Chapter 2
1043 Words
The next day, after I returned, we all silently agreed not to mention what had happened the night before. I threw myself into studying, determined to get into a better university than I had in my last life.
On the day the first mock exam results were released, the school held a parent meeting to discuss college applications. I sat quietly, waiting with my report card showing the top score in the entire grade. After two lifetimes, this was the first time a family member was supposed to come to a parent meeting for me.
But half an hour ago, my mom said she was already at the school gate. Now the meeting was about to start, and she still hadn't shown up.
Just as I was about to call her again, I saw her hurrying toward me. "Sorry, sweetheart. I went to the wrong classroom. That's what held me up."
I caught the scent of her orange perfume, and my heart clenched a little. This was Caroline's favorite fragrance. I noticed her gaze drifting toward Caroline's classroom, and I forced a smile. "It's okay. Let's go in first."
Just then, Caroline jogged over, looking at my mom with wide, pitiful eyes. "Mrs. Gibson, my parents are both too busy. Neither of them could make it… Could you please help me with my parent meeting?"
My heart dropped. Before I could even open my mouth, Caroline turned her pleading gaze on me. "Eleanor, can I borrow your mom for just a little while? She's always been the one to handle my parent meetings. She knows my situation best. Without her, I honestly don't know what to do…"
I instinctively tightened my grip on my mom's hand. "Why should I? I need her too."
Before I could finish, Caroline cut me off, her voice perfectly innocent. "Why would you need her? Your parents have never come to a parent meeting for you, it's always been the driver, right? You should be used to it by now."
My heart felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand. Yes, I was used to it. But being used to it didn't mean I didn't still need what I needed.
I turned to my mom, and spotted a hesitation and conflict flickering in her eyes, and I held out my report card, almost begging. "Mom, I earned 1500 above in this mock exam…"
I thought this would convince her to stay. But to my surprise, her face immediately relaxed with relief. She gave me a comforting yet apologetic smile. "You're so outstanding, Eleanor. You could get into any top university in the country. There's nothing I could decide for you about college applications. But Caroline isn't nearly as excellent as you. She needs careful guidance with her applications. Don't worry, I'll just go chat with her teacher about her college options, and I'll be right back."
She patted my shoulder and turned to leave. Caroline linked arms with her affectionately, then glanced back at me with a look of pure provocation. That was really a "I win" look on that face.
The parent meeting began. Every student sat in the aisle, giving their seat to their parent. I sat alone in the middle, painfully conspicuous. The homeroom teacher looked at me with concern. "Eleanor, didn't you find your biological parents? Can't either of them make it to the meeting?"
Under the stares of dozens of people, I was so humiliated I could barely hold back tears. "We already talked it over at home." I said, forcing a smile. I lowered my head and carefully wrote down my only choice on the application form: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
After the SAT, I would go to the northeasternmost edge of the country, thousands of kilometers away from all of them, and pursue the noblest ideal. In this life, my ties to Caleb and my parents could end right here.
The parent meeting ended. My mom still hadn't come back.
Just as I was about to head downstairs, Caleb came running against the flow of the crowd. His face was bright with excitement. "Eleanor! Caroline and I talked it over. We're planning to apply to Georgia Institute of Technology! You should come with us!"
I stopped. A dull ache surged through my chest, and the words slipped out before I could stop them. "Caleb, do you still remember? We promised we'd go to university in New England together."
He frowned, and his earlier enthusiasm faded. "It's too cold in Northern area in winters. Caroline can't handle it. I know you ranked first in the whole school this time, you could walk into Harvard or Stanford Junior University. But can't you just go to Atlanta for me? Georgia Tech's a great school too!"
"Is this really about which university it is?" The sun was blazing overhead, but I felt a deep chill run straight through me. We used to scroll through university information together on our phones, full of dreams about college life, promising we would never part. Now he'd changed his mind because of Caroline, and he wanted to drag me along with him.
It reminded me of that post and the comment: Give the current girlfriend title to the fake heiress. Save the future wife position for the real one. I couldn't help but let out a bitter, inward laugh.
As we walked through the crowd, Caleb seemed to finally sense something in my silence. He stopped pushing. "Forget it. We'll talk about it after the SAT."
We walked slowly along the narrow path beside the teaching building. He tried to find another topic, then suddenly seemed to remember something. "By the way, wasn't there a parent meeting today? Why didn't I see Mrs. Gibson? Even after going back to your real parents, you still had to go to the meeting alone?"
A sharp pain stabbed through my chest. I opened my mouth, and was about to speak. But just then, as we rounded the corner, I saw my mom, holding Caroline close, smiling and chatting warmly with her teacher.
"The day Caroline was brought back, both our families agreed. From now on, she has two fathers and two mothers. She will always be our most beloved pearl."
- Writer
