章 3: The Brain Workout

In the auditorium of Barley High School, the senior-year students were assembled for an exercise called the Brain Workout. This exercise occurs every first week of resumption to test and boost the intelligence of the students. Almost 75% of the students fail the test, while 25% pass. Among those who make the test, only three students have the best and outstanding results, known as the Trio, and it's now expected that they'll excel again.

The students in the auditorium look worried while waiting for the principal to address them. The Trio looks happy as usual, being the only students expected to excel. They also have a popular phrase they find dumb to say, which is "The Brain Workout is the food of the brain."

The Brain Workout involves testing the students' verbal and quantitative reasoning through quizzes, riddles, and solving arithmetic problems.

In a few minutes, the principal and some walked into the auditorium to address the students.

"Hello, my distinguished heroes! Welcome back to school," the Burley Principal (Mr. Brian) pronounced. "I know you students must have been aware of the exercise that takes place every first week of resumption."

"Yes, sir," the students chorused. "Alright, good luck with the test. I wish you guys a better grade. Good day," Mr. Brian took his leave immediately after addressing the students.

One of the school staff also walked into the auditorium to tell students about the protocols they need to follow: "Hi, everyone. I'm here to guide you on the exercise. The first thing you need to do is open your tab; you'll find the protocol you need to follow. But for those without a tab, get a sheet to answer your questions. The protocol will be visible on the projector. Bye for now," Mr. Smith, the senior year programming teacher, left the students to continue the exercise.

A few hours later, the students were through with the exercise, and commotions were everywhere.

Chatter Box POV:

In the dining hall, some groups of students are chattering.

"Girlie! How was your test?" a girl in the group asked.

"The test was like OMG. I'm sorry," a student said with a ridiculous look, making everyone burst into laughter.

"The Trio's must be feeling like queens now because they're the only ones who got the highest possible mark. No one has ever beaten them to it," another student said, feeling bitter, while others nodded in agreement. The chatter went on.

In the Science Department Class (The Trio's Class):

The Chemistry Teacher (Mr. Walter) is teaching: "Hi, scientists and technologists! Welcome back to school after the long vacation. Today, we'll be reviewing one topic from the previous session: Black Holes. Let's do a little quizzing on this topic. I'll ask any question concerning this topic, and I need you guys to answer the questions. Is that clear?" Mr. Walter said, almost yelling.

The students chorused, "Yes, sir."

"The first question is quite simple. I expect every one of you to know it. Why do Black Holes form?" Mr. Walter questioned.

Maya stood up to answer the question. "Black Holes form when massive stars exhaust their nuclear fuel and collapse under their gravity. The collapse is so severe that it forms a point of infinite density called a singularity, surrounded by the event horizon."

"Wow! Give her a large round of applause," Mr. Walter urged his students to congratulate Maya's answer. The students responded with a clap.

"Alright, the second question is: how does time dilation near a black hole's event horizon affect an observer?" Mr. Walter said with a chuckle. "Is there anyone who wants to give it a try?"

No one stood up; everyone gazed at the Trios to give the question a try. Joy stood up to answer the question.

"Well, the answer is: As the observer approaches the event horizon, time dilation causes time to pass more slowly for them compared to a distant observer. This relativistic effect intensifies as they get closer to the black hole. That's all." The students stood up to give a round of applause.

"Sir, can I ask a question?" Basset said to Mr. Walter. Basset asked, "Hmm," Mr. Walter sighed in frustration, "Yes, you can go ahead."

"Sir, what happens to a matter that falls into a black hole?" Basset said. Mr. Walter smiled and said, "You asked a very good question. What about I answer on another day? I feel a bit unwell. Good day." Mr. Walter left the classroom hurriedly, feeling uneasy and embarrassed.

The students in the classroom couldn't hide their laughter anymore; they all noticed how uneasy Mr. Walter looked when he was questioned by Basset.

BASSET POV:

I feel really bad for what I did in Mr. Walter's Class. I knew he wouldn't be able to answer it. I, like a bully, Ashy and Joy are happy for what I did, but I'm not.

Our days in high school are no longer as challenging as they used to be, aside from students hailing and admiring us. Previously, some students loved to challenge our intelligence; many of them made us who we are today. To be sincere, I hope there'll be a tiebreaker – someone very intelligent to challenge us. I'd love to be challenged like in recent times.

"Hey! What're you thinking of?" Ashy and Joy jolted me out of my thoughts. "Did you by chance formulate a theory "Hmm, not yet," I sighed deeply. "I was just thinking about our previous competitors. It was nice having them in our life."

"Duh, who cares about those dummies? I bet they've learned their lessons by now. Next time, they won't try us, not even in their dreams," Joy scoffed. "Yeah, they'll never try us again," Ashy added.

"I don't understand why they're always like that. They always hate their competitors, making me feel like an outcast at times. Crazy, huh!"

"Hey, Senior Trio's! The principal called for you guys; he said it's urgent," a random student ran to us, breathing heavily.

"What's the problem?" We asked. "I have no idea," she replied hurriedly. "Okay, we'll be there." We went to the principal's office to find out why he asked for our presence, but what he told us was so shocking and unbelievable.

To be continued…