Chapter Text
Lacey is a junior high schooler who likes seifuku and hates Physics. Partially because she only has one brain cell left for that subject and mostly because of her Physics teacher.
Sad story.
But that aside, because the Physics grade last year almost made her fail a grade - and unfortunately she still needs to study that subject for the damn Transition Exam two years later, her mother decided to pick a tutor to help her with it.
Yeah…and now we really jump into the present
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Lacey was sleeping when her cousin - who has to stay here to look after her due to Mama’s request - kicked in her bedroom.
“Lulu! Wake up you lazy fox. The tutor is coming.”
“...the f-ck? Isn’t it-” She took a look at her phone “8:15? The guy said he would come at 8:45 or so.”
“Well, you still need to prepare yourself dammit.” The cousin smacked Lacey on the head, which she then pinched him back on the thigh but the two suddenly heard the doorbell.
Sh-t, already?!
“Go and prepare yourself, I’ll get the door.” the cousin glanced at her door a bit nervously, then left.
Guess she really should get up now.
.
.
Walking down the stairs, she could vaguely see her cousin talking to a young man - probably older than her by a few years - with white disheveled hair and clothings that make her want to sweat already.
“Oi Lacey, the tutor wants to talk to you!” her cousin called
“Geez, I heard that. No need to yell.”
.
“So, you must be Lacey. Pleasure to meet you.” The tutor said, but his tone felt like he wanted to leave already.
...not gonna lie, he sounded like a reporter or some sort.
“Nice to meet you too, uh…”
“Theo. I hope we can work together until the end of this semester.” he replied, still with a deadpan tone
“Yeah, right…” The room suddenly became really awkward. “...didn’t you say you’d come at 8:45?”
The guy only sighed and rubbed his nose bridge.
“That was my initial plan. I didn’t expect to arrive earlier, and I was contemplating waiting in a nearby cafe but I ended up going in anyway.”
Bruh.
“But the sooner we do it, the earlier we’ll get over it.”
“Fair. So we're just gonna study, right?” She asked while grabbing her pencil pouch and a notepad under the table.
The tutor only pulled a stack of paper and handed it to her.
“Not yet. I need to see what you can do under time pressure and where you’re struggling.”
Ah…why is it the first summer work she needs to deal with?
.
.
“You have 90 minutes to finish this test. The test has 30 questions, containing both basic and advanced knowledge from 8th grade’s Physics with the difficulty of each question being randomized. If you don’t know it, just skip it.” Picking out his phone, he set the timer then gave her a flat smile. “No pressure.”
A wheeze could be heard far away
B-tch, you made it worse.
“Yeah, sure, deffo no pressure.”
“Ready?”
Balancing her pen on the sheets, she grimaced:
“Let’s just get over this.”
.
.
An hour and half had passed faster than she wished. Now she could only look at the tutor who was scanning over the paper while the smell of eggs and bacon wavered in the air.
Oh god, why is she feeling so low energy now? Did she have breakfast?
“You okay there Lacey?” He put the paper down, looking concerned.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just realized I might have forgotten to have breakfast beforehand.”.
“Then go and have something! It’ll take a while to grade this anyway.”
“...k then.”
.
After some egg toast with a cup of milk coffee, she still saw Theo checking something on the test, brows furrowing.
Look, it was a multiple-choices test, it couldn’t be that long nor difficult.
But again, he did leave some space for her to write her solution.
“Oh, you're done eating?” He looked up, still with that bored look
“Yea. Still haven’t finished grading though?” She walked behind the sofa and peers over his shoulder, mug of coffee still in her hand.
“I’m actually done. Just…a bit curious about one question you make. But first-” He then set the paper down for her to see. “-you need to see the result.”
Unfortunately, her eyes can’t see too well when trying to peek through someone’s shoulder. In the end, she sat next to him and read the content of the paper.
“So you got 17 answers right, with 3 of them out of sheer luck. But one of them tho…” He then pointed to question 25. “While the answer is correct, the way you do it is taught in 10th grade. How?”
Oh. That.
“I saw it on Qanda. It was quicker and much easier than my teacher’s method so eh.”
That explained why she got only half of the score that time.
“...I see.” He then put the sheet down. “Well, now we only need to discuss with your mother about your level and the teaching plan then we’re done for the day.”
“Yeah, about that…”
His eyes darkened even more. – “She’s not gonna be home anytime soon, isn’t she?”
“Unfortunately.”
And the room falls in silence, again.
“...I like your shirt.” The tutor tried to open a new conversation.
Said shirt is a white sailor shirt with two different length sleeves
“Thanks. It was a prototype I made at 3 am in a sugar high.”
“Oh.” His eyes seems to brighten a bit while tapping his hand slightly to his cheek. “Funny your test was the same case, except it was caffein”
Ey, nocturnal pals.
…now what?
“So…Are you going anywhere after this? Just a bit curious.” She took a long sip of the lukewarm coffee, which unfortunately is now unbearably sweet and in need of some ice cubes. “I’m probably gonna head home. There’s still things I need to deal anyway.”
Sound boring.
“And you?” “Probably hanging out with my friends and enjoying the summer weather.”
He only murmured something, which if her ears weren't tricking her, it’s “Must be nice to live so carefree.”
Theo my dude, you okay there?
“Oh right, can I have your phone number or any social media? At least I can ask you about difficult homework and such.” She knocked her phone slightly on his arm, which then he picked and quickly typed in his Instagram account.
“Oh cool, thanks.” “It’s no problem.”
“Damn motor mouth, why’re you so quiet? Trying to save faces?” A smug voice appeared - none other than her dear cousin.
You f-cker.
“Stand right there you fu- Don’t stop me Theo!”
Right before she could break away from Theo - who has a surprisingly good grip for his look - and threw her slipper at the cousin’s face, the door opened.
“Lacey? Are you fighting with your cousin again?” Her mom - with that same pink shade of her saving for the ears and tail - yelled in, hadn't even taken off her heels yet.
“Oh hi Mom/Auntie. We’re just play-fighting, nothing serious.”
Theo and her only gave them a judging look.
“And sending your cousin to the dentist again? I’m not gonna allow that.”
She simply dropped her slipper down and put her hand up in surrender.
“Alright, I won't throw my slipper at him.”
For now.
Her mom only sighed and turned to the tutor.
“My apologies, my daughter can get a bit…rambunctious.”
He only gave her a flat smile.
“It’s alright ma’am. On the bright side, at least they aren't actively hurting or belittling each other.” “What?” “Moving on. Would you mind if we start discussing your daughter’s current level and perhaps the future teaching plan?”
Dude, genuine question: are you okay?
.
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While her mom and the tutor was discussing about the teaching plan, Lacey and her cousin laid listlessly on the kitchen table
“Ey Lu.” “Bark”
Her cousin shifted their position and looked at the tutor.
“So he’s a 2nd year student.” “Mhm.” “Having a formal, posh ahh accent. (though Author may not convey it well)” ‘Mhm.” “And he just turn 16 be this late /may.” “And? Dude is probably the kid next door that your mum keeps comparing you with in every meal.”
Her cousin only sputtered, wanting to smack his cup of iced milk tea onto her head.
“That’s not what I mean. I just find it weird that why a highschooler, presumably from a high-class family, is working part-time?”
She only looked at the tutor - who may have finished discussing with her mum and is now putting away his books.
“I don’t know, because they’re bored?”
He only looked at the guy leaving the room.
“Maybe. But it lowkey feels a bit…sus. As if that guy has an inner motive or such.”
Sure pal, whatever floats your boat.
“Lacey, go out and clean your mess! Do you think I would do that for you?”
She only calls back and jolts out of the chair.
And the morning passed normally
.
.
“Ey Nina.” “Hmm?”
It’s the same afternoon - around 4 pm or so. Lacey and her friends was currently in a coffee shop that Nina recently found - mostly because of their soft serve coffee float - and was waiting for their order
“Did ya get into a cram school lately?”
She only gave her a look.
“Lemme guess, you got into one?” “Worse.” “One-by-one by your Physics teacher?”
Collie only smacked her friend.
“How could you say something like that?! As if the teacher would be willing to teach her and she wouldn’t gnaw on him as soon as he puts his feet inside her house.”
Wow, so motivating. Thanks Collie.
“Jokes aside,-” Nina looks at her while Collie goes out to get their order as soon as she hears “-who’s that tutor is?”
Well, would they believe her if she said a f–king rich kid is her tutor?
“A senior from high school…from what I know…”
“Guess he’s pretty handsome, hmm?” Nina smirks, which she only smacks her with the light novel she was reading.
Well, to be fair, Nina was half right. He’s pretty, but not the “handsome” kind and more of a soft, effeminate beauty. And don’t let Lacey start with his eyes-
“Ey, did ya just straight up daydreaming about him?” Nina smacked her back to reality, already close to full on laughing.
“B-tch, you did not-”
In her view, the same white head that her head that just ran ten miles an hour a few minutes ago appeared around the corner - albeit with a different outerwear and not-so-filled satchel - and now noticed her
Đậu, ăn gì mà linh như cờ hó vậy?! What kind of sick timing is this?!
“Oh. Good afternoon Lacey.” He flatly greeted her
Eeeeyup. That’s him.
“Hey hey hey! Do you happen to be Lacey’s tutor? I’ve heard quite a bit and honestly, you sound reaaaally cool.” Nina stood up and snatched his hand, which surprised him…to an extent.
“Flattery won’t help you in the future, Lacey.” He coughed and looked straight at Lacey, mildly annoyed and embarrassed.
Rude.
“Lacey, why are you huffing like an angry Anemo slime? And who’s his guy Mimi?” Collie returned with their tray of drinks in her hand, which Nina only smirked at the two.
“Well you see dear Choco-” “My apologies, but I need to meet a friend of mine and leaving him hanging won’t be the smartest thing to do.” He freed himself out of Nina’s grip and moved quickly, either disgusted by peasant touching him without permission or scared of Nina the chatterbox.
Either way, it’s still pretty funny.
“Anyway, do you want me to help you get with that guy?” “Lacey like who?”
She hit Nina with the light novel again.