LOVE POTION by Joseph Otobo

ONE

"Stand up, Miss Hernandez." I rolled my eyes in the air when Abby the Chubby called me.

He is our professor who is very angry with me. Because I'm always cutting on her subject so because of that, I'm always called in recitation.

"Miss," I said as I stood up.

"What is Phile?" she asked me. My classmates just winced at her question.

She likes to ask questions even if they are not related to her subject. Then if you can't answer her, you will be out to the class.

I cleared my throat. "Phile is defined as someone who likes, loves or is attracted to something," I replied.

She nodded. "What is Anthophile?"

I thought for a moment.

"A lover of flower or someone who appreciates flowers," I answered.

"What is Ceraunophile?" she asked again.

"A person who loves thunder and lightning," I replied.

She raised her brows. "What do you call a person who loves to drink coffee?"

"Javaphile?" I answered, brows are furrowed because I'm not sure.

"Correct! Next time asnwer me surely!" she sarcastically said.

I nodded.

I was about to sit down when she pointed at me again.

"I didn't tell you to sit down!"

You're not even saying I still need to stand.

"Okay," was my only answer.

"What is Pluviophile?"

"A lover of rain or someone who finds joy and ... Peace of mind during rainy days ..."

"Good. What is Chinophile?"

"A person ... Who loves cold weather, snow," I replied, not sure.

She nodded again and took a walk. "What do you call a person who likes to nibble a woman's earlobe?"

“G-gynotikolobom-massophile,” I stammered.

"Good. Sit down."

I heaved a deep sigh of relief as I sat down. She even asked my other classmates who had no connection to her subject.

"Dismiss!" Miss Abby announced. My classmates shouted in joy. After Abby the Chubby came out, they talked about her.

"That teacher is really annoying! She's asking questions that aren't related to her subject!"

"And when you can't answer it, she's getting mad at you, fool!"

I rolled my eyes and left the room. I don't have a schedule of two hours so I'll hang out first.

I also have a long vacant time so I'm going to the garden, which is my favorite place here in school.

I have no friends so I am always alone. I am not friendly and I also have no intention of being friendly. It's better to be alone than to have a lot of plastic friends. And also, that's why I don't have any friends because they said I'm look rude.

Like duh! I don't have a bad attitude, sometimes I can real talk them so they're calling me a bitch. Grr.

"You asshole!"

I stopped thinking when I heard someone shout. I looked at the my left side. I saw a woman, she is being surrounded by five women.

I could see the fear in her eyes. I rolled my ehes in the air. That's why I hate weak people. They can't defend themselves.

I stood up and approached them. "Stay away from her," I said calmly causing them to look at me.

"Why do you care, huh?" the clown -looking woman pointed at me.

I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Do you want to be expelled from this school? Aren't you bullying her?" I shouted.

The girl seemed scared of what I was saying so she ran fast with her bully friends.

"Thank you."

I looked at the woman who spoke. She is beautiful, she has a tan skin.

We have the same height, I think.

I ignored her, I went back to the bench I was sitting on earlier. I was sitting under the mango tree.

"They say you're a bitch, but I don't think so," the woman commented and sat down next to me.

"I'm Via Cruz. Thank you for saving me, Hira Hernandez," she said smiling.

"You know me, huh?" I smirked.

She nodded while smiling. "Yup! There's no one who doesn't know you here at school," she replied.

I nodded. "Yeah, right."

"Are you cutting?"

I looked at her because of her question.

"Nah. 2 hours vacant, you?"

"Just the same. You were good at recitation earlier!" she added excitedly so my eyes widened.

"How did you know?"

"We're blockmates," she replied.

"Ah ... You're not familiar," I answered sparingly.

"You don't care about your blockmates so I won't be surprised." She shrugged.

"Whatever. Why do those women mad at you?” I asked curiously.

Via doesn't look quarrelsome so it's just weird.

"Ah… that? I reported them to the principal that they cheated in exam." She speak soft and quietly so I guess, she's shy.

"Why don't you fight back? Look at you, you're being bullied," I winced at her.

She chuckled. “No need. I don't want a fight."

I shrugged. "It's up to you."

She said something else but I didn't listen when I saw my inspiration in life.

Cynade Gutierrez, the man I love so much. But sadly, he didn't care to me. He always ignored me. But it's okay. I knew I could get him someday

Not now, but soon.