Love Beyond the Formula
Prologue
The rain pours heavily over the city.
Maya stands under a streetlight, completely soaked.
Across from her stands Adrian Hayes.
The man she has loved for years.
The man she could never forget.
Adrian looks at her quietly.
Professor Adrian Hayes
"I knew."
Maya Carter
"You knew I liked you all this time?"
Professor Adrian Hayes
"Yes."
Maya Carter
"Then why didn't you say anything?"
For a moment, neither of them speaks.
Only the sound of rain fills the silence.
Then Adrian takes a step closer.
Professor Adrian Hayes
"Because you were my student."
Professor Adrian Hayes
"And because I was waiting for the right time."
Until only a few inches remain between them.
Professor Adrian Hayes
"Now..."
He gently takes her hand.
Professor Adrian Hayes
"There's nothing stopping me."
Maya's heart nearly explodes.
Maya Carter
"Professor..."
A small smile appears on his lips.
Professor Adrian Hayes
"I think it's time you stopped calling me that."
Professor Adrian Hayes
"Call me Adrian."
Chapter 1 (My Biggest Problem)
Emma Brooks
Can I ask you something?
Emma Brooks
Who's your biggest problem?
Emma Brooks
Professor Adrian Hayes.
Maya Carter
Lower your voice!
Maya Carter
Because people can hear you!
Emma Brooks
You know, this is getting ridiculous.
Maya Carter
It's not a crush.
Emma Brooks
You literally changed your class schedule last semester.
Maya Carter
That was a coincidence.
Emma Brooks
You also joined the Math Club.
Emma Brooks
YOU HATE MATH.
Maya Carter
Keep your voice down!
Emma Brooks
How long has it been now?
Emma Brooks
You're hopeless.
Emma Brooks
Why don't you just move on?
Maya Carter
Can we please change the topic?
Emma Brooks
Professor Hayes is coming.
Student 1
Professor is here.
Student 2
Good morning, Professor!
Professor Adrian Hayes
Good morning.
Maya Carter
(thinking): Don't look at him.
Maya Carter
Don't look at him.
Maya Carter
(thinking): Just one look.
Professor Adrian Hayes
Let's begin.
Professor Adrian Hayes
Before we start...
Professor Adrian Hayes
I have a question.
Professor Adrian Hayes
Who here dislikes math?
Half the class raised their hands.
Including Maya.
Professor Adrian Hayes
Interesting.
His eyes moved across the room.
Then stopped.
On Maya.
Professor Adrian Hayes
Miss Carter.
Professor Adrian Hayes
Since you're being honest...
Professor Adrian Hayes
Would you like to explain why?
Maya Carter
Because math hates me.
Professor Adrian Hayes
Math doesn't hate people.
Maya Carter
Then why does it keep ruining my grades?
More laughter.
Even Adrian smiled.
Professor Adrian Hayes
That's a skill issue.
Professor Adrian Hayes
Yes?
Maya Carter
That was rude.
Professor Adrian Hayes
That was honest.
The entire class laughed again.
For some reason...
Maya couldn't stop smiling.
Emma Brooks
(texting Maya): HE'S FLIRTING.
Emma Brooks
Because he's literally smiling.
Maya looked up.
And froze.
Professor Adrian Hayes was already looking at her.
For one second...
Neither looked away.
Then Maya immediately looked down.
Maya Carter
(thinking): Oh my God.
Maya Carter
I'm going to block you.
Emma Brooks
Not before I witness this love story.
Chapter 2 (Why Does He Remember My Name?)
Emma Brooks
I haven't even said anything yet.
Maya Carter
I know what you're going to say.
Emma Brooks
Professor Hayes was looking at you.
Emma Brooks
Because he WAS.
Maya Carter
No, he wasn't.
Maya Carter
You're being dramatic.
Emma Brooks
And you're being delusional.
Maya Carter
Can we please talk about something else?
Emma Brooks
When are you confessing?
Maya Carter
(thinking): Okay.
Maya Carter
No staring at Professor Hayes.
Maya Carter
No embarrassing moments.
Leo Carter
Why are you screaming?!
Maya Carter
You scared me!
Maya Carter
I hate all my friends.
Maya Carter
Unfortunately.
Leo Carter
Why is Emma telling everyone you have a crush?
Leo Carter
She only told me.
Maya Carter
I'm going to fight her.
Student 1
Professor's coming.
Student 2
Everyone act smart.
Student 3
Too late for that.
Professor Adrian Hayes
Good morning.
Class: Good morning, Professor!
Professor Adrian Hayes
Before we begin...
Professor Adrian Hayes
Did everyone finish yesterday's assignment?
Professor Adrian Hayes
That's what I thought.
Maya Carter
(thinking): Please don't ask me anything.
Maya Carter
Please don't ask me anything.
Professor Adrian Hayes
Miss Carter.
Maya Carter
Why does this keep happening to me?
Professor Adrian Hayes
Did you finish the assignment?
Professor Adrian Hayes
Miss Carter?
Maya Carter
Define "finish."
The entire class burst out laughing.
Professor Adrian Hayes
That's usually not a good sign.
Professor Adrian Hayes
And?
Maya Carter
Math fought back.
Professor Adrian Hayes
Show me your notebook.
Professor Adrian Hayes
Because I'm curious.
Maya Carter
That sounds dangerous.
Professor Adrian Hayes
For me or for you?
Maya Carter
For both of us.
Adrian stopped beside Maya's desk.
Maya Carter
(thinking): Stay calm.
He picked up her notebook.
Professor Adrian Hayes
You actually did half of it.
Maya Carter
That's impressive for me.
Professor Adrian Hayes
The other half?
Maya Carter
We don't talk about that.
Professor Adrian Hayes
Fair enough.
Maya couldn't stop noticing it.
Emma Brooks
I HAVE A QUESTION.
Emma Brooks
Why does he remember your name?
Emma Brooks
There are like fifty students in that class.
Emma Brooks
Yet somehow...
Emma Brooks
It's always "Miss Carter."
Maya Carter
You two need hobbies.
Emma Brooks
Answer the question.
Emma Brooks
Very suspicious.
Maya Carter
Both of you are annoying.
Emma Brooks
You still haven't answered.
Maya Carter
Because there is no answer!
Inside the empty classroom...
Professor Adrian Hayes
(thinking): Maya Carter...
A small smile appeared on his face.
(thinking): She's definitely my most entertaining student.
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