As Alex entered her final years of school, a new teacher joined the faculty—a strikingly handsome and charismatic young man named Max. He was tall, intelligent, and carried himself with an effortless charm that quickly made an impression on both students and staff alike.
Alex, a 16-year-old with sharp wit and undeniable beauty, was known for her confidence and the way she walked with her head held high. She was the object of admiration for many boys at school, though she seemed indifferent to the attention, focusing instead on her studies and aspirations.
Max, on the other hand, was fresh out of school himself. At just twenty, he had taken the position of mathematics teacher to earn money for university. Despite his youth, he was remarkably skilled in his subject and determined to prove himself in this new role.
The morning of Max's first lesson arrived, and the classroom buzzed with curiosity. As the bell rang, the door creaked open, and Max stepped inside, his confident stride silencing the chatter.
"Good morning, everyone," he greeted, his deep voice carrying a calm authority.
"Good morning, Mr. Max," the students chorused, their voices a mix of respect and intrigue.
Max surveyed the room with a slight smile, his eyes briefly meeting Alex's. For a fleeting moment, their gazes locked—a meeting of curiosity, ambition, and something unspoken. But the moment passed, and Max turned his attention to the lesson, eager to make his mark as their teacher.
Max began the class with ease, his enthusiasm for mathematics infectious. The students responded eagerly to his questions, their hands shooting up almost before he finished speaking. The energy in the room was palpable, and even the usual daydreamers seemed captivated.
But despite the lively engagement of the class, Max found his attention repeatedly drawn to Alex. She sat near the middle of the room, her posture confident, her hand often raised. Every time he asked her a question, she answered swiftly and accurately, her knowledge far exceeding his expectations.
Impressed, he decided to test her further. After explaining a particularly tricky concept, he posed a question directly to her. Without hesitation, she answered, her voice steady and self-assured.
"Correct," he said, unable to hide his admiration.
By the end of the lesson, Max assigned a classwork exercise and instructed the students to submit their work once completed. "Alex," he added, "when everyone is done, collect the notebooks and bring them to me."
She nodded, her expression calm and focused.
When the students finished, Alex gathered the workbooks and approached his desk. As he began marking, she lingered nearby, waiting for him to return the notebooks to the class. Max glanced up, the air between them suddenly charged with curiosity. He set down his pen and spoke.
"What's your name?" he asked, his voice low but warm.
"Alex," she replied simply.
"You're very good at mathematics," he said, leaning back slightly in his chair. "I'm impressed. You answered every question correctly—and so quickly, too. Have you ever considered getting a tutor to help you advance even further?"
Alex hesitated, then replied softly, "Thank you, sir. I haven't, actually. I just read and learn on my own with my textbooks and the internet."
Her calm tone and quiet confidence struck him, and for a moment, he said nothing, merely studying her with a faint smile.:
"That's good," Max said with an encouraging smile. "You know, I could tutor you to help sharpen your skills even more. You're already excellent, but with a little extra practice, I think you could be ready for competitions. In fact, there's a math competition this Friday, and I'd like you to represent the class. You're clearly the best student here."
Alex's eyes widened, and she hesitated before replying, her tone nervous but determined. "Sir, I've never participated in a competition before, let alone represented an entire class. But I'd be willing to try—with your help."
"That's the spirit," Max said, his confidence unwavering. "There's a first time for everything. And I have no doubt you'll impress everyone. Who knows? You might even start bringing home awards for the school."
He handed the stack of notebooks back to her, his smile reassuring. "Here you go. I've finished marking them. Please return these to the students and remind them to do their corrections."
Alex nodded, clutching the notebooks tightly. "Thank you, sir. I'll do that."
As she walked back to her classmates, her mind raced with both excitement and nerves. The thought of representing the class felt daunting, but Max's confidence in her lit a spark of determination she hadn't felt before.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Students packed their bags and left to go home, including Alex. As she walked out, she noticed Max standing near the school gate. He was also heading home.
Their eyes met briefly.
"Where do you live?" Max asked casually.
"I live near the big green church," Alex replied.
"Oh, my route goes that way. I could walk you home and then head to my place," he offered.
"Okay, sir," she said nervously. It was the first time she'd ever walked home with a teacher.
As they made their way down the road, Max tried to spark a conversation. He asked her questions about her age, birthday month, and date. Alex answered with a shy smile each time, feeling both awkward and amused by his efforts.
They enjoyed their chat so much that they were surprised when they reached Alex's house so quickly.
"Alright, it was really nice talking and walking with you. See you at school tomorrow," Max said with a friendly smile.
"Okay, sir," Alex replied, her cheeks flushed as she smiled back.
She stepped inside her house, took a shower, and changed into comfortable clothes before settling onto her bed. As she lay there, a smile spread across her face, her cheeks flushing slightly.
The memory of the walk home with him replayed in her mind—the way he had tried to keep the conversation going, the warmth in his voice, and his easy smile. She couldn't help but admit to herself that her new mathematics teacher was not only handsome but also surprisingly fun to be around.
Lost in thought, she felt a flutter in her chest. It was a feeling she wasn't quite ready to name but one she didn't mind lingering in for a little while longer.