"Do you believe in soul mates?"

There are two rumors going around in SDV University about Mr. John Paul Nieves, the Philosophy teacher. First is the one about him being gay and his relationship with Mr. Sky De Vera, the first son of the current University President and Cloud's older brother.

In all honesty, Poll doesn't find it any bit interesting. What's so cool about gossiping about others' preferences and relationships? So their professors are gays and together, big deal; it is not like straight people are being talked about just because they're straight.

No, Poll can never see the appeal of such boring topics and he'd be more thrilled to talk about supernatural beings. That is why he is more curious about the second rumor about his Philosophy professor. He wants to know if it is true that Mr. John Paul Nieves—or Mr. JP as he is more commonly known—came from a family of psychics and can see spirits and ghosts. How much of it is true and how much of it is fabricated?

Now listening to the said professor lecture about abstract things like soul mates, Poll thinks that the paranormal story about him may not be far off the mark.

"It is said that soul mates are bound to each other and that causes them to cross paths even if they don't like to, even how much they try to avoid it."

Poll frowns, remembering someone whom he often has an encounter with despite how that someone is dead set on avoiding him recently. Sure, he has been wondering why they always have to run into each other, but to place it on the idea of them being soul mates is plain ridiculous. Anyway, Poll doesn't believe in soul mates. That is something that exists only in movies and animes.

"Like fate, Sir?" One of his female classmates asks. It's the same woman who admitted to having a crush on Eujae, Poll notes.

Smiling, their professor answers, "Exactly. Soul mates are connected by fate."

Poll turns to look out at the window, the creases in between his brows remain as well as the thought about a certain jerk. "Must be an evil fate then," he mumbles, talking more to himself.

It is either Mr. Nieves has a sharp hearing or Poll wasn't as quiet as he intended to be that the professor looks at his student curiously. "What made you say that, Apollo?" One thing to note about the Philosophy teacher is that he can easily create a relaxed classroom environment by treating his students as his equals. He talks to them as though they are his friends and calls them by their first names, instead of the usual honorific and surname. But for someone like Poll who hates his full name, he'd rather be called by his last name.

Poll returns his attention to the lecture, momentarily confused by his professor's question. It hits him after a few seconds, and he smiles at the older man, embarrassed. "No, I was just thinking Mr. Nieves–"

"You can call me JP."

Poll blinks. "Oh," he says after another short pause. "Oh, yes, Sir. Mr. JP, but only if you call me Poll too."

Chuckling, the professor answers, "Of course. Okay, so you were saying, Poll?"

"I was just thinking, Sir, you said that soul mates will meet each other no matter how much they try to avoid it because they are bound by fate." He makes a disgusted expression, thinking about his next words. "But what if you always run into someone you hate? Are archnemeses connected by something too? Do you call it evil fate then?"

At the sound of the whole class laughing, Poll pouts. He doesn't see anything funny about it; his questions weren't even meant to be a joke.

To his relief, their professor seems to understand that he is being serious. Once the students are quiet again, Mr. JP hums thoughtfully. "So you're saying there's someone you're considering as your nemesis and you often run across them."

"No, it's not about me!" As soon as the words tumble out of his mouth, Poll wants to immediately take them back. He realizes he might as well be giving himself away with the reaction. His denial came out too strong to be convincing.

There is a chuckle beside him, and Poll turns to glare at Nick, only to notice that even Lia is wearing a knowing smile. Poll groans internally. Some friends they are.

Looking back at their professor, Poll carries on with the lie, "I mean, hypothetically, Sir."

Poll is thankful when Mr. JP chooses not to probe any further. When the older man looks straight ahead and addresses the whole class, Poll takes it as the professor ending their conversation. He thinks his concern is being dismissed, but then Mr. JP asks, "Do you know what the opposite of love is, class?"

The class gives a collective answer. "It's hate, Sir."

"A common misconception."

There is a brief silence before voices start to buzz. Amid the confused murmurs, a sweet voice stands out, "It's indifference, right, Sir?"

"That's right, Lia." Their professor grins. "Love is when you care about someone, and the opposite of caring is not to care. Not giving care means being indifferent. That's why the opposite of love is indifference."

Among Poll's female classmates, someone asks, "If the opposite of love is indifference, Sir, then what about hate?"

"Hate is just another form of caring." With a telling smile, Mr. JP looks at Poll again. As if to address the younger man's earlier concern, he continues explaining, "If you say you hate someone, it only means you're mad at them but you still care. And to give a simple answer to all your questions earlier, Poll, someone you hate can be your soul mate too. Even if you think they're the bane of your existence, there's a high chance that you're connected by destiny if you often find yourself coming across them."

Poll hears a snicker beside him again. This time, he kicks Nick's leg under the desk, hard enough to shut his friend up.

He ignores Nick's whimpering and, with a straight face, stares back at their professor. "I don't believe in soul mates and fates, Sir."

"That's valid. You'll never believe it unless you see it with your own eyes, right?" Mr. JP tells him, his grin becoming wider and more meaningful, much to Poll's confusion.

Absurd, this whole talk is absurd, the thought comes through Poll's mind. Even if Fate or Destiny exists and even if he actually believes in it, there's no way someone can see it, right?