Chapter 35 Mock Exam

35  Mock Exam

Noah plastered a smile on his face as he entered the kitchen, greeted by the sight of his little sister, Emily, already sitting at the table, her eyes wide with anticipation. The aroma of the breakfast filled the room, and he could tell from her eager expression that she was barely holding herself back.

"Good morning, big brother!" Emily chirped, hopping up to give him a quick hug before bouncing back to her seat, ready to devour whatever was about to be served.

Noah smiled lightly at her enthusiasm. His dad, David, chuckled at Emily's reaction. "Looks like someone's excited for breakfast," he said, his tone warm and teasing.

Caroline, his mom, turned from the stove with a gentle smile. "Morning, Noah. The food will be ready in a minute, go ahead and sit down."

Nodding, Noah took his seat at the table, trying to shake off the lingering weight of the previous night. But he couldn't quite hide the distant look in his eyes. Searᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

His dad, always observant, noticed. "You okay, son?" David asked, his voice tinged with concern. "You seem a bit off this morning. Is something bothering you?"

Noah quickly snapped out of his daze, straightening up. "No, Dad. It's nothing. I've got a mock exam in a few hours, so I'm just going over stuff in my head."

David nodded in understanding, satisfied with the explanation, and let the matter drop.

A moment later, Caroline brought the breakfast to the table. It was simple but packed with nutrition: a spread of scrambled eggs seasoned with fresh herbs, toasted whole-grain bread, sautéed vegetables, and a plate of golden, crispy hash browns. On the side, there were slices of ripe avocado and a small bowl of fruit salad with apples, oranges, and berries. The delicious aroma filled the kitchen, making it hard for anyone to resist.

"Eat up," Caroline said, placing the plates in front of them. "You'll need the energy for that exam."

Emily wasted no time, digging in with gusto. Noah smiled faintly, watching his little sister before picking up his fork and taking a bite, though his mind remained elsewhere.

After finishing breakfast, Noah suddenly remembered something important. He glanced over at his dad. "Oh, by the way, Dad, there's a motorcycle outside."

David looked up from his plate, confused. "Okay? Is it blocking the driveway or something?"

Noah shook his head. "No, no. It's mine. I bought it, cheap, from someone I know. I was thinking, you should take it to work instead of using the bus. It's less tiring and a lot cheaper in the long run."

David's eyes widened in surprise. "You bought a motorcycle? For me?" He seemed hesitant, processing the idea. "I mean, I appreciate it, but are you sure? I've never thought about driving one to work."

Caroline, listening in from the kitchen, chimed in. "David, you should really consider it. Your shifts are long enough as it is. Why tire yourself out more on the bus? This could make things a little easier for you."

David looked between Noah and Caroline, clearly weighing the decision. His reluctance slowly melted as he realized they had a point. "Well… I do have a license for it. I always wanted a motorcycle, but it never seemed practical. Too expensive."

Noah smiled, pleased to see his dad starting to come around. "Exactly. You already have the license. Now you've got the bike. You should give it a try."

After a pause, David nodded, though still a little hesitant. "Alright, alright. I'll give it a shot. But don't blame me if I'm late to work on the first day," he joked lightly.

Caroline smiled encouragingly, and Noah felt a small sense of satisfaction seeing his dad agree.

A little while later, Noah got up from the table, and grabbed his bag. "Come on, Em. I'll take you to school," he said, gently nudging his sister. Emily hopped up, excited for the walk.

"Thanks for breakfast, Mom," Noah called out as they headed for the door. Caroline waved, wishing them both a good day.

As Noah walked Emily to her elementary school, a small sense of ease crept in. Watching her skip beside him, a wide smile on her face as she excitedly chattered about her friends and teachers, lightened the weight on his chest. For a moment, her innocence and joy seemed to wash away the complications he had with Sarah.

He smiled to himself, feeling grateful for these simple moments with his sister. It was a brief escape from the tangled mess of emotions he was still processing.

Emily's laughter, the way she hopped along the sidewalk without a care in the world, made him forget, even if just for a while.

As they neared the school, Emily waved excitedly when she spotted her friends. "See you later, Noah!" she called, running toward the entrance.

"See you, Em. Be careful where you step, don't trip!" he replied, watching her disappear into the crowd of kids.

With a deep breath, Noah turned and started walking to his high school. Arriving at the designated hall for the exam, Noah scanned the room. Everyone was already gathered, waiting to enter in a few minutes. Among the crowd, Mark stood with Layla by his side, his face twisted into a smirk. As soon as he noticed Noah, he couldn't resist throwing his usual jabs.

Mark's voice rang out, loud enough for the whole room to hear, "Some people think that just because they can cheat in class, they can cheat in the real exam and get away with it." His gaze lingered on Noah. "The truth will be revealed soon... how dumb they really are."

A murmur of curiosity rippled through the students, everyone clearly understanding who Mark was targeting. Noah, who had been barely holding it together after everything with Layla, felt a surge of anger rise within him. Mark's relentless taunts, Layla's betrayal, and now the possibility of losing Sarah — it was too much.