The Engineer & The Physicist

Chapter 1: The Physicist

JANNE

Janne didn't know why his advisor wanted to meet in a place where a thesis doesn't usually gets examined. He stared at the name of the establishment and it stated, "The Watering Hole". He heaved a sigh as he lifted his hand towards the handle of the fiber-glass door.

"For the thesis..." he repeatedly whispered to himself as he entered the pub. He stopped himself from storming away when the smell of alcohol came rushing into his nostrils. The place didn't feel right for Janne. It reeked of alcohol, and alcohol rhymed with trouble. As the old quotation says, "If it rhymes, it must be true."

He didn't belong here. He needed to get away from there. Now.

He roamed his charcoal eyes around the bar, searching for the man he needed to meet, but instead of finding his advisor, he noticed the band playing at the moment. The music finally came into his ears.

Beautiful stranger, here you are in my arms and I know
That beautiful strangers only come along to do me wrong
And I hope, beautiful stranger, here you are in my arms
But I think it's finally, finally, finally, finally, finally safe
For me to fall

He didn't have anything against the music; it was actually soothing to hear. The distinctive voice of the girl who had curly black hair, dark brown eyes beneath the glasses, and a deep tan, made Janne think why he was checking out the girl in the first place. Maybe it was the music, or maybe it was just the scent of alcohol entering his system. He shrugged and walked towards a stool and settled there.

I grab your hand and then we ran to the car
Singing in the street and playing air guitar
Stuck between my teeth just like a candy bar
And I wonder if it goes too far to say
I've never recognized a purer face
You stopped me in my tracks and put me right in my place
Used to think that loving meant a painful chase
But you're right here now and I think you'll stay

The bartender seemed to notice Janne's presence and was about to approach him, when a couple barged in and ordered a drink. Janne released a sigh of relief knowing that he was not forced to socialize at that moment. He just wanted to meet his advisor to check his thesis, listen to the advisor's remarks and go home, cuddle with his cat, and face his computer until 3 am.

Socializing was not really his thing.

Oh, we're dancin' in my living room, and up come my fists
And I say I'm only playing, but the truth is this
I've never seen a mouth that I would kill to kiss
And I'm terrified, but the truth is this
I said

He fished out his phone from his pocket and typed a message to his advisor.

Me To Sir Yoso:

Good evening, sir. I'm here at our rendezvous point. Where are you?

Seconds passed and he hasn't gotten a reply. He leaned his head on the counter and looked like a sleepyhead.

"I want to get out of here..." he whispered to himself.

Minutes later, the reply finally came. He quickly viewed the message:

Sir Yoso:

Hello Janne! I'm so sorry but I already left a while ago because of diarrhea. ;)

The winking emoji in the message didn't help the frustration Janne felt. It just made him confused and irritated. Did his advisor purposely leave him there in the pub knowing that Janne hated that kind of place?

Janne rolled his eyes.

"He is so dead to me." he muttered and returned his phone in his pocket. Janne flinched when he felt someone sat beside him. Since his advisor cannot meet him tonight, there was no reason for him to stay at all, but when he unconsciously darted a glance beside him, dark brown eyes beneath the glasses stared back at him.