Hilda chimed in immediately. “That’s right. You’ve promised Carlisle that you would quit smoking if hegot into university. You cannot renege on your words! It’s time to quit smoking!”
Gordon didn’t hesitate. He threw the half packet of cigarettes in his hands into the trash, Carlisle hadpromising future. He couldn’t let Carlisle look down on him.
Carlisle sniggered. “Moth, you have to keep a close watch on Dad. If I replace out that he smoked, I willstart
smoking too!”
He was stricter than he had ever been before.
When he was seriously ill in his past life, Gordon often coughed. He would even cough up bloodoccasionally
So, Carlisle suspected that Gordon had lung cancer. He guessed that Gordon hid it from him and Hildaso that Gordon could save up the money for him instead.
“Will do. I will have him sleep on the streets if he takes another smoke!” Hilda glared at Gordon.
She had always been against Gordon smoking, but he never heeded her advice. Now that Carlisle hadbrought this topic up, she would make sure that Gordon quit smoking even if it meant that they’d endup
getting a divorce!
After lunch, Gordon brought Carlisle to the bank.
After much persuasion by Carlisle, Gordon agreed to deposit only 10 thousand dollars into his account.
Time flew by. It was soon near the end of the holidays.
Carlisle had booked a train ticket toward Riverland. As for Sean, he chose to enroll in Riverland’sUniversity of Science and Technology.
Both universities were not far from each other.
Rory came to pick Carlisle up and drive him to the train station.
Gordon and Hilda stood at the door as they bid their goodbyes to Carlisle. They couldn’t bear to partwith
him.
Hilda hadn’t slept all night. With tears in her eyes, she said, “Make sure you eat well when you’re atschool. Don’t you think of coming back if you’ve lost weight!”
Carlisle noticed the few strands of white hair on Hilda’s head. He felt a lump rise in his throat. “Thesame goes for both of you. Don’t always think about saving up money for me. I can earn my own keep!”
Gordon and Hilda had been worried for him for half their lives. They didn’t even have a piece of niceclothing with them. Once he had earned enough and bought a house in the city, he planned to bringthem over and give them a good life..
That day wouldn’t be too far away!
273
“Alright, hurry up and get in the car. The train waits for no man!”
Gordon put Carlisle’s luggage into the trunk. Then, he took out a packet of Sobranie cigarettes andstuffed. it in Rory’s hands. “Drive safe, Rory!”
“You’re too kind, Gordon… I have more than enough cigarettes. Keep these for yourself!” Rorychuckled
and refused Gordon’s gesture.
Gordon didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. He explained, “I made a bet with Carlisle. I said that Iwould quit smoking if he got into university!”
“Oh, that means you lost the bet?” Rory sniggered.
“Obviously. So, I’ve now quit smoking. Keep it!”
“Alright then!”
Rory accepted the cigarettes and put them into his pocket. “It’s getting late. I need to hurry and sendthem to the station. Talk to you both later!”
“Okay. Have a safe journey!”
Gordon waved.
Carlisle waved back at them from the car. “Take care, Mom and Dad!”
At that moment, tears started flowing down Hilda’s face. She covered her mouth as she wavedgoodbye
silently.
Even though it had been a while since they left, Hilda remained standing at the same spot and staredblankly ahead.
Gordon’s eyes were red. He curled his lip and asked, “Look at you. What’s there to cry about?”
“Carlisle has never gone so far away from home. I’m not sure if he’ll be able to adapt well!” Hildachoked.
“He’s already an adult. He knows how to take care of himself!”
Gordon looked in the direction where the car had left. He reached into his pocket to feel for a cigarette
out of habit.
Rainville was four hours away from Riverland.
There was no air conditioning on the train, and it was extremely crowded. Even the aisles were filledwith. passengers. Despite all the windows being open, the temperature in the carriage remained high.
Carlisle and Sean had their own seats.
There were six people squeezed together in a four–seater.
The train started moving,
Sean remarked excitedly, “Here’s to new adventures and a new chapter in life!”
Carlisle rested his chin on his hands as he looked at the scenery that was speeding past him outside.There was a glimmer in his eyes.
In his previous lite, he had not gone to university. In this life, he had gotten into Riverland University.The moment the train departed marked the official beginning of his new life.
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