Zina stood outside the grand house, her heart fluttering with a mix of excitement and nervousness. She had been looking forward to this tutoring session with Kane for days. The sheer size of the house was impressive; it loomed large, with its manicured lawns and tall windows that gleamed in the afternoon sun. She raised her hand to press the doorbell, and just as she did, the door swung open.
Alex stood there, a mischievous grin plastered across his face. His casual outfit a t-shirt and joggers made him look effortlessly charming. "Well, well, well! If it isn't the lovely Zina! To what do we owe the pleasure?" he quipped, leaning against the doorframe with an air of playful arrogance.
Zina couldn't help but smile back, her nerves easing a little. "I'm here to see Kane for a study session," she said, trying to sound casual.
"Ah, the studious one! You've come to rescue him from the depths of boredom. Good luck with that!" Alex chuckled, stepping aside to let her in. "Kane's upstairs, first door on the right. Now go save him from boredom" he teased, winking at her.
Zina rolled her eyes, laughing. "Thanks" she replied as she stepped inside. The interior was even more stunning than she had imagined. The foyer was spacious, with high ceilings and elegant décor. She glanced around, marveling at the tasteful artwork and the high-end furniture that adorned the space.
"Nice place you've got here," she said, glancing back at Alex, who was now shutting the door.
"Thanks! It's a bit much for college students, don't you think?" he replied with a grin. "But hey, we have to live in style, right?"
Zina chuckled, shaking her head. "I guess so. I just didn't expect a student to live in a house this nice. I thought dorms were the norm."
"Most people think that, but Kane and I are special," Alex declared, puffing out his chest playfully. "We have rich grandparents who spoil us. They bought us this place to keep us out of trouble." He leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "But between you and me, it's mostly Kane keeping me in line."
She couldn't help but laugh. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Alright, I'll let you get to it. Don't keep him too long, or he might start thinking studying is fun," Alex warned, giving her a playful nudge before heading down the hall.
Taking a deep breath, Zina made her way upstairs, her footsteps echoing softly on the wooden staircase. She reached the first door on the right and hesitated for a moment before knocking softly. "Kane?"
"Come in," came his familiar voice from the other side.
Zina opened the door and stepped inside, her jaw dropping slightly at the sight before her. Kane's room was massive, far larger than she had anticipated. The walls were painted a deep shade of blue, and his bed was pushed against one side, adorned with dark bedding that contrasted with the light wood of the furniture. Bookshelves lined one wall, filled with an impressive collection of textbooks, novels, and a few scattered gaming consoles.
"Wow," she breathed, taking in the space. "You really live here?"
Kane turned from his desk, where he had been organizing his notes. A faint smile crossed his lips as he gestured for her to enter. "Yeah, my grandparents got it for me and Alex when we started college," he said casually. "They wanted us to have a comfortable place to stay."
"What about your parents?" Zina asked, curiosity getting the better of her. She had never heard him mention them before.
Kane's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of something she couldn't quite read passing across his face. "Uh, they're… not really involved," he mumbled, avoiding her gaze as he moved to clear some clutter off the chair beside his desk.
Zina nodded, sensing that this was a topic he preferred to sidestep. "Right," she said softly, changing the subject. "So, um, where should I sit?"
"On my bed works fine," Kane replied, shrugging. "The chair's a bit messy." He pointed at a heap of clothes piled on the chair.
Zina laughed lightly, her cheeks flushing at the thought of sitting on his bed, but she pushed her shoes off and folded her legs beneath her as she settled down. "Okay, let's do this," she said, opening her laptop and pulling out her notes.
Kane took a seat at his desk, glancing at her with a mixture of amusement and seriousness. "So, what are we tackling first?"
"Economics. I really need help with it. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong," Zina admitted, biting her lip in frustration.
Kane leaned back in his chair, contemplating her for a moment. "The thing with Professor Whitlock is that he expects us to apply critical thinking to everything, not just regurgitate information from the textbook," he explained. "He's kind of notorious for that. You have to connect the dots and show how you think, rather than just answering questions directly."
Zina nodded, trying to process his words. "That makes sense. I think I've been approaching it all wrong." She frowned, feeling the weight of her recent failure in the subject.
"Let's start with the basics," Kane suggested. He pulled out a textbook and flipped to a chapter on supply and demand. "What do you remember about this?"
They spent the next hour diving into the concepts, with Kane patiently explaining terms and principles while Zina took notes. She found herself getting lost in the subject, grateful for Kane's clear explanations. Each time she felt lost, he would rephrase things or present examples that made the material click.
After they finished going over a few key concepts, Zina sighed, feeling both exhausted and enlightened. "I think I'm starting to get it," she said, a small smile creeping onto her face. "This is so much better than struggling alone in my room."
Kane smiled back, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "You're doing great. Just remember to approach it with the right mindset next time. Think critically."
They spent a bit more time going over practice problems, and as the sun began to set, the room was filled with a warm, golden light. Zina glanced at her phone and realized how late it had gotten. "I should probably head back soon," she said reluctantly.
"Not until we finish this section," Kane insisted, his tone more firm than before. "You need to be prepared for your next class. Plus, I'd rather not have you failing again."
Zina chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "You sound like my mom."
"Good. Someone needs to keep you in line," Kane replied with a smirk, before turning serious again. "But really, I want you to do well. You deserve it."
As they wrapped up their study session, Zina felt a warm sense of gratitude towards Kane. He had been incredibly helpful, and she appreciated his dedication. "Thanks for this, Kane. I really needed it."
"Anytime," he replied, standing up and stretching. "I'll walk you to the door."
Zina put her shoes back on and followed him downstairs. When they reached the front door, Kane paused and looked at her, his expression slightly more serious. "Are you sure you want to take a taxi? It's getting dark outside, and I don't want to risk you being out there alone."
Zina hesitated, biting her lip. "I mean, I can just call one. It's not that far."
Kane shook his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. "No. Just let me drive you back. It's not safe, and I don't want to take any chances. Please."
She sighed, recognizing that he was genuinely concerned. "Fine, you win. But only if you promise not to speed."
"Deal," he said, a small smile breaking through his seriousness. "Let me grab my keys."
As they stepped outside, Zina marveled at the beautiful night sky filled with stars. Kane walked confidently beside her, the warm glow of the porch light casting a soft illumination around them. The car parked in the driveway was sleek and modern, a testament to the wealth of Kane's family.
"Nice car," Zina remarked, glancing at the shiny exterior as Kane unlocked the door.
"Thanks. It's my grandparents' gift for getting into college," he said, shrugging casually. "They thought I deserved something nice."
"Damn you really are born with a golden spoon and you are smart on top you parents must be proud?" Zina said, smiling.
Kane's expression darkened slightly as he slid into the driver's seat. "I don't know. They're just… not really involved in my life," he replied quietly, as if the subject made him uncomfortable.
Zina chose not to push further. Instead, she settled into the passenger seat, trying to lighten the mood. "So, I hope you have good music taste? Because I don't know what you rich kids listen to."
He chuckled, glancing at her with a playful glint in his eye. "Yeah."
As they drove through the city, Zina enjoyed the comfortable silence, listening to the soft music playing in the background. It was nice being with Kane outside of their study sessions, and she found herself relaxing more with every passing moment.
Before long, they arrived at her campus, and Zina felt a pang of disappointment that their time togetherBefore long, they arrived at her campus, and Zina felt a pang of disappointment that their time together was ending. "Thanks for the ride," she said as Kane parked the car.
"Anytime," he replied, his tone sincere. "Just remember to study hard. I want you to ace your finals"
Zina smiled, her heart warming at the thought. "I will. And thanks again for today."
As she opened the door to get out, Kane called after her, "Zina?"
She turned back to face him, her heart racing slightly. "Yeah?"
"Remember we have another study session in 2 days," he said, his gaze steady and serious.
"Thanks, Kane. I remember," she replied softly, feeling grateful for his kindness.
With one last smile, Zina stepped out of the car and waved goodbye as she walked towards her dorm. The evening air was crisp and refreshing, and she felt a newfound sense of hope. Maybe with Kane's help, she would finally conquer her studies.
As she reached her building, she looked back at the car, where Kane sat watching her with a soft expression. With a wave, she turned and headed inside.