Four Weeks - The Beginning

The Cop, The Woman and The Corino

Matt reached the university after a long grueling night, which consisted of crazy, reveling, hammered drivers on the road, some unfriendly, mob-minded pedestrians, also drunk, and finally, the dark which made it creepier and harder than it should've been. He felt as though he had just dragged a heavy sledge through a ton of snow, when the car actually rode too smooth for most to complain. The music he had on all night long, a varied mix of spirited songs, had done little but deafen his auditory senses. Rachel slept like a log through the whole thing. Matt had had time enough to regain command over his equanimity. Rachel woke up as the car was still in motion and stretched on her seat, trying to shirk off her lethargy.

'What's goin' on?' she said, midway through a rather unabashed yawn.

'Sleep alright?' Matt asked.

'U-huh,' said Rachel.

'We're almost there. It's almost eleven o'clock now. I called the professor. His name's Han. Yeah, he's Asian – Asian American. He's a brilliant man,' said Matt.

'I hope you told him right. We need to get this right,' said Rachel.

'We don't know what the hell is going to happen. It may turn out utterly uneventful, so don't siddle,' came in a quick, rather rude response from Matt.

Matt could see on Rachel's face that she was growing increasingly intolerant towards his snappy gripes. The emotion he sensed was treading the path to apoplectic-ness and seemed very nearly there, he felt. He casually maintained a nonchalant expression on his face allowing time for her apparent displeasure to simmer down. It took longer than Matt had hoped it would, around thirty nervous seconds.

'I'm sorry; don't worry. I don't think I goofed up,' he said, after Rachel's facial tension eased.

'I just wanted you to think about that. I mean we're not there yet. There could still be time to make a few last minute tweaks,' said Rachel.

'Wow, I can't tell if you're being thorough or just nitpicking,' said Matt. 'No offense,' he added quickly as Rachel sent another edgy look his way. I just thought about it in my head and I think everything should go as planned.'

'Good, thank you. That's all I wanted to hear' Rachel mocked him.

Soon, they got to the university. It looked just like it did several weeks ago, a place where Alan, Elaine and Matt had actually had many memorable and joyous gatherings together. Even though the surrounding wasn't glum in the least, the mere setting, perfect the way it was, injected pathos into the scene, at least in Matt's mind, complete with a mellifluous, soothing chord being at perfectly spaced intervals plucked on a Hawaiian acoustic in the background. He longed for another normal, fun day with his friends. He got out of the car and rushed towards the office block of the professor he wanted to meet. Rachel went with him, walking alongside him, sharing his pain and intent, like a true companion. About a quarter of the way, a hand tugged on Matt's arm and pulled him away into a quiet corner. Rachel followed. It was Mr. Han.

'Hello professor, this really isn't the time for such tricks,' said Matt, sounding exasperated.

'Matt, I'm so sorry. The seminar has started. I already made the announcement in the morning,' he said.

'What? Well, what did you say exactly?' asked Matt.

'I announced that Alan and I have invented something new that we have been working on together for about the last week and a half. I gave a short description of what we think we have achieved. In today's world, what I announced is believed to be possible only in theory. Now, I know what I'm gonna say if and when people play the impossible card, but this is gonna blow up in my face. I've put a lot on the line, but I'm doing it for Alan and Elaine,' said Han.