Book of Fate

In Daniella’s mind, “I thought it was just a short quiz. Why does it feel like every single test we took back then is in this super thick pile of papers?”

“I know what you're thinking, how you're staring at that thick stack. That’s not even the quiz yet. These are just formulas and solutions. You need to read and memorize everything written on those pages,” William said.

As Daniella reached for the papers, her hands moved slowly, almost reluctantly, because the moment she touched them, she already felt like nothing would sink into her head—even if she hadn’t read anything yet.

While reading, her eyes scanned through the pages, but everything seemed to blur together. She couldn’t even remember how to solve a single problem anymore. Nervously, she decided to ask William for a favor.

“Hmmp! Can I ask you a favor?” He looked at her without answering, so she continued anyway. “If it’s okay, can you teach me this first so I can at least answer something on your short quiz?”

William stood up and sat next to Daniella, surprising her with how close he was.

“Which part don’t you understand?” he asked.

Daniella froze, staring at his face so close to hers. “Everything! Even my feelings for you,” she blurted out without thinking.

William frowned at her response. “Focus on the paper, Daniella. Not on my face,” he said bluntly.

She snapped back to reality and turned her gaze to the paper filled with numbers and letters. At first, she understood a few things, but as William began explaining multiple formula solutions at once, everything went over her head, and it only made her head ache.

William must’ve noticed, because Daniella fell silent, and so he stopped talking.

“Did you follow what I said?” he asked.

Daniella only nodded, which puzzled William. She was unusually quiet. He could see it in her face—this wasn’t the Daniella he knew. Over the years in school, he had grown used to her being lively, especially when it came to how she felt about him.

“Are you okay?” he finally asked.

Since her head was already aching from William’s explanations, Daniella just nodded again. She kept her eyes on the paper and avoided looking at William.

William frowned again and crossed his arms, watching her. “Look at me,” he said.

Curious, Daniella looked at him, still silent.

“Let’s do this instead. I’ll only tutor you on weekends, not during break time. We’ll meet at a park near our school. Is that okay with you?”

“I’m fine with that,” Daniella answered softly.

“Class is about to start again. You should put that reviewer in your bag.” Daniella took the papers and quietly put them back in her bag.

She stood up but paused in front of William, who was still sitting.

“I was going to say something.”

“What is it?”

“Did you know you’re like a Math problem?”

William looked up at her. “A Math problem? Why?”

“You’re hard to understand and difficult to solve, but if someone puts enough effort and focus, they’ll eventually say, ‘It’s not really that hard—I just wasn’t focusing enough to find the right solution and the correct answer.’”

“I don’t get it.”

Daniella’s mouth dropped open. “You’re smart—how can you not get what I’m saying!”

“Wait, there was a deeper meaning to that?”

Her eyes widened. “Of course there was! You always have a book in your hand, you’ve forgotten how to throw a good pick-up line!”

“Is that really necessary?” William asked innocently.

Daniella could only scratch her head in frustration. “In short, even if you’re like that, I’ll still find a way to make you notice me—no matter how long it takes!” she said loudly. “Ugh, I give up! You’re so hard to talk to.” She walked back to the classroom, leaving William sitting there.

“I’m the one who’s hard to talk to? She’s the one whose mood changes so fast—just a while ago she was all sad, and now she’s walking out on me.” William just shook his head and followed her, not wanting to be late for class.

That afternoon, it was time to go home, but Daniella wasn’t heading straight to their house. She seemed to be walking toward a park—possibly the one William mentioned earlier. She wandered around, looking at the people nearby. She sat on a bench and watched a dog wagging its body energetically in front of its owner, seemingly asking for food. The woman was holding some fries, which amused Daniella as she observed them. When the pair finally left, she stood up and quietly made her way home.

---

It was Saturday, and Daniella was in a small hut, staring at the paper in her hands. It was the thick stack William had given her, and now she was trying to understand all the formulas—but it looked like her eyes were about to bleed from all the numbers and letters she was seeing.

Daniella dropped the paper and stared into space.

“There’s really no hope for me to memorize what’s written here. It’s just too hard!” she exclaimed, messing up her hair in frustration.

While she was in that state, her mother arrived carrying snacks and was surprised by her daughter’s appearance.

“What kind of look is that, Daniella? You’re studying, not acting in a horror house.”

Daniella’s hair was messy, and her eyes had dark circles underneath from the lack of sleep the night before.

“Mom, maybe I should just stop studying.”

Maria frowned. “What do you mean stop studying? It’s only been a week since school started and you’re already giving up? Don’t be ridiculous, Daniella!”

Daniella picked up the paper full of formulas and solutions and showed it to her mother.

“This is why, Mom. I don’t understand any of it!”

Maria took it and read it. “What’s hard about this? It’s just Math,” she said calmly.

Daniella’s eyes widened at her mother’s response. “Come on, Mom. That’s hard—for me! It’s Math! Try solving a few of the questions if you think it’s easy!”

Maria gave her a sharp look.

“Why should I be the one answering this? I’m not the student here, you are. Stop making excuses just so you don’t have to do your work!”