The soft hum of the plane's engines was almost relaxing. From my seat, I looked out the small window at the landscape that was gradually fading as we ascended to the sky. Beside me, Sack was staring at the screen in front of him, though he didn't seem to really be paying attention to it. His frown still bore the trail of the episode with the flight attendant.
Sack didn't usually get upset about anything. He was one of those people who seemed impervious to everything, always with his neutral tone and an almost detached attitude. But, sometimes, he had these outbursts. They weren't frequent, but when something threw him out of his balance, like someone's mistake in his work, he seemed to change completely. It was as if something inside him broke for a moment.
I still remembered how his voice had risen in pitch and how his expression had changed when he argued with the assistant. There was something else there, something that he probably didn't want to face himself. Maybe something had happened in his life that made him react that way when it came to mistakes or responsibilities. Although I wanted to ask him, I decided that it was not the time.
I sighed and closed my eyes for a moment. Talking to Sack about personal things was complicated. He knew that, if he touched on a sensitive subject, he could close himself even more. And honestly, I didn't want to ruin the relative calm we had managed to establish either.
The captain's announcement informed us that we were about to land at San Jose International Airport. I felt the plane begin to descend, and I opened my eyes just as Sack was fastening his seatbelt. I looked out the window and saw the lights of the city, glowing like tiny flashes in the darkness.
"Finally," Sack murmured, not taking his eyes off the front.
"Are you excited?" I asked, more to break the silence than out of real curiosity.
"I suppose. His answer was brief, but his tone was more relaxed than before.
I decided not to insist. When the plane landed and we began to gather our things, Sack seemed to return to his usual attitude: calm, yet distant.
We walked together to the exit, where the warm, humid air greeted us as we left the terminal. As we searched for a taxi, the sound of suitcases rolling on the pavement filled the silence between us.
"Do you have the address of the university?" Sack asked suddenly, looking at me out of the corner of his eye.
"Yes, it's here. I pulled out my phone and showed him the address.
He nodded, raising a hand to call a taxi. One stopped in front of us in a matter of seconds, and the driver rolled down the window.
"Where?" asked the man with a local accent.
"To Stanford University," Sack replied before I could say anything.
We got into the taxi, and as the vehicle drove into the streets near the airport, I felt the fatigue begin to kick in. I leaned my head against the window and watched the lights go by. Sack, on the other hand, seemed more alert, as if he were assessing every corner we passed.
"What do you expect to find there?" I asked, breaking the silence.
He turned his head slightly towards me, as if he didn't understand the question.
"I don't know. Something different, I suppose. He paused before adding, "What about you?"
"Same thing. I smiled slightly. "Although I think it will be harder for you to find it.
Sack let out a small, almost imperceptible laugh, but he didn't answer. The rest of the journey passed in silence, but it was not uncomfortable.
The taxi stopped outside Stanford University. We got off with our bags, and I instantly felt a vibrant energy that seemed to envelop the entire campus. The place was full of life: students and families walked back and forth, some carrying boxes and suitcases, while others stopped at the welcome stations set up along the main entrance.
"It seems like we're here at just the right time," I said, watching as a college band began playing downtown campus. The sound of drums and trumpets filled the air, accompanied by the applause of the crowd.
"Too much fuss for my taste," Sack remarked, though his eyes swept curiously.
As we advanced, we saw stands of different student clubs: sports, theater, cultural associations and even an astronomy club that offered telescopes to look at the night sky. A group of soccer players practiced passing on a nearby field, while other students organized dance demonstrations in a central square.
"This is... bigger than I expected," I admitted, surprised by the magnitude of it all.
"yes, well, I guess they have to justify what they charge here," Sack joked, causing him to let out a brief laugh.
We decided to walk a little further, enjoying the atmosphere as we made our way towards the registration building for new students. The fresh air of California mixed with the excitement of those who, like us, were beginning a new chapter in their lives.
"Do you think we should join any clubs?" I asked, more out of curiosity than out of real intention.
Sack looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite decipher.
"I don't know. First I want to get used to all this. Later, perhaps. He paused and pointed to a medical booth with a sign that said "Biomedical Research Club." "Although something like that might make sense, don't you think?"
—Yes, it sounds interesting. Maybe we'll try later," I replied with a smile.