V3 Chapter 42.5 - Typical Asian Parents

THIRD PERSON POV

Later, at the dinner table of the Angelo family, Ryan was under the intense pressure of his parents' stares since he sat down, making him unable to focus on his food. Finishing his dinner and unable to bear the stifling atmosphere anymore he asked

"So, why all the fuss?"

His parents, hearing the question, gave each other eye signals before his father spoke up, "Son, you have to do this right."

Echoed by his mother, who followed up after, "Yes, you have to be better than her?"

Confused by the sudden request and bewildered at his parents' forceful demeanor he asked the three Ws

"Who? What and Why?" 

Ryan's parents looked at each other with slight embarrassment and his mom told his dad as she got up

"You say it, Richard. I'll go do the dishes."

"Why me!?" shouted Richard at his wife's quick escape, eager to drag her back into the conversation.

But Casey, being the quick thinker she is, replied, "He's your friend." and quickly made her escape into the kitchen.

"Fine," said Richard as he resigned himself to the assignment.

Ryan looked at their interaction with a confounded expression as he watched his mother go inside the kitchen, finally unable to hold back he asked

"Explanation please."

Settling in his seat and taking a deep breath Richard spoke

"You know that George came to our house today right?"

"Yeah..." agreed Ryan to keep his father going.

"So he has a daughter, Gwendolyn Stacy," Reynolds said.

'Gwendolyn Stacy..why do I feel I've heard that name before? Anyways..'

"So what does that have to do with anything?" Ryan asked

"You see, son after George was done with work, we had a chat, and then he started bragging about how amazing his daughter was and whatnot," Richard said with a frustrated expression on his face.

"And..." asked Ryan as he raised an eyebrow, feeling a sense of crisis as if something he dislikes was about to happen.

"Then I told him how amazing my son was too, but he didn't believe me because you have no certification to prove your genius, unlike George's daughter," said Richard as he looked at Ryan with eyes that showed his resentment.

"So I just need to get some certificates, right?" said Ryan, planning the cost of such an investment, but Richard's voice broke his line of thought.

"That would have been enough..." Richard voiced, only to be interrupted by Casey Angel,o, who walked out of the kitchen and continued his words.

"....but your dad got carried away and now we have a bet with Mr Stacy."

'This can't be good.' 

Ryan thought, but the ball was already rolling, so he inquired for more information in hopes of finding a way out.

"What bet?"

"Son, it's not a matter of stakes; it is a matter of reputation; our word is on the line." Seeing Ryan's evasiveness Richard spoke.

Realising that he was out of options Ryan released a breath and asked

"Sigh~....what do you want me to do?"

"Son, it's been decided that you will be enrolling in Midtown High, and you have to perform better than Gwendolyn's record for the sake of the family's honour."

said Casey Angelo as she passed the verdict.

"If I don't?" He asked, wanting to know the potential consequences that might come his way.

"Then you will have difficulties with all those documents that need to be signed by us because of needing parental consent as a minor." said his mother as she pronounced his sentence.

"Fine, I'll do it." As Ryan realised the troubles that could, he could not help but curse internally.

'Dammit, I knew this Stacy was trouble, should've just locked the door.'

(AN - You can escape villains, you can escape the apocalypse, you can even escape the timeline but you won't be able to escape THE SCHOOL.)