Falling For Jackson Again ✓

5| BEATING HEART, PLEASE SHUT UP!

MIA

"Five more minutes,"

Mr Williams announced, his voice almost drowned out by the sound of pencils scratching against paper. Beads of sweat trickled down my forehead, mirroring the intensity of my concentration. I anxiously bit my thumbnail, desperately trying to unravel the enigma of the math question before me. Time was slipping away, and I felt the weight of impending failure press heavily upon my shoulders.

A quick scan of the classroom revealed a sea of furrowed brows and knitted foreheads. The atmosphere was thick with tension and uncertainty. Some of my classmates had already surrendered to defeat, hastily underlining random answer choices in a last-ditch effort to salvage a few points. But not me-I refused to give in without a fight.

I stole a sidelong glance at Ethan, who was seated to my right. He, too, seemed locked in a desperate struggle with a particularly vexing problem. I hesitated to disturb his concentration, aware that he possessed an uncanny ability to effortlessly solve even the most challenging equations. Although I longed for his help, I resisted the temptation to nudge him for answers. I had to prove to myself that I could conquer this test on my own.

"Done," came a voice from the front of the classroom, shattering the silence like a thunderclap. All heads turned in unison, their gazes fixated on the source of the proclamation. It was Jackson rising from his seat with both the Question booklet and Answer sheet ignoring the stares from the class as he made his way toward the teacher's desk.

"Asians and their big brains," Ethan muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with a mix of awe and envy. Only because I sat so close to him was I privy to his muttered remark. I couldn't help but acknowledge the truth in his words.

Mr Williams glanced at Jackson's paper, his eyes widening imperceptibly for a moment before regaining composure. He nodded approvingly, allowing him to return to his seat. A ripple of hushed murmurs cascaded through the classroom as we marveled at Jackson's prowess. I lowered my head, resting my cheek against the cool surface of the desk, my eyes fixated on my own unfinished work.

I wasn't surprised that he finished first, I mean he was the smartest when we were young but I didn't expect him to still study during the weekends!

Who does that?

As a deep sigh escaped my lips, I was oblivious to the approaching presence until a shadow enveloped my desk. Startled, I looked up, only to find Jackson, of all people, standing before me. "What are you doing here?" I whispered, my eyes darting nervously toward Mr. Williams, who seemed to be engrossed in his phone. Jackson responded with a mischievous grin, placing his finger over his lips, signaling for silence. I couldn't help but wonder what he was up to as he swiftly deposited a crumpled piece of paper on my desk before retreating to his seat.

Clutching the mysterious note in my hands, I unwrapped it with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. The contents of the paper elicited a gasp of surprise that caught the attention of Mr. Williams. Panic seized me for a moment as his gaze bore into me. "Is there a problem, Miss Smith?" he inquired, his tone tinged with suspicion. I quickly folded the paper, and shook my head frantically, hoping to convince him that all was well. "No sir, everything is fine," I stammered, stealing a glance at Jackson, who had already buried his head in his arms. "Everything is perfect,"

Just as the tension seemed to reach its peak, Mr. Williams declared, "If that's the case, two more minutes." The scraping sound of chairs being dragged back into position echoed through the room, a cacophony of urgency. Seizing the opportunity, I unfolded the crumpled note and feverishly began transferring the answers onto my paper, all while surreptitiously keeping an eye on Mr. Williams, determined not to be caught red-handed.