Page 17 of Fervency Love

“I’m on my way to school.”

“Really? I’ve never seen you here at this time.”

“Uhh, no, we just never ran into each other.”

“Maybe. So, you’re going to school? Which one?”

“ONC.”

I ask him a couple more questions, thinking about the weird feeling of pleasure this unexpected conversation brings. Or maybe it’s his presence. Anyway, when we reach the bus stop, my bus is approaching. To my surprise, he gets on it too. Right, eleven-eleven goes to the ONC too.

Startled, I conclude that I really like hearing his voice. It’s different from those I’ve known before. Erotic in and of itself. It sounds like the sweetest melody. I feel an unpleasant emptiness when the time comes for me to leave the bus.

“Bye, Ve. This is my stop. Have a nice day!”

I can’t focus during class. My thoughts keep going back to Ve.

“Hey, where are you? What’s going on with you?” I hear Nikki asking.

“Oh… I’m just thinking… I haven’t told you, but I met this boy recently.”

“Yeeeah?” Nikki stretches the sound on purpose, telling me I have her undivided attention.

“It was nothing, really. You know, I still liked Matt back then. It’s that guy whose friends were pissing me off.”

“You met the guy who sent his buddies after you?”

“Yeah, him. Can you believe it? What a kid.”

“Well, duh! What’s his name?” She turns my way and leans on an elbow, propping her head on her hand.

“I don’t actually know.”

“What do you mean?”

“He introduced himself as Ve.”

“Fucking hell!” she mouths and shrieks soundlessly.

“What?” I can see the shock on her face.

“That Ve?”

“That? Which one? What are you talking about?” What indeed?

“Elsa said she was really into that guy who goes by Ve. Lives near you. A bad boy. Half of the projects have a crush on him. I heard he’s handsome as hell.”

“I wouldn’t know about that. He has nice eyes and a super sexy voice.”

“Ooooh!”

“Nikki!” the professor cuts in. “Be a dear and repeat what we were talking about just now.”

Nikki gets up and repeats word for word, which makes the teacher visibly taken aback.

“Alright then, stop the chitchat. I feel left out.”

“Sorry, professor.”

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