The following morning, Jessica called Gary to inform him of the kids' entrance examination. Gary was parked outside their apartment early enough. Jessica prepared the kids for school.
"Mom, is school really that necessary?" Gabby asked. Abby rolled her eyes at him.
"Gabby, you should grow up already! This is so lame and so old!"
"You're so lame and so old." Gabby returned. Abby gasped. Began to pull Jessica's sleeve to get her attention.
"Ignore him, Abby. You're so young and beautiful and interesting!" Jessica said. Abby snorted at Gabby victoriously.
"Mom," Gabby called again. He tugged Jessica's sleeve just like Abby and was done. "You didn't answer my question."
Jessica sighed as she brushed Abby's hair. "What question, Gabby?"
"Is it necessary to go to school?"
Jessica still kept mute. She finished brushing Abby's hair and then turned to brush Gabby's hair as well. Gabby moved his head away. Jessica paused in her movements, this boy was too troublesome.
"Gabriel." She called firmly. "It is necessary to go to school. Don't you want to be as smart as your mother?"
"I do. But I'm already a very smart mom. We both are." Gabby replied wittily.
"You are going to school, Gabriel. You have absolutely no choice." Jessica deadpanned. "And I want you to be on your best behavior! You must not screw this up."
Gabby shrugged. "Okay, mom."
Gary arrived at the house not long after they dressed. He drove them to the school. Jessica liked the place. It looked safe for the children. She checked out their gym, activities center, and labs. Everything had safety precautionary measures. She was content with what she saw.
"Alright, guys. It's time for your exams, you must do very well okay?" Jessica warned. Turning to Gabby especially, she glared at him. "You especially Gabby."
Gabby rolled his eyes, letting out a soft groan. "What will you give to me if I pass?"
"I will take you wherever you want for the weekend," Jessica promised after a little thought. Gabby smirked evilly. He instantly put on good behavior.
He and Abby went into the empty room for their exams. They wrote in silence while the teacher watched. Once the teacher left them, he began to make trouble. There were other kids in the room as well, taking exams with them. He was done with his exams, and he was bored. So he began making trouble.
"Gabby!" Abby warned. "Stop making so much trouble!"
Gabby ignored her. He continued disturbing the other kids, distracting them from their work. When he noticed the teacher approaching, he quietened. The teacher walked in to find the kids not writing. When she asked, they told her Gabby had been disturbing them. Gabby didn't hide it at all.
"Well, are you through with your work?" She asked.
"Sure ma'am. I'm done and I'm bored." Gabby replied sharply. The woman was taken aback by his courage. She took his paper and ushered him out of the room. Gabby refused to leave totally, he wanted to wait for his sister. In a few minutes, Abby finished her work as well and came out to meet him.
"Gabby, you were so troublesome in there! Mom will not take you anywhere again." Abby scolded.
"You sound like mom. Can you quit being no fun? C'mon, I was simply bored. Besides, I answered all the questions correctly, so that was the deal." He replied. Abby didn't say anything else. The kids went to meet Jessica and Gary where they waited with the other parents.
"Ms. Graves?" The receptionist called. "The principal will now see you."
Jessica got up with her kids to see the headmistress.
"Good day ma'am!" The headmistress greeted. "I must say, your kids are a raw talent! They passed very well! They gave the third highest a gap of 30 marks!"
Jessica smiled proudly. "Who came first?"
"Gabriel. He passed with 100 marks! Abby followed closely with a 98."
Jessica was a bit shocked. She had more confidence in Abby than Gabby, but who would've thought that Gabby would not only do well but would pass with a hundred percent? And just like that, the kids were admitted into the school. They got a fifty percent discount on all their purchases because they passed their exams. Jessica was proud of them. After saying her goodbyes to them, she followed Gary back to his office.
Going up with him, she noticed the stares from his employees. She didn't bother with it because she didn't have any thoughts whatsoever toward Gary. He was a good person and she respected him as such.
"We need a driver to take the kids to school and bring them back as well. What do you think?" Gary asked. Jessica thought about it. She didn't have her car yet, and doing that would also be stressful for her. Gary also wouldn't be able to take them to school every morning and bring them back.
"Sure. Can you find someone trustworthy?"
Gary smirked. "Can I? I have someone trustworthy. I will have him come so you can go with him to pick up the kids. Then you'd register him as the person to transport them."
Jessica agreed. She stared at Gary. He was too good. How could such a nice and caring man still be single for so long?
"Gary?"
"Yeah?"
"What about your girlfriend? I never hear about her. I mean, you're too good to be single."
Gary stuttered for a few seconds. How could he tell her that he didn't have anyone because he had hopes for her? Would she even accept him? He was doing all these for her just so that when he asked her, she wouldn't have any reason to say no to him. With this line of thought, he let out a soft smile.
He didn't say anything at all. But from his reaction, Jessica could guess that things were strained between them. She smiled back.
"Things will turn out well soon. And you'd find someone who would appreciate the goodness in you, Gary." Jessica said, patting his hand. Gary smiled a sad smile. Once again, she misunderstood him.