Chapter 3

My mom started to twist her stiff body in the most awkward manner. The almost-comical way she was moving her body tickled everyone into laughter.

I turned around and bit my lip hard, clenching my fists so tight my knuckles turned white. I couldn’t bear to watch a second longer.

A moment later, the laughter in the room died down.

My mom’s forehead was covered in sweat. She reached her hands out and said with a polite smile, “Sir, I’m done dancing.”

Mr. Larsson scoffed in disdain. “Well done. Here’s a tip for you.”

With that, he flung the wad of cash at my mom.

My mom muttered a thanks under her breath and bent down to pick up every single bill on the floor. When she left the room, she saw me waiting by the entrance.

“Jordan, what are you doing here so late at night?” she asked, ever so tenderly.

It was as though that humiliation she had just suffered left no mark at all in her heart.

However, I could still catch the slight trembling in her voice.

When I didn’t reply to her, she stuffed the cash into my hands and said dotingly, “Look, I did a performance just now and earned so much!

“I’m uneducated and can’t do much to help you in your studies. My heart aches seeing you studying so hard every night. You’re working so hard that you’re losing weight, darling.

“Go for extra classes, like the one with the famous teacher you’re always talking about. Don’t worry about money. I’ll find ways to earn it.”

As it turned out, my mom was enduring all the hardship and humiliation for my sake.

I had thought I was all alone and without support in the path of preparing for my exams. I never thought that my mom had been right behind me, supporting me.

“Mom…”

I could no longer hold myself back. I hugged her tight, my throat constricted and hoarse with emotion.

After attending extra classes, I managed to strengthen my foundation and cover up the knowledge gaps I used to have.

Those tough questions I couldn’t solve even after asking my teachers and classmates were easily resolved with the help of the tutor. I was gradually able to catch up in Mathematics.

In today’s math assignment, there were only three questions I answered incorrectly.

I was feeling good about myself when Denise, who was seated next to me, said coldly, “The extra lessons you’ve been taking seem to be rather effective.”

The corner of her lips curled in a wicked smirk as she looked at the red ticks on my paper in disdain.

“But are you sure you can feel at ease when you’re spending money your mother earns from twisting her body so awkwardly at her workplace for tuition?”

My heart sank immediately. How did she find out about that?

The image of Denise’s father seated at the head of the table in the private room that day flashed past my mind.

Sensing me stiffening up, Denise teased me further. “Jordan Schmidt, if I were you, I wouldn’t be so shameful as to use this money for my extra lessons.”

I bit my bottom lip hard. A feeling of unease rose from the pit of my stomach.

Even so, I was clear that this uneasiness I was feeling wasn't because I felt embarrassed by my mom. I turned around, looked straight into Denise’s eyes, and spoke to her, my voice firm.

“My mom earns a decent living by her own hard work. I'm going to use her hard-earned money, and I’m also going to make sure I achieve good results with it. You, on the other hand, find joy in other people’s suffering. You don’t even have any basic decency and respect for others.”

Her face darkened at my sudden retaliation. After all, I had always been tolerant of whatever that came my way.

“Have you gone mad?” she sputtered.

Turning around, I ignored her and focused on the questions I had answered incorrectly.

From that day on, I studied as though my life depended on it.

I was the first to arrive in class and the last to leave. Aside from sleeping and eating, my mind was obsessed with formulas and vocabulary.

The midterm exam was held two weeks later.

The day the results were released, I stood before the honor roll and let out a long sigh of relief.

I was the 12th student in class and amongst the top hundred students of my level.

This was my best result ever since I entered high school, officially propelling me to the upper-middle tier amongst my peers.

My tutor praised me for my remarkable improvement and the strong foundation I had built.

Coincidentally, Ms. Sable announced that a parent-teacher meeting would be held this weekend.

Typically, the rankings of the last exam would be announced at these parent-teacher meetings. I could finally make my mom proud for once.