Undercover

Favors

Front row, in the middle.

Bina was sitting all alone in the lecture hall, her head leaning down, deeply engaged in her right hand's determined movements.

"Hey" Nate's voice echoed from the entrance to the bottom of the room.

Bina turned her head around towards the voice, checking her environment and finding a completely empty room but of two people.

"Hello" She said with a polite smile, and soon turned back to her previous occupations.

A few moments of confusion passed and Nate went down towards the podium, placing himself right to Bina.

Startled, Bina rolled her eyes to take a glance at the stranger that decided to choose the seat just next her instead of any other empty place in the hall. He's probably here for the next lecture, she thought.

"You know, the lecture ended..." Nate stated the obvious.

Bina, not sure of the purpose of the scene, immediately apologized. "I know, I just have to finish my notes, and you can take my place."

Confused by the complete misunderstanding in front of him, Nate's mind stuck and his face went blank. Okay... She really is weird. As last chances are given to grasp and hold, Nate didn't want to offend his partner-to-be, and tried to be friendly.

"I've seen you in Fischer's office earlier today," He started. "I was the guy - " Not finishing his sentence, Bina immediately replied, "Yes, I know, Jonathan Miller, right? I heard Mr. Fischer scolded you."

Dumbfounded, Nate's mouth was opened in astonishment and his eyes narrowed to the sound of the insolence. He wasn't sure of what bothered him more - that the freak girl knew his name for the first time ever they met, her calling him by his full name, her nerve to actually remind him of his conversation with Mr. Fischer, or the fact the she had been eavesdropping to their conversation instead of just walking away or saying anything.

"I'm sorry, I had an appointment with Mr. Fischer and I was early as usual, but you were loud and I could hear you even from the other side of the corridor." She added. That's right, they were actually very loud.

Not letting the situation ruin his plans, Nate explained, "Fischer is a friend of my family. I've known him even since and our conversations might seem inappropriate sometimes". Bina showed a sign of surprise. "How did you know my name?" Nate asked, bothered.

"Everyone knows you, Jonathan. I might be - " Bina was cut by Nate angrily raising his both palms open, "Nate. Thank you."

"...Nate. So, I might be transparent, but I know my surroundings well." She said confidently. Leaning back to finish her notes, as if with requesting approval, she began writing and asked direct an sharp, "Do you need anything from me?"

Her question was asked in a very neutral and casual tone, and it didn't sound cynical or irritated. Yet, it did drop Nate's heart for a moment. Of course, there's no sane reason I would pop up in her life just to talk with her. Irritated by the thought and the expose of the motive, Nate gently nodded.

Bina dropped her pen and began packing her stuff, remaining sitted in her place, waiting for Nate to spit it out.

"Well?" She asked. "That's alright, people usually ask me for favors. In the worst case, I simply refuse."

"Wow, that's sharp." Nate giggled. "So yeah, we met at Fischer's this noon, and I also overheard your conversation." Nate confessed and felt the urge to apologize, "I just waited patiently till you finish so I could go back in and clean up my mess."

Bina, not getting the hint, immediately asked, "Do you want me to teach you? I do some teaching in my free time"

Straightening up, Nate came up with an idea. "... Yes, that could be great, actually." Paying a few more thoughts in a process that was clearly seen on his face, he offered, "I was thinking more about having a partner to study with, as I'm not very patient with tutoring."

"I'm not even sure we take the same classes." Bina became suspicious.

"No, we don't. Well, except the ones I have to retake from previous year." Nate hinted.

Right. He either failed or barely passed the previous year, Bina knew it from the conversations she heard around the campus, social media and from the scene in Mr. Fischer's office. Indeed they had some mutual courses on their course lists this semester, mostly mandatory, but Bina wasn't sure whether it would be a good idea to spend her precious study time with a guy who prefers skipping classes.

"I don't think it would be a good idea." Bina carefully added, "I study a lot and never miss a class. I stay after classes to finish my notes," Trying to state the differences between the two, she finally said, "and I don't ghost my teammates."

Nate's face filled with embarrassment to her words and he didn't have a good argument to make to his savior. Feeling desperate for salvation, he exclaimed, "I want to learn how to be you."

Oh, the shame, but he couldn't come with anything better at the moment.

Bina raised a brow and laughed. "What is there to be me?" She asked.

"I want to take an example from you and develop my educational skills. I want to improve my achievement and I understand that it takes more than just trying to reverse bad habits."

Bina felt a little sorry for that guy.

"I don't know how I could help you, though." She sighed.

"I can just accompany you in your studying sessions and it would be enough for now, I guess." Nate answered. "At least until I figure out how to do it myself."

"That couldn't hurt, so fine." She said. She was heading out of the hall, as she remembered that now she had a tail to feed. "Well, I am going to study now..." She pointed behind her back turning around to face Nate, implying he should start his self growth from this exact moment.

Surprised but not excited, Nate jumped out of his chair and joined Bina on her way.