Boy I Met In October

Chapter Three: A Delicate Dance

I pushed open the classroom door, steeling myself for what lay ahead. As I entered, I couldn't help but notice Ivan already seated in his usual spot, looking more reserved today. His eyes darted up when I walked in, and he quickly looked away, his cheeks tinged with a hint of pink. It was clear that he, too, was affected by what had happened the day before.

With a deep breath, I took my seat next to Ivan, my heart pounding in my chest. Class began, and I tried to focus on the lesson, but my mind kept drifting back to Ivan. I couldn't get his soft thigh out of my head.

Halfway through the lesson, we encountered a particularly challenging math problem. I found myself staring at the numbers and symbols on the board, utterly perplexed. I clenched my fist, frustration bubbling up inside me. I had always been good at math, but today, it seemed like an insurmountable obstacle.

Ivan must have noticed my struggle because he turned to me and said, his voice gentle, "Do you need help with this one, Elijah?"

I glanced at him, taken aback by his offer. It was the first time he'd spoken to me without irritation in his voice. "Yeah, I can't figure this out," I admitted, my pride reluctantly giving way to the need for help.

Ivan leaned closer, and his slender fingers began to dance across the paper, effortlessly solving the equation. As he worked, his concentration was captivating. I couldn't help but watch him, my gaze filled with a desire I didn't fully understand.

When Ivan finished and looked up at me, his brown eyes filled with warmth, he asked, "Any questions?"

I swallowed hard, unable to tear my eyes away from his. My voice was unsteady as I replied, "No, I think I got it now."

For the remainder of the lesson, my eyes were drawn to the calculations Ivan had written on his page. I couldn't resist the temptation to trace the workings with my finger, feeling the ink beneath my touch. Each stroke of my finger seemed to stoke the fire of desire that had ignited within me.

I shook my head, trying to banish these thoughts. I had kissed a hot girl just yesterday, and I needed to focus on that memory to reaffirm my identity. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't escape the image of Ivan's soft thigh and the way his fingers had effortlessly danced across the paper.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, I left my seat, my heart heavy with a newfound awareness of my desires. I couldn't deny the magnetic pull Ivan had on me, and it scared me more than anything.