"I have received feedback that your performance in school has begun to drop slightly," Dr Nystrom pointed out to his son over a distant family dinner.
It had been a few weeks since the start of the academic year, a few weeks since the unexpected arrival of Cadence Sasaki, who was the reason why Ronen and his father were having this conversation.
He continued, "You have been the top student in your classes since your enrollment in the Ryburn School of Music. I do not see any reason why you should be falling behind."
Ronen just played with the contents of his dinner plate and his cutlery. He didn't dare to even look up at his father who was addressing him from across the table.
"There's a new girl in my class," he finally responded, breaking the cold silence between them. He nonchalantly took a bite of the little vegetable salad that was left on his plate.
Dr Nystrom took a sip of his sparkling water and placed it on the marble table. "Newcomers should not be an excuse for your decline, you have more expertise than they do."
"But, Father, it's just a minor setback."
"A minor setback indeed!" He lifted his tablet and read Ronen's report marks out loud. "Let's see, before the summer break... Hmm...Mathematics; the top position with an 'A' star. Language Arts, the Sciences and Music, needless to say, have similar results."
Ronen groaned.
"The opener quiz, I'm afraid, took quite a turn," Dr Nystrom continued. "At least you managed to remain in the lead in Mathematics. Literature and Sciences, second position, while you tied with someone who goes by the surname 'Sasaki' in Music. I suppose that is the 'new girl' you are referring to?"
A long moment of silence followed which was broken when Ronen spoke.
"Does position matter, Father? As long as my grades are-"
Ronen was cut off. "Son, look at the president and tell me if position matters. Look at the CEOs of the multimillion-dollar businesses across the globe. Look at me," Ronen's father paused to inhale before continuing. "If I hadn't been the Medical Director in three different hospitals by now, I wouldn't have been able to afford the luxury of all this!"
He gestured at their house by raising his arms into the air. Their home was practically a mansion, there was no denying that. Not only was the dining room remarkably spacious, but it was also adorned with antique flower vases and original art paintings. From the ceiling hung a crystal chandelier that provided a soft white glow to the dining chamber.
As soon as Ronen finished his meal, he stood up and left without a word. He sighed at his father's words. He constantly kept pressuring him to transcend his peers and rarely got any appreciation when he did so. His teachers and classmates may have often recognized his efforts, but they didn't care about him. This kind of pressure and constraint had Ronen in a heated argument with his father that lead to a chain of events that twisted his life as he knew it.
+ + + + + + +
Over a year ago...
"I forbid you from leaving this house until further notice!" Ronen's father commanded. "What you did to your cousin is extremely unacceptable! How do you want to portray our family image!?
"He started it!" Ronen replied in anger.
"He's been admitted to the hospital because of you and your childish acts!"
YOU ARE READING
Purple
Fantasy[ON HOLD] After dyeing her hair, Cadence, being the introvert that she is, has her life turned upside down. Ronen, who can't help but hate her very presence, has the same hue sticking out from his crown. Is it a coincidence that they are just anoth...
