(Author's POV)
"Why don't you say sothing about your achievent to your classmates?" Janet Doull was over the moon. Her student has not only topped the school but the entire city. That was huge.
Denver, for once, didn't decline. He seed interested, genuinely.
After giving a quick look around, his eyes zeroed in on none other than Alia, whose mouth involuntarily twitched when their eyes t. She was left speechless, but inside, she was getting bombarded with thought after thought, filled with perplexity, 'How can this be? Is this a prank, a joke? How can he beco the topper? Didn't Ms. Doull say, 'except one'? Wasn't he the one? For a whole month, I helped him whenever he needed it, cutting off my own ti to study. He ca to for problem-solving, so how? Just H~O~W?' Her mind was in a baffling state.
Denver started, his tone was as nonchalant as ever, "Uhhh~ …. I don't know what to say."
"WOAH! …. modesty …. Hey~ Denver, why don't you start from telling how many marks you score?" Perry inquired, her pitch high, a notch or two.
Janet patted his back from behind and spoke on his behalf, "Denver got a hundred in all subjects."
A lot of gasps followed by a few whistles filled the entirety of the class's atmosphere. Alia felt as if she was struck by lightning. 'Hundred? A perfect score? I thought that was impossible?'
Denver played it cool and said, "It was partially pure luck and~ …." then for a while longer, his eyes lingered on Alia as he added, "because of our class rep's tutoring lessons, I guess."
His words drew all the attention to Alia. This was strike one as he added, "The class rep., she gave 'a poor guy' like her valuable ti."
Then ca strike two, "Only because of her help, could I get that number one position."
Lastly, it was the third strike. He bent down, tapped on her desk with his knuckles, and said, "Isn't that right, class rep? You took care of ~ …. my studies so well. So, of course, I had to make my tutor proud. Are you happy for ?"
Alia's clear browns t his ink blacks, and once again, sparks flew. But this ti, they weren't for any war's battle cry. They were more like fireworks, beautiful, radiant and magnificent. In that mont, it felt like ti had stopped and only those two were in the room. Others were just air.
The mont was broken by Perry, who seed to have sensed so tension between the other two. She patted Alia's back and called her na, her voice soft, "Lia~ …."
Alia snapped back to reality with lightning speed. Her eyes blinked rapidly as she answered, "Of~ … of course, I am happy. Good for you." She tried to smile properly, but it ca out stiff.
"Then, keep helping like that, in the near and far future as well. Hmmm~ …. Class Rep," he gave her a cocky smile, bowed and went back to his seat. This whole thing was making Alia unsettled. Her heart was thumping, banging against her rib cage, a mile a minute.
When it was lunch ti, Perry dragged a dazed Alia to the cafeteria. After piling their plates with food, they settled down into their usual seat. Joining her fingers, Perry placed her elbows on the table, her chin resting on the fingers, as she asked, "What's the tea?" Her eyes filled with anticipation.
"Tea? We didn't get tea. Yours is orange juice, mine is almond milk. Do you want it?" Alia asked genuinely
"Ohhhooo~ … Lia, gosh. You are such a~ …. Arrrggghhhh~ … what I an, what's the deal with you and the newbie, Denver Brooks? During his little speech, he was praising you to the nines, but sohow~ … I don't know why, but it felt like it was sothing other than just offering gratitude. Tell , what is really going on? You were giving him tutoring lessons. I know about that, but did it turn into sothing more, sothing romantic?" Perry laid all her doubts out. After all, she is the one who was rooting for them to be a thing. Of course, she has to know.
"Wh~at~ ... What absurdity? Romantic~ … EEE~ …. that too with him," Alia pointed towards herself, her voice a pitch or two louder than her usual tone. "Are you even listening to what you are saying?"
"Noo~ …. it isn't absurdity. And yes~ … I know what I am saying. The way he was looking at you. I have never seen that look on his face for anyone. He doesn't even talk to other girls. Forget about talking, he doesn't even glance their way, no matter how they try to catch his attention. He remains stoic and ignores them all. But that's not the case with you~ …. Lia. He behaves differently around you," Perry spoke.
"What are you trying to say, Peri-peri?" Alia was confused.
"Okay~ … lem explain it in your language. He~ .... to every other girl~ … no reaction at all. He~ …. to you~ …. there is teasing, a bit of flirting, hmm. Other girls = ignored like empty space, but you = he lingers around and make remarks. Didn't you say that after giving you a cold shoulder for almost two weeks, he approached you on his own? Denver Brooks took the initiative, which involved a girl. Don't tell you are not getting my aning even after I blabbered this much?" Perry was full-blown devoted to explaining it to Alia.
"He must be trying to make a ss out of , or rather, he must be showing simple gratitude towards ," Alia uttered, not believing her own words.
"And~ … what would he get with that? Seriously? He got a perfect score, Lia. A perfect score is next to impossible. So, he ca to you with a certain intention. And that, my friend, definitely has nothing to do with grades or studying. He likes you," Perry finally said.
Alia's hands moved faster as she stuffed a piece of bun in Perry's mouth, "Stop it. You don't know what you are saying. That's not the case. He doesn't."
Perry shook her head and poked with finality, "I know you don't like that kind of stuff, but staying in denial isn't good. I am giving you a heads up. He likes you, and you might get a confession from him soon."
To Be Continued . . . . . . . . .
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