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Novel Catalog
Carlisle retrieved his college application form from his backpack and handed it to Hilda. As she examined the form, her face tightened with a frown. “You little rascal,” she remarked, “you actually wrote Riverland University?”
Gordon’s voice took on an edge of displeasure. “What do you mean? Isn’t my son qualified for Riverland University?”
Hilda shook her head, exasperated. “I didn’t mean that. What I’m saying is, he could have applied to a few more schools!”
“What? He only filled out one?” Gordon grabbed the form from Hilda’s hands, his expression turning serious. As he scanned it, his body stiffened.
Goodness, Carlisle had only written Riverland University. Was he seriously only considering this one school? Gordon had always encouraged his son, but now doubt crept in. Could Carlisle actually get into Riverland University?
Carlisle, his mouth full, swallowed carefully and then looked up at his father. “Dad, don’t you believe in me anymore?” he asked cautiously.
Gordon took a deep breath, placing the form down with a serious expression. “Why don’t you reconsider?” he said with earnestness.
Carlisle’s lips curled in irritation. His father had just sworn to support him—how hypocritical!
His mind briefly wandered back to a time when he was sick. He remembered his father’s frequent coughs and bouts of difficulty breathing. Carlisle had long suspected that his father might have lung problems. It wasn’t until Carlisle nearly died that Gordon promised to quit smoking.
“Dad,” Carlisle began with a glint of mischief in his eyes, “let’s make a bet. If I get into Riverland University, you’ll quit smoking.”
Gordon shivered at the thought, recalling the three months he’d managed to quit to buy Carlisle a bicycle. “You should change the bet,” he muttered.
Carlisle smirked. “What? Are you too scared to take it on?”
Gordon’s irritation flared. “Alright, fine! If you get into Riverland University, I’ll quit both smoking and drinking!”
Carlisle’s grin spread wider.
Gordon, his patience thinning, added sharply, “Look at you now. Acting like you’re really going to get into Riverland University!”
Hilda pinched Gordon’s arm hard and shot him a pointed look. “Who was it, again, who wholeheartedly believed he could make it?”
Gordon rubbed his arm sheepishly and walked toward the balcony to light a cigarette. Carlisle, unfazed, returned to his room to continue studying after dinner. Subjects like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Language—his weakest areas—demanded his full attention.
For the next three days, Carlisle studied tirelessly. In class, he listened intently and participated eagerly, often raising his hand to answer questions. His classmates, once accustomed to his quiet demeanor, now saw a new side of him.
One day, Lucy wrote a particularly difficult math problem on the board. She glanced around the class, scanning the students. “This question is likely to appear on the SAT,” she said. “Who can solve it?”
The class fell silent. Most of the students shrank back, unwilling to volunteer. Lucy wasn’t surprised—the problem was indeed tough, and even Wanda, the class monitor, would struggle with it.
“Ms. Turner, I can solve it,” Carlisle said confidently, raising his hand.
Lucy, without a second thought, waved him off. “Let Wanda solve it instead,” she dismissed him, not believing that Carlisle could handle the complex equation.
Wanda, however, stood up and spoke with certainty. “Ms. Turner, let Carlisle try it. He really can solve it.”
Surprised, Lucy hesitated before nodding. “Alright, Carlisle, go ahead.”
Carlisle walked to the front, took the chalk, and began to work through the equation. With swift precision, he filled half the blackboard with his calculations, never once pausing to reconsider.
“Done!” he announced, setting the chalk back down. “Ms. Turner, please check if I made any mistakes.”
Lucy examined his work closely. To her astonishment, every step was correct—flawlessly so.
She stared at him, wide-eyed. “It seems that Wanda’s tutoring has really had an effect on you!”
Carlisle smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Ms. Turner, for the opportunity, and thank you, Wanda, for all your help.”
A rare smile appeared on Lucy’s face. “Well done. You can return to your seat. I’m looking forward to seeing even more progress in tomorrow’s mock exam!”
Carlisle sat back down, and Wanda exchanged a knowing glance with him. She was proud of how far he had come in just a few days.
Meanwhile, Sarah watched the exchange with a smile of her own. She believed Carlisle’s newfound drive had everything to do with her. After all, he was working so hard because she had told him she wanted to attend Riverland University. The power of her charm, she thought, was undeniable.
After class, Sienna sat beside Sarah, a thoughtful expression on her face. “Sarah, it seems like Carlisle’s changed a lot!”
Sarah smirked, raising her chin proudly. “Of course! Otherwise, how could he hope to catch up with me and get into Riverland University?”
Sienna looked at her curiously. “Has he talked to you lately?”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “Can’t you see he’s been studying hard?” she responded nonchalantly.
Sienna paused before asking, “Would you date him if he gets into Riverland University?”
Sarah hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Maybe. It depends on his attitude.”
Carlisle had disappointed her recently, especially since he hadn’t bought her meals or snacks like he used to. If he continued this behavior after getting into Riverland University, she wouldn’t accept him. But if he returned to pampering her like before, she might reconsider. After all, he was still good-looking—he even made it to the top ten on the senior high school heartthrob list.
“By the way,” Sienna added, “who’s been sending us breakfast mysteriously?”
Sarah raised an eyebrow. “Who else could it be? One of my pursuers. I hate this kind of mystery. Tomorrow, I’ll have Carlisle buy us breakfast instead!”
Sienna laughed. “Alright, I’ll go along with it!”
The next class was physical education. Lucy had already informed the PE teacher to allow the students to have free time, knowing most would prefer to revise. Most of the girls stayed behind to study, while many of the boys were absent.
Herman, however, returned to the classroom. He felt weak from the heat and didn’t want to stay in the sun for too long.
“Herman, where’s Carlisle?” two voices called out as he entered.
Herman glanced at Wanda and then at Sarah sitting in the corner. Was Carlisle really that popular? It seemed the school belle wasn’t the only one looking for him.
“He’s playing basketball,” Herman answered.
“Tell him to come upstairs. Just tell him I need to talk to him!” Sarah commanded.
Herman, feigning exhaustion, replied, “I think I have heatstroke…”
Wanda stood up and asked, “Sarah, what do you need him for? I was just about to go down.”
Sarah shrugged, her expression indifferent. “Forget it. I’ll go down myself. I want him to play badminton with me.”
Wanda nodded and left the classroom, while Sarah followed her at a leisurely pace. As she walked, a slight sense of rivalry stirred within her. Though she didn’t like Carlisle, she certainly didn’t want anyone else getting too close to him either.
