I cheated way too hard on an exam and accidentally landed myself in the advanced placement class. As a result, the placement test exposed me completely. To avoid being kicked out, I confessed to my academic rival, the school genius: "Julian, I've liked you for a long time." He slowly took off his glasses: "Oh? Let's give it a try then." Later, he pinned me down to grind through practice problems: "Keep count yourself. Get one wrong, get a kiss." I was kissed until I was breathless: "I got this one right..." He chuckled low and kissed me again: "That's a reward." 1 "Our AP class is all about excellence. We weed out the weak!" Mr. Wang banged on the podium. "If your total score is below 600, it means you can't keep up with our pace. You should go to the regular class to adjust! This is for your own good!" My head buzzed. I'm done for. Totally screwed. Last month's exam, I got lucky and sat right behind Julian Sterling—the academic god who's always at the top, his name practically glowing with holy light. Following my life motto of "take advantage when you can" and "copy if you can, copy more if it works." My 20/20 vision worked overtime, and I "borrowed" heavily from his math and science answers. But I didn't expect to "borrow" my way to a 600! For me, that score is like a miracle, a divine intervention! And now, I'm stuck in the AP class. That day, my dad cracked open his prized whiskey, and my mom excitedly broadcasted to everyone: "Oh my! Our Manny has made it! She's in the AP class! That's Ivy League material! Top-tier university guaranteed!" If they knew their "Ivy League material" was now shivering in the elimination zone... I shuddered. I couldn't imagine the lecture and the grounding that would follow. "Manny, especially you! As a newcomer, you need to work harder!" Mr. Wang's pained gaze locked onto me. "Don't spend all day chattering with Xavier. It's like you rented your mouth." Xavier, my desk mate, had the honor of being second to last, just one point above me. Mr. Wang looked at us like we were dragging down the entire class's IQ. "Recently, some students suggested we implement a one-on-one mentorship program. So, we'll rearrange the seats. The last place sits with the first place, and so on." First place? Isn't that Julian? Who wants to sit with that annoying guy! "Julian! As her desk mate, help the new student out, even though it might be difficult." Julian turned slightly, pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses—standard issue for the refined scumbag—and curved his lips into a calm smile: "I'm used to it. It's fine." I gritted my teeth and rolled my eyes at him. Pretentious jerk! Julian Sterling, my childhood friend, and the stumbling block, comparison point, and ultimate "neighbor's kid" in my life. We've known each other since (probably) before we were born, and have been compared all the way up. He's well-behaved; I'm a troublemaker. He gets perfect scores; I celebrate passing. He's a walking wall of honor; I'm a living letter of apology. My mom's classic mantra, "Look at Julian!", is basically the main theme song of my life. Infinite loop, never muted. 2 After a math class, I felt my CPU was overloaded and smoking, my soul drifting miles away. Turning to look at Julian, this guy's notes were flowing like water, and he even raised his hand to add a point or two occasionally. "Julian made a very good point." The teacher smiled until his eyes were slits. "I hadn't even thought of that solution." The bell rang, and I slumped in my chair, feeling drained. "Manny!" My best friend peeked in from the back door, waving excitedly at me. I rushed out of the classroom like I was escaping. "How is it? How is it? Being in the AP class, bathed in the academic aura every day, did your IQ go up by 10?" Her eyes shone, the fire of gossip burning bright. "I feel like dying." I said with a mournful face. "There's another monthly exam next week. I'm definitely going to be last. If I get kicked out of Class 1, my mom will break my legs." "What do I do? Should I go steal the answers from Mr. Wang's office?" I was hopeless. "Isn't there a ready-made answer sitting right next to you? Julian! Ask him to tutor you!" My best friend reminded me. I was speechless: "Him? Did you forget how he reacted when the class beauty from next door gathered the courage to ask him a physics question last time?" "'You don't even know the most basic formulas. I suggest repeating freshman year.'" Her eyes darted around: "I have an idea." "Spill." "Confess to Julian!" She lowered her voice, counting on her fingers to analyze for me. "Think about it! If it works, he's your boyfriend! It's only natural for a boyfriend to tutor his girlfriend, right? Would he dare have an attitude? You could make him kneel on a washboard in minutes! If he rejects you—" She giggled. "He'd feel at least a little guilty, right? You're the childhood friend he grew up with! Once he feels guilty, and you ask nicely, can he still give you a hard time? Either way, you win, sister!" I was stunned. "Will that work?" "This is called finding life in death!" She patted my shoulder. "Think about your mom's feather duster and your dad's belt!" I shivered. "Besides." She leaned in mysteriously. "I heard Julian has never dated anyone. Maybe he's secretly in love with his little childhood friend?" "Give me a break." I rolled my eyes: "What he loves is probably '5 Years of Exams, 3 Years of Simulations' or that 'Advanced Mathematics' book thicker than a brick!" Last semester, the school beauty confessed to him, and he didn't even look up, dropping a line: "Sorry, I don't date anyone with a score under 700." One sentence, driving away all suitors. However, although my best friend's words were outrageous. But... it seems, maybe, possibly... there's a tiny bit of logic? Right now, there's no way out. I'll bet on it! "Fine!" I gritted my teeth. "I'll do it! It's just a confession! Going all out!" "That's the spirit!" My best friend patted my shoulder excitedly. "Show the passion you use when chasing your anime husband! Remember, sincere eyes! Deep tone! Go! The organization believes in you!" 3 Back in the classroom, Julian was reading a book. Sunlight spilled through the window onto his profile, outlining a perfect jawline. I have to admit, this guy is somewhat attractive. If you ignore that "strangers stay away, acquaintances get lost" aura. I took a deep breath, then another deep breath: "Ju... Julian!" His finger turning the page stopped. He slowly looked up. I squeezed my eyes shut and yelled with the determination of facing death: "I've liked you for a long time! Julian!" My voice was a bit loud; half the class went quiet. I realized it too late and covered my mouth, but it was done. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. Dead silence, absolute dead silence. I peeked through a slit in my eyes. Julian's expression... No expression. He looked at me like he was looking at a math problem he could solve in three seconds. He slowly put down his pen, took off his glasses, and rubbed his brow. "Oh?" He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curling into a smile that wasn't quite a smile: "Let's give it a try then." Me: "???" I froze on the spot, my mind going blank. That's not how the script goes! Given Julian's personality, shouldn't it be "Are you worthy?" or "I suggest you get your brain checked at the hospital"? Try? Try what? How to try? My brain crashed completely. "What, changing your mind?" Julian put his glasses back on, a glint I couldn't read flashing in his eyes behind the lenses. "Who, who's changing their mind!" I stiffened my neck, feeling my face burning. "Try it is!" "Wait for me after school." "What for?" I looked at him warily. The half-smile on his lips deepened as he clearly spat out one word: "Date." D... date? I feel like I dug a pit for myself... 4 After school, only the two of us were left in the empty classroom. Julian pointed at my test paper with a score of 88, looking at it like it was a biological weapon: "Why did you choose B for this question?" I answered guiltily: "It looked pleasing to the eye." "Math isn't metaphysics." He pushed up his glasses. "You should know the most basic function formulas. You shouldn't have missed this one. I'll explain it to you once." He suddenly leaned close, and I smelled the faint scent of mint on him. I shrank my neck. His breath was too close, making my already scattered attention drift even further. "Look at the question." He tapped the test paper, forcefully dragging my wandering soul back. "So, what's the final answer to this question?" I stared at the steps he just wrote, my mind blank: "A??" He narrowed his eyes, the gaze behind the lenses becoming dangerous: "Why?" "Can't I just guess!" Embarrassed by his stare, I got angry. I stiffened my neck and yelled back. The next second. He suddenly reached out. Crossing over my body, he braced himself on the edge of the desk on both sides of me. I was trapped between the narrow desk and chair and his warm chest! My eyes widened: "Julian, you you you... what do you want?" "Starting now." He leaned down slightly, his deep voice carrying a hint of teasing and irresistibility: "Get one wrong, get a kiss." He paused, as if to emphasize the fairness of the rule. Adding, "Keep count yourself." What??? This dog! This is definitely premeditated revenge! Abuse of power! Refined scum! Beast in human clothing! Hypocrite! (Omitting ten thousand words.) "You... you're being a pervert!" I stomped my foot in anger. "Didn't you say you liked me?" He raised an eyebrow, his tone matter-of-fact. "Kissing my own girlfriend is only natural." I was speechless. This lie came back to bite me hard.
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