencers.

Christopher stood with the reigning champions.

Anthony and Damian stood with the Saint Albion Polo Club.

She smiled.

The Sports Fest had barely begun.

And already, the morning had given her quite enough to look forward to.

--

Tbc