10 10: The Day She Tutored Me

JACSKON

They've been at this Math problem for nearly half an hour and he still couldn't get it.

Initially he thought Jade's response to his nonexistent ability to comprehend was to lash out in anger and storm off in a huff. But she was still sat across from him, munching on her burger and twirling her pencil as she hummed, eyes scanning the pages he had scrawled over.

Not that it held any kind of significance but he remembered from the way she glared at him that she had eyes that were black but as the afternoon sunlight glinted from the window seat they were in, her irises appeared to become lighter and instead was more of a warm brown.

Then she looked up and he hastily sipped his soda to look like he was preoccupied, feeling the back of his neck heat up.

"There seems to be a recurring pattern." She slid his notebook toward him and pointed at a problem with a finger that had transparent nail polish. "The solutions are right but sometimes you tend to rush it so the answer becomes different even though you get the process."

"Huh?" He frowned at the paper and then at her. "What do you mean I tend to rush?"

She huffed out a laugh and leaned closer. "Look at this. Your handwriting at the beginning is legible and understandable but when you reach the middle of the solutions it becomes messy and more like chicken scratch, you see? I've noticed your handwriting turns like this in almost every problem we try." She leaned back more comfortably in her seat.

He scratched his chin and reviewed the previous solutions, noticing that indeed his handwriting was impeccable at first but then turns squiggly and almost unrecognizable the longer the solution.

"So the problem is more on how you write," she said simply, shrugging. "It's not that you're having a hard time per se. It's just that maybe you're too preoccupied with other things in your mind that your handwriting turns sloppy and you end up with the wrong answer."

Jackson pursed his lips and hummed.

He didn't want to outwardly admit it but she could be... right. It bothered him but the thought that he wasn't so terrible in the subject made his chest lighter; as if a heavy weight was lifted when she said her thoughts.

He cleared his throat and fingered the pencil he held.

"Okay. Let's try to do a few more problems then call it a day."

She gave a short nod, getting his notebook back and flipping to a blank page for her to write a new problem he'd solve.

She sniffed and growled in frustration, pausing from writing to grab a few restaurant napkins and blow her nose there, Jackson wincing at how hard she blew.

"I know it's none of my business but you're seriously gonna end up injuring your ears if you don't blow softer."

Jade huffed and stuffed the tissues in the front pocket of her bag, retrieving a small bottle of alcohol and spraying her hands with it, rubbing both palms together to disinfect them. She picked up her pencil and began writing again.

"Yeah I know." She sniffed and made a noise at her throat that sounded like a whine. "But this cold's so annoying. Ugh... I had the stupidest decision to run in the rain yesterday going home."

His brow raised.

"What're you on about; the rain poured a couple hours after school ended. What were you doing out?"

"None of your business, thanks."

He huffed and rolled his eyes. Well, he did have his job yesterday since it was Thursday but luckily he didn't have to go out and do any deliveries, his manager assigning him to mop the floors and wash dishes instead. Luckily, the rain let up when his shift ended so he didn't have to worry about getting sick.

In the midst of handing him back the notebook, two guys that looked to be about their age sauntered over to the table, their eyes landing on Jade and winking at her. She squirmed minutely.

"Hey, beautiful. You busy?" said the first guy with a tall and lean build, golden locks sweeping past twinkling blue eyes.

"Yes," she said in a soft tone, quite unlike the tone and volume he was used to hearing from her whenever they interacted.

"We'd like to treat you for dinner, miss," said his buddy, who was taller and more muscly than the first guy. Jackson feigned being disinterested but had his eyes on him, brows nearly joining in the middle when the other boy's glance went down to her shirt.

He slammed a palm on the desk and groaned tiredly, the attention turning to him.

"Woman c'mon you can't just leave me hanging here," he whined petulantly. Jade gave him a bewildered look, the unease slipping off her form for it to be replaced by confusion. "Show me how to solve this problem, yeah? What good are you as my tutor if you can't even show me how to do it? You want me to fail?"

There was the usual glare he had grown accustomed to and she sat straighter in her seat to slap her own hand on his notebook, startling the two boys. She swiped the notebook back and jabbed a pencil to the open pages.

"I told you that you got the concept, moron. What I want you to do is try to solve the problem slower this time. What's so hard to understand about that?"

Jackson gave an exaggerated sigh of annoyance and pulled the notebook back to him. He turned to the other two and gave a swift smirk.

"Sorry guys but as you can see, she's busy tutoring me. If you don't want your shins kicked by this menace—" he pointed at her and she swatted his hand away— "I suggest you leave."

The two exchanged unsure glances and nodded, hurrying off. Jackson grinned to himself in satisfaction and resumed trying the problem.

He knew it was almost an instinct to protect women but somehow, the urge was stronger whenever it came to her. She became so timid and mouse-like in front of other guys that it compelled Jackson to try and help in subtle ways. It didn't matter if she didn't notice... what mattered was that she felt safe. She didn't seem to have any problem bantering and insulting him so why was she skittish and wary of others?

Well, it wasn't his business to pry so he won't. Besides, they weren't close friends. They also weren't enemies but they tolerated each other's company so he guessed that was as far as their weird relationship could go.

Jade had finished her food by now and Jackson slid his notebook toward her for inspection. To pass the time he finished his soda and popped the last bite of his burger in his mouth, chewing and looking out the window to see the skies darkening, the mixes of pink and flecks of orange mingling and causing an involuntary smile to lift the corners of his lips upward.

What a pretty view.

"Jackson?"

He snapped back and turned to Jade's inquisitive gaze, his notebook already on his side.

"Oh thanks. This the last problem?"

"Yup. Then like you said, let's call it a day and head home. So far I see nothing that really has to be given attention but let's see in the future sessions, all right?"

"Got it."

He worked on the problem with deliberate slowness, eyebrows crinkling every once in a while in concentration. As he wrote off the final answer, a mix of worry and pride held him as he handed the notebook toward Jade, her lips quirking upward for a millisecond. She was focused on the page, Jackson anxiously waiting for her comment.

Then she looked up to him and nodded with a satisfied smile. The invisible grip on his heart loosened at seeing her positive reaction.

"Aside from your answer being correct, your handwriting has improved when you're really paying attention to it. Congratulations!"

He chuckled, relief and joy flooding his system.

"All right, thanks. You're a big help." He stood and picked up his bag, Jade following suit.

They both walked out of the restaurant and she bid farewell, Jackson also raising his hand and watching her go. He stood there in his spot and was about to head home himself when he saw two silhouettes creeping silently behind her, Jackson squinting his eyes and groaning in annoyance at recognizing the two figures to be the two boys from earlier.

Seriously, did he have to go and save her every minute? Jackson had no intention of becoming a cop or her personal guardian angel.

But still, a small voice in his head urged him to follow just to check if she was safe and soon enough he was following with muffled footsteps, watching the two men.

When one of them made a move to go and grab her Jackson lunged and snatched both men by the backs of the shirt, both gasping in surprise and trying to fight him off. Thinking quickly, he caught sight of two trash can lids and bashed them against their heads, both of them slumping to the ground in unconsciousness.

He breathed heavily, kicking their heavy limbs away from his path. Granted, it was unethical and a tad violent but when it came to women and their safety, Jackson had no qualms in doing whatever.

He had witnessed something before that stuck to him and made him vow to do anything and everything in his ability to make sure women were safe.

He jogged up to Jade to check on her, laying a hand on her shoulder. He expected her to jolt in surprise or squeak or maybe even slap him. What he didn't expect was a battle cry and something sprayed on his face that burned his eyes and nose, Jackson yelling in pain and sinking to the ground, pressing the heels of his palms to his eyes.

"Oh my God Jackson what the hell?" Jade's voice was frantic and closer, as if she had knelt beside him. There was a weak slap on his shoulder. "Don't scare me like that!"

"Jade what the actual fuck?!" Jackson couldn't help but cry out. "This is the thanks I get for banging two guys' heads with trash can lids? So cruel. Ah, that shit burns," he groaned, scrubbing his eyes and whining, his nose running and opening his mouth to gasp for air.

She winced.

"It's pepper spray. I felt someone following me but I didn't expect to see you."

Jackson groaned and was about to wipe his eyes using his shirt when Jade stopped his arms.

"No don't; it'll only worsen. Here, lemme get my water and then I'll take you to a place with fresh air. Also, blink rapidly."

"Agh why?"

"Just do it."

Jackson grunted and did as told. There was rummaging and then the cooling sensation of water being poured on his face and arms, a sigh of relief escaping him as he scrubbed his face free of the spray.

Small hands grabbed at his arm and tugged him to his feet. She guided him away from the place they came from, hearing a short gasp from her after a while.

"What? What is it?" he asked, heart pounding in his ears and alarm rising in his chest. He still couldn't see properly and it'd be bad if trouble occurred.

"These guys... they were the ones bothering us in the restaurant, right?"

"Oh you found 'em. Yeah, I dragged them off and hit them with trash can lids." He felt a smug smirk grace his lips.

"Oh my God I'm a total idiot," moaned Jade as there was some movement, her shoulders slipping from his arm. His vision was coming back now with time and a few helpful blinks. When he could see again, his jaw dropped as Jade directed her pepper spray toward the unconscious men and pushed the button, a devious grin on her lips.

He whistled, impressed. He placed his hands on his hips as she stood.

"Wow, didn't expect you to do that."

She shrugged coyly. "They deserve it. Now let's go before they wake up."

Sniggering and in high spirits, both of them left the place.