NOTAKING
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Chapter 23(MHA)
🕑 Added 2025-08-25 17:40:13 +0000 UTCHe approached Ms. Bissette, who was sitting at her desk, casually sipping something from a purple flask. The faint clink of the cup against the desk caught his attention.
She glanced up and smiled warmly, setting the drink aside.
‘Is she drinking wine? This early in the morning? Wow, she really is French,' he thought, his eyebrows raising slightly at the idea.
“Travis, how may I help you?” she asked, standing up smoothly, her posture elegant, yet approachable.
“Oh, about those private classes. I’d love to take them, if you don’t mind,” he said casually, trying to keep his tone relaxed.
Ms. Bissette’s face lit up, her eyes sparkling with delight. “Really? That’s wonderful! I’m so happy to hear that. Are you doing it for the reward?”
“Wait, there’s a reward? I didn’t know,” Travis admitted, tilting his head slightly, curiosity peeking through.
“Oh, so you’re not interested in the reward?” she asked, her tone softening, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
Travis quickly waved his hand, leaning slightly forward. “No, no! I want the reward too. So, when do we start?”
“We can start today, but you’ll need to bring your dictionary, of course,” she replied, hands lightly resting on her desk, excitement in her posture.
“Uh, I lost mine. Do you have any extras?” he asked, hoping for a convenient backup.
“That’s unfortunate. No, I don’t have any extras, but you can find one in the library. I always spend time there when I need to be surrounded by books,” she said with a gentle smile, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of her desk.
“I’ll head to the library this afternoon then. I guess that means we’ll start tomorrow.”
She nodded, her smile soft and encouraging. “Yes, that works. Have a great day, Travis.”
As he stepped out of the class, he was met by Eve, who fell into step beside him.
“Travis, what’s up? What were you talking about with Ms. Bissette?” Eve asked, curiosity lacing her voice as they walked.
“Don’t judge me, but I decided to take some extra classes with her. I kinda need them if I’m gonna pass this class,” he reassured her, shrugging slightly.
She nodded and smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest.
“Nah, I understand, as long as you’re not in it for the ‘reward.’ I mean, it can’t be that good,” she said, her voice light, teasing slightly.
“Oh, don’t worry. I just need to understand what we’ve been learning so far. Then I’ll quit ‘Straight cap.’ Also, it might be that good—you never know,” he replied, smirking.
Eve giggled, a soft sound that made the hallway feel a little brighter. “Yeah, I guess we’ll never know.”
Walking beside him, she felt grateful that Travis was willing to open up about his struggles; it made her feel closer to him. Her thoughts drifted, almost unconsciously.
‘Maybe I should share more about myself too,’ she thought, a quiet determination settling in her chest.
Opening up could strengthen the connection she felt with him—and maybe even let him see the real her.
Their next class was Math. Travis and Eve settled into their seats, but to his surprise, Mia chose to sit next to him.
The long tables could accommodate three students, placing Travis squarely in the middle of the two girls—each radiating her own kind of charm.
Eve’s soft, curious gaze contrasted with Mia’s mischievous, playful smirk, creating a delicate tension around him.
Who would he focus on more, you might wonder. Well, the clear answer is neither of them. Why? IDK.
Travis sat quietly, pulling out his notebook and starting to jot down what was on the board. Not that he wanted to—math had never been his strong suit, and if given the choice, he would much rather be lounging somewhere else.
However, with two girls flanking him, each subtly angling their bodies toward him, he had to maintain the illusion of diligence. It was a clever tactic, a silent signal that he was “occupied,” making it seem as though the other’s chance to dominate his attention was blocked.
There was an unspoken truth about life: things that are desired suddenly feel more valuable. Both Mia and Judith were drawn to Travis, and it was clear they relished even the smallest interactions with him.
He had this uncanny ability to make them laugh, listen without judgment, and engage in conversations that felt rare—especially for girls accustomed to strict, controlled households.
Now, with someone—himself—sitting squarely between them, a subtle rivalry began to stir. Each girl leaned slightly closer, subtly angling her notebook, twirling a pen, or adjusting her hair, as if to claim a fraction of his attention.
Their thoughts raced, unspoken yet obvious, each calculating how best to engage him without seeming obvious.
[A/N: I wrote this at 4Am after waking up. Don't judge ]
Travis, fully aware of the silent battle, allowed a small smirk to creep onto his face.
The thrill wasn’t just in the attention; it was in observing the unspoken strategies, the subtle gestures, and the way both tried to outmaneuver the other without words.
' I wonder if I'll make it into Mediatok,' he thought.
He tilted his head slightly, jotting down a formula on his notebook while glancing at the board, a quiet amusement lingering in his mind.
A couple of minutes later, the bell rang, and Travis quickly packed his things, knowing that whoever spoke first would likely capture his attention.
"Travis, did you watch the new One Piece episode?" Eve asked, arriving at his side before Mia and Judith could corner him. Her voice was light, teasing, but edged with genuine curiosity.
Mia’s eyebrows knitted together, and Judith’s lips pursed, both trying to mask their annoyance while keeping an eye on Travis, hoping to seize the next opportunity.
"Nah, I read the manga, though. I only ever watch One Piece at the end of every year," he replied with a shrug, leaning casually against his desk as he spoke.
"For real? I think I might do that too," Eve said, her eyes lighting up, clearly pleased to share the same idea.
"Hey Travis!" Mia’s cheerful voice cut through, and she reached him almost immediately, her backpack bouncing slightly as she moved.
"Hey, what’s up?" he asked, turning toward her, a casual smile playing on his lips.
Eve narrowed her eyes at Mia, noticing the flush on her cheeks and the subtle tilt of her head toward him.
'Wait—she likes Travis? Wow, who knew Travis had a secret admirer,' she thought, a mixture of surprise and curiosity crossing her mind.
Soon after, Judith appeared, giving Travis a quick, polite greeting before darting away to her next class, leaving behind only a faint trail of perfume and a lingering glance.
Eve smiled, a small, amused curve forming on her lips.
'I guess little Travis is a real playboy,' she thought, shaking her head slightly but feeling a flutter in her chest nonetheless.
Mia and Travis fell into step together as they walked out of the classroom. He carefully avoided revealing what he was thinking, letting a few teasing silences hang between them, which only made Mia anticipate his words more eagerly.
Eve trailed a few steps behind, her brow furrowed in thought.
'Maybe I should help him? Or maybe just watch…' she pondered, trying to decide how involved she wanted to be in this little game unfolding right in front of her.
The hallway buzzed with students, lockers slamming, and chatter all around, but for Travis and the two girls, a subtle tension lingered—an unspoken contest for attention that only added excitement to the otherwise ordinary school day.
TO BE CONTINUED
