“Mr. Clinton, it isn’t what you think,” I pointed to my left ear. “Ear pod, ear pod.”
God, what am I saying?
Then an idea came.
“It’s my phone, it rang just now and it is connected to my ear pod. So I was angry, it was distracting, so I shouted without thinking. I’m… I’m so sorry.”
The contort on his face dilated and I silently heaved a sigh.
Phew, that was close…
“So you were using an ear pod while learning.” He gave me a questioning look.
“I forgot to take it off, Mr. Clinton, I’m deeply sorry.” I clasped my hands pleading.
Now he might think I am unstudious. I made that excuse without thinking…
“Sarah, you aren’t taking your education seriously. I might report this to your father.” His words broke through my trail of thoughts.
I hung my head low in defeat. I knew it was useless to plead this time around; he will definitely report me to my father. While I was sulking, I felt a warm hand on my head. My scalp shivered from its mildness, sending torrid sensations all over me. I lifted my face, his piercing black eyes made a bubbling feeling surge through me.
Why does he have different shades?
He was upset a while ago and now he is comforting me. The warm feeling swirled all over me, causing a small smile to plaster on my face.
“I’ll tutor you more often, but you must promise to be serious and attentive.” His voice was calm and soothing.
My gaze fixed on him. At the moment, my heart tried to tease me again, but I clutched my chest tightly to stop it beating out of control.
‘Please stop,’ I pleaded silently, but it was so stubborn.
I heaved a very heavy sigh.
“I promise, Mr. Clinton.” I managed to reply, still trying to tame my wild heart.
“Alright.” He sat back and relaxed on the couch. “Explain the digestion process from the mouth to the stomach.”
I gave an awkward smile.
I didn’t pay attention because of that ‘pounding thing’ hiding in my ribcage.
I started searching my floods of memories to find the answer to his question. There were frail pieces here and there, but I managed to piece up the fragments.
“My mouth contains enzymes such as amylase and there is one specifically for starch… hmmm. Ptyalin. After I chew with my chewing mechanism,” I pointed to my teeth. “Then I’ll swallow, the food will pass through my esophagus to my stomach, then HCL will kill the microorganisms in the food… Am I correct?”
He nodded, “Go on.”
“Hmm, I can’t continue from here. Can you help me complete the rest?” I inquired awkwardly and he chuckled.
“Stay attentive this time. And I love the way you explained just now, but try not to use your point of view in an exam.”
I nodded and sat straight. He tutored me for hours, and it was awesome. Once in a while, my mind would travel, especially when I focused on his lips. I would scold myself to listen, yet it was proving difficult. We forgot to keep track of the time, only when I yawned did I realize what the time was.
12 AM.
“The time flew away from us,” I said and closed my book.
“Let’s end here, get some sleep.” He patted my shoulder and stood up.
“Thanks, Mr. Clinton, this is the best lesson I have ever had.” I said with a grin.
He smiled softly. “Make sure it stays in your head,” he said, and made way to his room.
Immediately I entered my room, I grabbed my diary to put the day’s special activity into account. I had been filling it since the day I arrived at the duplex and I made sure not to miss any tiny details.
I stated all my feelings in my diary, from my infatuation to my desire for him, and also, my favorite part. His lips, their softness as I imagined it to be even though mine hasn’t locked with his yet.
After filling in records with five pages, I smiled in satisfaction. I slumped on my bed.
Then a worrying thought struck me.
Will Mr. Clinton fall for me? He sees me as a daughter, how will I change that? Even if I establish a solid friendship relationship with him, will it change the way he sees me?
I sighed and sat on my bed. No matter how hard I tried to avoid that particular thought, it still kept coming in. Worst of it all, that bitch in my head began to taunt me again.
‘Girl, the journey you are on right now is quite a hard one.’
“Just shut up!”
‘Be honest with yourself, even if he miraculously falls for you, how will your father react when he finds out.’
My heart twisted, slowly shifting me into a state of morose. Quickly I shook it off.
Just shut the fuck up!
‘Okay then. I wish you all the best.’
I facepalmed myself and slumped back on my bed, pushing the annoying voice out of my head. Then I remembered.
“Father.”
I completely forgot I was supposed to contact him; it has been a week since he left and we haven’t spoken.
I opened my laptop. I had to be honest with myself. I really do miss him, even though I said I won’t, that still wasn’t possible.
A few minutes later, he accepted my video call, and I straightened up to see his face.
“Hello, baby doll, I miss you a lot.” His vibrant voice made me smile in delight.
“Hello, father, I miss you too.”
“I thought you said you won’t miss me,” he chuckled. I saw him crossing his arms from the screen.
“Oh father, I never said that.” I shrugged with a wave, and he raised his eyebrow.
“Really, I vividly remembered you said to me the day I left the country.”
Can’t he just go with the flow, why is he ruining the moment?
I pouted, “stop it father, I never said that.”
He laughed. “Okay, you win, you win. I agree, you never said that.”
“Father, how have you been? I hope you haven’t been eating junk food.”
“Um…” He scratched his head, avoiding my gaze.
“Father, I told you it’s not healthy.” I always made sure he ate homemade food and never let him eat roadside junk, but now that he was away, he returned to his habit.
“Father.” I stared sternly.
“Sweetheart, um, I um… how is Xavier doing?” He deviated from the topic because he knew we would argue about it for the whole day.
I let him off, but not without a warning. “Father, don’t eat those junks again. They have little nutritional value, most of them have high cholesterol, and it’s not good for your heart.”
“I know, nurse, I will not eat them again, alright.” He said defeated.
I smiled. “Mr. Clinton is doing great.” I finally answered his question. Then I saw him glance at his wristwatch.
“Honeybee, I gotta go. I’ll call later in the day.”
I knew it was work, so I nodded and released him. “Goodbye, take care.”
The call ended, and I fell to my bed, slowly drifting to sleep.