k's

froze for a moment, caught by her intense green gaze, but I forced myself to pull it to

" I said as I wrote on the b

Wal

ard the blonde girl two rows

hair before returning to my desk. I had expected that kind of question

ered. "But I am far too o

ed in my chest, but it was better this way. She was only seventeen, and now that I was her teacher, there was no way I could allow even the s

lassroom. The blonde girl next to her never took her eyes off me, and I gave her a warning look, which kept me from seeing what

x's

as for me to see him standing at the front of this classroom, dressed in clothes that did not truly represent him, even if I had to admit they suited him incredibly well. Bu

eady knew the answer. I knew he had a girlfriend. A beautiful blonde with voluptuous curves that looked nothing like me or any of the girls in this room. Yet t

f his voice. I needed to focus on anything that would not make my chest tighten, because even

nd. That was when I understood that I was going to suffer through a living hell this year. He knew and had seen my body in the worst condition po

ood to leave through the back of the room. I did not need to make eye contact. I simply had to treat him like any ot

behind me, but I ignored her and l

na's

see him again, even if he was our teacher, but as usual, she disappointed me. I quickly stuffed

!" he calle

rised that he already

wered as I walked

I noticed she had some gaps in mathematics in previous years, and

a bit disappointed that the

s last year. It would have given me the chance to enjoy a personal meeting with him t

orld she had created for herself lately. I was slowly starting to worry about her condition. Still, I

rived. "Mr. Walsh would like to see you du

d her arms tighter beneath he

k's

a reason to talk to her about the discomfort she must have felt having me as her teacher. But after looking over her academic records, I noticed she excelled

on that night. I knew very well it must have been unbearable for her since then, and seeing me now, every day, s

y what I had expected, but I refused to let it end like that. They ha

found Ayden setting up equ

ello to friends?!" I cal

ed around,

her, but I never thought it would be yo

'd be surprised

he outfit," he adde

's the first da

n five minutes?" I asked, running a hand through my hair. "Could you se

o attend the class at the moment," he inform

the classroom. When the bell rang to mark the end of recess, I said goodbye to Ay

x's

ered in this high school or what? A quick look at Marina told me she was completely charmed; she was prac

He asked as h

urely he did not know who I

o discuss math support with you, and since you di

now who I was and what had happened to me if he was as

I had just taken it out, and stood u

I was not the only one, and he should have understood that if I ha

leaning at the window, watching me with a teasing smile. That was when I realized I had no choice but to go to his classroom, even if

e, leaning against the wall beside the math classroom door w

my head. He was my math teacher now, and more than that, he was the man who had found me on the worst d

k's

I could not blame her. More than being her new teacher, I was the man who had discover

g anything and leaned against my desk whil

u can come closer," I told her

tood why. I did not push her. I ran a hand through my hair

us on your studies above all," I said firmly but calmly. "I'm h

x's

ying to do. I could not understand why he did not see that I wanted to stay in my corner, follow the classes, and av

ad been the one who saved my life twice in the same night. If he had not been there, I would not b

im moving until his polished shoes appeared in my field o

s he gently placed his fingers on my hood and lowered it. I clenched my

g attention to the lesson?" he continued, stepping back by a meter. I kept my head low

, I won't insist," he said in a sof

Since that night, my entire life had turned into a survival stage, facing each minute and each breath with effort. Even the air I had been breathing since that day

fessed softly. I lifted my gaze to him, completely stunned by what he had just revealed.