Lesson part 1

My heart raced when Antony showed interest in my ideas. I observed him, every detail of his perfectly sculpted face, his eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and support. Mere milliseconds passed before I snapped out of my trance, taking a deep breath. I couldn't help but smile.

"— Thank you, Antony, really."

I felt my face flush, and almost without thinking, I turned and ran to the kitchen in a series of small steps.

"— Oh, thank you so, so much, Antony!"I exclaimed, my voice filled with enthusiasm and gratitude as I hurried away.

I glanced back quickly and saw Antony smiling. That smile filled me with a happiness I couldn't describe. Entering the kitchen, I found Sandy busy with breakfast preparations. She looked up at my hurried entrance, giving me a curious look.

"— Amélie, what happened? 'she asked, intrigued.

"— Sandy, I... I’m going to tutor your son! I'll teach him to read and write!" I explained, still breathless from the running and excitement.

Sandy's eyes filled with tears. She placed a hand over her heart and hugged me.

"— Amélie, you are an angel, a true angel!" she said, her voice choked with emotion.

At that moment, a wave of happiness and fulfillment washed over me. Knowing that I could make a difference in that child's life and provide him with a better future was an indescribable feeling.

Sandy's son quickly removed his apron and ran to me, hugging me so tightly that I nearly lost my balance. The entire kitchen seemed to vibrate with his joy, and everyone celebrated in a way that made me feel at home.

As we left the kitchen, he looked at me with his bright, childlike eyes and asked:

"— Are you going to teach me, Amélie?"

The scene was incredibly cute. He clung to my leg like an excited child, his toothless smile lighting up his face with happiness. I couldn't help but smile and gently said:

"— Don't thank me... it was Antony who allowed it."

He seemed surprised and stepped away from my leg, looking ahead with determination. Then, in a loud voice, he shouted:

"— Thank you, Mr. Antony!"

He ran toward Antony, who wasn't far away. Antony was caught off guard but soon smiled. If I could take a picture of that moment, I certainly would right now. The scene was incredibly cute and full of tenderness.

Antony crouched down to be at the boy's level and said:

"— You're welcome, young man. Study hard, alright?"

The skinny child, with a prominent belly and large, bright eyes, gave a theatrical salute. It was an adorable scene, and I couldn't help but smile. After all, Antony was a guard, and the gesture seemed more than appropriate.

Antony stood up, looking at me with a sparkle in his eyes, and in a rather informal manner, placed one of his hands on my back, guiding us through his enormous house. I felt a current of energy pass between us, a connection that went beyond words.

— I believe you’ll need a good place to do your activities, right? — he said with a welcoming smile.

I was still holding my breath due to his proximity. I could only nod and smile nervously. He continued guiding us to an extremely large door with many intricate carvings in ivory. He opened it casually, but I knew I couldn't have done it alone. The door seemed extremely heavy.

When the door opened, it revealed a magnificent room filled with natural light. There were bookshelves that stretched from floor to ceiling, a large wooden table in the center, and several comfortable chairs around it. The room looked like a perfect place to learn.

— This was my father’s old library — Antony explained. — I think it’s the ideal place for your lessons.

The boy, wide-eyed, ran to explore the room. I was enchanted by the space, feeling a mix of gratitude and excitement. I turned to Antony, who was still close, his hand still protectively touching my back.

— Antony, this place is perfect! — I exclaimed, my eyes shining with joy. — Thank you so much.

Antony smiled and took a step back, his hands falling to his sides.

— You deserve it, Amélie. I just want you to feel at home here and for this boy to have every opportunity I can offer.

The emotion in his words touched me deeply. Without thinking, I stepped forward and hugged him. It was an impulsive gesture, but it felt right. Antony was surprised for a moment, but soon his arms wrapped around me in a comforting embrace.

— Thank you, Antony — I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. — Thank you for everything.

When we separated, there was a new understanding between us, something that went beyond words. The boy came running back to us, holding a book he had found.

— Look, Amélie! Can we start with this one? — he said excitedly.

I laughed and took the book from his hands, looking at the cover. It was a children's book, perfect for starting our lessons.

— Sure, we can start with this one — I replied, smiling.

Antony watched the scene with a tender look, and in that moment, I didn’t know how to interpret what Antony was beginning to cause in me, so I pushed my thoughts away and turned my attention back to the boy, and we started our first lesson together.