When Ben's photo received a standing ovation, Darryl couldn't help but scowl.
It infuriated him that everyone reacted like that! Yet, even after all the fanfare, he was still confident he'd win. 'I don't believe there was anything special about his photo. But, even if he managed to fool others, one thing's still for sure: my technique was better! And that, should be enough to win!'
As someone who placed great importance on this contest, he wouldn't be unaware of the rules that gave a heavy weight to technical ability. So, as he recalled them, his face relaxed, having found something positive to deal with his discomfort. Yet, he wasn't the only one annoyed.
The flowers bit was adapted from a comment by reader MJAgo. So thank you for that!