The Silicon Valley Connection

18 | aidan - print ('studio three')

I hauled my tired ass out of my marketing seminar and made my way to our school's café, still plagued with the strong urge to sleep.

I probably look like utter shit today. Note to self: Never pull an all-nighter without actual coffee...

Or dinner.

While waiting for my order and mumbling a few greetings to passing peers, messages flood onto my lock screen, and I gawk at the volume of notifications.

15 missed texts and 5 missed calls from Nora. How the hell did she get my new number? All of them were apologies, of course.

A little too late for that. I delete her messages and voicemails without a second thought and block her number. A new notification moves its way up the screen.

1 missed text from Faith.

FAITH: Professor Grant was evil for starting the Protein Structure subunit, considering how sixty-five percent of the students failed the practically impossible pop quiz earlier today in discussions. I barely squeaked by with a C-minus.

AIDAN: I don't recall you being in my section for BioChem 103, but I'm proud to say that I'm a part of the thirty-five percent that passed as well. more specifically, I aced it.

FAITH: omg! I didn't mean to send that message to you. that was meant for Sol. but since we're on that topic, I might need you to teach me your ways, please. the free-response level 3 and 4 problems are throwing me for a loop, and I want my B to go up, not plummet into the depths of despair.

I can't help but smirk while typing my reply.

AIDAN: hmmm. it's going to cost you.

FAITH: just when I thought you were such a kind-hearted guy...I'll bite, but if you say a hypothetical date, I swear to God, Aidan.

AIDAN: how about a fake date, then?

FAITH: fuck you.

AIDAN: oh? a little bold, aren't we, Shortcake?

FAITH: you know what? I can just ask a random peer tutor at the STEM Center. or better yet, I'll ask Dallas since he's an actual biochem major. I'm sure he'll be glad to help me out.

AIDAN: you wouldn't dare infringe on our deal like that.

FAITH: aww, is someone afraid that a study session will turn into something more? careful, Lim. I can detect your jealousy through the screen.

AIDAN: jealousy, schmealousy. back to the matter at hand. what you're saying here is that study dates are fair game? meet me outside the Arthur Ashe gym at 5:30 p.m.

FAITH: schmealousy? what the hell, dude? you missed the point--

AIDAN: nah, I think I hit the dart right on the bullseye.

———

I can't say I was anything short of surprised when I spotted Faith at the bottom of the gym's stairs, leaning against the railing and preoccupied with her phone. Skipping every other step as I made my way down from the second floor, I stopped at the fifth stair from ground level.

"If you're still going to go to Dallas even after showing up here, the least you can do is not text him in front of me," I say with an obvious prick of annoyance.

She whirls around, losing her footing on a step, and my arm immediately reaches behind her back, catching her and bringing her close. I don't even bother hiding my smirk. "But it looks like I may not have to worry about him now. Look at you. Falling for me already?"