Chapter 5

5

After checking the documents given by the principal, I realized that the scholarship I received was intended to support exceptionally talented students from low-income families and underdeveloped areas.

‘This is quite a generous scholarship for a high school student.’

It was rare to find a scholarship that covered all necessary expenses for four years of high school and even provided a living allowance adjusted for inflation.

I could imagine how happy my parents, who struggled financially, must have been.

And how torn they must have been to see me throw away that opportunity and walk the path of a delinquent...

‘Still, from the way they consistently support Rohan, they must be parents who try their best for their children even in difficult circumstances.’

That’s why I decided to do my best to quickly restore the conditions for maintaining the scholarship.

“Isn’t it a bit too easy to look down on the GED exam?”

The principal finally acknowledged that I was truly crazy.

“I’m not crazy... I have amnesia.”

“The doctor who diagnosed you with amnesia is a quack. You are crazy. Not only did you enter with the lowest grades, but you haven’t studied at all since then, and now you want to take the GED?”

The GED exam is a high school equivalency test, similar to the Korean high school graduation exam.

It was designed for those who didn’t fit well in high school or couldn’t graduate due to certain circumstances, but occasionally, athletes also took the GDE.

After all, athletes often neglected their studies, so even if they were pushed to advance to the fourth grade, they often failed to meet the graduation requirements.

“Most high school athletes need to grow through college leagues to dream of a professional career, and for that, they need a high school diploma.”

American colleges could ignore a student’s grades or reputation for exceptional talent, but they couldn’t accept students without a high school diploma.

“Usually, students at such a crossroads are given long-term tutoring to prepare for the GED, but you want to take it now? So suddenly?”

The principal explained how difficult it would be in reality.

“Of course, it’s not on the same level as college entrance exams like the SAT or ACT, but it’s a test that even the top 10% of Oakland High School students find difficult to pass.”

“...”

Indeed, this is a school ranked at the bottom nationally. Even though they graduate anyone who doesn’t drop out or go to prison, only 30% of students make it through. It’s no wonder there aren’t many students who can pass the GED.

‘But for a student who has been at the bottom of such a school to suddenly decide to take the GED, how absurd must it seem.’

The principal must have seen many promising students, and he would know better than anyone that Rohan isn’t one of them.

He had been paying attention to this problem student who rarely came to school over the past year. How could he not know?

“I’ll take it once tomorrow. If it’s too difficult, I’ll focus on my athletic activities.”

“...If you insist on drinking the penalty, it’s not a bad way to gain a sense of reality.”

Only then did the principal let me go. He was worried that I might run away and never return to school, but I smiled and encouraged him.

“Don’t worry too much. Where else would a student go if not to school?”

“...That’s why I’m even more worried.”

Unfortunately, it had the opposite effect.

*

I borrowed GED preparation books from the school library. They contained many past exam questions, and surprisingly, the books were brand new, untouched.

“Are you taking all of these?”

When I appeared with about ten thick books, the librarian looked at me with suspicion.

“Yes.”

“Aren’t you planning to sell them? If you don’t return them, you’ll have to pay double the book price as a fine.”

‘...The scale of this school is really...’

I had to repeat several times that I was preparing for the GED exam. Even though she didn’t seem to believe me, I managed to borrow the books and return home.

“...”

I sat in my room and studied each book in order. Although there were ten books, the scope was set, so there was a lot of overlap.

Math, science, social studies, and English. Since it was at a high school level, there were many parts I already knew.

Especially for math and science, just reviewing the terms was enough. Rohan was surprisingly weak in English reading and grammar except for conversation, but I could fill in the gaps based on what I studied in my previous life.

Social studies was a very unfamiliar subject for me, having gone through the Korean education system.

‘Actually, I like it.’

I was tired of just reviewing, and learning new content made me feel like I was really studying.

With the times being what they are, I could receive focused education on areas I didn’t know through resources like Khan Academy or free YouTube tutors.

I spent a lot of time familiarizing myself with the social studies curriculum and used the rest of the time to solve past exam questions.

‘Is it already night?’

I’m not sure if it’s because of my youth or my physical condition, but I studied all night without losing focus or feeling tired.

I only took a break to make a sandwich from the refrigerator because I was hungry.

‘This is happiness.’

I returned to my studies with renewed focus.

*

“You managed to show up on your own without running away.”

The principal looked unfamiliar with my unexpected appearance.

We met in the computer lab, and he explained that he would personally supervise the GED exam, which was scheduled on short notice, without calling another teacher.

“Yes, I understand, but I won’t cheat. I’ll hand over my phone and put the materials back in my bag.”

I followed the instructions and sat in front of the computer.

The GED exam, which is taken online, was displayed on the screen.

“Start when you’re ready.”

“Got it!”

It felt exciting to take an exam after a long time. Exams are the flower of studying, after all. While it’s true that exams can be stressful, they are also fun because they test what you’ve learned.

I particularly liked the part where scores and rankings were announced.

‘Should I start?’

I carefully read the instructions for the GED exam and clicked the ‘Start Exam’ button.

The GED consists of four subjects, each with an average time limit of two hours.

“...”

I began to solve the problems one by one, focusing intently.

*

‘What wind blew you to decide to take the GED on your own?’

Principal Raymond sat at a distance where he wouldn’t disturb Rohan and watched him closely.

‘And to take all four exams at once?’

Usually, the GED is taken one subject at a time. For a typical student who hasn’t taken any high school classes, it’s common to study for three months and take one subject.

Since the GED is a substitute for high school, the difficulty lies not in the complexity of the questions but in the wide range of topics.

‘For a problem student who has never studied, taking four exams at once is even more absurd.’

For a student who has never studied, sitting for 8 hours to take the exam is a form of torture.

“...”

Principal Raymond honestly thought Rohan would give up after a few minutes.

While it was a waste of the GED exam fee provided by the school, he thought it would be worth it if it helped Rohan come to his senses.

‘If studying is too difficult, he might focus on sports, which he’s good at.’

There was a bit of hope that Rohan, who seemed to have matured a bit, would understand the situation.

That’s why Principal Raymond decided to personally supervise the GED exam today. He planned to comfort Rohan and guide him on his future path after he accepted the inevitable result.

‘For a child born into one of the best sports families in America, not pursuing sports is a national loss.’

While most students at Oakland High School were grateful just to attend school, Rohan was different.

He was a student with a bright future, and guiding him properly was one of Principal Raymond’s missions.

While lost in thought, Rohan suddenly called him.

“Principal?”

“Huh? It’s almost been two hours. So, are you going to take the second subject right away? Or would you like a 15-minute break?”

“No, I’ve finished all the exams.”

“...You finished all of them?? No way...”

Principal Raymond quickly checked Rohan’s screen.

“I’ve completed all four subjects.”

“...”

All four subjects, which were supposed to take a total of 8 hours, were completed in just 2 hours?

‘Did he guess the answers??’

While quick resignation isn’t a bad trait, Principal Raymond felt a strange sense of disappointment. Even though it was expected...

“...If you want, I can check your scores right now. If you’re embarrassed, I can send them to you via email.”

“No, I’d like to check them now.”

“Alright.”

Principal Raymond switched to the supervisor mode and ran the grading module. Since there were no subjective questions, the scores were quickly available.

“...My God.”

Principal Raymond couldn’t believe his eyes.

– Mathematical Reasoning: 200/200

– Science: 200/200

– Social Studies: 200/200

– English: 200/200

800 out of 800 points.

Not only did he far exceed the GED passing score of 580, but he achieved a perfect score, which is rarely seen even nationally.

Of course, the number of test-takers isn’t as high as for the SAT, but with 700,000 people taking the GED each year, achieving the top score is a remarkable record.

“How...?”

Rohan, on the other hand, seemed unfazed as he picked up his bag and stood up.

“Fortunately, I did well. Thank you for the opportunity. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have known I could take the GED for the scholarship.”

“...”

It wasn’t just about the score. A perfect GED score from a school like Oakland High School would qualify for numerous additional scholarships.

Rohan seemed unaware of the significance of his achievement and left, saying he was going to class.

‘Could he have cheated to get such a score?’

He had been watching Rohan the entire time, and there were no suspicious signs. Clearly, Rohan had taken the exam with his own abilities.

That made it even more unbelievable.

Principal Raymond regained his composure and quickly took out his phone.

He made a call.

“It’s been a while. By the way... you have a grandson, right? No, not that one, Rohan. Do you know what Rohan has done?”

*

Knock, knock, knock –

The next day, someone knocked on my door cautiously.

“Yes, Mom. Come in.”

“How did you know it was me?”

“Lia wouldn’t knock.”

“That’s true...”

I stopped reading and looked at my mom for a moment.

I could sense that she was about to say something difficult.

“I got a call from your grandfather. He wants to see you.”

“Oh, my grandfather? Does he live nearby?”

“I don’t know if this is a good thing... You don’t remember your grandfather, do you? He lives about 50 minutes away.”

That’s quite close, considering he had never been mentioned by Lia or my mom.

‘If we saw him often, he would have come up in conversation at least once...’

“What do you want to do? Should we decline?”

From her attitude, I could tell there was some distance between them. There must have been some issues with Rohan as well.

“Yes, I’ll go. When should I go?”

“Well, it’s...”

Surprisingly, it was that evening.

Only after visiting my grandfather did I understand why my mom had avoided mentioning him.

‘Does he live in such a wealthy neighborhood??’

American physical genius 6