Bloomington

Chapter two : morning after mess

**Chapter Two: Morning After Mess**

Once she slept off, Odessa snuck out without making any sound. This is around 3 in the morning. She trekked back to her campus cause it wasn’t that far and no transportation was available. Streetlights buzz faint, feet dragging tired on cold pavement, mind spinning wild but body too wrecked to care. She got home and gently smuggled into her bed and slept off immediately—even though her thoughts was over the place, but she is so tired to process anything.

Morning reaches. Raya and Cecilia are now preparing for class. She have no choice than to wake up cause the noise was much—pots clanging, laughs sharp. She took her bath and brushed her teeth and took some pills for the hangover and drank two 1 litre of water and ate some cereal. Stomach settles uneasy. Now went to class. Apparently the class is 8 o’clock class, but she got to her class around 8:23.

And the professor Sophie has this rule on not letting anyone in once she is in the class. Boom—they eyes jammed. Professor Sophie is indeed her woman. The lady she just finished hooking up with yesterday night. Both were speechless. Sophie’s gaze sharp under glasses, lips parting slight like recognition hits slow. Odessa’s heart drops cold. Sophie play it cool by looking elsewhere, why trying to explain stuff to her students—voice steady, chalk scratching board, but her fingers grip tighter.

Odessa is out of air. No time to process s**t now. She keep repeating f**k f**k f**k in her head, palms sweaty on door handle. Sophie’s eyes flick back. “Are you in my class?”

She said yes ma.

Sophie asked, what’s your name?

Odessa looked at her—those same eyes from last night, now behind a desk—and went with the flow. “Oh my name is Odessa.”

“Oh... Odessa,” she said, slow, like tasting it. “Why are you coming late to my class?”

“I... I...” Odessa stammer, words sticking throat.

“That’s what I thought as much. Come inside... and don’t ever come late to my classes.”

Odessa entered while everyone is still trying to process the fact that she let her in just like that. Whispers ripple back row. Class went on while Odessa is losing it—notes blurring, Sophie’s voice droning law terms, every glance a spark that burns.

Class end and everyone is rushing outside while she sat there like someone that just saw a ghost.

“Odessa,” Sophie called, calm but firm. “Can I see you in my office?”

Odessa—you bet. Heart slamming. They went to the office—hallway endless, door clicks shut heavy.

Odessa trying to catch her breath. Sophie said, “Why didn’t you wake me up when you wanted to leave?”

Odessa was like, is that what you’re more bothered at?

“Yes,” Sophie said. “What if thief got inside? What will you say then?”

Odessa said, ok first thief didn’t get in, and two you look so peaceful while sleeping and I didn’t want to bother you, and three... you are my professor. f**k, she exclaimed.

“Yeah,” Sophie said while smiling—slow curve, eyes warming like last night.

“What’s funny?”

“Nothing. Is just... you are turning me on, that’s all.”

“Jesus Christ,” Odessa said. Ain’t you worried of this getting out?

Sophie stood up and said, hey look at me. No one should find out, do you hear me? This school is my family reputation. Something like this will ruin it. So don’t tell anyone... or else you want to be expelled.

“Are you threatening me?” Odessa asked.

“No, just taking precaution, that’s all.

Odessa left the office with anger—chest tight, steps stomping hall. She called Henry immediately. “Where are you?”

Henry: “Hmmmmm... Odessa?”

He said, yes is me, and where are you? I have gist for you.

“At my dorm,” Henry replied.

“Oh come out. You know girls ain’t allowed.”

“Don’t worry, come over. Is private lodge, so those rules are not applied here. Give me your address.”

Odessa knocked. Henry opened up. “Hi girl,” he said.

“Hi boo,” Odessa said, why are you breathing like goat?

Henry asked, oh you won’t believe what happened yesterday night... and this morning.

“Oh let me guess—you guys f****d and also f****d this morning? That’s like bonus of one night stand there boo.”

Odessa replied with yes and no. “I left before the bonus, I guess. And you know I have lecture this morning.”

Henry was like, I don’t—in a sarcastic manner.

“Yeah I do,” she said. “But the professor happened to be my one night stand.”

Henry screamed so loud. “Wtf! Is that how? How are you doing?”

Odessa: “I don’t know. Apparently this school is owned by her family, and she have threatened to expel me if I say s**t to anyone. So yeah, you’re not allowed to say s**t to anyone... or else I will be gone forever.”

“Omg,” Henry said. “This is so messed up.”

“Tell me about it,” she said. “I need smoke. Do you have?”

“Yeah of course.” He opened up his safe and hand the smoke over to Odessa.

While smoking she lamented and said, I’m never f*****g her again.

“I’m so sorry boo,” Henry said.

Before she could know what’s happening, she dozed off.