Chapter 1988
Lost in nostalgia, Spencer continued, "To pique her interest, I started asking her about class lessons,
feigning academic concern. At first, she was puzzled. Why would I, the perpetual sleeper, suddenly
have an academic awakening? I played it off, saying my dad promised me four dollars for every point I
scored. I've got my eyes on a figurine worth over six grand. I needed to score as high as I could.
"Her reaction was immediate. She became my earnest tutor, lending me notes and patiently explaining
concepts. She stood out during our second year when the curriculum intensified, and everyone became
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtprotective of their study time. She sacrificed her time for me, meticulously breaking down each topic
and asking if I understood.
"I had heard numerous rumors about her from the boys' dormitory. They said her family was well-off.
Her parents did charity work and adopted a girl from an orphanage. But they were only using the girl for
publicity, and they actually treated her poorly. She was said to mistreat the girl, feed her food she was
allergic to, and make her wear her old, tattered clothes. So, many of our classmates isolated her,
thinking she had a bad character.
"I never bought it. She was a stranger to me, yet she was willing to sacrifice her own study time and
share her hard work. How could someone so selflessly sharing her knowledge be that person in the
rumors? Rumors start easily but are hard to dispel. People love to paint a picture that fits their
narrative, often overlooking the truth.
"Despite being an outsider, I found the rumors distasteful. She was strong, unaffected by the gossip.
But she was always ready to confront anyone who dared bring it up to her face. This resilience made
many wary of her, but I found it impressive. It added to her allure.
"As the SAT approached, she confidently told me that if I mastered what she taught, I could easily top
the class. I wondered aloud if she would continue teaching me. She said I had caught up fast.
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"But here's the twist: I could have easily scored high on my SAT but chose not to. When the results
were out, her disappointment was palpable. She blamed herself, thinking she hadn't taught me well
enough. That's when she committed to improving my grades, saying, 'There are no bad students, only
bad teachers.' I couldn't help but find her earnestness endearing."
Stella listened, inwardly fuming, 'That rascal! I was so concerned, thinking he had test anxiety, but it
turned out he was just playing me all along. And he had the audacity to brag about his "extraordinary
performance" during the Teacher's Appreciation Day!'
Caught up in his story, Spencer, slightly tipsy, stood up and sauntered to Keegan. Raising his glass, he
clinked it with Keegan's, a mischievous glint in his eye. He continued, "Despite half a year of tutoring,
she was still indifferent to me. But then, at a school event, I saw her gaze fixed on a handsome artist
performing on stage. That's when it hit me; she has a thing for good looks."