My feet barely touched the ground as I swung them slowly back and forth.

I bit my lip, trying to suppress a smile as I watched Jenna, whose feet, despite her heels, hovered about ten centimeters off the floor while she sat on the teacher's desk. The image was oddly endearing, almost enough to make me forget my nervousness.

My hands fidgeted nervously in my lap, intertwining my fingers to release some of the tension I felt.

Professor Ortega's watchful, penetrating gaze scanned the students with a mix of interest and fatigue. Suddenly, her brown eyes stopped on two girls at the back of the classroom who were whispering to each other, probably exchanging answers. The disappointment on her face was palpable as her lips pressed into a thin line.

I bit my lower lip distractedly as my eyes wandered toward Enid. I watched her writing on her paper, her focused expression making me hope she was getting her answers right. Enid often got nervous during tests, and I knew how much it meant to her to do well on this one.

Jenna, noticing my gaze, turned her attention to me for a brief moment. Her eyes softened, and she offered me a small encouraging smile, as if she could sense my concern. That simple gesture made my heart race even more, and I quickly diverted my gaze back to my hands.

Jenna cleared her throat, leaning slightly toward me. Goosebumps rose on my skin as I felt her breath graze my cheek.

"What's your favorite color?" she asked, leaving me perplexed.

I could feel her eyes fixed on me, waiting for an answer.

"Really?" I asked, offering a shy smile while keeping my eyes on the class. "Blue," I replied, avoiding eye contact.

Jenna smiled faintly.

"Yours is black, isn't it?" I asked, glancing at her from the corner of my eye.

She nodded slowly, looking puzzled.

With a tilt of my head, I indicated her black nails. She smiled, understanding my observation, and raised her hand, making her bracelets jingle.

"Do you like them?" she asked, extending her fingers.

Instinctively, I took her wrist, taking a quick look at her nails. "Yes... they're really beautiful," I said, smiling.

"Do you like mine? They're nude," I joked.

I wasn't wearing nail polish, and she laughed shyly.

We fell silent, simply enjoying each other's presence. The atmosphere was pleasant and not at all awkward. I had to admit, I liked Jenna; I enjoyed chatting with her. I think the feeling was mutual since she made an effort to start a conversation, trying to establish a kind of friendship between student and teacher.

"Nice ring..." Jenna suddenly said.

The brunette took my hand to examine the ring my grandmother had given me. Her eyes reflected awe at the beauty of the white metal.

With a laugh, I took off the ring and offered it to her. "Try it on," I suggested with a smile.

I knew it would be too big for her, but it didn't hurt to try. As I predicted, it was far too large for her fingers, but she managed to fit it on her thumb.

The screech of a chair being moved made her look toward the classroom. Jenna clenched her jaw, annoyed, and closed her eyes at the unpleasant sound. Deborah approached us, handing in her exam.

The redhead gave Jenna a sharp look. Jenna smiled genuinely and placed the test on top of mine.

"And tell me..." she turned her attention back to me. Her eyes studied my face intently. "What drives your passion for calculus?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's not a true passion... I just understand numbers," I shrugged.

"Well... in a few months, there's going to be a competition. You should participate," Jenna said, and I fell silent, reflecting on her words.

Jenna stepped down from the teacher's desk and caught the attention of those still working on their exams. "Guys, you have..." she drew out the "e" playfully, "10 minutes."

Groans of panic echoed through the room at the announcement. Jenna stood in front of me, watching my legs swing back and forth. She gave my leg a small tap with her hand, signaling for me to stop. I obeyed and hopped to my feet.

The vibration in my pants pocket surprised me. I pulled out my phone and saw a message from Erick, one of my best friends. Smiling at the message, I caught Jenna's attention.

"Who is it?" she asked, craning her neck toward my phone with curiosity.

"Oh, just a friend," I smiled.

The sound of the bell triggered a wave of movement. Students turned in their exams, many of them frowning. Within seconds, the room was empty.

Enid, with her backpack slung over her shoulder, approached us and handed me mine. I gave her a grateful smile, and she winked at me.

"Shall we? We've got history next," she said, walking toward the door.

"Miss Black, could you stay for a moment?" Jenna called out.

I nodded and gestured for Enid to go on without me. Enid gave me a mischievous smile and left the room.

"Do you need something, Professor Ortega?" I asked, nervously biting my lower lip. Jenna smiled genuinely.

"Oh, call me Jenna. We're only a few years apart," she laughed.

I clutched my backpack strap nervously.

"Anyway, yes, I do need something," she said, and a strange fluttering sensation stirred in my stomach.

"As I mentioned earlier, there's a competition in a few months, and I'd really like you to participate. You have talent," she said, looking at me with a half-smile.

"I'd be your tutor and could help you with the test. You'd just need to stay a few afternoons a week. Do you accept my proposal?"

I blinked in surprise.

"Um... could I think about it and give you an answer by the end of the day?" I suggested.

Jenna smiled. "Then I'll see you later, Martina," she said with a wink before laughing softly and leaving the room.

I listened to the sound of her heels fading away.

My cheeks flushed, and I started playing with my fingers. My thumb felt bare, and in a rush, I realized Jenna still had my ring.

A notification on my phone snapped me out of my trance. It was a message from Enid.

Enid: Having fun with the sexy teacher?

I rolled my eyes at her silly comment and hurried to my next class. History awaited, along with an Enid eager for gossip. But in the back of my mind, the conversation with Jenna replayed, making me think about our next meeting that afternoon.

Stay calm. You can handle this, Martina.