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I got down from the bus lost in my thoughts when I missed a
step. The next thing I knew was that I was lying flat on my face on a busy road
with crowds of people milling all around me. I was so stunned that I didn't
react for a while. I came back to myself when a voice said, 'Aren't you planning
to get up for today?' A hand reached out and pulled me up. I got up shakily and
looked up to see this handsome man in front of me. Oh, my goodness, did I have
to fall flat in front of him?
The handsome young man said that he was Vincent and he offered to get me a drink
as I still looked rather shaken. I accepted in a dazed manner. What was I
thinking of? I was accepting a drink from a stranger! He got me a packet of
sugarcane juice and the chilled drink helped me to shake off my confusion. I
thanked him gratefully. I told him that I was late for my extra classes and had
to rush off.
The next day, I followed my usual routine of school activities and household
chores. After that, I got ready to go for my accounts tuition in the city
center. I wasn't looking forward to it as I was rather weak in this subject. The
idea of spending more time on the same topic didn't appeal to me. Furthermore,
my friends said that a new tutor was coming in, a man who was known to be very
strict and fussy. Who needed a fussy tutor?
I made it on time for my accounts class and sat down in the back row. I usually
preferred to sit at the back of classes as I didn't want the teachers to be
calling on me to answer questions. Teachers should ask the students who knew the
answers and not plague students who didn't!
When the tutor entered the class, I had the shock of my life! It was the
handsome stranger from two days ago. I was quite stunned. I managed to sit
through the class and could not wait to get away. I think my face was red from
sheer embarrassment.
However, as the days passed, I found myself looking forward to his class.
Vincent had a unique way of teaching that made even the most boring topics
interesting. He had a way of making us understand the subject, and he would
patiently explain until we got it right. He would ask us questions and encourage
us to ask him questions too. I found myself raising my hand and answering
questions in class. I was doing much better than before, and I could feel my
confidence in the subject growing.
One day, Vincent caught me after class and asked me how I was doing. I told him
that I was doing much better in accounts since he started teaching us. We
chatted for a while, and I found out that he was studying to be an accountant. I
was surprised since I thought he was a full-time tutor. He explained that he was
doing this to pay for his studies. I was impressed by his dedication and hard
work.
Over the next few weeks, we became friends. We would chat after class and
sometimes go out for lunch. Vincent was easy to talk to, and I found myself
telling him things that I wouldn't tell anyone else. He was a good listener, and
he always had a word of advice for me.
The good part of this relationship is that I really paid attention in class and
I ended up doing very well in accounts. I actually got a distinction for the
subject. Vincent and I have become good friends, and I am glad that my little
misstep has brought me a good friend. |
