Chapter 9 - Tutor

"Heading to your part time job?" An old man asked her as he ate the bread she handed him.

He then gave the rest to the pets he had on hand; Two dogs: a big white one and a small brown mutt.

She nodded, squatting next to him and petting his adorable dogs. They had that stupid look on their faces, friendly with anyone, as always.

He was an old man living under the bridge she passed by everytime she went to her tutoring session.

He had been living under the bridge since she (the Other Her) knew him, but he never actually begged for food.

Usually, he cleaned up trash from restaurants and eateries, and he would get some leftovers in return.

She looked at the old man a little longer than usual this time. The old man smiled at her, sensing her stare.

"What is it you want to say, young lady?"

"I'll be quitting my job soon." She said, "I may not be able to pass by here as often…"

She pouted, playing with the two dogs. She took some more jerky snacks from her pocket (space) and told them to do tricks she and the old man taught them.

As the Other Her loved plants, she also loved Animals and poor people. She always thought that if she helped other people, her fortune would also turn for the better.

Also, she had a soft heart, even after going through so much.

Similarly, the Her from the magic world also had a soft heart, because she barely suffered anything even after living for so long.

This was the reason why even when she was technically a different person, she was still so natural around the old man and the dogs.

The man laughed at their antics, and looked at her warmly. "The children and I will miss you, young lady!"

She smiled, patting off the dust from her pants and standing up. "I will miss you guys as well."

As she walked away, she couldn't help but turn back.

"Don't forget about me~"

She told him..

After all, this old man obviously had dementia.

***

Her student's name was called Jacob Adams, a handsome boy around her age.

He was actually several months older than her, but was held back due to his lack of focus.

From the Other Her's memory, he was a good-looking young boy with short hair, brown eyes, and a charming smile.

That was all, however, and her only impression of this lad from memory was that he wasn't very smart.

His proficiency was on the athletic side and wasn't bookish at all. But his school required him to have a certain grade to keep his position in the team.

Somehow, she found the hiring notification and her stellar grades and unassuming appearance allowed her to get the job.

She had been tutoring him for the past two years or so, with decent progress. At the very least, his grades improved steadily over the years and she received a good bonus from it.

As for the relationship between him and the Other Her, it could be said to be a bit bland and boring.

He was also a bit lazy and got distracted easily, but she was smart and could gather key points into a compressed whole, so Jacob managed to get passing grades every time.

As she set up the study materials, she couldn't help but ask Jacob where his parents were.

"They're in an island somewhere." He shrugged, not even looking at her.

His parents went abroad again, it seemed, leaving the two of them alone.

They must not see her as a sexual being for them to continuously leave a girl even younger than their teenage son alone with him in a locked room.

Today the subject was Maths, which Jacob particularly hated. Fortunately, she already had a review plan in mind so they managed to trudge through the lesson.

Two hours later she stretched her arms thinking she was finally free. Not only for the day, but also for this job.

After all, her quitting couldn't be delayed, she had to make more money to buy supplies to last her a lifetime. Tutoring for two more months simply wouldn't be able to cut it.

Jacob gave her a sideways glance and stared at her as she moved, but he completely whipped his head with her next words.

"This should be my last session." She told him, planning on emailing his parents when she got home.

Jacob finally looked at her with a frown. "What?"

"Today is my last—"

"I heard that."

"Oh." She shrugged.

He scratched his head, a little annoyed, and it puzzled her a little. "Why?"

"I'm finding a better job. I'm… planning to buy a house." She said, technically not lying.

"I'm rich."

"Yes, I know." She said, looking around his room—one of the eight bedrooms in their villa in the middle of the city.

Jacob turned so their bodies were only a few inches apart, looking down at her.

She blinked, realizing that his whole size could cover hers, and this took her by surprise.

Was he always this tall?

Two years ago, he was clearly only a few inches taller than she was? What was with this towering height?

He looked at her with those slightly slanted sharp eyes, gaze heated, unlike the sporty boy in her impression.

Could sports develop people so well?

Should she enroll?

The eighteen-year-old already had lean muscles, and they were very well-shaped. It was not the most muscular she had seen, but she was still curious about how it felt.

"I'm quitting." She repeated, shaking herself off the thoughts. She would not stoop so low as to bite grass this young.

Although.. this body seemed to be of the same age? Even younger?

No. Don't get tempted.

The young man glared at her in response.

"Yeah, I got that. But... why?" He paused, looking at her with a complicated expression, the heat of his body oozing out and reaching her space.

"If it's because of me—"

She raised her hand to stop his approach. "It isn't. I just needed to do something else." She said and stood up to start packing up.

Jacob was silent, watching her as she arranged her items.

She could feel his heated gaze on her, tracing her movements, tracing her skin.

If she still didn't know what this dude was thinking, she'd be an idiot.

"Have you ever kissed someone?" He asked out of nowhere, looking at her deeply.

She looked at him in puzzlement. "None of your business?"

He glared at her. "Then kiss me."

"What?" She asked again, as if she didn't hear properly. He was clearly glaring at her earlier?

He paused and blushed, looking away.

"Don't think too much!" He yelled, like a little tsundere. "I-I'm pursuing someone, we kissed, but she thinks I'm too green."

"...so?"

"You're still my tutor until tonight!"

"And?"

"I want you to teach me!"

She rolled her eyes and patted his head. "Go find your crush. Tell her you're a pleasure to teach."

"I'm a pleasure to teach?" He asked, but he seemed to realize he was being bratty.

He heaved a sigh, finally lifting his gaze as he stared at her. Predatory, and she suddenly forgot this was a young man yet to see the world.

She quickly took away the hand on his head as if burned, but he caught it, pulling her to him, her head bumping on his developing chest.

He gripped her waist to keep her there. He deliberately lowered his voice, trying to appear more adult, more masculine.

His friends told him that women wanted manly and proactive men.

So, he leaned down, lips close to her pretty little ears, and told her what he wanted.

"Teach me."