Interesting take

The partner smiled at Alex.

“Straight to the point are we?” they said with a small smile.

The teacher eventually calls out for everyone to switch partners. The partners greet each other goodbyes.

“Nice knowing you, Alex. Let’s talk more later.”

And indeed did you talk later on. Somehow, that short conversation grew into something bigger. Now the first individual interaction has become a trusted friend.

The end.

Thanks to being careful of your words, thus eliminating cognitive bias; and because of that, Alex made a friend!