Chapter 10 - Agreement

Lukas is coming in from his other classes more consistently. He sits on the table beside the one that Alinn occupies. He is quieter, but from time to time, I catch him glancing at Alinn. He also learned the meaning of focus. And as a result, his quizzes are improving. As a teacher, I like these changes.

“Teacher Cassie, my mother is outside. I will leave now,” Alinn informs.

Lukas stands up at the same time that Alinn did. “I will come with—”

“Don’t bother,” Alinn snaps. She is still furious at him for forcibly kissing her.

Lukas watches her leave. His expression is a mixture of longing, confusion, and guilt.

“I thought you said that nerds are uncool?” I ask, without taking my eyes off Alinn’s paper.

“She’s not!” he complains.

“You think she’s your adorable puppy, right?”

“She is.”

“Guess what? This sense of belongingness? That’s something she won’t like. First, you don’t own her. Second, you guys are too different. Not to mention that she currently hates you.”

“You are the teacher. How can I force her to forgive me?”

I grin. I stop grading Alinn’s paper and look up at him. “Force her to forgive you? That’s not forgiveness.”

He purses his lips. “Then tell me what to do!”

I sigh. “What’s this obsession with Alinn? It’s obvious she doesn’t like you.”

“I... I think she’s adorable,” he says and I see a flush creeping up his cheeks. “I thought nerds are ugly and are nothing but trouble. Well, she is still trouble, but the nice kind of trouble. I think that—”

He catches my smirk. “You are laughing at my plight! What kind of teacher are you?!”

“The type who’s currently listening to her student’s woes.”

“And mocking at the student!” he huffs.

“Quiet down, Lukas. Else, female students will hear you outside. If they learn that you are smitten with someone who dislikes you, your dignity and reputation will be destroyed.”

He glares at me. “I heard that it’s your first time teaching,” he remarks. “Maybe that’s why you act as if your students are just your friends.”

“Not friends, but sometimes, I find them as annoying little brothers and sisters too,” I supply.

I put down my pen and lean my head on my hands. We stare at each other.

“Just one question. Where did you get the idea of kissing a young girl aggressively like that?”

“I just feel like it.”

“Feels like you want to smother Alinn because she’s too cute?”

“Yes! She’s just too adorable. I just want to touch her hair and bury my face in it. And every time her eyes are on me, I feel happy. And did you see how her face contorts every time she’s annoyed? It’s just too cute!”

Lukas continues to praise Alinn while I nod at him. Seriously, this little monster’s mouth is getting loose with me. Is he perhaps getting more familiar with me?

“Do you, perhaps, need my help?” I ask.

He shifts his attention to me, an expectant look on his face. “You will help me?”

“In one condition.”

He groans audibly. “I knew there’s no free meal in this world.”

“So, you don’t need my help after all. I get it.”

I lean back and continue to check Alinn’s paper. She really is a smart young woman. I think she will win the science quiz contest if she continues to study like this.

“Fine!” Lukas suddenly says. “What do you want?! I will ask my father for anything you want.”

I snort. “Why would you ask your father? He’s not the one who is asking me for a favor, right? Besides, is he going to take the exam for you?”

He leans his head to one side and asks, “What do you mean?”

“I will help you, in a condition that you will pass all your exams.”

His mouth hangs open. “Are you serious?!”

I laugh at his expression. His mouth is agape. It is so wide that I bet I can fit my fist in.

“You have seen the result of my quizzes, right? You know it will be a miracle!”

“So, is being forgiven by Alinn.”

“You annoying woman!”

I sigh and shrug my shoulders. “Well, it’s your choice. If you can’t, then I won’t be able to put in a good word about you to Alinn.”

“I’m sure that’s called manipulation of your students.”

I just shrug my shoulders. “Just as I said, your call.”

Lukas has a strange look on his face. I am starting to wonder if he is going to accept my condition or not. His gaze keeps flickering between me and Alinn’s paper. He is clearly trying to decide something.

I keep my poker face as long as possible. I just need to wait for whether Lukas will succumb to it. Let’s see what he chooses. His desperation to be forgiven, or his laziness to study?

When he still did not respond, I already think that, perhaps, he still doesn’t care.

“Okay,” he whispers. “I will pass all my exams.”

I smirk. I offer my hands to him and say, “Should we shake on that?”

Lukas nods and shakes my hand. “I hope you are still as snarky as this when the results come out.”

“Oh, I am betting on that.”

***************

I didn’t expect my plan to work on the little monster named Lukas Reeves. It’s been a month, and he is still religiously coming to my room to study. He also stopped giving a pass on Alinn, who is starting to become familiar with his presence, or rather, learned to ignore it. Although, sometimes, when Alinn is out, he will ask for her. He is checking if he has been forgiven or not.

I sigh. Sometimes, I wonder if this whole thing is worth it. Good thing that his quizzes are getting better. Far from perfect, but better than before. With more time and more hard work, I am sure he can pass the upcoming exams.

And because of that, I think I need to plan about how Alinn will hate Lukas a little less. I think being able to tolerate him is good enough, right?

“Teacher Cassie, what will be our plans for the competition day?” Alinn interjects.

I smile at her. “I will drive you there in the morning. We can eat in the venue's canteen and maybe stop by a restaurant before I drop you off?”

She beams at me. “Really?! Where?”

“Wherever you want,” I say, sharing her excitement. “Just don’t choose a restaurant that will put a hole in my pocket.”

“Okay!” she says in a singsong voice.

She returns to her books and I glance at Lukas. There is a look of longing in his eyes. He clearly wants to come with us. However, aside from it being a weekday, Alinn won’t definitely like it.

“Lukas, since we’ll be gone for that day, you can take a break,” I inform him.

“Can I come instead?”

Alinn sharply turns towards me—a sign of her objection.

“You can’t. Only quizzers can come. Try to be a quizzer next time, then you can come with us,” I jest.

“Okay, probably next year,” he promises, and Alinn snorts.

I grin at the reaction of the two. “Or you can choose to study that day, too. Besides, your examination day is just around the corner.”