The Heroes

Brat

Ni-ki let out a frustrated sigh. "Yes, mom, I'm coming," he responded into the phone. "Yes, I'm still at the venue," he answered irritably. "I'll have you know I am extremely popular!" Ni-ki said, annoyed at his mother's questioning. The cab pulled up just in time.

"I'm on my way. Bye," he said sternly and hung up. He groaned and got into the car, sending a quick message to the group chat, explaining that he had to leave early. Turning off his phone, he leaned back and closed his eyes, preparing for the long journey home.

🥁

Ni-ki entered his home, the sound of his parents' laughter reaching his ears. "That can't be right," he muttered to himself. He walked into the large kitchen, finding his parents chatting with a man. As the man turned around, Ni-ki couldn't help but notice him. "Ni-ki, this is Jay. He'll be your new tutor," his mother introduced, and Jay smiled warmly.

Ni-ki couldn't resist a sarcastic remark, "Wow, mom, that's so considerate." His father's stern voice warned him not to be disrespectful, but Ni-ki just rolled his eyes. Jay, however, seemed amused by Ni-ki's attitude.

"Do I really need a tutor at this hour?" Ni-ki deadpanned. His mother nodded firmly, determined to see him excel. "Jay will be here until your finals, which you are passing," she said, making her expectations clear.

His mother sighed, feeling a bit exasperated, "Jay, you can follow him to his room,",and Jay responded with a smirk, "With pleasure."

🥁

Ni-ki wearily dragged himself into his room, and Jay followed suit, taking a moment to look around before settling down at the desk. "So, what now?" Ni-ki asked, his tone expectant. Jay couldn't resist a smirk in response. "Well, first things first," Jay replied, leaning back in the chair, "I'd like to get to know you better. Tell me about your interests and hobbies."

Ni-ki rolled his eyes, not eager to engage in small talk. "I'm into music and hanging out with my friends. That's pretty much it," he said nonchalantly.

Jay raised an eyebrow, undeterred by Ni-ki's dismissive response. "Music, huh? What instrument do you play?" he inquired.

"I'm a drummer," Ni-ki replied, a hint of pride in his voice.

Jay's eyes lit up with genuine interest. "That's great! I've always admired drummers. Maybe you could show me your skills sometime?"

Ni-ki scoffed, not used to people being genuinely interested in his talents. "Yeah, sure, whatever," he said, trying to act nonchalant, but secretly pleased by the compliment.

"Shouldn't you be teaching me now?" Ni-ki said, looking at Jay with a hint of skepticism. Jay smiled, his eyes sparkling with a touch of amusement. "I can if you want me to," he replied.

Ni-ki furrowed his eyebrows, wondering what kind of tutor he had ended up with. Jay seemed different from any tutor he had encountered before. Sensing Ni-ki's unspoken question, Jay continued, "You have to want to pass your exams, not just study."

Ni-ki let out a sigh, feeling a mixture of confusion and curiosity. "Is he crazy?" he mumbled under his breath.

Maintaining his composure, Jay leaned in and explained, "It may seem strange, but passion and desire play a significant role in academic success. All those straight-A students out there? They want it. Badly."

"I get it, you're skeptical," Jay continued, still wearing that intriguing smile. "But trust me, passion and motivation can make all the difference in your studies. When you truly want to succeed, it becomes easier to focus, retain information, and excel in your exams."