Chapter 23: New Tutor
After chit-chatting with Dr. Tricia, I returned to my room with the ointment in my hand. "The swimming team, huh? It hadn’t been that long when Ericka asked me to join." I muttered as I entered my room. I’ll be having dinner with grandpa and Night again today, so I must at least wear something comfortable and presentable. All I have in my closets are the clothes I had before, pink laced dresses.
"Should I help the lady pick up an outfit?"
I almost had a heart attack when Rika appeared on my side out of the blue. "God, please tell me if you’re there. Don’t just surprise me like that." Rika tilted her head. "And I’m not picky about my outfit. It’s just dinner. Why should I—" Oh, right. I need to look presentable because I’m going to eat dinner with the current and soon-to-be boss.
"The oyabun said to let the lady wear whatever she wants and to not force her to wear something she doesn’t want to."
Wow, that’s quite nice of grandpa. Even though he’s really strict towards Night, he’s carefree when it comes to me. Isn’t that what you call double standard or something? Rika helped me change clothes and accompanied me to the dining room. Some of the members of the Yamaguchi-gumi are greeting me, while some are just bowing their heads, trying not to scare me. It’s still awkward for me to greet them, though.
"You’ve arrived first, young lady," Kenji said with a smile. My forehead creased as I remembered how he used to have long hair. Why did he cut it short? It suits him better even though I saw him for a little while before. "Is there something wrong?" He asked as he opened the door. I only sighed as I entered.
"Are you good at studying?"
Silence took over the dining area until I looked back in Kenji’s direction. "Is the lady referring to me?" Kenji asked, and I nodded as an answer. "The young master is the best when it comes to studying." He had this teasing smile on his face when he said that. How is he so quick to know what’s happening inside my head?
"But he’s mean. I can’t ask him to tutor me."
Kenji and Rika looked at each other. It seems like they can’t deny what I’ve said. At least they know that their master is indeed obnoxious. "If the lady tells the oyabun about it, he can make the young master teach the lady." I already know that, but that’s like abusing one’s power.
"I don’t want to force him."
"Force who?"
I flinched after grandpa entered the dining area with all the bodyguards behind him, stopping outside. "I-It’s nothing, grandpa." It’s not like I can really tell him that. Night would hate it, and I would rather ask someone else than ask that jerk!
Grandpa chuckled. "Don’t be shy, dear. You can tell grandpa anything." He said with a smile. This must be shocking for most of them since their scary boss is talking gently to someone who doesn’t even belong to their family. Even though he told me to spill it out, I still couldn’t. "Kenji," Grandpa called Kenji.
"The lady seems stressed out about school and wants someone to tutor her." Kenji immediately spouted the things I told him. "I suggested for the lady to ask the young master for help, but it seems like she’s quite shy." What the— when did I say I’m shy? I’m not shy! I don’t want to tangle myself with Night any more than this!
I heard grandpa chuckling. "You can go and study with Night, dear. The two of you shall have a study time at 9 in Night’s chambers."
"C-Chambers?"
"It means room, young lady." Kenji butted in.
"I know what that means. What do you take me for?"
That’s when the said person came into the dining room. "I apologize. The last work went long." Night said as he entered the dining room.
"Great timing." Uh-oh. I don’t think I like where this is going. "Help Noelle study in your room later. Since she’ll be taking an exam soon, she must study as much as possible. And you should help her." Grandpa told Night, immediately making Night look at me, and I averted my gaze.
"Is that an order?"
I heard grandpa sipping on his tea. "It is." No! Please don’t order him around anymore.
"Then I shall oblige." Night said without complaining as he sat beside me. It makes me feel like he’ll soon make my days living hell after grandpa’s done with dinner. "I will try to teach her, but I will not promise that I can help her improve since she’s... naïve." Did he just stop himself from calling me stupid?
"That’s good then. You have a new tutor, dear."
What’s good about this? I’m unsure if Night will help me or if he’s just saying that to make grandpa stop bugging him.
When the food arrived, I couldn’t eat well because I still felt the tension sitting beside Night the whole time. I think it’ll give me indigestion. "Go to my room at 9." Night said after grandpa had left the room. "Do not enter without knocking." He warned me. As if I’ll willingly enter his room! Even though I already did before, that was a one-time thing.
"Isn’t this great? The lady found a suitable tutor to teach her."
"Shut up."
I heard Kenji’s giggles, and it made me roll my eyes. "Why did you tell grandpa about that? Now I need to suffer all day with that obnoxious guy." Kenji’s laugh didn’t stop, although he tried his best not to make it too loud. ’So much for being considerate.’ Since I was also done eating, I went back to my room with Rika accompanying me. It would have been better to ask Miss Valencia than this guy for crying out loud.
"Does the miss hates the young master that much? I thought you like him."
I sighed. When can I stop explaining this? "That’s all in the past. I don’t like him, not even a tiny bit." If I still like him at this point, it’s either I’m a masochist, and I like pain, or I’m just plain stupid. Who would like a murderer and a petty jerk like him?
"But will the miss change clothes for your study session?"
"What? No! Why would I?"
Rika didn’t bother asking anymore as I sat on my chair and placed my bag on my desk. Miss Valencia gave me notes of what I needed to focus on to help me for the exam. So I needed to carefully review these lessons. "Young miss, it’s time." I heard Rika saying that.
"Do I really have to?"
Rika pulled me off my chair. "Yes, young miss. The oyabun already ordered the young master. You can’t back down now." Tsk, it’s all Kenji’s fault. If he didn’t tell grandpa about my concerns, this wouldn’t happen. It’s not like Night will teach me properly. He might just act mean towards me and let me solve everything alone like the petty jerk he is.
I walked in front of Rika while she held on to my things, and when we arrived in front of Night’s room, Kenji greeted me with a smile. "The lady has arrived." He said while having that same annoying smile plastered on his face. It’s all his fault.
"Let her in."
I rolled my eyes as I got my belongings from Rika and entered Night’s room. "Sit here." He said as he pointed to the desk on the floor. "Hurry it up, would you?" He’s too bossy!
"Can’t you see how much I’m holding right now?" Night looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "Uh, I need some help don’t you think so?"
Night didn’t say anything as he looked back to his desk. WHAT A JERK! I struggled towards the desk beside him and walked while my things kept falling from my grasp. The sounds of the falling books didn’t bother Night, and he’s just sitting still there as if he didn’t hear anything. "Hurry it up. I don’t have the whole night to teach you."
Wow, he’s so annoying!
When I reached the table, I put my books on top of it and sighed. "Could you shut your mouth?" I scoffed after hearing that. Shut my mouth? I haven’t opened it yet. He wants me to shut it?! This guy’s really testing my patience. ’Let’s calm down. I need help, so let’s all be civilized.’ I told myself as I calmed down.
"Can I open my mouth now?" I heard Night clicking his tongue. "It’s not like I’m begging you to help me, but since you’re already following grandpa’s orders might as well help me, right?" He clicked his tongue again because he knew he couldn’t do anything about it.
"I think we should start with this one." I smiled at him, and he didn’t hide his annoyance. "Help me, my new tutor."
