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Theoldermanalwayshad<b>a</b>wayofscoldingeveryoneasthoughtheywereunderhimand.Thosearoundhimgotusedtohisstyle.
CrestfallenUniversity’s<b>and</b>CrestfieldUniversity’sadmissiondepartmentsalsoneededtobeinbettershape.
Shaking,heannounced.“That’sit.Millygotsevenhundredforty–ninepointfive,justhalfa pointshyofperfect.She’snotonlyleadingourprovince,butshe’salsothebestacrossthewholecountry.”
Atthatderation,ahushfelloverthelivingroom.
EvenPhilip,hisagedfingerswindingthroughhisprayerbeads,stoppedcoldasifheneededtohearitagain,confused,“Whichce?Itcan’tbeoutofathousand,right?”
Jordanwasthequickesttoclearthingsup,“Thehighestscoreissevenhundredandfifty,sowithMilly’ssevenhundredforty–ninepointfive,she’sbarelymissedbeingperfectbutstilltopsthecountry.”
Philipsippedhistea,tryingtowraphisheadaroundthenews,mumbling,“Topscorerinthecountry.”
Jordanlookedathim,expressionless,exiningtheweightofMilly’sachievement,“It’slikebeingthenumberoneschrbackintheday.”
ThenewsmadePhilip’shandshake,spillingsomeofhistea.
Theoldermanmightnotbefamiliarwithtoday’sng,butheunderstoodtheimportanceofbeingthetopstudent.Backinhisday,itmeantdonningauniquecapandgown andreceivingcheersandapusefromtheentirmunity.
Whileitmightnotbethatglorioustoday,itstillcarriesimmenseprideforthefamily.
“Really,thetopscorer?Thewholecountry’s topscorer?”Philipaskedagain,findingithardtobelieve.
SeeingPhilip’schangeinattitude,thestafffromCrestfallenUniversityspokewithmoreassurance,“Yes,she’sthecountry’stopscorer.Oncetheresultsarepublic,expectthemediateknockingfor
interviews<b>.</b><b>”</b>
Philipjustnoddedcalmlyinresponse,leavingeveryoneelse puzzledbyhiposure.
Wouldn’tmostparentsbeexcitedaboutlearningtheirchildisthenationaltopscorer?
Therichlivedifferently,navigatingthroughstormsyeteasilykeepingtheircool.
Butnoteveryonecouldstaycalm.JonathanwassooverjoyedthathejumpedupandstartedrunningaroundMillylikeahyperdog,hiseyesshiningwithamazement,“Wow,Milly,you’reamazing.You’rethenationalchampion!”
Milly,tryingtocalmhimdownwhilenursingaslightlyswollenforeheadfromhisvigorouscelebration,corrected.“Onlyfirstce,notachampion!”
ButJonathanwouldn’thaveit,“Firstcemeanschampion!You’rethechampion!Andthat’swaybetter<b>than</b><b>those</b>whothinkthey’resomethingspecialforcingfifthnationally.Pfft,asifanyonecaresabout
that!”
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Atthis,Xavier’sfaceturnedpale,hisexpressionfreezingover.Hiseyesliftedslowly,andeventhemusclesinhisfacetrembled,“Thatcan’tberight!It’sjustnotpossible!”
Jonathansighed,“What’ssohardtobelieve?Millyisjustthatgood,easilyoutshiningyou.”
Xavierstruggledforair,grindinghisteethasifhiscorebeliefswerecrumblingthenandthere.
Drawinguponthetension,JonathanboldlysteppedbeforeMilly,defiantlyfacinghistallerbrother,“What’swrong?Can’tstandlosing?ThinkingabouthittingMilly?”
Hecouldn’tbelieveXavierwoulddaretoevenlookatMillythatway.
WithoutJordanandgrandfather’srestrainingpresence,he’ddefinitelyteachXavieralessonhewouldn’tforget.
Asthingsheatedupforanotherroundofconfrontation,Jordancutinbeforetheirgrandfathercouldlosehistemper,sternlytellingJonathan<b>,</b>“Jonathan,showsomerespecttoXavier,andsitdown!”
Jonathan,stillheated,retorted,“Hmph,buthedisrespected–Milly!”
EverythingpausedmomentarilyuntilXaviereventuallystormedoffwithafrown.
Jonathan showedhisdisdainforXavier’sretreat,rolledhiseyes,andloungedbackonthecouch,muttering.“Hmph!Losers!”
Afterhisoutburstofpridefulindignation,JonathanwasgearinguptogoovertoMillytobragabouthisdaringness,butthen hecaughtJordan’seye.
Suddenly,Jonathanwashitbyawaveoffear.
Hebackedup abit,realizinghemight<b>have</b>oversteppedearlier,hisheartracingashestartedtostammeroutanapology,“I’msorry,Jordan.Iwon’tdoitagain.I’llgosaysorrytoothers,too.”
ButJordanjustgaveasoft“Hmm”followedby“Yourallowancewillgetathirtythousanddorsboost.eachmonth.”
<b>Jonathan’s</b><b>eyes</b>litup.“Really?Forreal?”
Withasternlook,Jordanwarned,“Askonemoretimeandforgetit.”
“Alright,”Jonathanagreedquickly.
AsJordanstoppedpayingattentiontoXavierwalkingaway,Xavierfoundhimselfwrestlingwithhispride.Hecouldn’tstandbeingoutdone,eventhoughheknewitwasjustified.RegretoverhowhetreatedMillyinfrontofJordannaggedathim.
ThedisturbanceseemedtopassrightoverAnthony,though.Henervouslyapproachedtheadmissionsofficecounterandasked,“Couldyoucheckifmyexamresultsareready?AmIamongthetopthirtyinthecountry?”
HewasrackedwithanxietymissingoutmeantnotbeingabletostudythesamesubjectasMilly!N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.
AndwhatifMillywastargetedwithillintentions?<i>What</i><i>if</i>she wasbulliedbyagroupof girls?Oreven worse,targetedbyadeceitfulprofessor?
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Themorehethoughtaboutit,themore terrifiedliebecame!
HeneededtoguaranteehiscetostandbyMilly!Ifhedidn’t
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Therewererumoursthatthismajorrequiredparticipatinginyearlyscientificresearch.Asadesperatemeasure,hewouldofferhimselfupforscience!
Withakindsmile,theadmissionsofficestafftoldhim,“Antony,you’rein.Yourankedtwenty–fifthnationallyand<b>are</b>eptedintotheLife ScienceandTheoreticalResearchprogram.”
Anthonyjumpedforjoy,saying,“Incredible!Milly,we’regoingtobeuniversitymates!”
Feelingupliftedbyhisjoy,Millyagreed,“Yeah!”
Afterchoosingtheirmajorsandsubmittingtheirapplications,theadmissionsstaffwishedthemwell.
Whenthemaidreturnedtothelivingroomafterhandingintheenrolmentpaperwork,shenoticedAndrewonthephone,deeplyintoaconversation.
“Hey,Doug,haveyoueatenyet?”
“Anythingnewhappening?Howcannothingbegoingon?Iheardyournephewalsotookthecollegeentranceexamsthisyear.Howdidhedo?”
“It’squitefunny.Mygranddaughteralsotooktheteststhisyear,butherscoresweren’tasgoodaswehoped.Whatapity!”
“I’veheardtheresultsarein.CrestfallenUniver.andCrestfieldUniversityareimingthenational
champions‘topspotinthecountry.Reportersareprobablyontheirwayforinterviews!Kidsthesedays,theylovebeinginthelimelight.”
“Mygranddaughterdidn’tdotoowell,butshe’sgottodealwithit,right?Hellohello?”
Butbeforehecouldfinish,thecalldropped,leavingMillylostinthought.
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