Gerald shook his head. What would he know? He’s just an average eight-year-old.
He sighed deeply and said, “I’ll find out about him. Billiers, we have to make this medicine in ten years. We have to make it in ten years.”
“. . . You have a point.”
He nodded his head. It was of no use to us if the drug was invented after those ten years. Because my goal was to save my dad and nothing else.
“Okay, I’ll find a way to mix mana stone with other herbs. I’m going to continue the experiment based on the three herbs that Louella wrote down.”
“Okay, I understand.”
“So, can we start the class now? I was paid to teach you. Your parents might scold me.” Billiers laughed cheerfully.
Studying with Billiers was quite enjoyable.
Billiers was not a person who enjoyed stereotyping, perhaps because he was a researcher.
The class was conducted in a way that was enjoyable and understandable for us. He interpreted the sentences creatively and looked at the intention of the book with a slightly distorted perspective.
Although it may be different from the author’s intention, Billiers had a more realistic perspective.
The first class was over after that.
* * *
“Why aren’t you leaving?”
“I decided to leave after dinner,” Gerald said with a small smile.
I knew it! Mom is a liar! How could you do this to me?
Adults often lie like this. Teaching children how to lie is a bad thing.
This is really not in good faith. Mom, why are you doing this to me?
I trudged along with a book.
Gerald caught up with me and asked, “Do you want me to hold your book?”
“You don’t have to do that. I have hands.”
Gerald paused. A frown became evident on his face.
Did I go too far?
Turning his head, Gerald stood with his head down. “But . . . We’re friends.”
Gerald pressed his lips tight.
“. . .”
“It’s not like we’re not friends.” Gerald looked up. Large, watery eyes were staring directly at me in the face.
I always thought I didn’t know what I was thinking, but now, I felt like I would be showing my emotions seeing him crying like that.
“You don’t want to be friends with me?” Gerald’s voice trembled. “Louella?”
I gulped down my saliva.
My thoughts have become complicated now.
It was very difficult for me to know what to do now.