That night, I went home with the biggest smile on my face. The moment I stepped into my room, I threw myself onto my bed and hugged my pillow tightly, burying my face in it as I laughed quietly to myself. "I can't believe she kissed my cheek..." I whispered. I reached up and touched my cheek again, remembering the warmth of her lips. Then my thoughts drifted back to the way she had smiled beneath the moonlight, how her eyes sparkled, and how she had laughed before running into the forest. I couldn't stop smiling. "What is happening to me?" I muttered as I stared at the ceiling. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Isabella—her blue dress, the sunflower hair clip in her hair, and her soft voice calling my name. I rolled onto one side of the bed, then the other, but sleep refused to come. With a sigh, I let out a quiet laugh. "No wonder people say love makes you lose sleep." I buried my face in my pillow once more, trying to hide my ridiculous grin. "If my teammates saw me like this, I'd never hear the end of it." After a few minutes, I finally forced myself to sit up and glanced at the clock.
11:43 PM.
"Focus, Ace," I whispered to myself.
I walked over to my desk, where my laptop, notebooks, and competition materials were neatly arranged. Tomorrow wasn't just another school day. It was the Business Simulation Competition. Taking a deep breath, I looked over the files spread across my desk. This wasn't just another academic event; it was one of the biggest inter-university business competitions in the country. Only the best fourth-year Business Management students from each university were chosen to compete, making the event a gathering of some of the brightest future business leaders. Our university had selected a team of five students, including me. Inside the simulation, we would serve as the management team of a virtual company, with each of us taking on different responsibilities and making decisions as if we were real executives running an actual business. Although the company wasn't real, every decision was. Throughout the competition, we would analyze financial statements, study market trends, develop marketing strategies, set product prices, manage production, prepare budgets, and solve unexpected business challenges. After every round, each team would submit its decisions to the simulation system, which would process every choice and determine the outcome. A smart strategy could increase profits, attract more customers, and strengthen our company's position in the market, while a single careless decision could lead to massive financial losses—or even bankruptcy. To make things even more challenging, the market was constantly changing. Customer preferences shifted, competitors launched new products, and economic conditions could change without warning. Success depended on how quickly we could adapt. It was the closest experience a student could have to running a real company without risking real money. But what made the competition truly prestigious wasn't the trophy—it was the people watching.
I still remembered what Professor Marco Valdez had told me after he announced that I had been selected.
"This competition is more than just winning, Ace."
"Many of the country's biggest companies send their CEOs, executives, business owners, and recruiters to watch every round."
At first, I thought they were simply guests.
But Professor Valdez smiled and shook his head.
"They're not just watching."
"They're looking for future leaders."
I still remembered asking him,
"What do you mean, sir?"
He folded his arms and smiled.
"If you perform exceptionally well, there's a good chance one of those companies will offer you a job before you even graduate."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"A... job?"
He nodded.
"Yes. Some students receive internship offers, while the most outstanding participants are offered full-time positions that begin immediately after graduation."
"Imagine graduating from university with a career already waiting for you."
"That's why this competition is so important."
Those words had stayed with me ever since.
Winning would bring honor to our university.
But doing well could also change my future.
Thousands of graduates searched for jobs after graduation.
Some waited months.
Others waited years.
Yet this competition offered the chance to skip that uncertainty.
If I proved myself...
I could walk across the graduation stage already knowing where my future would begin.
That thought alone made my heart race.
I looked back at the notes on my desk.
Market analysis.
Financial planning.
Risk management.
Marketing strategies.
Weeks of preparation flashed through my mind.
Finally, I closed my notebook.
"I've prepared enough."
I walked to my window and looked up at the full moon.
A gentle smile appeared on my face.
"I'll do my best tomorrow, Isabel."
I didn't know why, but imagining her cheering for me filled me with a quiet confidence. I had already told my mom and dad about the competition, and they were both so happy for me. Seeing my father smile felt a little strange, but it also made me smile. For the first time in years, it felt like the people I loved truly believed in me. I wasn't doing this only for myself anymore—I wanted to make them proud. With that thought warming my heart, I turned off the lights and lay down on my bed. This time, sleep came easily.