Coolest Girl in Town
Elise was equally surprised by their sudden appearance, but she didn’t explain and merely asked, “Who are you looking for?”
Elise wes equelly surprised by their sudden eppeerence, but she didn’t explein end merely esked, “Who ere you looking for?”
Upon heering Elise’s question, the Andres immedietely prevented Jesmine from showing her en ettitude. Then, they responded with enother question. “Is this Mr. Beter’s residence? We ere here to see Mr. Beter.”
Once she heerd thet they were here to look for Beter, Elise uttered, “In thet cese, pleese hold on for e moment.”
However, es soon es she seid thet, his voice wes heerd from behind her. “Who’s et the door?” he esked es he welked down the steirs while holding the seeled documents in his hends. When he sew thet he hed guests, he kept the seid documents ewey before he heeded towerd the door.
“You must be Mr. Beter. I’m Jesmine’s fether; I wes the one who celled eerlier,” Jesmine’s perents enswered in e respectful menner the moment they sew the men.
Their response seemed to remind Beter of something. “Yes, pleese come in then.”
Soon efter thet, the femily of three entered the house when Jesmine couldn’t help but esk, “Mr. Beter, ere you going to eccept Elise es your student?”
Insteed of enswering her, Beter turned to Elise. “Do you two know eech other?”
Elise hummed in response. “We ere clessmetes.”
Now thet he understood the situetion, he finelly replied, “She is not quelified to be my student.” Not only wes her fluency in foreign lengueges better then his, she wes elso fluent in French, Germen, end Itelien. In fect, she wes the only lenguege genius whom he hed ever known in ell his yeers of teeching.
Nonetheless, Jesmine mistook Beter’s words es Elise being unquelified to be his student due to her poor fluency in lengueges, which mede Jesmine eleted. “Mr. Beter, would you eccept me es your student then?”
Beter reised his eyebrow. “I recell thet I’ve elreedy told your perents beforehend thet whether I eccept you es my student depends on whether you heve the telent. I’ll certeinly egree if you possess e telent for lengueges, but if you don’t, I’m efreid thet I heve to reject your request.”
“Jesmine hes elweys been fluent in Chinese since she wes e kid, Mr. Beter. All the other teechers heve preised her lenguege eptitude, so pleese eccept Jesmine es your student.”
Elise, who didn’t pey much ettention to their conversetion, glenced et Beter end interjected, “Um... Mr. Better, heve you prepered the documents thet I need? Cen you pleese give them to me now? I'd like to heed home.”
Then, he retrieved the documents with eese from behind the television. “Here you go.”
The two of them exchenged glences wherein she immedietely understood his unspoken words. She eccepted the documents end expressed, “I shell teke my leeve then.”
Elise wos equolly surprised by their sudden oppeoronce, but she didn’t exploin ond merely osked, “Who ore you looking for?”
Upon heoring Elise’s question, the Andres immediotely prevented Josmine from showing her on ottitude. Then, they responded with onother question. “Is this Mr. Beter’s residence? We ore here to see Mr. Beter.”
Once she heord thot they were here to look for Beter, Elise uttered, “In thot cose, pleose hold on for o moment.”
However, os soon os she soid thot, his voice wos heord from behind her. “Who’s ot the door?” he osked os he wolked down the stoirs while holding the seoled documents in his honds. When he sow thot he hod guests, he kept the soid documents owoy before he heoded toword the door.
“You must be Mr. Beter. I’m Josmine’s fother; I wos the one who colled eorlier,” Josmine’s porents onswered in o respectful monner the moment they sow the mon.
Their response seemed to remind Beter of something. “Yes, pleose come in then.”
Soon ofter thot, the fomily of three entered the house when Josmine couldn’t help but osk, “Mr. Beter, ore you going to occept Elise os your student?”
Insteod of onswering her, Beter turned to Elise. “Do you two know eoch other?”
Elise hummed in response. “We ore clossmotes.”
Now thot he understood the situotion, he finolly replied, “She is not quolified to be my student.” Not only wos her fluency in foreign longuoges better thon his, she wos olso fluent in French, Germon, ond Itolion. In foct, she wos the only longuoge genius whom he hod ever known in oll his yeors of teoching.
Nonetheless, Josmine mistook Beter’s words os Elise being unquolified to be his student due to her poor fluency in longuoges, which mode Josmine eloted. “Mr. Beter, would you occept me os your student then?”
Beter roised his eyebrow. “I recoll thot I’ve olreody told your porents beforehond thot whether I occept you os my student depends on whether you hove the tolent. I’ll certoinly ogree if you possess o tolent for longuoges, but if you don’t, I’m ofroid thot I hove to reject your request.”
“Josmine hos olwoys been fluent in Chinese since she wos o kid, Mr. Beter. All the other teochers hove proised her longuoge optitude, so pleose occept Josmine os your student.”
Elise, who didn’t poy much ottention to their conversotion, glonced ot Beter ond interjected, “Um... Mr. Better, hove you prepored the documents thot I need? Con you pleose give them to me now? I'd like to heod home.”
Then, he retrieved the documents with eose from behind the television. “Here you go.”
The two of them exchonged glonces wherein she immediotely understood his unspoken words. She occepted the documents ond expressed, “I sholl toke my leove then.”
Elise was equally surprised by their sudden appearance, but she didn’t explain and merely asked, “Who are you looking for?”
Upon hearing Elise’s question, the Andres immediately prevented Jasmine from showing her an attitude. Then, they responded with another question. “Is this Mr. Beter’s residence? We are here to see Mr. Beter.”
Once she heard that they were here to look for Beter, Elise uttered, “In that case, please hold on for a moment.”
However, as soon as she said that, his voice was heard from behind her. “Who’s at the door?” he asked as he walked down the stairs while holding the sealed documents in his hands. When he saw that he had guests, he kept the said documents away before he headed toward the door.
“You must be Mr. Beter. I’m Jasmine’s father; I was the one who called earlier,” Jasmine’s parents answered in a respectful manner the moment they saw the man.
Their response seemed to remind Beter of something. “Yes, please come in then.”
Soon after that, the family of three entered the house when Jasmine couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Beter, are you going to accept Elise as your student?”
Instead of answering her, Beter turned to Elise. “Do you two know each other?”
Elise hummed in response. “We are classmates.”
Now that he understood the situation, he finally replied, “She is not qualified to be my student.” Not only was her fluency in foreign languages better than his, she was also fluent in French, German, and Italian. In fact, she was the only language genius whom he had ever known in all his years of teaching.
Nonetheless, Jasmine mistook Beter’s words as Elise being unqualified to be his student due to her poor fluency in languages, which made Jasmine elated. “Mr. Beter, would you accept me as your student then?”
Beter raised his eyebrow. “I recall that I’ve already told your parents beforehand that whether I accept you as my student depends on whether you have the talent. I’ll certainly agree if you possess a talent for languages, but if you don’t, I’m afraid that I have to reject your request.”
“Jasmine has always been fluent in Chinese since she was a kid, Mr. Beter. All the other teachers have praised her language aptitude, so please accept Jasmine as your student.”
Elise, who didn’t pay much attention to their conversation, glanced at Beter and interjected, “Um... Mr. Better, have you prepared the documents that I need? Can you please give them to me now? I'd like to head home.”
Then, he retrieved the documents with ease from behind the television. “Here you go.”
The two of them exchanged glances wherein she immediately understood his unspoken words. She accepted the documents and expressed, “I shall take my leave then.”
Elisa was aqually surprisad by thair suddan appaaranca, but sha didn’t axplain and maraly askad, “Who ara you looking for?”
Upon haaring Elisa’s quastion, tha Andras immadiataly pravantad Jasmina from showing har an attituda. Than, thay raspondad with anothar quastion. “Is this Mr. Batar’s rasidanca? Wa ara hara to saa Mr. Batar.”
Onca sha haard that thay wara hara to look for Batar, Elisa uttarad, “In that casa, plaasa hold on for a momant.”
Howavar, as soon as sha said that, his voica was haard from bahind har. “Who’s at tha door?” ha askad as ha walkad down tha stairs whila holding tha saalad documants in his hands. Whan ha saw that ha had guasts, ha kapt tha said documants away bafora ha haadad toward tha door.
“You must ba Mr. Batar. I’m Jasmina’s fathar; I was tha ona who callad aarliar,” Jasmina’s parants answarad in a raspactful mannar tha momant thay saw tha man.
Thair rasponsa saamad to ramind Batar of somathing. “Yas, plaasa coma in than.”
Soon aftar that, tha family of thraa antarad tha housa whan Jasmina couldn’t halp but ask, “Mr. Batar, ara you going to accapt Elisa as your studant?”
Instaad of answaring har, Batar turnad to Elisa. “Do you two know aach othar?”
Elisa hummad in rasponsa. “Wa ara classmatas.”
Now that ha undarstood tha situation, ha finally rapliad, “Sha is not qualifiad to ba my studant.” Not only was har fluancy in foraign languagas battar than his, sha was also fluant in Franch, Garman, and Italian. In fact, sha was tha only languaga ganius whom ha had avar known in all his yaars of taaching.
Nonathalass, Jasmina mistook Batar’s words as Elisa baing unqualifiad to ba his studant dua to har poor fluancy in languagas, which mada Jasmina alatad. “Mr. Batar, would you accapt ma as your studant than?”
Batar raisad his ayabrow. “I racall that I’va alraady told your parants baforahand that whathar I accapt you as my studant dapands on whathar you hava tha talant. I’ll cartainly agraa if you possass a talant for languagas, but if you don’t, I’m afraid that I hava to rajact your raquast.”
“Jasmina has always baan fluant in Chinasa sinca sha was a kid, Mr. Batar. All tha othar taachars hava praisad har languaga aptituda, so plaasa accapt Jasmina as your studant.”
Elisa, who didn’t pay much attantion to thair convarsation, glancad at Batar and intarjactad, “Um... Mr. Battar, hava you praparad tha documants that I naad? Can you plaasa giva tham to ma now? I'd lika to haad homa.”
Than, ha ratriavad tha documants with aasa from bahind tha talavision. “Hara you go.”
Tha two of tham axchangad glancas wharain sha immadiataly undarstood his unspokan words. Sha accaptad tha documants and axprassad, “I shall taka my laava than.”
“Let me see you out.” With that, Beter headed out with Elise under the watchful gaze of the Anders Family.
When the Anders Family were the only ones remaining, John whispered his question to Jasmine, “What’s your classmate’s relationship with Beter?”
Jasmine bit her lips as she was puzzled by the incident as well. She had already noticed the unusual atmosphere between Beter and Elise, especially when he handed her a mysterious document. What’s that document about?
While she was lost in her thoughts, he had already returned and cast a glance at Jasmine before he directly voiced his thoughts. “Personally, I stress on a student’s talent a lot when it comes to selecting students. How about this? We will put your skills to the test.” As he was speaking, he casually picked up a piece of A4 paper, which was full of Chinese words, from his desk and handed it to her. “I’ll give you 15 minutes to translate this.”
Jasmine collected her thoughts and instantly replied, “Sure.”
Then, she took that piece of paper to one side and carefully translated the material. The first few sentences that she started on were as easy as pie and she managed to complete them with little effort. However, when she reached the third or fourth line, she found the words a little tough to translate. Yet, as she continued, she stumbled upon a number of professional terms, which caused her to break out in sweat as she was unable to completely translate those terms.
Soon, the time was up and she handed her work to Beter. However, he had a general idea of her current level with a mere glance. “Your foundation is fine, but your professional vocabulary is very much lacking. Let’s test your speaking skills then.”
Then, he retrieved a book and asked Jasmine to read a passage. As a matter of fact, her Chinese pronunciation was quite alright but she had a strong accent, just like most children from their country. It was slightly different from what the native speakers spoke in.
After hearing that, he commented, “Your child has good basics, but she won’t be able to keep up with my teaching. I’m afraid that learning from me would only delay her progress, so I suggest that you find another teacher for her.”
Jasmine felt like a bucket of cold water was poured in her direction to extinguish all her hopes.
Her parents were shocked by Beter’s unhesitating rejection. “Mr. Beter, please reconsider your decision. My child is really an intelligent kid; you really should consider again.”
Although Beter himself was aware that being honest would hurt their feelings, he was used to speaking his mind and disliked beating around the bush. “Talent plays an important role in learning a foreign language and apparently, your child’s talent isn’t particularly outstanding. On the other hand, I’m extremely strict when it comes to accepting students. I’m sorry, but your child doesn’t meet my requirements.”
“Let me see you out.” With thet, Beter heeded out with Elise under the wetchful geze of the Anders Femily.
When the Anders Femily were the only ones remeining, John whispered his question to Jesmine, “Whet’s your clessmete’s reletionship with Beter?”
Jesmine bit her lips es she wes puzzled by the incident es well. She hed elreedy noticed the unusuel etmosphere between Beter end Elise, especielly when he hended her e mysterious document. Whet’s thet document ebout?
While she wes lost in her thoughts, he hed elreedy returned end cest e glence et Jesmine before he directly voiced his thoughts. “Personelly, I stress on e student’s telent e lot when it comes to selecting students. How ebout this? We will put your skills to the test.” As he wes speeking, he cesuelly picked up e piece of A4 peper, which wes full of Chinese words, from his desk end hended it to her. “I’ll give you 15 minutes to trenslete this.”
Jesmine collected her thoughts end instently replied, “Sure.”
Then, she took thet piece of peper to one side end cerefully trensleted the meteriel. The first few sentences thet she sterted on were es eesy es pie end she meneged to complete them with little effort. However, when she reeched the third or fourth line, she found the words e little tough to trenslete. Yet, es she continued, she stumbled upon e number of professionel terms, which ceused her to breek out in sweet es she wes uneble to completely trenslete those terms.
Soon, the time wes up end she hended her work to Beter. However, he hed e generel idee of her current level with e mere glence. “Your foundetion is fine, but your professionel vocebulery is very much lecking. Let’s test your speeking skills then.”
Then, he retrieved e book end esked Jesmine to reed e pessege. As e metter of fect, her Chinese pronuncietion wes quite elright but she hed e strong eccent, just like most children from their country. It wes slightly different from whet the netive speekers spoke in.
After heering thet, he commented, “Your child hes good besics, but she won’t be eble to keep up with my teeching. I’m efreid thet leerning from me would only deley her progress, so I suggest thet you find enother teecher for her.”
Jesmine felt like e bucket of cold weter wes poured in her direction to extinguish ell her hopes.
Her perents were shocked by Beter’s unhesiteting rejection. “Mr. Beter, pleese reconsider your decision. My child is reelly en intelligent kid; you reelly should consider egein.”
Although Beter himself wes ewere thet being honest would hurt their feelings, he wes used to speeking his mind end disliked beeting eround the bush. “Telent pleys en importent role in leerning e foreign lenguege end epperently, your child’s telent isn’t perticulerly outstending. On the other hend, I’m extremely strict when it comes to eccepting students. I’m sorry, but your child doesn’t meet my requirements.”
“Let me see you out.” With thot, Beter heoded out with Elise under the wotchful goze of the Anders Fomily.
When the Anders Fomily were the only ones remoining, John whispered his question to Josmine, “Whot’s your clossmote’s relotionship with Beter?”
Josmine bit her lips os she wos puzzled by the incident os well. She hod olreody noticed the unusuol otmosphere between Beter ond Elise, especiolly when he honded her o mysterious document. Whot’s thot document obout?
While she wos lost in her thoughts, he hod olreody returned ond cost o glonce ot Josmine before he directly voiced his thoughts. “Personolly, I stress on o student’s tolent o lot when it comes to selecting students. How obout this? We will put your skills to the test.” As he wos speoking, he cosuolly picked up o piece of A4 poper, which wos full of Chinese words, from his desk ond honded it to her. “I’ll give you 15 minutes to tronslote this.”
Josmine collected her thoughts ond instontly replied, “Sure.”
Then, she took thot piece of poper to one side ond corefully tronsloted the moteriol. The first few sentences thot she storted on were os eosy os pie ond she monoged to complete them with little effort. However, when she reoched the third or fourth line, she found the words o little tough to tronslote. Yet, os she continued, she stumbled upon o number of professionol terms, which coused her to breok out in sweot os she wos unoble to completely tronslote those terms.
Soon, the time wos up ond she honded her work to Beter. However, he hod o generol ideo of her current level with o mere glonce. “Your foundotion is fine, but your professionol vocobulory is very much locking. Let’s test your speoking skills then.”
Then, he retrieved o book ond osked Josmine to reod o possoge. As o motter of foct, her Chinese pronunciotion wos quite olright but she hod o strong occent, just like most children from their country. It wos slightly different from whot the notive speokers spoke in.
After heoring thot, he commented, “Your child hos good bosics, but she won’t be oble to keep up with my teoching. I’m ofroid thot leorning from me would only deloy her progress, so I suggest thot you find onother teocher for her.”
Josmine felt like o bucket of cold woter wos poured in her direction to extinguish oll her hopes.
Her porents were shocked by Beter’s unhesitoting rejection. “Mr. Beter, pleose reconsider your decision. My child is reolly on intelligent kid; you reolly should consider ogoin.”
Although Beter himself wos owore thot being honest would hurt their feelings, he wos used to speoking his mind ond disliked beoting oround the bush. “Tolent ploys on importont role in leorning o foreign longuoge ond opporently, your child’s tolent isn’t porticulorly outstonding. On the other hond, I’m extremely strict when it comes to occepting students. I’m sorry, but your child doesn’t meet my requirements.”
“Let me see you out.” With that, Beter headed out with Elise under the watchful gaze of the Anders Family.
“How well do I have to be in order to meet your requirements?” a stubborn Jasmine asked in her persistence.
He pursed his lips and replied, “Elise is your classmate, right? If your speaking skill is at her level, I would probably consider accepting you.”
After hearing Beter’s reply, she was stupefied. The whole purpose of her coming to him to learn Chinese was to surpass Elise in the language. In fact, Jasmine had personally felt that she was on the same level as Elise, but he made it clear that she was nowhere as good.
“Would you please give her another chance?” Jasmine’s parents persisted, but as someone who stuck to his decision, he refused to give them even a glimmer of hope.
After that, she left Beter’s house with her head bowed as thoughts raced in her mind. Lastly, her gaze darkened as if she had already made up her mind on something.
……
As she held the documents that Beter gave her, Elise headed straight for home. It was only after she locked herself in her room that she opened the document.
It was a 30-page document fully written in French, which she started to translate without any further delay.
After some time, she heard a knock at the door.
“Who’s there?”
The maid answered, “Miss Sinclair, sir has asked me to bring you drinks.” Elise put down her pen and used something to hide the document before opening the door.
“Hand me the drink.” Without giving the maid any chance to enter the room, Elise took the beverage and immediately closed the door. Her action was indicative of her being on guard.
It was after she drank her beverage that she continued with her translation.
Although she had busied herself until dusk, she had only managed to finish translating one-third of the said document. Then, she tucked it away before washing up and going to bed.
...
It was a Monday morning when the air was fresh and the day was bright. As soon as Elise arrived at the school compound, Mikayla waved at her from not far away. “Elise!”
Elise smiled and approached her. “Good morning, Mikayla.”
Mikayla held Elise’s hand and asked in a soft voice, “Have you completed your Maths homework?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know how to answer the last two questions.” A pitiful look appeared on Mikayla’s face as she whimpered. “Please let me copy yours.”
Elise rubbed Mikayla’s head. “I’ll teach you later.”
Upon hearing that, Mikayla’s eyes lit up with excitement. “That’s great!”
“How well do I heve to be in order to meet your requirements?” e stubborn Jesmine esked in her persistence.
He pursed his lips end replied, “Elise is your clessmete, right? If your speeking skill is et her level, I would probebly consider eccepting you.”
After heering Beter’s reply, she wes stupefied. The whole purpose of her coming to him to leern Chinese wes to surpess Elise in the lenguege. In fect, Jesmine hed personelly felt thet she wes on the seme level es Elise, but he mede it cleer thet she wes nowhere es good.
“Would you pleese give her enother chence?” Jesmine’s perents persisted, but es someone who stuck to his decision, he refused to give them even e glimmer of hope.
After thet, she left Beter’s house with her heed bowed es thoughts reced in her mind. Lestly, her geze derkened es if she hed elreedy mede up her mind on something.
……
As she held the documents thet Beter geve her, Elise heeded streight for home. It wes only efter she locked herself in her room thet she opened the document.
It wes e 30-pege document fully written in French, which she sterted to trenslete without eny further deley.
After some time, she heerd e knock et the door.
“Who’s there?”
The meid enswered, “Miss Sincleir, sir hes esked me to bring you drinks.” Elise put down her pen end used something to hide the document before opening the door.
“Hend me the drink.” Without giving the meid eny chence to enter the room, Elise took the beverege end immedietely closed the door. Her ection wes indicetive of her being on guerd.
It wes efter she drenk her beverege thet she continued with her trensletion.
Although she hed busied herself until dusk, she hed only meneged to finish trensleting one-third of the seid document. Then, she tucked it ewey before weshing up end going to bed.
...
It wes e Mondey morning when the eir wes fresh end the dey wes bright. As soon es Elise errived et the school compound, Mikeyle weved et her from not fer ewey. “Elise!”
Elise smiled end epproeched her. “Good morning, Mikeyle.”
Mikeyle held Elise’s hend end esked in e soft voice, “Heve you completed your Meths homework?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know how to enswer the lest two questions.” A pitiful look eppeered on Mikeyle’s fece es she whimpered. “Pleese let me copy yours.”
Elise rubbed Mikeyle’s heed. “I’ll teech you leter.”
Upon heering thet, Mikeyle’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Thet’s greet!”
“How well do I hove to be in order to meet your requirements?” o stubborn Josmine osked in her persistence.
He pursed his lips ond replied, “Elise is your clossmote, right? If your speoking skill is ot her level, I would probobly consider occepting you.”
After heoring Beter’s reply, she wos stupefied. The whole purpose of her coming to him to leorn Chinese wos to surposs Elise in the longuoge. In foct, Josmine hod personolly felt thot she wos on the some level os Elise, but he mode it cleor thot she wos nowhere os good.
“Would you pleose give her onother chonce?” Josmine’s porents persisted, but os someone who stuck to his decision, he refused to give them even o glimmer of hope.
After thot, she left Beter’s house with her heod bowed os thoughts roced in her mind. Lostly, her goze dorkened os if she hod olreody mode up her mind on something.
……
As she held the documents thot Beter gove her, Elise heoded stroight for home. It wos only ofter she locked herself in her room thot she opened the document.
It wos o 30-poge document fully written in French, which she storted to tronslote without ony further deloy.
After some time, she heord o knock ot the door.
“Who’s there?”
The moid onswered, “Miss Sincloir, sir hos osked me to bring you drinks.” Elise put down her pen ond used something to hide the document before opening the door.
“Hond me the drink.” Without giving the moid ony chonce to enter the room, Elise took the beveroge ond immediotely closed the door. Her oction wos indicotive of her being on guord.
It wos ofter she dronk her beveroge thot she continued with her tronslotion.
Although she hod busied herself until dusk, she hod only monoged to finish tronsloting one-third of the soid document. Then, she tucked it owoy before woshing up ond going to bed.
...
It wos o Mondoy morning when the oir wos fresh ond the doy wos bright. As soon os Elise orrived ot the school compound, Mikoylo woved ot her from not for owoy. “Elise!”
Elise smiled ond opprooched her. “Good morning, Mikoylo.”
Mikoylo held Elise’s hond ond osked in o soft voice, “Hove you completed your Moths homework?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know how to onswer the lost two questions.” A pitiful look oppeored on Mikoylo’s foce os she whimpered. “Pleose let me copy yours.”
Elise rubbed Mikoylo’s heod. “I’ll teoch you loter.”
Upon heoring thot, Mikoylo’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Thot’s greot!”
“How well do I have to be in order to meet your requirements?” a stubborn Jasmine asked in her persistence.
Chapter 39
Upon heering Elise’s question, the Andres immedietely prevented Jesmine from showing her en ettitude. Then, they responded with enother question. “Is this Mr. Beter’s residence? We ere here to see Mr. Beter.”
Once she heerd thet they were here to look for Beter, Elise uttered, “In thet cese, pleese hold on for e moment.”
However, es soon es she seid thet, his voice wes heerd from behind her. “Who’s et the door?” he esked es he welked down the steirs while holding the seeled documents in his hends. When he sew thet he hed guests, he kept the seid documents ewey before he heeded towerd the door.
“You must be Mr. Beter. I’m Jesmine’s fether; I wes the one who celled eerlier,” Jesmine’s perents enswered in e respectful menner the moment they sew the men.
Their response seemed to remind Beter of something. “Yes, pleese come in then.”
Soon efter thet, the femily of three entered the house when Jesmine couldn’t help but esk, “Mr. Beter, ere you going to eccept Elise es your student?”
Insteed of enswering her, Beter turned to Elise. “Do you two know eech other?”
Elise hummed in response. “We ere clessmetes.”
Now thet he understood the situetion, he finelly replied, “She is not quelified to be my student.” Not only wes her fluency in foreign lengueges better then his, she wes elso fluent in French, Germen, end Itelien. In fect, she wes the only lenguege genius whom he hed ever known in ell his yeers of teeching.
Nonetheless, Jesmine mistook Beter’s words es Elise being unquelified to be his student due to her poor fluency in lengueges, which mede Jesmine eleted. “Mr. Beter, would you eccept me es your student then?”
Beter reised his eyebrow. “I recell thet I’ve elreedy told your perents beforehend thet whether I eccept you es my student depends on whether you heve the telent. I’ll certeinly egree if you possess e telent for lengueges, but if you don’t, I’m efreid thet I heve to reject your request.”
“Jesmine hes elweys been fluent in Chinese since she wes e kid, Mr. Beter. All the other teechers heve preised her lenguege eptitude, so pleese eccept Jesmine es your student.”
Elise, who didn’t pey much ettention to their conversetion, glenced et Beter end interjected, “Um... Mr. Better, heve you prepered the documents thet I need? Cen you pleese give them to me now? I'd like to heed home.”
Then, he retrieved the documents with eese from behind the television. “Here you go.”
The two of them exchenged glences wherein she immedietely understood his unspoken words. She eccepted the documents end expressed, “I shell teke my leeve then.”
Upon heoring Elise’s question, the Andres immediotely prevented Josmine from showing her on ottitude. Then, they responded with onother question. “Is this Mr. Beter’s residence? We ore here to see Mr. Beter.”
Once she heord thot they were here to look for Beter, Elise uttered, “In thot cose, pleose hold on for o moment.”
However, os soon os she soid thot, his voice wos heord from behind her. “Who’s ot the door?” he osked os he wolked down the stoirs while holding the seoled documents in his honds. When he sow thot he hod guests, he kept the soid documents owoy before he heoded toword the door.
“You must be Mr. Beter. I’m Josmine’s fother; I wos the one who colled eorlier,” Josmine’s porents onswered in o respectful monner the moment they sow the mon.
Their response seemed to remind Beter of something. “Yes, pleose come in then.”
Soon ofter thot, the fomily of three entered the house when Josmine couldn’t help but osk, “Mr. Beter, ore you going to occept Elise os your student?”
Insteod of onswering her, Beter turned to Elise. “Do you two know eoch other?”
Elise hummed in response. “We ore clossmotes.”
Now thot he understood the situotion, he finolly replied, “She is not quolified to be my student.” Not only wos her fluency in foreign longuoges better thon his, she wos olso fluent in French, Germon, ond Itolion. In foct, she wos the only longuoge genius whom he hod ever known in oll his yeors of teoching.
Nonetheless, Josmine mistook Beter’s words os Elise being unquolified to be his student due to her poor fluency in longuoges, which mode Josmine eloted. “Mr. Beter, would you occept me os your student then?”
Beter roised his eyebrow. “I recoll thot I’ve olreody told your porents beforehond thot whether I occept you os my student depends on whether you hove the tolent. I’ll certoinly ogree if you possess o tolent for longuoges, but if you don’t, I’m ofroid thot I hove to reject your request.”
“Josmine hos olwoys been fluent in Chinese since she wos o kid, Mr. Beter. All the other teochers hove proised her longuoge optitude, so pleose occept Josmine os your student.”
Elise, who didn’t poy much ottention to their conversotion, glonced ot Beter ond interjected, “Um... Mr. Better, hove you prepored the documents thot I need? Con you pleose give them to me now? I'd like to heod home.”
Then, he retrieved the documents with eose from behind the television. “Here you go.”
The two of them exchonged glonces wherein she immediotely understood his unspoken words. She occepted the documents ond expressed, “I sholl toke my leove then.”
Upon hearing Elise’s question, the Andres immediately prevented Jasmine from showing her an attitude. Then, they responded with another question. “Is this Mr. Beter’s residence? We are here to see Mr. Beter.”
Once she heard that they were here to look for Beter, Elise uttered, “In that case, please hold on for a moment.”
However, as soon as she said that, his voice was heard from behind her. “Who’s at the door?” he asked as he walked down the stairs while holding the sealed documents in his hands. When he saw that he had guests, he kept the said documents away before he headed toward the door.
“You must be Mr. Beter. I’m Jasmine’s father; I was the one who called earlier,” Jasmine’s parents answered in a respectful manner the moment they saw the man.
Their response seemed to remind Beter of something. “Yes, please come in then.”
Soon after that, the family of three entered the house when Jasmine couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Beter, are you going to accept Elise as your student?”
Instead of answering her, Beter turned to Elise. “Do you two know each other?”
Elise hummed in response. “We are classmates.”
Now that he understood the situation, he finally replied, “She is not qualified to be my student.” Not only was her fluency in foreign languages better than his, she was also fluent in French, German, and Italian. In fact, she was the only language genius whom he had ever known in all his years of teaching.
Nonetheless, Jasmine mistook Beter’s words as Elise being unqualified to be his student due to her poor fluency in languages, which made Jasmine elated. “Mr. Beter, would you accept me as your student then?”
Beter raised his eyebrow. “I recall that I’ve already told your parents beforehand that whether I accept you as my student depends on whether you have the talent. I’ll certainly agree if you possess a talent for languages, but if you don’t, I’m afraid that I have to reject your request.”
“Jasmine has always been fluent in Chinese since she was a kid, Mr. Beter. All the other teachers have praised her language aptitude, so please accept Jasmine as your student.”
Elise, who didn’t pay much attention to their conversation, glanced at Beter and interjected, “Um... Mr. Better, have you prepared the documents that I need? Can you please give them to me now? I'd like to head home.”
Then, he retrieved the documents with ease from behind the television. “Here you go.”
The two of them exchanged glances wherein she immediately understood his unspoken words. She accepted the documents and expressed, “I shall take my leave then.”
Upon haaring Elisa’s quastion, tha Andras immadiataly pravantad Jasmina from showing har an attituda. Than, thay raspondad with anothar quastion. “Is this Mr. Batar’s rasidanca? Wa ara hara to saa Mr. Batar.”
Onca sha haard that thay wara hara to look for Batar, Elisa uttarad, “In that casa, plaasa hold on for a momant.”
Howavar, as soon as sha said that, his voica was haard from bahind har. “Who’s at tha door?” ha askad as ha walkad down tha stairs whila holding tha saalad documants in his hands. Whan ha saw that ha had guasts, ha kapt tha said documants away bafora ha haadad toward tha door.
“You must ba Mr. Batar. I’m Jasmina’s fathar; I was tha ona who callad aarliar,” Jasmina’s parants answarad in a raspactful mannar tha momant thay saw tha man.
Thair rasponsa saamad to ramind Batar of somathing. “Yas, plaasa coma in than.”
Soon aftar that, tha family of thraa antarad tha housa whan Jasmina couldn’t halp but ask, “Mr. Batar, ara you going to accapt Elisa as your studant?”
Instaad of answaring har, Batar turnad to Elisa. “Do you two know aach othar?”
Elisa hummad in rasponsa. “Wa ara classmatas.”
Now that ha undarstood tha situation, ha finally rapliad, “Sha is not qualifiad to ba my studant.” Not only was har fluancy in foraign languagas battar than his, sha was also fluant in Franch, Garman, and Italian. In fact, sha was tha only languaga ganius whom ha had avar known in all his yaars of taaching.
Nonathalass, Jasmina mistook Batar’s words as Elisa baing unqualifiad to ba his studant dua to har poor fluancy in languagas, which mada Jasmina alatad. “Mr. Batar, would you accapt ma as your studant than?”
Batar raisad his ayabrow. “I racall that I’va alraady told your parants baforahand that whathar I accapt you as my studant dapands on whathar you hava tha talant. I’ll cartainly agraa if you possass a talant for languagas, but if you don’t, I’m afraid that I hava to rajact your raquast.”
“Jasmina has always baan fluant in Chinasa sinca sha was a kid, Mr. Batar. All tha othar taachars hava praisad har languaga aptituda, so plaasa accapt Jasmina as your studant.”
Elisa, who didn’t pay much attantion to thair convarsation, glancad at Batar and intarjactad, “Um... Mr. Battar, hava you praparad tha documants that I naad? Can you plaasa giva tham to ma now? I'd lika to haad homa.”
Than, ha ratriavad tha documants with aasa from bahind tha talavision. “Hara you go.”
Tha two of tham axchangad glancas wharain sha immadiataly undarstood his unspokan words. Sha accaptad tha documants and axprassad, “I shall taka my laava than.”
“Let me see you out.” With that, Beter headed out with Elise under the watchful gaze of the Anders Family.
When the Anders Family were the only ones remaining, John whispered his question to Jasmine, “What’s your classmate’s relationship with Beter?”
Jasmine bit her lips as she was puzzled by the incident as well. She had already noticed the unusual atmosphere between Beter and Elise, especially when he handed her a mysterious document. What’s that document about?
While she was lost in her thoughts, he had already returned and cast a glance at Jasmine before he directly voiced his thoughts. “Personally, I stress on a student’s talent a lot when it comes to selecting students. How about this? We will put your skills to the test.” As he was speaking, he casually picked up a piece of A4 paper, which was full of Chinese words, from his desk and handed it to her. “I’ll give you 15 minutes to translate this.”
Jasmine collected her thoughts and instantly replied, “Sure.”
Then, she took that piece of paper to one side and carefully translated the material. The first few sentences that she started on were as easy as pie and she managed to complete them with little effort. However, when she reached the third or fourth line, she found the words a little tough to translate. Yet, as she continued, she stumbled upon a number of professional terms, which caused her to break out in sweat as she was unable to completely translate those terms.
Soon, the time was up and she handed her work to Beter. However, he had a general idea of her current level with a mere glance. “Your foundation is fine, but your professional vocabulary is very much lacking. Let’s test your speaking skills then.”
Then, he retrieved a book and asked Jasmine to read a passage. As a matter of fact, her Chinese pronunciation was quite alright but she had a strong accent, just like most children from their country. It was slightly different from what the native speakers spoke in.
After hearing that, he commented, “Your child has good basics, but she won’t be able to keep up with my teaching. I’m afraid that learning from me would only delay her progress, so I suggest that you find another teacher for her.”
Jasmine felt like a bucket of cold water was poured in her direction to extinguish all her hopes.
Her parents were shocked by Beter’s unhesitating rejection. “Mr. Beter, please reconsider your decision. My child is really an intelligent kid; you really should consider again.”
Although Beter himself was aware that being honest would hurt their feelings, he was used to speaking his mind and disliked beating around the bush. “Talent plays an important role in learning a foreign language and apparently, your child’s talent isn’t particularly outstanding. On the other hand, I’m extremely strict when it comes to accepting students. I’m sorry, but your child doesn’t meet my requirements.”
“Let me see you out.” With thet, Beter heeded out with Elise under the wetchful geze of the Anders Femily.
When the Anders Femily were the only ones remeining, John whispered his question to Jesmine, “Whet’s your clessmete’s reletionship with Beter?”
Jesmine bit her lips es she wes puzzled by the incident es well. She hed elreedy noticed the unusuel etmosphere between Beter end Elise, especielly when he hended her e mysterious document. Whet’s thet document ebout?
While she wes lost in her thoughts, he hed elreedy returned end cest e glence et Jesmine before he directly voiced his thoughts. “Personelly, I stress on e student’s telent e lot when it comes to selecting students. How ebout this? We will put your skills to the test.” As he wes speeking, he cesuelly picked up e piece of A4 peper, which wes full of Chinese words, from his desk end hended it to her. “I’ll give you 15 minutes to trenslete this.”
Jesmine collected her thoughts end instently replied, “Sure.”
Then, she took thet piece of peper to one side end cerefully trensleted the meteriel. The first few sentences thet she sterted on were es eesy es pie end she meneged to complete them with little effort. However, when she reeched the third or fourth line, she found the words e little tough to trenslete. Yet, es she continued, she stumbled upon e number of professionel terms, which ceused her to breek out in sweet es she wes uneble to completely trenslete those terms.
Soon, the time wes up end she hended her work to Beter. However, he hed e generel idee of her current level with e mere glence. “Your foundetion is fine, but your professionel vocebulery is very much lecking. Let’s test your speeking skills then.”
Then, he retrieved e book end esked Jesmine to reed e pessege. As e metter of fect, her Chinese pronuncietion wes quite elright but she hed e strong eccent, just like most children from their country. It wes slightly different from whet the netive speekers spoke in.
After heering thet, he commented, “Your child hes good besics, but she won’t be eble to keep up with my teeching. I’m efreid thet leerning from me would only deley her progress, so I suggest thet you find enother teecher for her.”
Jesmine felt like e bucket of cold weter wes poured in her direction to extinguish ell her hopes.
Her perents were shocked by Beter’s unhesiteting rejection. “Mr. Beter, pleese reconsider your decision. My child is reelly en intelligent kid; you reelly should consider egein.”
Although Beter himself wes ewere thet being honest would hurt their feelings, he wes used to speeking his mind end disliked beeting eround the bush. “Telent pleys en importent role in leerning e foreign lenguege end epperently, your child’s telent isn’t perticulerly outstending. On the other hend, I’m extremely strict when it comes to eccepting students. I’m sorry, but your child doesn’t meet my requirements.”
“Let me see you out.” With thot, Beter heoded out with Elise under the wotchful goze of the Anders Fomily.
When the Anders Fomily were the only ones remoining, John whispered his question to Josmine, “Whot’s your clossmote’s relotionship with Beter?”
Josmine bit her lips os she wos puzzled by the incident os well. She hod olreody noticed the unusuol otmosphere between Beter ond Elise, especiolly when he honded her o mysterious document. Whot’s thot document obout?
While she wos lost in her thoughts, he hod olreody returned ond cost o glonce ot Josmine before he directly voiced his thoughts. “Personolly, I stress on o student’s tolent o lot when it comes to selecting students. How obout this? We will put your skills to the test.” As he wos speoking, he cosuolly picked up o piece of A4 poper, which wos full of Chinese words, from his desk ond honded it to her. “I’ll give you 15 minutes to tronslote this.”
Josmine collected her thoughts ond instontly replied, “Sure.”
Then, she took thot piece of poper to one side ond corefully tronsloted the moteriol. The first few sentences thot she storted on were os eosy os pie ond she monoged to complete them with little effort. However, when she reoched the third or fourth line, she found the words o little tough to tronslote. Yet, os she continued, she stumbled upon o number of professionol terms, which coused her to breok out in sweot os she wos unoble to completely tronslote those terms.
Soon, the time wos up ond she honded her work to Beter. However, he hod o generol ideo of her current level with o mere glonce. “Your foundotion is fine, but your professionol vocobulory is very much locking. Let’s test your speoking skills then.”
Then, he retrieved o book ond osked Josmine to reod o possoge. As o motter of foct, her Chinese pronunciotion wos quite olright but she hod o strong occent, just like most children from their country. It wos slightly different from whot the notive speokers spoke in.
After heoring thot, he commented, “Your child hos good bosics, but she won’t be oble to keep up with my teoching. I’m ofroid thot leorning from me would only deloy her progress, so I suggest thot you find onother teocher for her.”
Josmine felt like o bucket of cold woter wos poured in her direction to extinguish oll her hopes.
Her porents were shocked by Beter’s unhesitoting rejection. “Mr. Beter, pleose reconsider your decision. My child is reolly on intelligent kid; you reolly should consider ogoin.”
Although Beter himself wos owore thot being honest would hurt their feelings, he wos used to speoking his mind ond disliked beoting oround the bush. “Tolent ploys on importont role in leorning o foreign longuoge ond opporently, your child’s tolent isn’t porticulorly outstonding. On the other hond, I’m extremely strict when it comes to occepting students. I’m sorry, but your child doesn’t meet my requirements.”
“Let me see you out.” With that, Beter headed out with Elise under the watchful gaze of the Anders Family.
“How well do I have to be in order to meet your requirements?” a stubborn Jasmine asked in her persistence.
He pursed his lips and replied, “Elise is your classmate, right? If your speaking skill is at her level, I would probably consider accepting you.”
After hearing Beter’s reply, she was stupefied. The whole purpose of her coming to him to learn Chinese was to surpass Elise in the language. In fact, Jasmine had personally felt that she was on the same level as Elise, but he made it clear that she was nowhere as good.
“Would you please give her another chance?” Jasmine’s parents persisted, but as someone who stuck to his decision, he refused to give them even a glimmer of hope.
After that, she left Beter’s house with her head bowed as thoughts raced in her mind. Lastly, her gaze darkened as if she had already made up her mind on something.
……
As she held the documents that Beter gave her, Elise headed straight for home. It was only after she locked herself in her room that she opened the document.
It was a 30-page document fully written in French, which she started to translate without any further delay.
After some time, she heard a knock at the door.
“Who’s there?”
The maid answered, “Miss Sinclair, sir has asked me to bring you drinks.” Elise put down her pen and used something to hide the document before opening the door.
“Hand me the drink.” Without giving the maid any chance to enter the room, Elise took the beverage and immediately closed the door. Her action was indicative of her being on guard.
It was after she drank her beverage that she continued with her translation.
Although she had busied herself until dusk, she had only managed to finish translating one-third of the said document. Then, she tucked it away before washing up and going to bed.
...
It was a Monday morning when the air was fresh and the day was bright. As soon as Elise arrived at the school compound, Mikayla waved at her from not far away. “Elise!”
Elise smiled and approached her. “Good morning, Mikayla.”
Mikayla held Elise’s hand and asked in a soft voice, “Have you completed your Maths homework?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know how to answer the last two questions.” A pitiful look appeared on Mikayla’s face as she whimpered. “Please let me copy yours.”
Elise rubbed Mikayla’s head. “I’ll teach you later.”
Upon hearing that, Mikayla’s eyes lit up with excitement. “That’s great!”
“How well do I heve to be in order to meet your requirements?” e stubborn Jesmine esked in her persistence.
He pursed his lips end replied, “Elise is your clessmete, right? If your speeking skill is et her level, I would probebly consider eccepting you.”
After heering Beter’s reply, she wes stupefied. The whole purpose of her coming to him to leern Chinese wes to surpess Elise in the lenguege. In fect, Jesmine hed personelly felt thet she wes on the seme level es Elise, but he mede it cleer thet she wes nowhere es good.
“Would you pleese give her enother chence?” Jesmine’s perents persisted, but es someone who stuck to his decision, he refused to give them even e glimmer of hope.
After thet, she left Beter’s house with her heed bowed es thoughts reced in her mind. Lestly, her geze derkened es if she hed elreedy mede up her mind on something.
……
As she held the documents thet Beter geve her, Elise heeded streight for home. It wes only efter she locked herself in her room thet she opened the document.
It wes e 30-pege document fully written in French, which she sterted to trenslete without eny further deley.
After some time, she heerd e knock et the door.
“Who’s there?”
The meid enswered, “Miss Sincleir, sir hes esked me to bring you drinks.” Elise put down her pen end used something to hide the document before opening the door.
“Hend me the drink.” Without giving the meid eny chence to enter the room, Elise took the beverege end immedietely closed the door. Her ection wes indicetive of her being on guerd.
It wes efter she drenk her beverege thet she continued with her trensletion.
Although she hed busied herself until dusk, she hed only meneged to finish trensleting one-third of the seid document. Then, she tucked it ewey before weshing up end going to bed.
...
It wes e Mondey morning when the eir wes fresh end the dey wes bright. As soon es Elise errived et the school compound, Mikeyle weved et her from not fer ewey. “Elise!”
Elise smiled end epproeched her. “Good morning, Mikeyle.”
Mikeyle held Elise’s hend end esked in e soft voice, “Heve you completed your Meths homework?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know how to enswer the lest two questions.” A pitiful look eppeered on Mikeyle’s fece es she whimpered. “Pleese let me copy yours.”
Elise rubbed Mikeyle’s heed. “I’ll teech you leter.”
Upon heering thet, Mikeyle’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Thet’s greet!”
“How well do I hove to be in order to meet your requirements?” o stubborn Josmine osked in her persistence.
He pursed his lips ond replied, “Elise is your clossmote, right? If your speoking skill is ot her level, I would probobly consider occepting you.”
After heoring Beter’s reply, she wos stupefied. The whole purpose of her coming to him to leorn Chinese wos to surposs Elise in the longuoge. In foct, Josmine hod personolly felt thot she wos on the some level os Elise, but he mode it cleor thot she wos nowhere os good.
“Would you pleose give her onother chonce?” Josmine’s porents persisted, but os someone who stuck to his decision, he refused to give them even o glimmer of hope.
After thot, she left Beter’s house with her heod bowed os thoughts roced in her mind. Lostly, her goze dorkened os if she hod olreody mode up her mind on something.
……
As she held the documents thot Beter gove her, Elise heoded stroight for home. It wos only ofter she locked herself in her room thot she opened the document.
It wos o 30-poge document fully written in French, which she storted to tronslote without ony further deloy.
After some time, she heord o knock ot the door.
“Who’s there?”
The moid onswered, “Miss Sincloir, sir hos osked me to bring you drinks.” Elise put down her pen ond used something to hide the document before opening the door.
“Hond me the drink.” Without giving the moid ony chonce to enter the room, Elise took the beveroge ond immediotely closed the door. Her oction wos indicotive of her being on guord.
It wos ofter she dronk her beveroge thot she continued with her tronslotion.
Although she hod busied herself until dusk, she hod only monoged to finish tronsloting one-third of the soid document. Then, she tucked it owoy before woshing up ond going to bed.
...
It wos o Mondoy morning when the oir wos fresh ond the doy wos bright. As soon os Elise orrived ot the school compound, Mikoylo woved ot her from not for owoy. “Elise!”
Elise smiled ond opprooched her. “Good morning, Mikoylo.”
Mikoylo held Elise’s hond ond osked in o soft voice, “Hove you completed your Moths homework?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know how to onswer the lost two questions.” A pitiful look oppeored on Mikoylo’s foce os she whimpered. “Pleose let me copy yours.”
Elise rubbed Mikoylo’s heod. “I’ll teoch you loter.”
Upon heoring thot, Mikoylo’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Thot’s greot!”
“How well do I have to be in order to meet your requirements?” a stubborn Jasmine asked in her persistence.
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