I Won't Go Back To My Family Who Abandon Me novel Chapter 39

Leticia looked at the list in confusion. Unfortunately, Ian's name was nowhere to be seen.

"Ian..."

She carefully grabbed Ian's sleeve and looked at him. Ian was looking at the list with an expressionless face, and slowly lowered his head. When he eventually looked at her again, he spoke slowly.

"I failed."

His tone was too dry and heartless to say that he was a failure.

Leticia clasped Ian's sleeve tighter.

"Ian."

She didn't know how to comfort him. Even when everyone else was off having a good time, Ian refused and concentrated on studying for this test.

Knowing that, Leticia was upset for him.

"I know you've been working hard."

"...."

"Good job."

Leticia grasped both of his hands with even more force. She looked straight into his eyes and said.

"There are many things you can do, if not this."

"...."

"So it's okay."

Leticia believed in Ian's potential.

Ian does his best while quietly working without being seen.

There was no doubt that one day his potential would blossom.

"It's a little disappointing."

Ian stared calmly into her sparkling blue eyes, then leaned his head on Leticia's shoulder. Leticia patted Ian on the back because she felt bad that he thought he needed to pretend to be calm as if nothing happened.

"That's for sure."

"I should have tried harder."

"You've done well enough now."

"...."

"Thank you for doing your best."

She meant it.

His determination to take the test was great and the result was disappointing, but she was proud of Ian who took the test.

Ian's expression, which touched Leticia's heart, was looking more comfortable.

"I'll do better next time."

"Yes, you can work hard next time."

"My name will be on the list then."

"Yes, it will."

Leticia smiled and stroked Ian's head gently, but she didn't notice that Ian's eyes were on the person behind her.

***

He aced it.

"Congratulations, Emil!"

"I knew it would be you!"

"Emil got first place on the exam!"

Emil wasn't too happy, because the result was only natural. He just thanked his colleagues for congratulating him out of courtesy.

Emil looked at the list once again and as soon as he checked, his mouth curled up into a grin.

˜Ian Achilles name is nowhere to be seen."

The fact that Ian had failed the first test made him even happier.

˜There's no way you would've passed.'

He never expected someone who never attended the Scholastic Academy to pass the exam, even with months of studying. Ian seemed to be foolish and ignorant. He took the test while brimming with confidence.

Emil looked around in a cheerful mood. He wanted to see Ian's defeated face after he failed the exam.

The reality was not what he had expected.

Why?

"There are many things you can do, if not this."

That's what you're saying?

Emil watched Leticia and Ian with a confused expression.

It was expected that Leticia would comfort him. She might be pathetic and lacking, but she was kind and gentle by nature.

He thought there would be a light twinge.

Instead of thanking him for doing his best.

"There are many things you can do, if not this.'

Emil stiffened when he heard them both say that they believed in his potential.

˜Why am I so....'

His fists tightened involuntarily.

˜Don't you feel like you lost?'

Even though he failed the exam, he couldn't understand the positive atmosphere. It was strange that Leticia didn't look disappointed, they didn't even argue.

Emil left his seat because of an unknown discomfort.

He felt like something was welling up from inside him.

***

"Shall we eat something delicious together to make us feel better?"

They didn't want to go back home yet, so Leticia made that suggestion to Ian. However, his gaze was directed elsewhere.

"Ian...?"

"Yes, I like that idea."

She thought he wasn't listening, but Ian nodded slightly.

Then he carefully told Leticia something that had come to mind.

"There's something I want to do before that."

"What is it?"

Leticia tilted her head slightly and asked, but Ian smiled instead of answering.

.

.

.

The first thing Leticia and Ian did when they arrived at the square was go to the bookstore.

"What are we doing here?"

"I wanted to see what I did wrong."

Ian smiled softly and looked over the books. He was already looking to study and to get better as soon as the exam was over. Leticia had a little smile on her face because she was proud to see him working hard to learn from his mistakes.

"It won't take long."

"Take your time."

Leticia nodded in satisfaction and looked around the bookstore.

˜I need to find what I want to do, too.'

What she's good at.

Her favourite thing.

She was doing her best to be patient.

A man, who had been sitting at one of the tables reading a book, suddenly got up and quickly left the bookstore. However, he'd forgotten some of his papers on the table where he'd been sitting.

"Ian, I'm going out for a minute."

"Where are you going?"

"Someone left this behind."

Leticia told Ian that she would be back soon, but he shook his head and followed her.