The hum of students chattering as they filed into the lecture hall filled the air, creating a nervous buzz. It was midterms week, and Zina was already feeling the pressure. She had managed to keep up with most of her classes, but one in particular was giving her nightmares: Economics 101.
It was notoriously difficult, with Professor Whitlock known for his no-nonsense attitude and tough grading. Zina had tried her best, even staying up late cramming for the exam, but the sinking feeling in her stomach told her it might not have been enough. As she entered the lecture hall, she spotted Aria already seated, looking equally anxious. Zina gave her a small nod and took a seat beside her.
"How do you think you did?" Aria whispered, glancing nervously toward the front of the room where Professor Whitlock was organizing the graded midterm papers.
Zina groaned softly, rubbing her temples. "Honestly? I have no idea. I thought I knew the material, but when I was writing the answers, I started second-guessing myself."
Aria sighed, slumping in her seat. "Same. That exam was brutal."
Just then, the tall and imposing figure of Professor Whitlock stepped to the podium. His eyes scanned the room, his expression stern as always. "Morning, class," he said, his voice deep and commanding. "I've graded your midterm exams. Some of you performed well. Others… not so much."
Zina swallowed hard, her anxiety spiking.
Professor Whitlock began handing out the papers, and Zina's heartbeat quickened as he neared her row. When he reached her desk, he placed the paper face down in front of her with a sigh. "Zina, I expected more from you. I'm disappointed."
Her heart sank as his words echoed in her ears. Disappointed? She knew she hadn't aced the exam, but she had studied hard. She turned the paper over with trembling fingers and saw the red ink at the top: 55/100.
Her stomach dropped. She had failed.
A soft gasp escaped her, and she immediately ducked her head, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She had always been a good student, usually excelling in her classes, but Economics 101 was proving to be her undoing.
Aria glanced over and grimaced. "Ouch, Z. I'm sorry."
Zina shook her head, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I don't get it. I studied so hard…"
"Maybe it's not just about studying," Aria offered. "You know how Whitlock is. He's always talking about how textbook answers aren't enough."
Zina nodded numbly. She had heard that too, but she thought she had added enough of her own analysis to the answers. Clearly, she was wrong.
As the rest of the papers were distributed, Zina's attention shifted to Kane, who was sitting two rows in front of her. She watched as Professor Whitlock handed him his paper, and she saw the professor's usually stern face soften if only slightly.
"Good work, Mr. Kane," Whitlock said, his tone filled with rare approval. "You clearly understand the material."
Zina's eyes widened in surprise as Kane took his paper and nodded quietly. When he placed it down on his desk, Zina caught a glimpse of the grade: 94/100. She couldn't help the gasp that escaped her lips.
Kane?
He must have heard her because he turned his head slightly, catching her eye. Zina quickly looked away, her face burning with embarrassment. It wasn't that she thought Kane was dumb far from it. But she hadn't expected him to do so well, especially when she had tanked the exam.
When Professor Whitlock finally dismissed the class, Zina gathered her things slowly, her mind racing. She couldn't afford to fail Economics it was one of her major courses. If she didn't pull her grade up, it would seriously affect her GPA, not to mention her scholarship.
She needed help.
As the rest of the students filed out, Zina stood up and slung her bag over her shoulder. She hesitated for a moment, watching Kane as he packed up his things, before making a decision. She walked over to him, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Kane," she called out softly, trying to keep her voice steady.
He looked up, his expression neutral. "Yeah?"
Zina took a deep breath, pushing down her pride. "I, uh… I saw your grade. You did really well on the exam."
Kane shrugged, clearly not one to boast. "I guess."
She shifted awkwardly, not sure how to phrase what she wanted to say. "I… didn't do so well. And I was wondering if—" She paused, glancing around the emptying room before lowering her voice. "If you could maybe help me? Tutor me, I mean."
Kane's eyebrows raised slightly, as if the idea of tutoring her had never crossed his mind. He studied her for a moment, and Zina could practically see the gears turning in his head. He didn't seem like the type to agree easily, and she braced herself for a possible rejection.
"I don't know," Kane said slowly, closing his notebook. "I'm not really a tutor kind of guy."
Zina felt a pang of disappointment, but she wasn't about to give up that easily. "Please, Kane," she insisted. "Economics is one of my core subjects, and I can't afford to keep failing. You clearly understand the material better than I do, and I really need help. I've been a good student all my life, and I still don't get why I bombed this exam."
Kane looked at her for a long moment before he finally sighed. "Professor Whitlock isn't like other professors. He doesn't care if you can recite the textbook back to him. He wants you to think critically, to apply the concepts to real-life situations. That's what most people miss."
Zina frowned, absorbing what he was saying. It made sense Whitlock was always going on about practical application and critical thinking but she hadn't realized how much weight he placed on it in his grading.
"I get that," she said slowly, "but I thought I was doing that. I don't know where I went wrong."
Kane glanced down at her exam paper, still sitting on the desk in front of her. After a moment, he shook his head. "You've got the basics, but you're playing it too safe. You're giving him what he expects from the textbook, not challenging the material or offering new perspectives. That's what he's looking for."
Zina sighed, rubbing her temples. "Great. So I've been doing it all wrong."
Kane gave a small shrug. "Not wrong, just not enough."
She bit her lip, considering her next move. "So… will you help me? Please? I'll do anything."
Kane raised an eyebrow at that. "Anything?"
Zina blinked, realizing what she had just said. She didn't mean it like that, but now she was desperate enough to agree to almost any terms. "Yes, anything reasonable. I'll owe you one."
Kane leaned back in his chair, his arms crossing over his chest. "Alright, here's the deal. I'll tutor you but in return, I need something from you."
Zina's brow furrowed. "What?"
Kane's gaze was steady, and for a moment, Zina couldn't tell what he was thinking. Then, his lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "I've got a project in another class. History. It's group work, but my partner's flaked on me. You're smart, so you can help me finish it. Deal?"
Zina let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. History wasn't her strongest subject, but she knew she could handle it especially if it meant getting help in Economics. She nodded. "Deal."
Kane stood up and slung his bag over his shoulder. "Meet me in the library after class tomorrow. I'll go over Whitlock's notes with you and show you how to approach the material differently."
Zina felt a surge of relief. "Thank you. Seriously."
Kane gave her a small nod, his expression still unreadable. "Don't mention it."
As he walked out of the lecture hall, Zina sank back into her seat, letting the tension drain from her body. She still felt the sting of failure from the exam, but at least now she had a plan. And even if Kane was a bit of a mystery, she couldn't deny that he was smart. Maybe with his help, she could turn things around.
She gathered her things and headed out of the lecture hall, feeling slightly more hopeful. Tomorrow would be a new day, and hopefully, with Kane's guidance, she could start figuring out how to navigate Professor Whitlock's impossible expectations.