First Impression

His Attitude

Jess was a third year graduate student in the biology department, while Tony was in his fourth year of his PhD program. Ever since their encounter, Jess started hearing more about Tony. Initially, she thought it was puzzling that she had never met him even though they had been in the department for a few years. Turns out, Tony's lab was divided into two teams, with a group of graduate students and research scientists in the same building as hers, and the other team located at one of the university's affiliated hospitals. Jess got word that, with reduced funding available at Raymond's lab, they had to shut down the lab in the hospital and get all the lab members to return to the biology building.

In the next few months, Jess and Tony would bump into each other at departmental events or in the hallway. Each time, Jess would politely say hi to Tony and initiate brief conversations with him. Yet, Tony would always act cold towards her. Jess paid little attention to him and focused on her research studies. One day, she felt exhausted from work and didn’t want to socialize, so she grabbed her lunchbox, and escaped out of her lab office to the graduate students' lounge to eat. It was almost 3pm and there was no one else around. This was her quiet, safe haven, a place away from people. Rumors had it that a student once committed suicide here, and the ghost of that student would hang out in that room, whispering to whoever sat inside. Jess didn't believe in ghosts, instead, the peacefulness in that lounge allowed her to relax whenever her social energy was low. Relieved that the room was empty, she opened the door and entered the lounge.

Wonderful, she thought.

Jess sat down in a corner and munched on her food peacefully. She had her earbuds on while she watched the latest news on the protests in her hometown, which escalated to riots in the span of 3 months. She was so focused on the videos that she hadn't noticed anyone entering the lounge and sitting at a table farther away.

"Jess… Jess…" The person called.

Jess took out her earbuds and turned to find Tony calling out to her. She had no idea when he had walked in or when he went over to the vending machine and got a can of diet coke from there before making himself comfortable at another table.

"How are you?" He asked. This was the first time he initiated a conversation with her. Jess stared at him, speechless.