"He's leaving so soon?" Ernest was shocked as well, "I thought he was only due to leave next week."
He suddenly remembered that when he came home the night before, the webpage on Gary's computer was displaying information regarding flight tickets.
So he had already booked his flight ticket then.
"You didn't know about it as well?" Grace felt even more worried now. She looked at Ernest and asked, "Did something happen between you and your brother?"
Sensing how worried Grace was, Ernest smiled instantly, "Mommy, why would you ask this suddenly? Why would there be anything between us?"
"Is there really nothing going on?" Grace gazed into Ernest's eyes deeply.
Ernest felt weirded out and couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Mommy, why are you staring at me like this? There's really nothing between the two of us."
Naturally, Grace didn't believe in him, considering how he was smart and also good at concealing his emotions. In fact, most of the time, he seemed rather friendly and optimistic.
Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be possible to see Ernest getting angry.
Perhaps some matters weren't considered serious enough to Ernest, but the same might not apply to Gary.
This was due to the difference in every individual's personalities.
Grace tried to read his face, but he wasn't displaying any other emotions apart from finding her weird.
"Ernest, your classmate came by today." Grace decided to bring this issue up since she couldn't extract any useful information from him. She hoped to get some answers that way.
"Are you referring to Celeste White?" Ernest responded, "If it was Celeste, I knew about it. In fact, I was the one who gave her our address and landline."
"Then you know why she came over?" Grace was amazed at how natural and optimistic he seemed as if nothing was serious or important.
"Yeah, she wanted to persuade Gary."
"What for?" Grace quickly asked.
Ernest shrugged, "Actually, it's all Celeste's wishful thinking. She was hoping for Gary and me to study in the United States together, but both of us have already made our decisions. I go to England while he goes to the United States."
"Why can't the both of you study in the same country?" Grace stared at him eagerly, "How is it good for the both of you to separate from one another?"
"Mommy, I think you're being paranoid." Ernest ended up comforting her instead, "Gary and I both understand what we should do, so you don't have to worry about us. It's really fine."
"What about Celeste?"
"Her wishful thinking was that it would be better for everyone to continue our studies as classmates." Ernest then asked Grace in return, "Mommy, wouldn't it be better for us to go on different paths in the United States and England to make new friends and learn different things? I really don't know what exactly you are worried about?"
"Ernest," Grace felt very helpless at how he answered her so nicely, yet indifferently as well.
This son of hers had always been nonchalant.
"Mommy, you know that you can just be straightforward with me," Ernest continued to smile at Grace.
"Your brother said..." Grace hesitated.
"Mommy, you can continue; there's no need to be shy. I probably won't be surprised with whatever he has to say."
His words successfully stopped Grace from continuing what she initially wished to say.
She couldn't divulge what Gary shared with her.
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