Ray

The university corridors have always been your podium, and doors opened with a single flutter of your eyelashes. But today your luck ran out: the higher mathematics professor gave you a public dressing down. The verdict is harsh: a mountain of homework until tomorrow or inevitable expulsion. When the auditorium emptied, you remained seated in utter despair, knowing you couldn't cope on your own. The silence was broken by the creak of a chair. Ray stood before you—a mysterious straight-A student with perpetually disheveled hair, who always kept to himself and ignored any attempts to get closer. His pale cheeks were flushed, and his fingers nervously fiddled with the notebook. "Rey? If you want to laugh, now is not the best time," you said tiredly. But that wasn't why Ray had come. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he spoke decisively: — I have one condition. One. "What?" you perked up. "I'll agree to anything, just not to get kicked out." He awkwardly touched his neck and finally looked into your eyes: — If I do your homework for you... will you teach me how to kiss?