In a secluded office tucked away in a side building on the southwestern edge of the City University campus, Professor Jason Marks meticulously transcribed his report. Suddenly, the rhythmic echo of a knock disrupted the quietude.
Setting aside his glasses and pen, Jason swiftly activated a small screen on his desk, a sense of alarm registering on his face. Hastily, he drew the blinds shut, activated a concealed device beneath his table, and approached the door with an air of concern.
"Can I come in at the moment?" Brandon asked.
"Absolutely, come on in," Jason replied, pulling him inside. As Brandon stepped into the dimly lit office, he questioned, "What's with the darkness?"
Jason, looking somewhat startled, responded, "It's for you, of course. Aren't you here to seek a cure?"
Jason was the sole individual in the world aware of Brandon's condition. The professor had discerned Brandon's unique circumstances shortly after the incident. Whenever Brandon faced instability in his system, he unfailingly sought Jason's expertise, trusting him to rectify the issues.
"Well, yes or no," Brandon replied, and then recounted the interaction with Sienna.
"Give me your hands," Jason said, extending his own. Brandon placed his hands in Jason's, but there was no reaction.
"Weird," Jason mused, rubbing his chin.
"No need to figure it out now," Brandon said. "I might even find solutions at Walters Corps."
Jason chuckled, "Still set on that company, huh?"
Brandon nodded, "They have the best plan for chip studies. I had envisioned developing something through them to narrow down inter-universal communication, but I never expected that I myself would have become a chip man."
"But that strengthens your speculation that there is a wider world outside Earth, right?" Jason asked, wearing an affable smile.
"Well, just look at me," Brandon replied with a helpless sigh.
"So...have you submitted the application for the Walters interview then?" Jason inquired, checking the digital calendar. "It is about time."
"I'm on my way to the Vice Principal's office," Brandon said, displaying a stack of papers in his hand.
"Any competitors?"
"A couple of them, I guess."
"You still have your parents."
Brandon shook his head, "They won't understand."
"Still your parents."
Brandon fell into silence, looked up, and finally said, "See you around."
Jason showed him the way out. As the door closed, he entered a code on the lock of the shelf behind him, revealing a tiny, narrow safe containing a small, compressed laptop. Pulling it out, he typed in more passwords. The screen transformed into a complex set of crossed lines, which Jason referred to as the Program of Brandon Myles.
-
In the expansive, lengthy corridor of the main building at the City University campus, Sienna took deliberate steps, her footsteps echoing. As she made her way toward the corner office, a group of three muscular boys approached her. The one at the forefront halted, smirking as he observed her obvious discomfort.
"What's with that expression, Quinn, a pre-funeral for your failed Walters interview application? Hahaha!" Dickinson taunted.
"Is making fun of people all you can do, Dickinson? No wonder you never achieved any high ranks in exams here," Sienna retorted.
Samuel Dickinson's expression darkened, evidently annoyed. He pointed at Sienna, saying, "You bumpkin, just because you're the only girl making it to the Physics Department doesn't necessarily mean you're anyone special! We don't privilege anyone here. There's only competition."
"Oh yeah, and why are you still here? You should go make some effort to win those small matches and try to overshadow me! Haha!"
"You... you want a fight? I could bring you down with one pinky!" Samuel challenged.
Sienna rolled her eyes, "It would be shortsighted for Walters to recruit someone who only knows how to use muscles!"
Enraged, Samuel raised his fist, intending to strike Sienna, but she swiftly ducked underneath and delivered an electric touch to his underarm with a small flashlight-like tool. In pain, Samuel screamed and frantically scratched at his underarm like an irritated monkey, prompting Sienna to burst into laughter.
Samuel roared at his followers, "Go and get her!"
They were poised to lunge at Sienna when, suddenly, they tripped over her outstretched foot. Kneeling on the ground, they found themselves face to face with a strikingly handsome and impeccably fashionable man who effortlessly exuded an air of sophistication. A group of fascinated girls stood behind him.
"What is this grand display of courtesy?" Joe Sullivan smirked, turning to Sienna. "Hey Sienny, are these the followers you just recruited?"
"Definitely not. I'm not that stupid to recruit people like this!" Sienna replied cheerfully.
Samuel, irritated by Sienna's banter with Joe, which implicitly labeled him as "being stupid," attempted to lunge at the man. However, the gorgeous figure calmly gripped his raised hands, leaned forward and whispered in his ear with pretentious concern, "If I were you, I'd think twice about causing a scene here. See the girls behind me? They might just drown you in their spit."
"Please, let's leave, Samuel!" one of the followers begged. "We can't possibly offend Joe. You don't understand how powerful his fan base is."
"Shut up! Of course, I am aware!" Samuel snapped, a little worried. Despite this, he continued to shout at Joe and Sienna, "I won't fight with you here. You'll know who the real winner is when the actual competition comes!"
Sienna laughed so loudly at the messy retreating figures of Samuel's gang, that she felt the pain on her back worsen. Frowning, she clutched the hurting spot and coughed.
"What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Joe asked with genuine concern.
"No, no, it wasn't them," Sienna waved her hands. "I got tripped testing the new scooter. What are you doing here?"
"Ha! You told me you're here to hand in the application for the Walters interview, so I thought about boosting you up, showing some support, you know," Joe said excitedly. He glanced at the enthusiastic girls behind him and asked Sienna, "You want them to cheer for you too?"
"Save it, Joe. I'm already grateful your fans accept me hanging out with you," Sienna whispered.
"Of course they should! You're my officially verified savior. Who dares give you trouble?" Joe said defensively.
Sienna sighed upon hearing this, "I told you I don't remember saving you. I may not be the savior you're always pursuing!"
"Then who was it that came to my rescue years ago? I only hung out with you when I was little. There could not have been anyone else!"
Without intending to engage in further repeated arguments, Sienna sighed, "Fine, whatever. Anyway, I'm walking into the office to hand in the application now, and you stay quiet, okay? It's a competition, and it has to be fair. I don't need any privilege from the heartthrob of the campus."
Joe showed an OK gesture and took an obedient step aside to the staircase.
Sienna took a deep breath and was about to knock on the door of the Vice Principal's office when it swung open from the inside. Out walked Brandon Myles, and they found themselves standing dangerously close, almost on the verge of crashing into each other. Sienna looked up and felt a momentary sense of astonishment at the sight of this man. Confidence radiated in his posture and the way he carried himself, making a strong statement of refined elegance.
Brandon gazed down at Sienna. She possessed a delicately featured face, with expressive eyes that held the warmth of their own, captivating with every glance. Her complexion resembled porcelain, flawlessly smooth, accentuating the graceful curve of her high cheekbones. These details, previously unnoticed, now seized his attention.
Suddenly, he found himself a bit distracted, a wave of curiosity washing over him. Emotions had been elusive since the accident, but in this moment, he sensed his heart throbbing intensely, a sensation he hadn't experienced in a while.
Yet as he recalled their first encounter earlier that day, he instinctively took a step aside, increasing the distance between them to avoid depleting the battery power once again.