(DabiXOCXHawks) Soul Reaper

Chapter 11

The tone of Dabi's demeaning voice and how he mocked her dreams replayed in her memory. Who was he to decide what was best for her? He only ever thought about himself. His lack of empathy and compassion for her happiness made her blood boil. And to call her 'babe' like he knew more than her? He was no older than she! The thoughts repeatedly itched the back of her head. She had decided, she was never going back.

The next morning she decided to flip the scrapbook before going to class. It brought back memories. Flipping each page made her relive the time from her first science fair visit to the planetarium with her family. Little moments that led her to pursue her degree. No one could disregard her romantic affair with science that matured with her. It was everlasting.

The buzz on her phone tore her from her thoughts.

"Hey dad," she answered.

"Hey, you're mum is feeding me plum cakes. Help!" He pretended to be choking on the other side of the phone.

"Plums are good for you dad. They make you strong and healthier, like Popeye." She recited her dad's words on him.

"That's a big a lie, why don't you tell her the truth?" She heard her mum interrupting him from the other side of the phone. "Your dad phoned you because he was missing you."

"Aw dad, the cake's that bad?" Cindy chuckled.

"It'll make anyone's eyes water." He admitted.

There was silence on the other end of the line. "Dad's just being a big crybaby now. You doing okay?" Mom spoke.

"Yea, the usual. Heading for class." Cindy shoved the scrapbook in the desk drawer and slung her bag over her shoulder.

"Okay, have a wonderful day!" Cindy gave a wistful smile, no one ever mentioned that to her.

There was a hubbub before class started. The professor entered the room and there was silence. She put down her book and spent an hour explaining the importance of the Graduate Fair. Each year the graduate class is allowed to present their undergraduate dissertation and research project for a chance to get funded into a long term PHD or teaching assistantship. It essentially lands them the career of their choice. She reminded the class that this was to happen two weeks from now.

Investors visited the campus every year and students were given ten minutes each to speak about their project. Most often, they take in the research proposals thereafter and contact the student if the topic shows potential.

It was her chance to sell her research proposal on the potential of sewage sludge as a renewable energy resource. The only problem was that she needed to conduct a few tests in the lab to prove her hypothesis. The years of market analysis explained her direction but the experiment would get her sold.

Lunch was busy filled with conversations about dissertations, references, books and internet research.

"I wonder how can I prove that my fluorescent technology will improve the identification of cancer patients. I have a list of supplies but the university lab is out of materials." Rose looked worried.

"I'm having trouble identifying how energy can be recovered from sewage sludge by some potential thermal application." Cindy added.

"But if solar thermal heating systems are built with integrated storage, boom we have most of the population conserving energy!" Zeke pointed out. "And with Ross's research project on sustainable chemical processing and waste management, sewage will be a degraded resource."

"That's not true and everyone here knows that. Burning waste generates a lot of heat and that's potential right there." Cindy argued.

"Look stop," Amber slammed the table. "Leave this debate with the investors"

"You're on!" Zeke smiled at Cindy.

Ken, another one of Amber's friends whispered to Rose, but was audible anyway. "They should get a room" Rose nodded eyeing the former couple.

"If it means that my research project gets funded, I'd do it man." Zeke smirked at Cindy.

He winced when Amber's palm struck his arm. "We'd agreed we'd all be nice to each other" She shot her boyfriend a hard gaze. The sudden silence felt eerie.

"You don't have to worry about me, I'm fine." Cindy voice was distant, piquing her fellow classmates.

"Something happened?" Rose asked.

"I wanted to graduate, that's all." Shedismissed their curiosity. They exchanged glances. Cindy rose from her seat andleft.