Kissing The Wind

I could not remember exactly what I had memorized during lunch.

I tried to write a formula on paper and answered a math problem. Still, I could not get the right answer. I scratched my head and relearned the lesson I had memorized this afternoon.

The next day, I did the same. I went to the library to study for the next lesson but sometimes, I would go back to the first lesson so I would not forget it. When the class was dismissed later that afternoon, I left the classroom and then hurried to the library.

But I found out that I kind of forgot the lesson I memorized yesterday, as I had finished memorizing the next lesson that day. I wiped the sweat on my face.

If this is how I do it — forgetting the first lesson every time I memorize the next lesson — I will forget all the lessons when the exam comes and all the time that I had spent in that library will be wasted. I breathed deeply in annoyance.

“Sydnee,” called a familiar voice in the back.

I turned to look at the one who had called me and I saw Teacher Anthony. He stepped closer to where I was sitting. I swallowed and quickly looked back at the open book on the table. Why was Teacher Anthony here?

“You’re studying. That’s good,” he commented and sat across from me.

My heartbeat suddenly quickened in fear. There might be someone watching us, while we were facing each other at the same table. That person might think of some malicious thoughts about us. I did not want to go to the Principal’s office anymore.

I gathered my things so I could leave that table. Teacher Anthony might notice my plan so he cleared his throat and said, “Sit down first, Sydnee. We need to talk.”

I could do nothing but sit back in the chair. I was not raised to be rude for disobeying his orders. Also, we have something to talk about and it might be important.

“What’s it, Sir?”

He smiled and then placed the book his holding on the table. “Are you studying Math?” he asked.

I looked at the book he had placed on the table. It was the same book I had borrowed and studied that afternoon. I nodded. “Because the exam is coming up Sir, so I decided to study.”

“That’s good,” he smiled as he nodded in agreement with what I was doing. He also placed both hands on the table and clasped them together. “Do you remember what I offered you last year, Sydnee?”

Offered last year? I thought for a moment, then his offer to be my Math tutor came to my mind. I blinked and nodded. “I still remember, Sir.”

“Hmm …” He opened his book to the page I was reading earlier. “Do you know why the answer to the given math problem turned out to be four?”

I stared at the page he opened. Because I also wanted to learn, I opened the book in front of me and looked for the page that Teacher Anthony was looking at. The math problem that was there was the first lesson I always forgot whenever I memorized the second lesson.

I nodded to Teacher Anthony and explained to him why the answer was four in the given example. I just finished going back to that sample problem so it’s still fresh in my memory.

Teacher Anthony smiled and nodded. “You did get the answer, but do you know what the shorter and faster solution to this math problem is?”

I looked up at him. “I don’t. How to do it, Sir?”

A smile spread across Teacher Anthony’s lips and he taught me the shortest and fastest math trick. I was still dazzled to see how he got the answer to just two solutions. The one in the book took five more solutions before getting the right answer.

“You got it, Sir,” I said in amazement as I stared at the paper with his solution. But I scratched my cheek when I realized something. “But I easily forgot the solutions, Sir. I can’t memorize the solution in the book so it doesn’t seem to work on me either.”

“Don’t memorize it, Sydnee. You just have to understand the concept of Math and you can answer the problems even if you only remember the formula.”

I looked up at Teacher Anthony again. He stared at the paper on which the math trick was written. I stared at his face and thought for a moment.

I could not memorize all the lessons in this book. The exam’s coming up and I could not help but think about how to study Math effectively. Maybe it’s not bad if I accept his offer?

“Sir?” I called him.

He looked at me and our gaze met. “Mmm?” he hummed.

“Your offer is still open, isn’t it?”

Teacher Anthony blinked and when he understood what I meant, he smiled sweetly.

There was nothing I could do but to accept Teacher Anthony’s offer. After all, he meant no ill intentions on me. What he wanted from me was to help him, to become his assistant, and it was certainly good for me. I would not spend even cents for his tutorial service and it was a great opportunity to excel in Math with little investment.

Huh, investment.

That day’s lesson was business Math and Teacher Anthony taught us how to invest our money wisely. I then thought of the little money I got during the holidays. I could invest some amount in a business, but I was afraid that it would all go to waste. After all, I did not have the opportunity to experience having a small business nor investing at all. How could I do it properly?

After the class, Teacher Anthony asked me to stay for a moment inside the classroom. Since I accepted his offer, I obeyed him. A few minutes passed and all of my classmates went out of the classroom for lunch. I and him were the only ones inside.

He then looked at me. “Are you okay?” he asked. I nodded and looked at the paper works on the teacher’s table. Teacher Anthony might notice where I was staring at and he laughed. “Come here,” he said.