Castillian #1: Sinner's Formula

"Scarlet Fuentabella, meet me at the faculty room after class."

Each word from their Math teacher felt like a nail in her throat, and with every step she took toward the faculty room, it felt like she was walking to her doom. She still couldn't understand why Calculus was necessary for her chosen course. All she knew was that numbers hated her—and the feeling was mutual.

"Scarlet," greeted her teacher, Ma'am Divina, while busy checking papers. "Have a seat."

She sat down like a student who just had her lunch money stolen.

"You've probably seen your grades by now?"

"Yes..." she answered softly, as if something was stuck in her throat.

"You didn't pass. But there's still a chance—if you get tutoring. I assigned you a tutor from the Engineering department. I specifically asked for someone patient and persistent. I know you're not lazy, Scarlet, but you really have to double your effort."

She nodded, even though she wanted to sink into the floor.

"Tutoring starts next week. Same schedule, twice a week after class. The list will be on the bulletin board tomorrow morning. You may go."

As she exited the faculty room, all she wanted to do was scream. As if she hadn't already embarrassed herself enough during Intrams opening day, now she was about to humiliate herself in front of some Engineering student she didn't even know.

A few days later, while checking the posted tutoring schedule on the bulletin board, she nearly fainted.

TUTOR: Mico Cein Esguerra (BS Civil Engineering – 3rd Year)

WHY HIM?! Her brain screamed as she literally ran away from the board.

She couldn't believe that this was how her long-time crush would find out just how hopeless she was at Math.

---

It was Tuesday. Her hands were cold. Her stomach? Doing a full-on cha-cha from nerves.

Scarlet stood outside the empty classroom-turned-tutoring room, tapping her chest as she tried to calm her heartbeat.

"I don't want to do this. I'll just repeat the class. It's okay, even if I—"

Mico arrived.

White polo. ID lanyard around his neck. Black joggers. And that damn aura—the kind that made it feel like time slowed down with background music when he walked.

She stepped back in surprise.

"You're my tutee?"

She blinked. "Uh… yeah." Her voice barely came out like smoke.

"Come in."

She clutched the strap of her bag tightly, trying to hold herself together. She forced a smile, hoping it came off as cute and not constipated.

She followed him inside.

The classroom was quiet, except for the ticking wall clock and the scribble of a marker. Mico was writing equations on the whiteboard while she sat at a student desk, notebook in hand, still unable to believe what was happening.

"Mico Cein Esguerra," she whispered to herself. "My tutor is Mico. Mico—my crush since high school. Mico—the guy I practically burned holes into with my eyes every time he passed by."

"Can you handle this?" He asked suddenly, straight to the point.

"H-huh?"

"Your Math. Can you keep up with this?"

She gave an awkward smile. "I'll manage."

"Okay. Let's start."

Ten minutes in, she was still staring at the board like it was written in ancient Greek.

Mico noticed her silence. "You okay?"

"Do I really have to understand why there's a 'dy' over 'dx'? Can't I just trust the process?"

He raised an eyebrow and shook his head slightly, clearly trying not to laugh. He didn't respond.

For the next few minutes, he patiently explained limit laws, slope formulas, derivatives. Surprisingly, Scarlet was starting to catch on.

Until—

"You get it?"

"Kind of."

"What do you mean kind of? It's either yes or no, Scarlet. There's no in-between in Math."

"Hold on—you're kind of distracting."

"Huh?"

"Nothing! Nothing!" She panicked, pretending to write notes.

Mico chuckled softly—the kind of laugh she never thought he was capable of. Just the right amount of smirk, no arrogance—but enough to make her heart flip.

"Mico," she asked suddenly, surprised by her own boldness. "Why you? I mean, aren't you busy with basketball? Why did you volunteer to tutor?"

"We were told to choose a community extension project. I chose tutoring. I wanted to help, even just once."

"Why me?"

"I don't know. Maybe fate just really wants to mess with you."

Her jaw dropped. "Wow. Rude."

"Just kidding," he grinned. "I was chosen by the department head. It was random."

(A/N: Oh really?)

After an hour, Mico noticed Scarlet had gone quiet again, struggling to understand. Her head was resting on the table while she scribbled notes.

"Let's take a break," he said.

She looked up. "Huh?"

"Drink some water. Relax a bit."

"Okay…" She got up and grabbed her water bottle from her bag. As she drank, she couldn't help but notice how relaxed Mico was now—so different from the serious version she always saw on the court. He seemed… approachable? Kind, even?

"You know," she began, "I didn't think you'd talk like this. I always thought you were kind of moody."

"I'm not moody. Just quiet. And I don't like talking to people who never stop yapping."

"Hey! Was that a jab?"

"Depends. Are you talkative?"

She closed her eyes tightly. "…A little."

"Then take it how you want."

She raised an eyebrow. "Wow. I just want to pass Math and now I'm getting roasted by sarcasm."

Mico laughed. "At least you're awake now. I hate tutoring people who act like they're asleep."

---

By the end of the session, Scarlet was packing up while Mico jotted down assignments in her notebook.

"This is your homework. Do it and return it next time."

"Okay…" she replied quietly. "Uh, thanks. For tutoring me. Even if… I'm not really worthy."

"Why would you say that?"

"Because I know I'm kind of a lowkey disaster."

He looked at her seriously. "You're not a disaster. You're trying. That's better than people who act like they know everything but don't."

She nodded, but avoided eye contact, shy from the praise.

As they stepped out into the hallway, they both paused.

Mico smiled at her. "Take care on your way home, Scarlet."

Then he walked away.

Her heart practically leapt with every step he took. She stood frozen in the hallway, stunned.

"I'm starting to love Math."