Though she discovered that he was exceptionally bright, she never openly praised him. Instead, she posed challenging questions that kept him glued to the book for several minutes.
Later, she began doing it on purpose, because she loved watching him think. There was something strangely soothing about it, a quiet comfort she couldn't quite explain. When she first saw him, she had mistaken him for a girl, he was that beautiful.
His skin was fair, almost pale beneath the soft afternoon light. His voice was gentle, polite, yet uncertain, as though he wasn't sure whether to smile or remain silent. Something about him felt unreal, like a painting that had suddenly come to life.
She quickly composed herself, pretending not to notice how striking he was. But deep down, she knew, something about this boy would disturb the peace she had so carefully built around her heart.