The Engineer & The Physicist

Chapter 4: Going Home

CADENCE

"Class dismissed."

Cadence heaved a deep sigh and reached for her bag, "What am I going to cook for tonight? Should I just buy takeout and eat it in the apartment?" she thought. "But my allowance is running out. Hmm..." Cadence was lost in her thoughts while wrapping her things up. When she was done, she finally noticed Janne who was leaning on his desk, chin placed over the palm of his hand and staring at her blankly. Cadence cleared her throat then clutched the strap of her bag.

"What?" Cadence asked, completely confused. Janne raised his eyebrows, stood up and said, "Aren't we going to the laboratory right after the class? Why do you look like you're going home already?"

"Shoot, I thought about my dinner too much," Cadence mentally scolded herself. She flashed an awkward smile and gently tugged Janne's sleeve, "Sorry, so where is this laboratory?" she asked and they both walked out of the room.

"Well, I'm not really good at explaining," Janne said and looked at Cadence, "So just follow me and try to remember."

"Okay, smart dude." Cadence replied and the conversation suddenly stopped. Only the sounds of their footsteps and the 5:30 breeze covered the silence between them. Nevertheless, the two look unbothered. They seemed to be comfortable with the atmosphere they were in. No talking, no noise, just their presence right beside each other.

Cadence suddenly felt the pain of the scars she had on her palms and winced. One thing about Cadence was that whenever she is overwhelmed by silence, her thoughts start to flash a series of memories in her head. It triggered the voices to exist and whisper in her ears, uttering words of self-destruction. She swallowed a lump on her throat and tightened her grip on the strap of her bag. She bit her lips.

"This is not the right time to think about that. Get yourself toge---"

"Watch your step! Darn, what are you thinking?!"

Cadence blinked, "I-I'm sorry—"

"Are you a shoujou manga protagonist who trips over nothing?" Janne exclaimed, "We're on the stairs for pete's sake!"

Cadence didn't have a chance to reply when Janne let go of her and climb down the stairs first. She clutched her chest as she leaned on the wall for support. She gasped for air that she momentarily lost, "If it wasn't for him, my face could've kissed the ground so hard it would blush. Since the downward force is equal to the mass of an object multiplied by the acceleration through gravity, heavier objects have a greater downward force, thus, I was this near from having my glasses and nose shattered." She muttered in one breath. She sighed and followed Janne, tailing him. She felt super awkward that Janne needed to save her from her stupidity. She didn't feel deserving to walk by his side.

"I am completely amazed that he managed to catch me from falling to the ground. His skinny physique is not something people should underestimate. The way he gripped my waist earlier was firm but gentle. That takes a lot of strength to pull off." Cadence thought.

"But why are you even thinking about his touch? Do you like him?" Her brain countered. Cadence flinched and choked back a squeal.

"What am I thinking?!" she screamed and made weird noises mentally.

"We're here." Janne said. Cadence's thoughts halted and looked at the building.

"Oh, so this is the Science, Technology and Research Development Building?" Cadence muttered and then observed the place. It was a 5-story building adorned with beautiful architecture design. The roof was a glass dome, revealing the huge telescope, 4-layered bookshelves, and a bunch of computers inside it. The rooms beneath have walls painted white with various symbols that speak for the name of the building like gears, cogs, beakers and more. The windows were made of fiberglass, and students with their lab coats were seen as they pass through the hallway.