Chapter 2

Uncle Leonard's eyes widened. "Do you know how many people would fight tooth and nail for this opportunity?"

Mom sat up from the hospital bed and grabbed my hand. "Ethan, you can have anything you want. Just, please… Don't throw away your future."

I looked at her pale face. "I'm sorry, Mom."

Tears started rolling down her cheeks again. "Why are you tormenting me like this?"

I turned toward the door, unable to meet her gaze.

Right then, an elderly man with white hair walked in. It was Arthur Caldwell, my high school's principal. He had come especially from school to persuade me.

I greeted him respectfully. "Hello, Mr. Caldwell."

He looked at me and said earnestly, "Ethan, you've always been the pride of our school. Only one in 10,000 people is lucky enough to have talent like yours. How can you waste it like this?"

I lowered my head. "I'm sorry for disappointing you."

"I'm not disappointed," he said, shaking his head. "I'm heartbroken.

"Do you know how many resources the school put into nurturing you? The best teachers, the best facilities, and the best environment. Now that you've achieved such outstanding results, you tell us you want to go to a trashy school. What are we supposed to do with that?"

My eyes grew wet as I heard that. But I still said firmly, "I've made up my mind, Mr. Caldwell."

"Just tell us why, won't you?"

Everyone stared at me, waiting for my answer.

I opened my mouth to speak, but in the end, I still shook my head.

Mr. Caldwell sighed.

"If you won't say anything, I'll just have to find out for myself."

I watched him start dialing a number, my heart racing. After chatting with the other person for a few minutes, his expression suddenly changed. It went from anger to confusion and finally to utter shock.

"What? Are you sure?" he asked, his voice trembling. "Okay… I understand."

He hurriedly hung up the phone with a somewhat odd expression on his face. Everyone looked at him, waiting for him to explain, but he merely stared at me blankly, unable to form words for a long time.

Uncle Leonard pressed, "Mr. Caldwell, what happened? What did the college say?"

Mr. Caldwell took a deep breath before jumping to his feet. "I can't get involved in this matter anymore."

The whole room was stunned.

Mom looked confused. "What do you mean, Mr. Caldwell? Didn't you say you were going to get to the bottom of things?"

Mr. Caldwell shook his head. "I'm not interfering with this matter anymore. Ethan, go to whichever college you want. I won't try to persuade you again."

With that, he turned and left the hospital room without another word, leaving everyone else staring at each other in bewilderment.

Just then, a commotion sounded from outside the hospital room.

A group of reporters carrying cameras burst in, instantly crowding the room. Leading them was Portia Wynn, a reporter I'd seen on the local TV channel before.

"Hello, I'm Portia Wynn, a reporter with the local news channel. May I ask which one of you is Ethan Walker?"

Everyone turned to look at me.

I sighed and stood up. "I am."

Portia excitedly signaled the cameraman to start filming.

"Ethan Walker, first of all, congratulations on becoming the state's top scorer in this year's SAT. But we heard that you're giving up Easton University and Northbridge University for Seabrook Technical College. Is that true?"

The red light on the camera was on. I knew this was a live broadcast.

I nodded. "Yes, it's true."

The room erupted into an uproar, and the other reporters surged forward one after another.

"Ethan, why would you make such a choice?"

I looked at the microphones and cameras, feeling the immense pressure. But all I could say was, "I just want to go to Seabrook Technical College. That's all."

Portia was clearly unsatisfied with the answer.

"Just like that? A top scorer gives up Easton and Northbridge just because he 'wants to'? Ethan, could you give us a more detailed explanation?"

I shook my head. "It's just a personal choice."

The reporters began whispering among themselves.

A young reporter asked, "Ethan, do your parents support your decision?"

Everyone turned to look at Mom and Dad.

"We… We respect our son's choice," Mom said, forcing out a smile. But her expression was so strained that it was obvious to anyone that her smile was fake.

Another reporter turned to Dad. "Mr. Walker, as the father, are you really okay with your son giving up Easton University?"

Dad stammered, "This… This is his own decision…"

His answer was clearly unconvincing, and he looked especially nervous on camera.