Chapter 24…
Moreover, what was with this unnecessary narrowing of distance between us?
The debt with the cleaning supplies closet was definitely just an excuse. Was he actually still feeling sorry about the bulletin board incident?
Seeing my flustered face, Erik shrugged his shoulders.
“Don’t feel pressured. Just say something if you need it.”
“Uh…”
I finally opened my mouth and came up with an excuse.
“Well, I’m supposed to retake the test next time, so I’ll think about it more then. Thanks.”
Thankfully, Erik let it go at that, but the more I thought about his offer of math tutoring, the more it felt like excessive kindness.
After finishing up at the library, my day once again ended with secretly opening that contract.
The next day, after classes.
As Erik’s Investment Society meeting was winding down, Olivia spoke up.
“Um, I don’t think I can come here anymore. Sorry. It was fun while it lasted.”
Before anyone could stop her, she packed up her things and left the classroom.
The remaining members exchanged silent glances, and it was Erik who stood up—of course, since he was the one who had personally gathered everyone to form this club.
Out in the hallway, he spotted Olivia’s back. With his long strides, he caught up to her almost instantly.
“Olivia!”
Olivia hesitated slightly but didn’t stop completely, slipping out of the school building instead.
Erik refused to give up and followed after her.
“Olivia, wait a sec!”
This time, Olivia stopped and turned back toward him.
“…What?”
“What do you mean, what? What’s going on all of a sudden? If you quit our club, where are you going to go?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“That’s not like you. Quitting a club without a plan?”
“What exactly is ‘like me’ supposed to mean?” Olivia shot back.
“Even if I just join some random volunteer club, it won’t be a problem for my résumé. It’s not like I dream of leading a corporation in the future, like you.”
Erik looked at Olivia, bewildered at how contrary she was acting for no reason.
“Why are you doing this? Did something happen in the club that upset you? Your return was 18% last quarter, wasn’t it? Are you quitting because you’re not satisfied?”
Olivia bristled and snapped, “What’s wrong with my return? Besides you, mine was the highest in the club.”
“That’s why I’m asking you to stay.”
“Why? Afraid the average return will drop if I leave?”
“What kind of thing is that to say?”
Hearing his sharp retort, Olivia realized she had gone too far. She bit her lip for a moment.
“It’s just… you know my mom’s never liked me dealing with money since I was little. She said she won’t give me seed money anymore.”
“What? Then you could still just keep investing with the funds you already had…”
Olivia sighed.
“What fun is that? You all keep increasing your funds every month, but I’d be stuck staying the same.”
Erik fell silent, at a loss for words, before cautiously speaking again.
“You were the only one last quarter who reduced your Aple holdings and increased Fedex and APS. My gains from Tesela were partly luck, but your analysis was spot on.”
“You’re being humble, Erik. Usually people who bought Tesela don’t talk like that.”
Olivia finally softened a little and brushed her hair back.
“But honestly, I just want to rest. Once you start looking at charts, it’s hard to stop. Thanks for the past year.”
“Even if you quit the club, we still see each other at school every day. Isn’t it a bit much to say goodbye like that?”
Erik frowned, but Olivia gave a small laugh.
“If my mom ever lets me invest again…”
She looked up at him with her golden, sun-like eyes.
“Can I come back?”
“Of course. Isn’t that obvious?”
But then Olivia extended her right hand as if this was a permanent farewell.
“Thanks for everything, Erik.”
With a strange feeling, Erik had no choice but to take her hand. And just like that, the Investment Society lost a talented member.
Math class came around again.
After two days of cutting down on sleep and studying, I let out a sigh of relief as I held the retake test in my hands.
80%
Thankfully, it looked like I had gotten one more problem right, just barely pushing me into a Level 6.
But even after two days of hard work, I had only managed to scrape by at the cutoff for Level 6. Naturally, I worried about how my math grades would turn out in the future.
The truth was, Erik’s words had been echoing in my ears for the past two days.
“Did you know there are students here who get private tutoring?”
I had even looked into private tutoring fees, but they were far beyond what I could afford.
On my way to work at the library, feeling unsettled, I messaged Liam.
Liam, is Grade 12 really that much harder?
The reply came quickly.
Hell, yeah… All the classes are advanced level now, and on top of that, the IA submissions are due starting this month, and I still have to revise my EE.
Make sure you prep your CAS and TOK early, too…
I could almost picture Liam’s grimacing face.
I wondered if I could get help from him, but… no, that wasn’t going to work.
Ugh… Hang in there, Captain!
You know you can reach out anytime if you need help, right?
Liam had quickly added that, but it was already too late.
I shoved away my fleeting thought of asking him for help and pushed open the library door.
As soon as I sat down at the desk, even before our eyes met, I heard a voice.
“Hey, how did the retake go?”
Why did he still remember I was retaking it…?
I looked up at Erik and reluctantly answered.
“80%. Barely made Level 6.”
His long lips curved into a pleasant smile.
“Want me to help you review just the logarithmic functions for a day?”
I had no way to retreat.
Liam had said even the Grade 12 classes were hard because they were all advanced, so getting the basics solid now was crucial.
“If you’re really okay with it…”
At my hesitant words, Erik answered simply.
“I’m free Saturday. After rowing practice.”
“I’ll buy you coffee sometime, then.”
I hurriedly added, and Erik gave me a mischievous smile.
“Deal.”
Carefully, I hooked my pinky finger with his outstretched one.
“Deal.”
Two days later, I ran into Liam in front of the cafeteria at lunch.
“Hey, Vivi! Why are you alone today?”
“Oh, Liam. Olivia had an appointment.”
“Really? Is it already EE consultation week?”
No, there was still time before the extended essay consultations.
I shook my head.
“As far as I know, EE consultations start next week.”
“Then it’s just Olivia?”
“Yeah.”
Just like Liam, I had been worried about Olivia.
Ever since Parent’s Day, she had been walking around for a week with a gloomy face, but whenever anyone asked if something was wrong, she only said, “Nothing.”
Still, it wasn’t like I could pry into a private matter she didn’t want to talk about.
Liam shrugged casually.
“Maybe she’s changing subjects? Adjusting her levels or something.”
“Oh… yeah, that could be it.”
The IB curriculum was starting this month, so it wasn’t unfamiliar only to the transfer students.
Thinking Olivia might just be in the teachers’ office for ordinary academic reasons eased my concern a little.
Liam slung his long arm around my shoulder as we stepped into the cafeteria.
“Let’s eat together. We’ll save a seat for Olivia just in case.”
“Yeah, okay.”
So, leaving the opposite seat empty, we sat side by side, occasionally glancing toward the entrance while eating.
Then suddenly, Erik came into view.
“Hey.”
Liam tilted his head in greeting first, but Erik merely frowned slightly, turned away, and carried his plate elsewhere.
“Guess he didn’t see us…”
I carefully spoke, worried Liam might be offended, but he didn’t seem bothered at all.
“Yeah, probably just lost in thought. He’s like that sometimes.”
But before long, Erik came back and sat down in the empty seat across from us, making it clear he had seen us after all.
“Mind if I sit here?”
The question was pointless—he was already seated.
Liam chuckled.
“Aren’t you already sitting?”
