Ethan Raynott A. K. A Theo James.

Ethan's P. O. V

"Ethan, the school authorities have called, they want you to go and meet them," my mother's voice comes from down and I immediately spring up from my bed and rush down.

I climb down in just three big lunges, skipping two staircases at a time, while my mother looks at me with wide eyes. I guess it's because of the way I climbed down the steps. I reach down and extend my hand for the phone when I hear giggles.

I look to the side to see my younger sister's friends in the games room, looking at me and laughing. I look at myself and that's when I realise I am wearing only my boxers and that to my superman print ones.

My sister's having the time of her life and I flip them the finger before shutting the door. I turn around to see my mother looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

I clear my throat and scratch the back of my neck awkwardly before stretching my hand again. My mother bangs the phone on my hand before walking away with an annoyed expression.

I take a breath of relief before keeping the phone on my ear.

I wish I would have just given my phone number instead of my mother's, I would have been saved from all this embarrassment.

"Yes sir, good morning. Tell me what can I do for you?" I ask and I hear shuffling on the other end.

"Ethan Raynott, this is the school board speaking. You had asked us for recommendation letter based on your swimming achievements so you can get admission in an university easily. Am I right?" a strict voice spoke in a business like tone and immediately my heart beat quickened.

I am not a very bright student academically, so to get admission in a good university, I had to rely on my swimming. I am a state level swimmer with a lot of medals and trophies in the sport. I had asked my school to give a recommendation letter which would support my medals and certificates along with my average grades. That would be enough for me to get admission in any university that I wanted.

"Yes sir, I had called. Can I get a recommendation?" I said and waited anxiously for a reply.

"Well, we have spoken to some of the universities. They say that they have better candidates compared to you and the seats are limited. So unfortunately what you have is not going to be enough to get an acceptance letter. But that's not why we have called. We have a solution to your problem, if your interested?" he said and my sad and still heart started beating again with a little hope.

"Yes sir, please tell me what can I do." I said without wasting even a second.

"Well, here is the deal. We have a tie up with a college in another country. We send students there in exchange of students who come here for multiple purposes. That college is holding a competition on a very big scale. All the other colleges of their state are going to be a part of that competition."

"We have spoken to the college authorities there. They have reserved a place for you in the swimming team and Rey McAdams in the academic team. You will have to win that competition. That will give you a certificate that will be recognised by a state in a whole different country. That certificate will give you an edge. We would have sent you to participate in the nationals but that competition is not anytime soon. So this is the only alternative. If you want this admission, you will have to travel to that country and win this competition," the official on the other end explained the entire deal to me and I was hung up on his lips.

Another country!? I need this admission to prove myself to my father but this is too big a deal. It's very difficult to win and if I don't that will directly affect my future.

"Okay sir. I'll speak to my parents and call you in half an hour. Sir, one last question, where do I have to go and for how many days?" I asked the main question and there was a pause on the other end.

"Well, you have to go to Mumbai, India for ten days," he said in a business like tone from the other end in I shut my eyes and threw my head back.

Just great. Now I have to go to a country I know absolutely nothing about.

"Okay sir. Just give me some time. Is it possible for me and Rey to come and meet you?" I asked and they agreed before ending the call.

I went up to my room and put on some clothes before going to find my mother. I check her room and I don't find her there.

The butler tells me that my parents are in my dad's office room and I start walking towards it. It takes a good five minutes because it's on the other end of my mansion like house. I utilise that time thinking what exactly I'm going to tell my parents.

My father is a billionaire. He runs the business that was started and set up by my great grand father. It has only flourished since then. I'm the next heir to the family business and my father is not very happy about it.

He wants me to be the best at everything I do which I'm clearly not. I'm not academically excellent. He loves me, I know that, but he's strict and always upset with me. For him, I'm never going to be good enough.

This time is different. I did try my best. I'm sure if I tell him my situation and tell him that it's not practical, he will help me.

I see the big wooden doors and walk towards it with my mother's phone in the hand and my aim in my head. I knock and I hear a 'come in'. I open the door slightly to see my mother sitting on my father's lap side ways and both of them were smiling.

My parents even after so many years of marriage were still very much in love. The only two things my father loved the most was his business and my mother. They had quite a love story and they still behave like teenagers sometimes.

The moment my father saw me his expression turned to become a stern one while my mother gave me a sweet smile.

"I see  you decided to put some clothes on," my father said and I looked down in embarrasement. I'm sure my mother must have told him about what happened earlier.

"Mom, your phone," I said and walked ahead to place it on the table.

I placed it on the table and looked up to see both my parents looking at me as if waiting for me to say something.

"Uh-Dad-" I am cut off by my dad before I barely start.

"Did you get the recommendation or admission?" he asks me straight out and I look down before shaking my head.

"Then I don't think there's anything we have to talk about." he said sternly and my mother gave me a sad smile.

I was about to turn and leave when my mother decided to speak up for me.

"Atleast hear him out?" she says and I look at him with hopeful eyes.

"Only because your mother insists. Go on," he said and sat back, waiting for me to start.

"I tried dad. I called them and requested them but now they want me to go to a different country altogether to win a competition. I'm obviously not doing it especially since I will have to set up my coordination with three absolutely new swimmers. Please he-" he cut me off again.

"So you want to give up without trying?" he said and I am left speechless.

"I'm sorry Ethan, but there's nothing I want to do to help you. This, you will have to handle on your own," he said and I turned around and left without saying anything.

I rush to my room, anger rushing through me.

I will deal with this. There's no way I'm going to that country for that damn competition.

I search for my phone. I find it to see fifteen missed calls from Rey.

That's why I never give my number.

"Hey Rey, meet me at school in ten. We have work to do." I say before he could say anything else.

A/n - Dont forget to vote or comment :)

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