Chapter 5
Tutoring the smartest guy in school turned out to be more enjoyable than I had expected. I struggled to not get distracted by studying his face instead of the textbook he gave me. Despite this, I found myself thoroughly enjoying our interactions. Teaching someone as brilliant as him seemed easier than I had imagined.
I struggled to control my curiosity about his life and personality. His mysterious aura intrigued me deeply.
It was almost as though he was a magnet pulling me to him. This happened every time he avoided conversations that required him to talk about his family. But I did still enjoy the time spent with him despite knowing absolutely nothing about him.
His demeanor was different during our lessons. He usually looked calm and collected and seemed unfazed by everything. But, I noticed how his features would soften during our sessions. His eyes flashed a hint of emotion I had never seen in him before.
Sometimes he would even break into a mischievous grin just by looking at me. I could swear I could see something playful and flirtatious beneath his usual cool exterior. Of course, I chalked it up to a coincidence.
“Aren”t you curious?”
His question pierced my daydream”s fog. It jolted me to the present like a sudden alarm in a quiet room. It was as if my mind had been a restless traveler. It wandered through a maze of thoughts, until his words grasped my attention and steered me back. His voice was like a splash of cold water. It shocked me out of my daydream and forced me to face our situation.
I blinked a few times to clear my head and looked back at him. ”Sorry?” I said, feeling a bit spaced out and annoyed at how my voice sounded.
We were done with our lesson. Neither of us had anything else to do for the day. We both decided that eating some burgers while watching the sunset was a perfect way to end the evening.
We were seated on a wooden bench outside the cafeteria. A light breeze blew over us as we munched on snacks quietly. We were staring at the beautiful orange clouds above us. We waited for darkness to cover the campus and for stars to appear in the night sky.
“Aren”t you curious?” He clarified softly after a brief moment of silent eating, causing me to stare at him with a wandering gaze. “I”m sure you”re dying to know about me.” He said matter-of-factly.
I took a short while to answer him, my eyebrows knitting together in confusion and curiosity. “How did you figure out?” I asked, looking at him curiously.
His expression gave a quick chuckle. But, it sounded more like an amused scoff. He shook his head, with his lips twisting into an amused grin. “Let”s make a deal.” He suggested after a few moments. His hands were folded neatly against the back of his head. He had a lazy smile on his full lips.
“Deal?” I required warily as I cocked my head to the side, my brows squeezing slightly. “What kind of deal?”
He shrugged lazily, his eyes drifting up towards the sky, but the smile remained on his lips. ”I”ll answer three of your questions, then one of mine, deal?” His tone turned serious, with a hint of amusement playing at the corner of his lips.
I stared silently for a moment. My face scrunched up in utter confusion. Then, I finally said: ”Alright.” After a few more seconds, my brows relaxed, and I let out a slight sigh as I agreed. I couldn”t imagine passing up another opportunity like this. I said, ”Sounds good to me.”
He gave me a satisfied smirk before lowering his hands from his head. ”Good, let”s begin,” he announced, straightening up slightly. Then, he looked directly at me, his head tilted curiously. ”What are you really curious about?”
His blue eyes held me firmly under his spell as he studied me with his own piercing gaze. “Who do you care a lot about?” I challenged him softly. That was my first question. I was surprised because I had never heard him talk about anyone fondly.
He hesitated briefly. I saw his guarded expression slip for a moment. Then, it was replaced with a playful look. ”Of course,” he answered shortly. I couldn”t help but roll my eyes at how he seemed to be doing everything but confessing.
”I thought we were being serious,” I said. I pointed out with fake exasperation. I tried not to laugh at the silliness of his statement. “You need to work on your poker face. I don”t buy it.”
“Then how about this? Myself?” He suggested cheekily.
“I suppose.” I chuckled, shaking my head briefly.
“And now what”s your second question?” He inquired. His eyes scanned mine intensely. But, he maintained a relaxed and nonchalant manner.
“I guess...why you chose me to be your tutor?” I mused carefully. I wouldn”t deny the fact that I was slightly honored to be his choice for tutoring.
He raised his perfectly shaped eyebrows. Then, he leaned forward again and folded his hands across his broad chest. ”You”re definitely unique,” he remarked with a teasing smirk. ”For starters, it”s hard not to notice your unusual fashion sense, your quirky taste in friends, and all that.”
I rolled my eyes playfully. I put my hands on top of my lap and folded them tightly. I nodded politely, pretending to be interested. But, I cursed at him inwardly for throwing such smooth insults into the conversation.
”And your name. After every exam, I see a strong competitor,” he said, leaning back with crossed arms and a cocky grin. ”It”s only fair that I gain the knowledge I needed from you.” I couldn”t help but snort at his words and his smug behavior. “You”re insufferable,” I retorted bluntly while trying to contain my giggles.
Leo flashed a big grin, clearly delighted with his success in eliciting a response from me. ”I did it just for you,” he said with a sly wink, leaning in a little closer to emphasize his point.
My eyes locked onto his mesmerizing blue again. For the second time, I felt drawn to reach out to him, to feel his skin under my fingertips, and to see if there truly was a pulse under his flesh. ”My third question,” I said softly. I had managed to hold back the urge to lean into him for a closer look.
“Fire on, second-best.” He commented with a smirk while lifting one of his eyebrows suggestively.
I stared for a few more seconds before responding. A slight flush colored my cheeks as I realized there was a specific question that I wanted to ask him. “Do you have a girlfriend?” I blurted out, feeling embarrassed the moment the words left my mouth.
Silence stretched between them. The only sounds in the quiet were their breathing and the winds moving the trees. My cheeks burned at his reaction. I awaited his response, praying that I hadn”t accidentally offended him.
He remained silent until he finished his burger. Then, he tossed the wrapper into the trash beside the bench before turning to me. His facial expression softened a lot. He gazed intently into my eyes. His gaze lingered on my lips for a long time before responding.
He shook his head slightly and whispered, ”No,” before his gaze returned to mine, filled with a mix of emotions like confusion and uncertainty.
The sun behind me still gave off warmth. But, despite it, I felt my body shiver at that word. My heart skipped a beat at the fact that the hottie beside me was single. Yes, it sounded so unbelievable.
I cleared my throat slightly. Then, I averted my gaze downward to my lap where my fingers twisted around each other. The silence weighed heavily on my shoulders as my mind replayed his response.
”Now, my question,” he said. His voice broke the silence again. His tone made me look back to him.
I watched as his body inched closer to mine. His predatory smile returned to his lips. For the next few seconds, I found my eyes roaming his features hungrily. The heat radiated from his intense gaze. It made it impossible to pull myself back from him completely. My heart fluttered nervously inside my chest.
”Do you want to?” He whispered softly. His voice barely reached my ears. Then, his eyes carefully scanned my face, taking in every detail.
A lump formed in my throat as I blinked quickly several times at his confusing words. “...sorry?” I stuttered slightly whilst trying my best to maintain eye contact.
”Girlfriend,” he whispered seductively. His gaze shifted between my eyes and lips, drawing closer. ”Would you like to be my girlfriend?” His warm breath brushed against my skin, creating an intimate moment. As he awaited my response, his eyes delved into mine, seeking assurance.
The question stirred a strange feeling in me. It caused my whole body to tingle with excitement. Butterflies fluttered wildly in my stomach, signaling the intensity of that moment.
I bit my bottom lip, nervous. My mind struggled to form sentences. Imagining kissing my archenemy made my cheeks flush slightly.
And yet, there he sat before me now. He gazed at me with those bewitching blue eyes. They were filled with nothing but honesty, as if I was all he could ever want.
“Y… yeah.” I whispered almost breathlessly despite having no idea how it had come out. It just sounded like a simple agreement to me, and my entire body was buzzing with a mix of excitement and nerves.
I hadn”t felt this way about a guy in years, not since high school when I was smitten with Jake, the star quarterback. And now, here I was, having these intense feelings for someone who, of all people, was my competitor. It was like being on the same side of a tennis court, hitting back and forth, but instead of a ball, it was our intense stares and unspoken words.
As I let the words fall from my lips, I didn”t stop to analyze them. It was as if I had handed over the reins of my mind to him, and he was riding it like a pro. I was trapped in his gaze, unable to look away. It was both exhilarating and terrifying, like being on a rollercoaster that I couldn”t get off.
I couldn”t decide if being under his spell was a blessing or a curse. On one hand, it felt amazing to let go of my inhibitions and simply be. On the other hand, it was unsettling to realize I had lost control. It was like trying to navigate a dark room without a flashlight – I was stumbling around, unsure of what lay ahead.
The corners of his eyes crinkled lightly at my answer. A wide grin spread across his face, making the dark shadows under his eyes even deeper.
”Perfect,” he said. Then, his hands cupped my face. He kissed me deeply, silencing me. My brain shut down, and my body responded automatically to his touch.