"Alright then, everyone," Ms. Sanders began with a warm smile. "Now, I'd like you all to introduce yourselves. Let's start with the boy in the first bench." She pointed at a boy seated in the front row.
The boy stood up confidently, his voice steady. "Hello everyone, my name is Scott Smith. I'm 10 years old, and I hope to get along with everyone here."
The class clapped lightly as Scott sat down. The girl beside him followed, her voice a bit softer but still audible. One by one, the introductions continued down the rows.
When it came to Dave's benchmate, she stood up with a poise that immediately commanded attention. "Hello everyone," she began confidently. "My name is Yasmine Yates. I'm 10 this year, and I hope to become a powerful master like my father. I look forward to getting along with all of you. Thank you for having me here."
Dave, who hadn't looked at her properly until now, turned his head. For the first time, he truly saw her—and he was utterly mesmerized. He couldn't take his eyes off her. Yasmine was striking, with milky white skin, perfectly straight black hair, warm brown eyes, and an aura of elegance and self-assurance that made her stand out. Her demeanor radiated a quiet confidence that seemed almost regal.
"She's beautiful," he murmured under his breath, completely entranced.
Just then, as if she heard him, Yasmine turned her gaze toward him, their eyes meeting briefly. To his shock, she smiled warmly and said, "Thank you."
Dave froze. "Wait, that wasn't for her to hear," he panicked inwardly. His cheeks flushed red as embarrassment washed over him.
Ms. Sanders called out again, "Hey, young man, are you alright?"
Before he could respond, Yasmine leaned slightly toward him, her voice teasing but kind. "You might want to look at the front instead of me, you know… the teacher is calling you," she said with a playful wink.
"Huh? Oh! Yes, yes, ma'am," Dave stammered, scrambling to his feet. His heart raced as he faced the teacher, still trying to shake off the lingering embarrassment.
"As I said," Ms. Sanders repeated patiently, "would you mind introducing yourself?"
Dave's mouth opened, but the words didn't come easily. "My name is… um… Dave Walker…" He trailed off, his nerves getting the better of him. His mind went blank, and he stood there awkwardly, unsure what to say next.
The room filled with soft chuckles from his classmates.
Seeing his struggle, Yasmine smiled again, but this time she said nothing. Ms. Sanders quickly intervened, her tone firm but kind. "Alright, class, that's enough. It's not polite to laugh when someone is nervous. We're here to support each other, not make fun. You're not bad kids, are you?"
The class quieted instantly under her gentle scolding.
Turning back to Dave, Ms. Sanders gave him an encouraging smile. "It's alright, Dave. Take your time. Now, tell us—how old are you, and what do you like to do?"
Gathering his courage, Dave managed to reply, though his voice was shaky. "I'm… I'm 10 years old… and I like computers."
"That's wonderful, Dave," Ms. Sanders said warmly. "And remember, there's no need to be nervous. Speak confidently next time, alright?"
Dave nodded. "Okay, ma'am," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You may sit down now," Ms. Sanders said gently.
Dave quickly sank back into his chair, relief washing over him. His classmates seemed to have moved on, but his mind lingered on Yasmine's smile and her playful wink. He risked a glance at her, only to find her casually chatting with the girl behind her, as if nothing had happened.
The introductions continued, but for Dave, the rest of the session felt like a blur.