PAMPERED

209 hope deeply and sincerely

Just as planned, the Bennet Family watched a movie together. However, five minutes in, and Atlas was already snoring. Hugo mocked his older brother, only to nod off ten minutes later. Charles and Allison chuckled and let their son sleep. Atlas and Hugo had been practicing all day, and they had admitted that today was the first time they saw Atlas sweat so much. Hence, they watched the movie until the end with Slater and Penny.

As usual, the couple kept Penny in between them. Slater lay beside Allison.

That was how they ended their day and also how they started their day.

At breakfast, however, Penny felt like she would have an indigestion. How could she eat when everyone looked like they were mourning?!

Didn’t they have a conclusion last night?!

Why even Slater was frowning as if he just lost a pet or something?!

‘That’s it!‘ Penny sighed and looked at her parents, who shared the same mood as well. I can’t take this anymore.”

Penny cleared her throat, and since it was silence, everyone heard her clearly. She watched all of them set their eyes on her.

“I want to accept Professor Singh’s apprenticeship proposal because I want to start my life early” she said calmly and adorably. “School is fun and I would cherish every memory I had in it: my friends, their silliness, and the little fun we found amid even the nerve–racking final exam week.”

She paused and smiled. “I’ll treasure them the same as how I will treasure all the memories I created in this house. With my family and with everyone in this house. Coming here, I didn’t have a lot of expectations. I even prepared myself for the worst that I will not be accepted and that I will not be loved.”

–

“But I was wrong” she continued. “Mom and Dad did their best to make me happy. First Brother might not say things always, but I know he always looks after me. Second Brother, on the other hand, is someone I know I can always rely on. And Third Brother… he is perfect the way he is.”

“My family is not perfect, but… they’re really warm and kind people who aren’t ashamed of

correcting their wrongs,” she added, her smile stretching. “But even so, I want to do

for myself and my future.”

something

Penny pursed her lips and hummed a short tune. “The thought that I’d have to leave in the future is a little saddening, but at the same time, it’s what my heart also wants. It’ll make me really happy if you don’t act like It’s my funeral, or that I contracted an incurable disease.

Allison’s eyes softened and reached out to her. “Penny, we know it is with a heavy heart, but don’t worry. We were simply processing things.”

“I’m not sad,” Slater confessed, a bit teary–eyed for some unknown reason. “I’m just thinking of what to do today.”

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209 hope deeply and sincerely

“I can’t cancel the basketball training today,” Hugo also frowned, sulking “want to spend this

day with you, but I’m stuck with my team.”

Atlas, on the other hand, quietly fumed and glared daggers at the sulking Hugo. He didn’t say anything, but anyone could tell he would kill Hugo if he did.

“Penny, don’t worry.” Charles offered a reassuring smile. “We’re glad to hear all of that. It’s very touching. So, don’t worry, because we’ll eventually get used to it.”

Penny pursed her lips. ‘So, I said all of that for nothing? Her face turned a little sour at the thought, but well, she just tried.

“How about you watch our practice?” Hugo suggested since Slater hadn’t thought of anything yet. “It’ll raise our morale if you can stay with us.”

Slater clapped. “Yes. Penny placed her money on your team. Let’s just do that today.”

“No need, Atlas remarked, but his comment drifted off with the wind as Hugo and Slater ignored him. “I said, don’t…”

“How about you join us, Dad?” Hugo suggested, making Charles cock his head. “Max is a big guy and he’ll surely bring good players to his own team. You’re tall, so it’ll be a good thing if we get. used to bigger opponents.

Charles rubbed his chin, and a glint flickered across his eyes when he caught Haines figure coming into the dining room. “Sure. Your Uncle Haines and I will team up!”

Haines stopped and pointed at himself. “Team up on what?”

Hugo and Slater grinned while Atlas cast Haines a meaningful look.

Now, there were two of them who would look pathetic.

With that being said, Hugo discussed it when his teammates arrived. Since the court they set up in the Bennet Mansion was small, Haines and Charles drove everyone to a private court Charles rented out for them when he heard about the game.

With Haines and Charles in the opposing team, Hugo and Atlas’s team quickly felt exhausted. After all, Haines might not know what to do, but just standing there with that height of his was enough to intimate his young opponents. He would simply hold the ball up and pass the ball to Charles, and Charles would do the work.

To make it worse, Charles would even laugh so loud it was demotivating. From what Penny heard, Charles reminded them of Max. Therefore, the team played even fiercer and more determined.

But alas…

“Penny, watermelons?” Slater offered Penny a slice, knowing this was a huge blow to Penny’s

spirits.

Penny reluctantly accepted it. He tapped her shoulders, aware that Penny was losing more hope the more they watched their brothers. Although Hugo and the original members of the basketball team were able to score, Atlas was dragging the entire team down!

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“Kids, it’s alright.” Allison cajoled, watching her two children look up at her. She smiled and glanced at where the game was happening. “Your father knows what he is doing. Although Charles is not good at proper coaching, he knows how to raise someone else morale very well.”

Assessing the look on the boys‘ eager faces and the flames in their eyes, she nodded in satisfaction. “They’d be fine. I’m sure of that. Just have faith. Miracles happen.”

Slater and Penny sighed, but didn’t say anything. All they could do was hope deeply and sincerely that heaven would side with them on the game day.