Teach Me, Love (1.5)

02. Despise me, Princess

B L A K E - J O H N S T O N

It was a real struggle with my facial features not to let a smirk stretch my lips. Bianca was sitting in a corner at the back of the classroom, with her friend by her side. Her eyes were slightly wide, which only increased my satisfaction.

She had abandoned her huge afro for a chignon, and of course her lips were still covered with a copious layer of lip gloss. Her smooth skin was glistening, literally. She tried in vain to turn her face away, but my rather insistent gaze forced her to look at me from time to time.

Since I'm here, why not annoy her more?

─ I think we should start this day with introductions, I began, looking at the instructions the principal had given me a few days ago.

I'm still surprised to have got a job at this school in such a short time. The principal had told me that there was a big shortage of language teachers. I was a godsend for him.

─ Let's start at the back. The girl in the back, I called out to Bianca as her girlfriend pointed at herself.

─ Me? she then said.

─ No, the girl next to you, I replied as Bianca looked up, I promise her look turned into one of torment for a moment. Yes, you, get up and tell us three things about yourself and three things you did during the holidays, I continued as a sinister smile stretched my lips.

She remained motionless for a moment, and I could already tell that her brain was burning with insults that she would love to spit in my face. She finally got up, with a slowness that I had to admit irritated me a little.

─ My name is Bianca Mavoungou, she introduced herself as mocking giggles rang out at her last name.

I signalled to the class to be quiet, luckily for them, they got the message and fell silent immediately.

─ My name is Bianca, I'm eighteen.

─ Go on, I said insistently.

─ I like singing, baking, and reading books.

─ Good, and what did you do during the holiday, I continued as she glared at me murderously, only fanning my sense of glory.

─ I went to Greece, visited museums and went to bars.

I nodded and readjusted myself more comfortably in my seat.

─ Bars, eh? You know, in America under 21s aren't allowed alcohol. If you've gone to a bar it must be to drink, right? Tell us Bianca, what did you do in those bars?

She glared at me, inhaling in exasperation.

─ I sang, she replied as I nodded.

─ Fine, you can sit back down, thank you.

She obeyed my order and I pointed to another student to introduce himself, I did the same with the rest of the class. Of course, I wasn't listening to a word they were saying. I stopped paying attention to the students in this class as soon as I caught sight of Bianca.

Once the introductions were over, I took another look at the list of things I had to announce to my class today.

─ So, I began, continuing to look at the list, I see here that the elections for class delegate will start tomorrow. Does anyone want to stand?

Two hands went up before I'd even finished my sentence. Bianca and another girl.

─ Bianca and...