Go, August, Go! FS2 ENGLISH

eleven: behave

“I’m still checking the paper of the applicants for your new tutor. They all have good credentials. So did your first three tutors. But I have to take my time this time. I don’t want to end up hiring about ten tutors for your senior years. That might get us in a bad light if some of them talked ill about you, although they were all professionals, we don’t know how people’s minds work. This could affect our future investments, too,” Mom lectured as the dinner was served to us.

I swallowed and nodded. “I understand.”

“Yeah? How much do you honestly understand the situation? Huh, Roxette? Advanced study will help you get better grades but if you don’t help yourself, or don’t wish a betterment for yourself, at the very least, no one will help you get a better ranking even if I hired the best tutors from abroad.”

“I’m sorry,” was all I could say. I was still doing my best. Why do they only look at the overall ranking? I got three ranks higher. Shouldn’t that be enough? Do they really expect me to be on top?

“Sandro told me you have been doing self-study,” Dad said in his usual reserved tone. His eyes flickered to my uniform and back to my face. “You’ve been in the school’s library?”

I slowly nodded. “I’m trying to keep up with the lessons in class. After school, I read reviewers and other books for my retake.”

“That’s good. I heard you’ve been staying at a local cafe, too,” he added and I shifted on my seat. I didn’t know Sandro reported that to him. But then again, what else would he tell them that I had been coming home late lately?

“A local cafe? Why don’t you go to a hotel, then? The Kalli? You can better focus there.”

“This cafe is just around the BGC High Street, Mom. They only started six months ago but their service is nice. It’s also the serene ambiance that I mostly like about them.”

Mom sipped on her red wine and raised a skeptical brow at me. “How did you know how long they are operating?”

I gulped. “I…I got curious with the place. They could compete with international cafes.” I smiled and leisurely sliced on my steak so she wouldn’t notice my discomfort. All I had said about Bree’s Cafe was true. I didn’t want to lie to my parents. The only secret I had kept from them so far was my relationship with Levi, and it was for everyone’s good. The thing would August happened because of my involvement with Levi so I didn’t feel the need to tell them. And after witnessing my Mom’s unfair judgment against August when she watched him on the television, I don’t think it would be best to tell her about it, too.

“Is this the same cafe Randy recommended to me?” Dad asked. “We drove past it one time and he told me their coffee was good. It's near the shopping center. You can roam around to unwind if you got stressed with your lessons. To unwind, Roxette. Remember.”

“Yes, Dad.”

“Why would you suggest that? She could get the wrong idea and meet with those rascals of a—”

“Sandro told us she’s not meeting with them. It’s the longest so far so I’m trusting that she indeed learned her lesson.” Dad wiped the table napkin on his lips and narrowed his eyes at me. “Right now, I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly happened when we left. Sandro just told me to trust your progress. Something must have happened. I wanted to be interested and find out, but for now, I’m satisfied with the changes, Roxette. You should continue with it, and your reviews.”

“What… What happened?” Mom asked curiously, although I knew Sandro reported the same thing to them.

Dad must have noticed something while Mom was only grateful that I was distancing myself from Levi and his company. I did my best not to flinch at the intent look of my father. He could be the best observant and listener if he wanted to. But I don’t really want them to be too curious with my life knowing that most of my decisions gave them a headache. I appreciated that they liked my progress. I wanted to trust myself with that, as well. But keeping up with this good progress meant completely cutting Levi out of my life. How would do that if he was my boyfriend? And I loved him?

I didn’t like that my Mom grew suspicious after her question was left unanswered. She looked around the room but did not find Sandro. I had a feeling she would interrogate him for it.

“I’ll also spend the weekends in the cafe to study,” I informed them to break the tension away from my Mom. Alerted, she raised a brow at me. I reassuringly smiled at her. “Randy and Sandro could stay around while I study, Mom. You don’t have to worry, really. I’m dedicated to studying well right now. I promise, Mom and Dad.”

‘’Oh?” she exclaimed in belief. “It’s such a good thing to hear but you’re scaring me, Roxette. You’re too good lately that I’m afraid you’re preparing for something worse once we all let down our guards.”

My lips parted at her speculation. Mom chuckled but it came out shaky as worried crossed her face. Even Dad was convinced with her statement that he frowned at me.

I groaned loudly. “Are you not happy? Dad? Mom? This is difficult for me, too, but Sandro is right: this lesson will teach me something different and--”

“I was right then. Something happened?” Dad interrupted with the raise of his brows.

My lips parted.

“What is it, Roxette? Must we demand it from Sandro? Should we, anyway? He should hve reported us everything,” Mom added.

“I just met someone who somehow… changed my plans. My decisions. Even Sandro sounded grateful that I met this someone.”

“Do we know him?” Dad asked.

I sighed. “No… Please, don’t demand me to tell about this person. Huh, Dad? Mom? Let’s just say, I did something wrong and I’m trying to behave and work for my apology be accepted.”

“And this is why you’re studying on your own?”

“Well… sort of?”

“Oh! We should thank this someone then!” Mom announced to my horror. I could only imagine he reaction to know it was August. Besides, August hardly even acknowledged my presence. To him, I was a stranger. How would I introduced him to other people around me if his eyes would always glare at me like he always wanted me out of his way?

“You should work on that apology first,” Dad said and cleared his throat. He knew Mom could be demanding and invasive at times. And we would all end up in a bad terms if she pursuade me to tell them when I was not really ready. I was glad that Dad decided to change the topic for my benefit. “Would you be studying the whole weekend? You don’t plan to come to the party? I heard Yuna plans to have one for Hyoshin Sy.”

“You should come!” Mom quickly encouraged me. “I heard about that, too. How sweet of Yuna, right? We should look for someone for our daughter, too, Anton.”

I gaped at my Mom’s suggestion. What now?!