The Stepbrother’s Hidden Desires

Since that night, Aria quickly dating Ryan, who had always secretly admired her. It was obvious that she did it to spite Logan. Thinking about Logan losing both his best buddy and his girlfriend gives Annabel some vengeful pleasure. She always believed that it was this mother and son duo that left her without a home.

Meanwhile, at school, although they were only in the first year of high school, the teachers had already started creating an atmosphere for the college entrance examination. Even George, Annabel’s desk mate who was usually a poor student, had started becoming diligent.

Only Annabel remained unaffected. Her nonconformity stood out in this studious atmosphere.

Unfortunately, her good times didn’t last long. Her new phone was confiscated by the physics teacher, who never liked her in the first place. Today, she openly ridiculed Annabel in front of the whole class. Normally, Annabel didn’t care. But today, her temper flared, and she retorted, “Are you going through menopause? If you’re sick, go get treated!”

The physics teacher was indeed going through menopause and had become more irritable. She was so angry that she flung Annabel’s backpack out. “Get out! Bring your parents here, or you don’t have to come to my class anymore!”

Annabel simply turned around and walked out of the classroom. She could still hear the teacher roaring behind her, “A student like you doesn’t deserve to be at Shining High School!”

Being scolded like this made Annabel feel upset. She attended an international school since childhood, where the educational system was completely different from here. For example, she could speak fluent foreign languages, but she couldn’t pass exams. It’s no wonder Annabel found it hard to adapt to the academic life in Shining High School.

But what made her feel even worse than the academics was the loneliness. She couldn’t help but recall her own mother. She still couldn’t understand why her mom, who had sent her to school in the morning, turned into a cold corpse by the time she returned from school. No one ever gave her an explanation. Perhaps Thomas truly couldn’t provide one because he hadn’t been home for half a year that year. He had already started a new family.

What did it matter if she was obedient and well-behaved? What did it matter if her grades were good? Was it that her mom wouldn’t leave or that her dad would love her? Adults did as they pleased but forced her to become someone everyone liked. Why should she?

The cold wind stung her face, and she touched her cheek, laughing at herself for being so sentimental as to shed tears.

The sky was very blue, with white clouds drifting in the wind. Everything still seemed beautiful. She forced herself to smile and habitually headed towards the basketball court.

At school, this was her only sanctuary. The sound of basketballs hitting the ground echoed on the playground. At this time, during the second period of the morning, there were actually someone playing basketball?

She had just stepped onto the stairs when the guy playing basketball turned to look at her. Annabel felt a sense of camaraderie. “Hey, it’s you?”

It was the boy who had played basketball with her that evening. He asked her seriously, “Aren’t you supposed to be in class?”

Annabel rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you doing the same thing?”

He grinned and asked her, “Wanna play?”

She shook her head and found a sunny spot shielded from the wind to sit down. From her bag, she took out a pack of cigarettes and lit one.

After playing for a while, the boy came and sat down next to her. Annabel offered him a cigarette, but he declined.

Shrugging, she took a few quick drags and began to blow smoke rings leisurely.

“I’m David.”

He extended a friendly hand towards her. Annabel shook it lightly. “Annabel.”

David nodded. “You’re a freshman?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s pretty boring not being in class, huh?”

Annabel turned to look at him. “Skipping class is boring, but being in class is even worse. So, you’re here playing basketball to escape class, right?”

David chuckled, then his phone rang. He stood up, intending to leave, but turned back to ask her, “What class are you in?”

“5.”

With a wave, David left.

Annabel often ran into David on the basketball court, and they became quite familiar with each other. David would often say, “Since you can’t go anywhere during school hours, skipping class is really boring. Maybe you should listen to the lessons; they’re actually quite interesting.”

She started to heed his words a little. For example, she found the Chinese and geography classes engaging, but she would still daydream in other classes. As for physics class, she simply didn’t bother attending.

Thomas found out about Annabel skipping physics class for two weeks in a row, which resulted in another round of scolding.

During the afternoon physics class the next day, the grade director stood at the door with a stern expression, eyeing her. Annabel knew it was Thomas’s doing.

However, something unexpected happened in class that day. David walked in. For a moment, Annabel almost turned to stone. David held a textbook and walked up to the podium. “Hello, everyone. I’m the new intern teacher, David. Starting today, I’ll be your physics teacher. I’m honored to be part of your high school life, full of pain yet full of hope.”

Annabel was stunned. David blinked at her quickly, then smiled and asked the students, “While I’m still fresh, feel free to ask me anything.”

“You look about the same age as us. Are you really a teacher?”

“Maybe I’m aging backwards?”

Someone asked, “Sir, you’re so handsome. Do you have a girlfriend?”

David chuckled, his eyes crinkling. “If you think I’m handsome, it means you have good taste. But whether I have a girlfriend or not is better kept a mystery.”

“Sir, what kind of girlfriend are you looking for?”

“Sir, who do you think is the prettiest girl in our class?”

“Sir, can you show us a talent?”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

David wiped his forehead. “I might have only met fake top students.”

As the questions continued, David’s humorous and witty responses quickly won everyone over. Even George whispered, “This teacher is quite interesting. Much better than the old witch, wouldn’t you agree?”

Annabel snorted. “Con artist!”

David, a senior student at a well-known university, is currently interning at Shining High School, reportedly a graduate of Shining High School himself.

Annabel didn’t know how his classes went because she couldn’t understand them anyway. But his occasional vivid metaphors often resonated with the classmates, and there was unprecedented interaction between teachers and students. However, Annabel was still quite annoyed by the fact that her newly made friend had turned into a teacher.

Anyway, since she couldn’t understand, Annabel sat with her head resting on her hand, looking at the nearly bald tree outside the window, counting the few leaves left.

Someone lightly tapped her on the head. “Pay attention in class, young lady.”

Looking up, it was David. From a vantage point visible only to her, he mouthed silently, “Friend, first class, cut me some slack.”

Annabel stared back expressionlessly. Having missed class for half a month, she hadn’t understood a word except for a few jokes he told midway through.

After school, she still went to play basketball as usual. After a while, David and his buddies arrived. Since David was a teacher, it was likely that those who played basketball with him every day were also intern teachers.

They joined in as usual, but Annabel’s greeting to David lacked the enthusiasm of previous days.

“Are you angry?”

During these days, Annabel treated David as a friend, more like a kindred spirit, cherishing her new friend even more because of her loneliness. She played mobile games with him, smoked in front of him without restraint, and even shared her experiences of breaking school rules with him. But David had never mentioned being an intern teacher.

“A bit, but not anymore.” She actually had nothing to be angry about; she just didn’t want to be friends with a teacher.

David smiled helplessly.

The weather was cold, and everyone was wearing thick clothes. Annabel, however, had already taken off her coat, revealing a tight-fitting long-sleeved shirt and pants. She was tall and slender, with thin limbs, exhaling puffs of white mist as she spoke.

David grabbed the rebound and held it to his chest. “Annabel, put your coat on quickly; don’t catch a cold.”

Annabel shrugged. “Tired. I’m done playing.” She turned and walked to the sidelines to put on her coat, then picked up her backpack and walked away.

David called after her, “Remember to review the content of the next class. I’ll ask you questions tomorrow.”

Without looking back, Annabel waved her hand and turned away.

Paul laughed and said, “The little girl thought you were one of her kind and showed you her worst side. Now that you’ve become her teacher, she must upset, right?”

David scratched his head. “Seems like she’s a little annoyed, but, it should be fine in a couple of days.”

Paul watched Annabel’s disappearing figure and sighed, “She will definitely grow into a beauty in a few years. I wonder how many good boys will be harmed by then.”

David glared at Paul. “She’s only fifteen; you’re quite lecherous!”

Paul shrugged. “I’m just making an objective evaluation, okay?”

David chuckled and shook his head. “Let me make an objective evaluation too: when she grows up, you’ll be an old man.”

To most teachers, Annabel was a problematic student, but to those who knew her, besides her poor grades, she was a straightforward and lovely girl who was just a bit rebellious.

“Come on, we’re only five or six years older than her.”

Paul suddenly sighed and whispered, “This kid actually looks a bit like Lola.”

He subconsciously glanced at David, who seemed not to have heard, and then turned around to play basketball.