CHAPTER SIX

“The demand affects the supply and that is why…” Jared droned off. Since 9am that I’d been in the class, the ladies behind me wouldn’t shut up and I could barely hear a word he’d been saying.

“I think he just looked at me.” One of them giggled.

“I think so too.” I looked to the back and set a glare on both of them.

“Can you guys please keep quiet?” Their faces turned menacing.

“What is going on?” I cringed in embarrassment as Jared’s voice reached my ears.

“Nothing.” I muttered. His eyes narrowed at me.

“You can’t disturb my class and not explain why.” My face tinged red in anger. I wanted to chuck something at his head. The girls behind me snickered in derision.

“I’m sorry sir.” He paid me no mind as we continued the class. Every single second I spent in Jared’s class only made me hate him more.

He was as difficult as he looked. I was stupid for thinking just because we’d met before, he’d be lenient with me.

“I fucking hate him.” Matt chuckled beside me as we returned from his office. He had loaded us with assignments for the week and he had given a deadline for the submission.

“He’s not that bad.” Matt and I had formed the routine of leaving school premises together whenever we had Jared’s classes last.

“I heard the course is tough too.”

“Yeah but I think he’s different. He seems to know what he’s doing.” He did but I didn’t want to admit it. I paused in my steps as I looked at the road. We’d reached the point where we usually parted.

“Whatever. I’ll see you later.” He waved his hands and left.

I needed a break. I picked up my phone and called Becka. It was the fastest she’d ever picked up her phone.

“GIRL!!!!!” I pulled the phone away from my ears.

“Why are you yelling?”

“I AM?” I rubbed my ears.

“Where are you?” She was either drunk or high.

“Come meet me at Colson’s.” or at the club.

Colson’s was a very popular bar off campus and it was quite easy to find. I quickly went to my hostel to change into appropriate clothing.

I flagged down a cab and easily found my way there. It was packed. Friday night. I wasn’t too surprised.

Becka was just outside, flirting with the bouncer who had his eyes lustfully on her. If I swung that way, I’d be all over her too. She looked damn sexy in a black lace top, short shorts and knee high boots. Her hair was now a different colour, neon green. I didn’t think anyone could rock green and look as good as Becka did.

I whistled as I approached her, grabbing her attention. She pulled up a very huge smile on recognising me.

“Leaaah!” She pulled me in for a huge smooch on my cheek.

“I’ve missed you so much.” We hadn’t seen each other for weeks. I’d missed her too.

She winked at the bouncer who let us in without even proper identification. All he knew was he was probably getting laid tonight.

“He’s fiiine.” Becka yelled in my ears as the bar noise took over, turning our voices muffled.

“I know.” I smirked at her and we made our way to the bar.

“Tequila Sunrise Margarita for me and…” she looked to me for an answer.

“Shirley temple please.” I smiled at the bar man who didn’t return the smile. Oh well.

“Nope. You need something fun.” She tapped my wrist, thinking of something I could drink.

“Uh, a Shirley Temple is fine.” I rolled my eyes at her. I looked around for someone who I thought would’ve accompanied her to the club.

“Where’s Juan?” She threw me a disgusted look.

“What? I thought you guys were pretty serious.”

“Ew! No. He’s so not my type.”

“Then what the fuck were you guys doing then?”

“Oh, poor Leah…” I rolled my eyes at her and accepted my drink from the bartender.

“You just fuck around with people for fun.”

“Is he aware of that?” She looked at me weirdly and snorted loud.

I hated when she did that. Like I was some little kid who didn’t know how life worked and hadn’t experienced much. She wasn’t really wrong but I hated it all the same.

“He’s probably fucking some skank as we speak.” Becka’s relationships with people were always complicated. I guess consenting ‘adultism’ made up for a lot of things that would have been tagged improper by the world.

“We’re here to have fun, not talk about Juan. It’s a fucking Friday night. Lets unwind.” She dragged me into the sea of gyrating bodies and moved us around so we were facing each other.

“God I love this song.” I looked at her and then at those who were getting hyped up because of the song.

While Despacito was a nice song, I didn’t think it was that great a bop, especially for clubbing. I still continued dancing with her either way.

Like a moth to a flame, some guys had move closer to us and she was already grinding one of them. I felt one behind me. I had never had a guy dance behind me before so it felt weird.

I looked at Becka, 'my life coach', and saw she enjoyed it. Maybe I would too if I relaxed. So, I followed her steps and closed my eyes. Trying to get lost in the music and enjoying it.

My eyes flew open immediately hands gripped my waist and I was pulled flush against a body. I looked up to see a tall guy smiling down at me.

He was good looking and he could dance. Becka’s eyes were open and she gave me a go ahead when she noticed the look of apprehension in my eyes. It wasn’t like I was going home with him.

‘It’s just dancing.’ I said to myself and started swaying my hips to the beat of the music. I let myself loose. I needed a break. Anything to keep the monsters at bay.

I turned to face him and wrapped my hands around his neck. Maybe it was the lighting, maybe it was the music, but I felt encouraged to kiss him. Sensing my willingness, he brought his lips to mine and we kissed.

“Ugh...too much tongue.” Becka laughed as we tried to walk back to campus. Cabs were scarce around 12am and the distance was not so long when you had someone to talk to, shoes in hand.

“But he looked so fine though. Who’d have thunk?”

I wiped my mouth like he could still feel his slobber all over my lips.

“The bouncer didn’t look to happy that you left him high and dry. That was some nasty case of blue balls.”

The man had pursued us when Becka had flipped him the middle finger as we were leaving. She was such a devil. Both of us cackled a laugh as we inched closer to the dorm.

“How’s your mum though? Haven’t heard much about her lately.” My skin pricked with fear and my mouth tasted like gunk. I forced a smile.

“She’s okay. She asked of you a couple days ago when she called to check up me.” My lie felt too hard to swallow.

“Oh, well tell her I said hi and I would call her soon.” Sweat accumulated on my back and dripped to my waist even with the cold air. Late October and the wind kept getting colder.

“She might be unreachable for a while. She’s going through some… uh…”

“Some treatment.” I couldn’t tell her the truth. I didn’t want to give her more reason to pity me but more importantly, I didn’t want to explain how she’d died.

“Oh…” She trailed off. If she sensed something weird about my story, she didn’t say anything about it. Both are parents were touchy subjects for us.

“Yeah.” I looked to the sky. The stars were bright and shining. Not a care or worry in sight. They just knew to appear for the night and disappear for the day.

“When can I come see your place?” I looked at Becka who seemed uncomfortable. Did she not want me at her place?

“I have to go. I’ll see you later.” She didn’t wait for a reply and just dashed out of sight.

Had I said something wrong?

I pulled out my phone and continued to walk back. The distance wasn’t so far.

“Don’t forget to submit Jared’s assignment today.” My phone chimed. I had tried to prevent altercations with him since everytime we conversed, I’d always managed to make a fool of myself.

In order to do that, I’d set up alarms, Matt being one, to remind me of the assignments so I wouldn’t miss the deadline.

“Ugh, I’d totally forgotten. Thanks for reminding me.”

Matt texted back.

“You’re welcome. I’ve sent his office contact so it’ll be more easier to communicate with him. He has yours too.”

I rolled my eyes. I didn’t want to have any business conversing with him. All I wanted was to do my duties just like any other class rep. I saved the number regardless as ASSHOLE1. Why the 1 if you asked me, it just felt appropriate.

“Yeah. Just incase my phone rings beside you and you see something along the lines of asshole, just know its Jared.” and I hit send without looking at the contact I’d sent it to.

Almost immediately, I got a reply. Matt was a night owl, just like me. I looked at the phone and blood drained from my face.

“Excuse me?” - From ASSHOLE1