Chapter 15 - Tutorial Session

MAX woke up at eight o'clock the next morning. After taking a bath, she went downstairs and straight to the kitchen.

"Nanny, why haven't you finished cooking yet? Did Hero wake up late?" she asked her nanny, who was still cooking in the kitchen.

"No. He told me last night that your classmates were coming so I didn't open the cafeteria," she replied.

"Why? What about your income and your customers?"

"It's okay. Since you left, we've never had a guest in this house. And what more, they're your classmates. I didn't even wake Hero up early so he can rest. I thought you'll be tired after your activities and even stay up late so..."

"Is he still asleep until now?" she interrupted.

"I think so. I haven't seen him come out yet." She prepared the food for her at the table. "Have some breakfast. I'll just finish cooking this dish before I head out."

"Where are you going?" she asked again as he sat down at the table.

"I'm going to the grocery store. Our supplies are running out. Do you want to buy something?"

"No. Did Daddy send you money for the grocery budget?"

"Well, he gave me a membership card from the grocery store I often go to. That's what I use to pay, like a credit card."

"But what if they don't have what you need to buy?"

"No worries, I can manage. I have my own money."

"That's not right. Next time, you tell me. I have a budget for groceries."

"It's okay. I can handle it."

"But Nanny..."

She turned the gas stove off. "All right, just eat there. I'll leave you first, okay? And please wake Hero, will you?" she said to her.

"All right."

She was about to eat when she thought of waking Hero up so that she won't be bored eating alone. She knocked violently on the door. "Hey, lazy cow! Wake up!"

The door opened after a minute or two. "What do you want?" He complained, still yawning.

She immediately turned around when she saw that he's naked—well, not totally. But with only his lower underwear on, she could still see his whole body and it's making her uncomfortable. "Get dressed, will you? Why do you sleep while wearing only that?"

"Why, it's so hot last night," he reasoned out, not being conscious or anything as if she's just some other guy. "Why are you waking me up? We've got no school today! Auntie won't open the cafeteria today, either."

"That's why you're getting up late?" She faced him again. He now had his shirt on, but still just wearing his brief. She just focused her gaze on his face and tried her best not to look down and get distracted. "You know our classmates are coming today, right? Why aren't you preparing yet?"

"They'll come at nine o'clock. It's only eight. My alarm clock is set at 8:45."

"Whatever! Get dressed properly and eat with me. Hurry up!"

She went back to the kitchen and prepared a plate and cutlery for him. She sat there again. But she got impatient when he still didn't come out after a few minutes. So she returned to his room only to find him snoring on his bed. He went back to sleep. Suddenly, she felt her blood reached its boiling point. She went to the kitchen and took a glass of cold water. She returned to his room and splashed it on the sleeping young man's face.

Hero jumped out of the bed in shock. "What are you doing?" His high-pitched voice was obviously mad.

"If you don't come out immediately, I will have boiling oil thrown on your face the next time I enter your room," she threatened.

"Fine. Alright, I'm going out," he said, unwillingly picking up his shorts and putting them on in front of her. Then he went out of his room.

She followed him to the kitchen. She just stared at him while waiting for him to sit at the dining table.

"Are you just gonna stare at me? Let's eat!" he said, his tone still had a hint of annoyance.

They ate quietly. She secretly laughed at what she did but she could not stand Hero's getting mad with her. "What did you do last night that you seem so tired?" she asked, breaking the silence between them.

"I helped Lance and Miggy in their review," he replied without looking at her.

"I see. Sorry."

He stopped and looked at her in surprise. "Did you just say 'sorry'? The might Max is apologizing to me?" he teased her. No hint of mockery in his tone.

She shot him with her signature fiery look.

"I'm just kidding. We're good, okay?" he said defensively.

She secretly smiled at his behavior.

After eating, she went back to her room and printed handouts for her classmates to use. She also prepared books and other needed materials.

Just when she was halfway downstairs, some people called from outside, definitely their classmates.

"I'll get it," Hero volunteered when they met in the living room. Her gaze followed him to the door. "Hey, guys! Please proceed to the cafeteria. I'll open it for you," she heard him yell at them before coming back into the house.

She just followed him to the cafeteria where he opened the door and windows for them, and arrange some tables and chairs for them to use. They looked at each other when they saw not only four classmates but their whole class standing in front of the eatery.

"Come on in!" Hero invited them.

"Wow! You do live together," Darwin said in disbelief.

"Yes. Actually, I'm just a freeloader here," Hero replied. "It's a long story. Don't ask about the details."

Lindsay came to her hesitantly. "Max, I'm sorry. I didn't know they'll be coming until this morning."

"It's fine," she answered. Then she made her voice louder for everyone else to hear. "So if someone from the team backs out, it's easier for us to find a replacement. She took the hand-outs and handed them to the top five. "However, I only printed five hand-outs so the rest of you just have to listen. You can take notes if you want."

She let them scan the printouts for a while before speaking again. When she saw that everybody had seated, she then said, "Okay, let's start from the basic."

Everybody sat erect and paid attention.

"Name the major branches of science. Hero?"

"Biology."

"Darwin?"

"Chemistry."

"Lindsay?"

"Astronomy."

"Manuel?"

"Pathology."

"Brenda?"

"Physics?"

"All wrong!" she declared. "'The branches of science are divided into three major groups, namely formal sciences, natural sciences, and social sciences.' You can see that on the first page of the hand-outs, which I got from Wikipedia. Your answers are branches of one of the three major branches, which is Natural Science. "

"Wow! I just learned that now!" Lisa's amazing comment.

She secretly snorted. That was just basic. She was taught that even when they were in elementary school. But she could not blame them. Very few are interested in such things. And only a few were as smart as her.

She let them settle down before asking again, "Who invented the first telescope?"

Brenda raised her hand but did not wait for her acknowledgment. "Galileo Galilei."

"Wrong!" she declared. "Read page 6. 'It is quite a common belief that Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei invented the telescope but this is not strictly true. The earliest workings towards the design of the refracting telescope were made by German-Dutch lensmaker Hans Lippershey in 1608.' So, the answer is Hans Lippershey."

"Have you memorized all of it?" Darwin asked her with a crease on his forehead.

"Not all," she replied briefly. "Okay, next!"

She asked one question after another. Based on her assessment, many or almost all of them did not know the answer. But she believed they would memorize them as long as they were eager to learn.

"The study of plants is called...?"

"Botany!" Gwen replied.

"Good!"

"Good job, Gwen!" their classmates praised.

"All right, Max! Bring it on. This is getting exciting!" Bryan exclaimed.

She secretly enjoyed the enthusiasm shown by his classmates.

"Take your break first," Belen said as she entered the cafeteria with a tray of sandwiches.

"Nanny, let me help you!" She immediately came to assist her.

"Thank you, honey! Let them have some snacks first."

"Okay." She turned to her classmates. "Let's take a fifteen-minute break." She motioned for Hero to help get the other stuff Belen had prepared inside. He immediately complied and returned with another batch of sandwiches.

"I'll just get the juice," he said as he went back to the kitchen.

"Put away the hand-outs and your notes first," she reminded her classmates. When Hero returned with a jug of juice, she filled each glass with it and placed it on the tray. "Here, help yourselves," she called them.

"Auntie, are you Max's mother?" Darwin asked Belen curiously. She wanted to throw the glass at him but she just restrained herself.

"Not biologically, no," Belen answered as she looked at her with her motherly stare. "I've been with their family for a long time. I've taken care of her since she was a child until they decided to live in Manila...and the rest was history." She gave off a little laugh to conclude her answer.

"What about Hero? How are they related?" Brenda followed-up.

"Hero is my first-degree nephew, my sister's son. He's been living with me since last year.

"Oh, so he's basically a freelo..."

"Nanny Belen is part of our family. Her family is our family, too," Max interrupted before Brenda could finish her statement.

"Ohh..." Brenda and other classmates nodded as if they got what she meant.

Hero immediately understood what was happening so he immediately responded to pacify the situation. "Auntie, it's time to continue our review," he said, indirectly pulling his aunt out.

"Sure, I'm sorry. I'll leave you now, children." She put away the used glasses and other stuff. "I'll be cooking for lunch so you don't have to go home early, okay?" she announced.

"Yes!!!" answered their classmates enthusiastically.

Belen gave them a warm smile before turning her back on them.

She sighed especially when she met Hero's gaze as if telling her to calm down.