Two days after the birthday party, my phone rang. It was a number I didn't know. I hesitated before picking up. "Please, who is this?" I asked.
The voice on the other end said, "It's Jordan. From school. From the birthday."
My heart jumped. I sat up immediately. I didn't expect him to call. He didn't give me his number that day, he just collected mine. I swallowed hard, trying to sound calm.
He asked if I had anywhere to go that night because he felt like hanging out with someone.
"Why me?" I asked in my mind.
But I said yes. Yes, I had time. Yes, I would go.
I was excited but also deeply worried. Happy for the call, yes. But afraid of stepping out with someone like Jordan. Our physical appearance didn't match. He was good-looking, wealthy, and admired. I was… me. The girl no one loved.
I looked in the mirror and sighed. My heart was saying, "Go, this is what you've always wanted!" But my head was warning me. What if his friends saw me and laughed? What if I embarrassed him?
A wild thought came to me: I could use my witchcraft to make myself beautiful, just for that evening. I could cast a small spell, just enough to change how people saw me. It would be like putting on makeup, but deeper, magical. They would see beauty where there was none.
But as the idea formed in my mind, I heard my grandmother Menila's voice.
"Do not use your powers for selfish desires. Use them only when you are in trouble. Be a good witch."
Her words were firm, and they always came when I needed guidance. She had passed the powers to me, but with warnings. She trusted me to do right. That evening, I was not in trouble. I was just an insecure girl hoping to be loved.
So I decided to go as I was. No spells. No magic. Just me.
But the worry didn't leave. I imagined his friends mocking me. I thought of the one who said I should strip with my ass, not my face. I imagined them whispering behind Jordan's back. I wanted to cancel, but my heart wouldn't let me.
Even then, a small part of me considered casting a charm on Jordan's friend to make him say something nice about me. I could make it happen. But again, I stopped myself. No. Everything must be natural.
"Be patient," my grandmother used to say. "One day, your powers will save lives. But for now, learn to live without them."
That evening, I dressed in my best gown. I ironed it well and wore my cleanest sandals. I tied my hair in a scarf and added a small touch of lip gloss. Nothing changed how I looked, but at least I was neat.
Jordan met me near the school gate. To my surprise, he was alone. None of his flashy friends were with him. He smiled when he saw me.
"You look nice," he said.
"Thank you," I replied, feeling shy.
We went to a quiet restaurant not far from school. It was small but clean. We sat by the window, and I kept looking at my reflection in the glass. My big nose. My unshaped eyebrows. My rough skin.
But Jordan just looked at me. Really looked.
He leaned forward and said, "I like your nose. It looks artistic."
I laughed. It was the first time someone said something nice about my nose. Most people mocked it. But he said it in a way that felt real. Honest. Not like a flirt. Not like a joke.
Then he said, "Since the day I saw you at the clinic and then at my birthday, I haven't stopped thinking about you."
I was shocked. I stared at him, waiting for him to laugh or say "Just kidding." But he didn't.
I smiled, but even my smile felt ugly. I always thought my smile was crooked, not sweet like Dora's or graceful like Flenra's. But Jordan kept talking.
He asked about my studies. I told him I was doing well. He asked where I lived, and I told him about my small hostel room and my two roommates.
We talked about music, about how I didn't like parties. I told him I liked quiet places and late-night walks. He listened. He even asked what I wanted to do after school. No one ever asked me that.
After the meal, we walked outside. The night was cool. The sky was full of stars. I was silent, just enjoying the moment.
Then I turned to him and asked, "Are you serious about what you said?"
He looked at me with calm eyes. "Yes. I love you, Loveth. I would like to know you better."
I nodded. I didn't know what else to say.
He smiled and said, "I'll see you tomorrow."
Then he waved and walked away.
I stood there for a long time. My heart was full. Was this how it felt to be noticed? To be wanted?
That night, I didn't sleep. I lay on my bed, thinking of his words. I didn't use magic. And still, he saw me.
The next morning, Jordan called me to check up. His voice sounded so calm and gentle over the phone, it made my heart skip. "Good morning, Loveth," he said. "I just wanted to wish you a beautiful day ahead. How was your night?"
I was shocked. For a second, I couldn't even respond. I stood in front of the mirror, phone in hand, just staring at myself. It felt like a dream. How could someone like Jordan, the boy every girl wanted, be checking on me? I mumbled back, trying to sound normal, "Good morning. My night was fine. Yours?"
"It was okay," he replied, then added, "Are you going to be in school today? What time?"
"Yes... I should be there around ten," I answered. He told me he might see me around, and we ended the call. As soon as I dropped the call, I screamed.
I screamed again, then danced around my small room like a mad person. My heart was beating so fast. I felt something I had never felt before, joy mixed with fear. I quickly called Dora.
"Hello Dora! You won't believe what happened!"
"What again?" she asked, her voice laced with sleep.
"Jordan just called me. He said good morning and asked what time I'll be in school!"
There was a short silence, then she screamed, "What?! Are you serious?"
"Yes! I'm still shaking. He sounded so sweet," I said, sitting on the edge of my bed.
"Loveth, be careful," she warned quickly. "I hope you're not taking this too seriously yet. You know what people say about Jordan."
"What do they say?"
"You know now. That he and his friends like playing with girls' hearts. They just want to have fun, not something serious."
I sighed. "But Dora, he was so gentle. And he didn't even flirt with me. He said he has liked me since the clinic."
"That's how it starts, my dear. Just protect your fragile heart. You know you don't fall in love easily, and when you do, it's deep. Don't let this end in tears."
"Thanks," I said quietly. After I dropped the call, I rang Flenra too.
"Guess what?" "Jordan again?" she asked with a laugh.
"Yes! He called me this morning."
"Wow, baby girl. That's big. But you have to be careful. Don't forget the last girl that cried over his friend. It was messy."
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "I know. Dora already warned me. I'm just confused. He sounds sincere."
"That doesn't mean anything," Flenra replied. "Some boys can say what you want to hear. Use your head, Loveth. And remember, we love you. We don't want your heart broken."
Their words stayed in my head. I couldn't brush them off. I wanted to believe Jordan was different with me, that he saw something special. But a part of me feared the worst.
Still, my heart fluttered anytime I remembered his voice that morning. No one had ever spoken to me like that.
So, I got up, dressed carefully for school, and tried to push away the confusion in my chest. I wasn't sure if this was the beginning of something magical or a painful lesson waiting to happen.