The exam week drained Emma's energy and mind. She had to think not only about her own exam results but also the performances of her students from class F.
Every day after the exam, she would discuss the questions they had for the upcoming subjects. Haoran appeared to be the most successful among his friends. The young man was indeed determined with his ambition to move to class A. The others seemed to be catching up too. But in Emma's opinion, the four needed extra classes during summer and study every week without stopping to actually get to class A.
"What do you think? I'm smart, right?" Haoran asked with a pair of glistening eyes after he finished the Math problem she gave him. He looked like a proud puppy who managed to take back the branch thrown by his master and was now hoping to be rewarded with a delicious bone.
For a moment, Emma felt amazed by his expression.
"Uhm... your answer is correct," the girl replied, nodding. Haoran looked disappointed because she didn't even smile at his accomplishment.
'This girl is really insensitive,' Haoran thought.
"Emma, you have to motivate your students to work harder," said Haoran as he sat next to her. "I want a reward if my test scores matched or exceeded the scores of the students from Class 2A."
Emma frowned at Haoran. "A reward from me?"
Haoran nodded. "Yes."
"What kind of reward do you want?" asked Emma.
A wide smile appeared on Haoran's face as he folded his arms in front of his chest and answered. "I want to go on a date with you in Paris."
In that instant, Haoran's four friends threw their books into the air and cheered.
"Wooooo! Finally!" they cried in unison, laughing.
Emma and Haoran glared at the four boys at the same time.
"Hey, work on your Math problem and don't interfere with the affairs of adults," Haoran grumbled as if he was scolding his naughty children. Emma herself felt her face heated up.
'Gosh, is this it? Finally, he openly asked me out. And in Paris too. This boy is really sly,' thought Emma, glancing at Haoran. She wasn't upset by the sudden request, but in fact, she's secretly happy because Haoran wasn't at all corny in hitting on her. The young man had also looked for the right opportunity to do it properly.
He waited until they had known each other for quite a long time and interacted intensely as friends. He then proved his abilities by improving his grades, before finally manning up and asking Emma out on a date. In Paris.
"So?" Haoran turned back to her.
The girl tried to hide her blushing cheeks but failed. Finally, she nodded shyly. "Okay."
Haoran nodded back. His face beamed upon hearing Emma's reply.
***
"Gosh, time flies! Today we'll go shopping, and next week our test scores will be announced, and the day after that, we can kiss Mona Lisa in person. Yeahhh!" Nadya looked excited as she packed her books into her bag. The exam subject on the last day was Chemistry, not the crowd's favorite. Even class 2A students were relieved when it finally ended.
She pulled Emma and Mary by the hands as they ran out of the classroom in a hurry. Her family's driver had arrived to take them to the mall.
[Congratulations on the exam. You guys did well.] Emma took the time to send text messages to her students while sitting inside the car next to Mary. Nadya sat in front, next to the driver.
[We are blessed to have an awesome tutor.] Came a reply from Haoran which even had a wink emoticon.
Emma smiled, having read his message, and put her cellphone away. Ah... that's right. She remembered that yesterday Haoran had asked her out on a date in Paris during the study trip. Maybe she needed to buy suitable clothes for a date?
All this time, Emma only had a few clothes. Mostly average and plain shirts and jeans and sneakers, for practicality. She had never worn a dress and never bought one.
"Uhm... you seem to be good at picking outfits. Maybe I'll need your help to choose a dress for me," she finally said in a very low voice, almost like a whisper.
Mary and Nadya turned their heads toward her with widened eyes.
"Ahh!! I'm so excited! Of course!!"
The two girls were good at dressing up, and they passionately chose a variety of beautiful dresses for Emma. After going in and out of so many stores and trying on a lot of clothes and accessories, Emma returned home with two summer dresses, pretty red strapped sandals, and a wide summer hat.
"Summer in Paris is as hot as Singapore in July. We'll need a hat to protect our skin from the sun in case we'll be out all day when we get there." That was how Nadya managed to get Emma to buy the hat. And Emma could only say yes.
Emma tried the two dresses again after she arrived home and silently admitted that she did look beautiful wearing those outfits.
'Nadya and Mary have good taste,' she thought.
***
YOU ARE READING
Finding Stardust (Princess Of Akkadia)
Fantasy#This novel has several male leads and they will shine in their own time. "A man should have a bucket list, don't you think? It'd be nice to see 24 sunsets with you one day." - Haoran Lee "Do you want to see how I would light up the sky for you?"...
