Me: — Listen, if you didn't want to teach me, why did you tell my dad you would?
Jace: — Because I just wanted… to see you.
Huh?
Me: — What do you mean?
Jace: — Tss.
He walks into his room. Of course, I follow.
Jace: — I told you, you're not allowed in here.
Me: — And you… what did you mean earlier?
He doesn't answer and disappears straight into the bathroom.
… Oh right, I forgot to describe his room. My bad.
Anyway. Everything here screams basketball. Posters of pro players, shelves loaded with trophies and medals, balls, shoes, jerseys, even a mini-hoop on the wall. In the middle of it all, a neat desk with books stacked. Honestly, his room is big, but with all this stuff, it has to be.
I sit down on his bed (which is sooo soft by the way) and take in every detail. This guy is seriously obsessed with basketball.
After more than fifteen minutes, Mr. Ramos finally comes out… wearing a bathrobe.
Huhuhu. Lord. Why can't I look away?! Hiyas, stop drooling, are you kidding me?!
Jace (with a smirk): — Tss. The view's beautiful, isn't it, perv?
Me: …
Nothing. Not a word. I'm frozen.
He steps closer.
Jace: — You know you're drooling, right, ugly?
Me (startled): — H-Hey, Jace!
Jace: — What?
Then, suddenly, he grabs me by the waist and pulls me against him.
My heart? BOOM. Gone.
His face leans closer to mine. Our lips are just centimeters apart. I can feel his warm breath. Wait… is he going to kiss me?! No way. Not happening. This would be my first kiss—I'm sooo not ready!
Me (trembling): — J-Jace…
Jace: — Mmm.
My heart is going wild. Hiyas, what's happening to you? This has never happened before. With your weak lungs, how the heck does this weirdo make your heart race like this?
Me: — Don't…
Jace: — What?
Me: — You can't…
Jace: — Are you scared?
Me: — I-I…
And just like that, he bursts out laughing. SERIOUSLY?! He makes my heart explode only to laugh in my face?!
Me (flustered): — …
He stares at me. I glare back.
Him: — What? Planning to stay here?
Me: — Huh?
Him: — My room. I need to get dressed. You gonna stay and watch?
Me (offended): — NO! You think I want to see you naked?!
Jace (teasing): — Doesn't bother me if you do.
He steps closer again.
Me: — STOP! I'll wait downstairs!
I flee. Fast. My heart's pounding like it's about to burst. Honestly… this guy is insane. And what did he mean by, "I just wanted to see you"? Ahhh I'm so confused.
Downstairs, I pull out my books to distract myself. But let's be real: I'm staring at the pages without understanding a single thing. Math and I? We're divorced.
A little while later, Jace comes down. And even in loungewear, he looks hot. Why am I seeing him differently today? Hiyas, snap out of it!
Anyway. He sits right next to me. Of course he does. Today is not my day.
Jace: — Okay, let's start.
He hands me an exercise. I'm struggling hard, while he's just chilling on his phone. Ugh, I can't get this. It's way too complex.
Me: — J-Jace…
Jace: — Mmmh.
Me: — Are you sure this exercise is even in the book?
Jace: — Yeah, why?
Me: — I don't think you did this one.
Jace: — It's from Chapter 1. Basics.
Me: — Oh… seriously?!
Jace: — Wow. You really have the brain of an ant.
Me: — Hey! Stop insulting me! Can't you see this is hard?
Jace: — Brain of an ant. Now listen up.
He starts explaining. But he's too close. Way too close. His scent, his lips, those abs… HOW am I supposed to focus like this?!
Jace: — Ugly! Hey, ugly! Are you listening?!
Me (jumping): — YES! π!
Jace: — … Why are you yelling? Fine, repeat what I just said.
Oops. How am I supposed to follow when I can't stop staring at him?!
Me (nervous laugh): — Uh… π?
He gives me a suspicious look.
Jace: — You were staring at me instead of listening, weren't you? You're seriously weird, ant brain.
Me: — NO! Not at all! And anyway, π makes no sense! I've never even seen it used in real life!
… And that's how our first "study session" went.
*
That night, I'm lying in bed, lost in my thoughts.
Thinking about Jace.
His eyes. His lips…
And that one sentence that keeps replaying in my head: "I just wanted to see you."
… Could it be that I actually like Jace Ramos?