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There were still two teams left in the game, and with just a minute remaining, if neither of them made it, they would be eliminated—and so would Derek and his team.
The realization sank in slowly. Gradually, the whole group began to understand what was truly going on. The tension in the room thickened like smoke, and an unsettling silence settled over everyone.
Derek quietly removed Justin's hand from his shirt without saying a word.
"Wait… oh my God," Derek whispered, a shocking realization hitting him like a punch to the gut.
His voice drew several eyes toward him. But Derek didn't care. His gaze remained locked on the two struggling teams. He was in a different state of mind entirely.
Everyone else might have been praying, silently hoping at least one team would make it through. But Derek… he knew better. He understood something they didn't—something harsh, bitter, and final.
