The deal

It's been a month since I joined the archery club. I have learned basic things, such as the correct posture to shoot, the types of bows, how weather conditions affect the shooting of arrows, etc. The truth is that it has been fun learning about another sport, and the most important thing is that I don't regret my decision.

About Andrea, I see her more in the classroom than in the archery club. From the very beginning, they divided beginners and experts into different groups, so I rarely get to witness her beautiful silhouette with a bow.

I still have mixed feelings, on the one hand, I can't deny that Andrea's beauty has completely captivated me, but when we are in the classroom she is rude to me and that demotivates me a lot. To give an example, something happened last week that bothered me a lot:

“Andrea, your pencil fell on the floor.”

I flashed my best smile at her and placed her pencil back on her chair. Instead of thanking me, she made a disgusted face and moved her spot a few inches away from me.

Before that I tried to talk to her a bit, since I have noticed that she doesn't get together with anyone from the class to talk, but all my efforts have been in vain; she never follows my conversation, she always has an expressionless face and a look that makes me feel inferior to her. I'm tired already, she may be the most beautiful woman in the world, but even that doesn't make up for her horrible attitude.

About the soccer club, I have tried not to get too involved. I know that Leonel is doing fantastic and has become a true pillar of the team, and that's enough for me. Every day we go to school together, and sometimes our schedules coincide and I wait for him to go back home together. When that happens, I wait for him in the library or somewhere other than the soccer field. I definitely don't want to go back there.

“Have you already studied for the bimonthly exams?”

Leonel asked me as we walked to school.

“Just a little, but you know I'm good at memorizing, so I don't have to worry.”

“I wish I had your brain, so I wouldn't have to work so hard studying.”

Students who are part of a sports team must maintain a general average of 8, if they don't they are expelled from the team and lose all their benefits.

“Well, I wish I had your knees.”

I responded sarcastically and we started laughing.

It should be noted that students who are not part of any school team only require an overall average of 7, so in some ways it is a small comfort to know that I do not have as much weight on my shoulders.

The school day was over and I didn't have to attend the archery club, so I was going to come home early. I put my things in my backpack and just as I was about to walk through the door the teacher stopped me.

“Robin, I'm sorry, but you can't go yet. The principal asked me to come with me after school to his office.”

I was totally shocked. Why does the principal want me in his office? As far as I can remember I haven't done anything bad, or anything good enough that he has to congratulate me in person.

I followed the teacher to the building where the principal's office was located.

“Mr. Johnson, I have brought Robin Smith as requested.”

“Thank you very much Mrs. Brown, you can leave now.”

The teacher left the office and I was left alone with Principal Johnson. It was the second time I'd seen him in person, a stout man with a funny mustache that seems nice.

“Robin, you may be wondering why I asked you to come see me today.”

“That's right Mr. Johnson, I don't understand why I'm here. Did I do something wrong?”

“Not at all, just the opposite. I want to ask you a favor.”

A favor? But what the hell! This was already starting to scare me.

“I-I don't know how I could help you, sir.”

“It is a very special favor that only you can do. I need you to become a tutor for a student.”

“Tutor?”

“Yes, specifically I want you to be the tutor of your classmate Andrea Valencia.”

“Sir, with all due respect, I am not understanding anything. Why do you want me to tutor a student? The school has many trained teachers who can help you…”

“I KNOOOW!”

Principal Johnson interrupted me and banged his desk loudly. The change in his attitude was so impressive that I was paralyzed.

“NOTHING WORKS WITH THAT GIRL! I have tried everything, the best teachers in the school have been her tutors, but one by one they have been failing and no one wants to take the job anymore. I had to face the challenge myself, but even my 2 master's degrees in education were not enough for that girl could learn the most basic things. At this rate, she's going to fail and have to be expelled...”

He finished speaking with tears in his eyes. It was quite a funny scene, but I held back my laughter because the desperation on his face was easy to see. However, there was still something I did not understand.

“I understand, sir, but I don't know why you just don't let her fail. Why are you so interested in Andrea?”

“Because thanks to her I am principal of this school…”

“Huh?”

“The competition to recruit that girl was brutal. All the schools in the country wanted the archery genius, who will undoubtedly become a legend of world sport. I was given the task of convincing her and her parents. I did a thousand things that I'm not proud of, but in the end I was able to persuade them and achieve my goal. Do you get it now? If that girl is expelled for poor academic performance, I would inevitably be fired.”

His situation was desperate and he almost manages to make me feel a little sorry for him, but even with all that I won't change my mind.

“I am very sorry for what you are going through, Mr. Johnson, but I am afraid that I will have to reject your proposal, I am not qualified to teach anyone.”

“Boy, I am clear that you are not a qualified teacher, and you are not even the best student in this school. I didn't choose you for that reason.”

“So, why did you do it?”

“You are good at memorizing, aren't you? I need you to teach that to Andrea.”

I was really surprised that he knew that, I had only told Leonel about my ability.

“How do you know that?”

“I'll tell you again, I have two master's degrees in education, just by analyzing your previous exams I deduced that you are not a genius, you simply know how to memorize. For example, you didn't get straight A's in math, because even if you learn the formulas, you don't understand how to use them. On the other hand, in subjects such as History, Social Sciences or Geography you achieved perfect grades.”

He was right, it was almost like he read my mind. I was truly impressed.

“And besides, boy, I never said that I was not going to reward you…”

This was getting more and more interesting. I felt like I was in a gangster movie.

“Tell me Robin, what do you want in return?”

Jewelry? Money? I was silent thinking; I really did not know what to answer. What I wanted most in life was already unattainable for me.

“I'm sorry sir, but I don't want anyth…”

I did not finish the sentence because an annoying person who lives with me crossed my mind.

“Can you guarantee a place at the Golden School for my sister next year?”

“Of course, we can enroll her freely under the pretext of giving her a scholarship.”

“Perfect, if you get a sports scholarship for my sister at the tennis club for next year, I'll help you.”

“You have my word.”

The director and I closed the deal with a handshake and I left his office.

I was very nervous, I felt that I was doing something wrong, but just thinking about the possibility of my sister getting depressed about not getting into her dream school broke my heart. She has always wanted to become a professional tennis player, and that is why she has spent the last year studying hard to get into the Golden School.

I don't know how my adventure as Andrea's tutor will end, but I am sure of one thing: I will put all my effort into protecting my little sister's dream.