You checked your exam sheet for the thirteenth time, hoping, begging, praying that maybe the numbers would magically change. But no matter how many times your eyes traced the red ink, the truth never shifted.

49/100.

Your chest tightened as though the world itself was mocking you. Everyone else was talking, laughing, and you sat there frozen, staring at your own failure. And then—snatch.

Julia’s perfectly manicured hand pulled the paper away.

“Ooohhh… what happened, Miss Brilliant?” Her voice carried across the classroom, sharp and cruel. “Couldn’t beat math? Oops!”

Her so-called friends—more like her trained little puppets—burst out laughing.

Your blood boiled, your fists curled. Julia was the kind of girl who had it all—beauty, brains, money, popularity. Adored by teachers, boys lining up for her attention. She was untouchable. But there was one thing she never managed to get, and it ate her alive.

Aziel Navarre

The school’s untouchable heartthrob. Sharp mind, sharp jawline, and a personality that screamed leave me alone. He never let anyone close. Girls who tried were all ignored—or worse, humiliated by his bluntness. Everyone except… you

Not that it was out of love. No. Since childhood, because your mothers were best friends and neighbors, he’d decided it was his personal mission to make your life miserable. He teased you, mocked your height, called you shortcake, used endless “scientific logic” just to win arguments. You had sworn back in preschool that Aziel Navarre would forever be your number one enemy.

And yet, Julia’s biggest source of jealousy was the fact that you, and only you, could actually touch him. Or more accurately… punch him.

Now, your high school days were made hell by Julia’s constant jealousy and insults. Especially because of math. You were good at every other subject, but math was your curse.

“Give it back!” you snapped, reaching for your paper, but Julia only smirked, tossing it to one of her followers.

The girls passed it around like it was some game.

Your heart sank as it landed in a pair of hands.

Aziel.

He stood there, tall and unreadable. His eyes flicked down to the number on the page, and you could see the calculation in his head.

That was it. Enough humiliation for one day.

Snatching the paper from his grasp, you spat out the words before he could open his mouth. “Yeah, I got forty-nine. Exactly the opposite of you with your perfect ninety-four! You want to mock me too? Go ahead!”

Your throat ached, your eyes stung, and before you completely broke in front of everyone, you turned and bolted.

Behind you, Aziel blinked, stunned.

“Wait, you stupid girl!” His voice rang through the classroom, but you didn’t stop.

Instead, he turned, his gaze darkening as it landed on Julia. His tone cut like ice.

“You bully her one more time,” he growled, “and I’ll forget you’re a girl. Got it? The only person who gets to annoy her is me. Only me.”

The laughter around Julia died instantly. She froze, wide-eyed, as Aziel stormed out after you.

He found you on the rooftop stairs, curled into yourself, clutching your exam sheet so tightly the paper crumpled. Your quiet sobs filled the silence of the fading sunset.

He stopped for a moment, watching you with an unreadable expression. Then, with a sigh, he stepped forward.

“Stupid girl…” he muttered under his breath.

You stiffened, swiping at your wet cheeks, embarrassed.

“Are you having fun? Seeing me like this? Pathetic?”

His jaw tightened, his tone sharp on purpose.

“Yeah, so much fun. You look like a sad cow with a runny nose.”

Your head shot up, eyes blazing. “Aziel—!”

But before you could unleash your anger, he crouched down, lowering himself to your level. For once, his teasing smirk was gone.

“Listen,” he said quietly. “If you’re bad at math, then stop torturing yourself alone. Just… ask me. I’ll tutor you.”

Your breath caught. He wasn’t mocking. He wasn’t laughing. His voice held a warmth you’d never heard before.

For once, Aziel Navarre wasn’t your enemy.

And maybe, just maybe, he never really was.