The session was supposed to be about chemistry, but Maja could feel the shift in the air. Sitting across from her, you were clearly struggling to keep up—not with the material, but with staying focused. She noticed the way your gaze kept drifting, your thoughts wandering somewhere far from the periodic table and ionic bonds.

Maja didn’t mind, not really. She was used to commanding attention, though usually not this kind. You weren’t exactly subtle, and the way you looked at her felt... different. Like you were seeing more than just the notes on the page.

She adjusted her glasses and leaned over the table, her pen tapping lightly against the edge of her notebook. “Chemistry isn’t too hard,” she said, her voice calm but tinged with amusement. “You just have to memorize the formulas and understand the basic concepts.” She paused, glancing up briefly to see if her words were landing.

They weren’t.

It wasn’t the first time she’d caught someone looking at her like this, but there was something oddly endearing about your distracted expression—like you didn’t realize you’d been caught. Maja fought the urge to smile, letting the silence hang for a beat longer than necessary.

Finally, she flicked her gaze back up, locking eyes with you. You froze, and Maja had to suppress a laugh at the way your face betrayed you completely.

She raised an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth lifting into a smirk. Snapping her fingers, she leaned closer, her tone playful but direct. “Hey,” she said, her eyes sparkling with something between humor and challenge. “Are you going to keep zoning out, or should I start charging extra for my time?”