Love In The Air

Chapter 8 Continued

“Customers won’t care” The professor told Rain. “If the work is finished or not, if it is not done on time.” This time the professor spoke with a firmer tone of voice that let Rain know his teacher was disappointed with his student. “All of your friends were given the same amount of time as you.” Rain’s heart sank the more his professor spoke to him. “Why are they all able to submit on time but you are not? Do you know what the words responsibility and punctuality actually mean? When you can’t take responsibility over your own life why should I care?” His professor’s words hit Rain deeply and directly at the heart. He would be satisfied if he at least looked into the work, but he didn’t even glance at it. Rain knew he wouldn’t be scored for the assignment.

“Professor” Rain started trying to fight back the need to cry. “I know this is my fault, but could you please forgive me this once?”

“Go and ask your seniors if I have given time to the students who ask for one chance?” His professor exclaimed now. “If I did then how many would take advantage? It only depends on the person who knows how to manage his time well and be responsible for himself.” Rain became more and more ashamed the longer his professor told him off. “When you don’t succeed you have to accept the result which comes along. In the real world it will be worse. If you had to meet a client and were late because you were stuck in traffic, they aren’t going to wait on you.” Rain knew the professor’s words were harsh but there was truth behind them. “Even if you have completed the project.” Tears filled Rain’s eyes. “I am not going to be moved by your tears.” The professor told him turning away from Rain. “No means no.”

“I am sorry Sir.” Rain apologised not wanting to show his weakness to anyone, but this was the first time that he had experienced being told off so badly by a teacher. He knew he had to take the experience and turn it into a learning curve. It was a lot to take none the less. He bowed down to the professor and turned to leave. The professor couldn’t help but pity Rain, but he had a duty to speak to his students honestly.

“If you couldn’t stand this criticism, how would you face the outside world?” The professor asked Rain. “Think for yourself. You are going to encounter things a lot harder than this. Some may make you crumble.” Rain raised his hands and bowed to pay his respects and left. He was pale and his eyes moist from the tears he was fighting back. Thinking about everything that happened had made him more upset.

“What did the professor say, Rain?” Sky ran up and asked him best friend anxiously. He had been waiting outside of the staff room since Rain walked inside. Sky took one look at Rain’s face he could guess what happened but held hope the professor would have been lenient. Rain shook his head, refusing to speak to him. “It’s okay, there’s always next time.” Sky tried to encourage. Rain tried his best to show a brave face to his friend, he didn’t want any sympathy, so he just nodded and kept his head down.

“I am not attending this afternoon’s class” Rain muttered.

“Where are you going?” Sky asked him as he reached out to grab his arm. The afternoon class was English. It was an elective course so it wouldn’t be too much of an issue if you decided to skip one class and Rain was already excelling in it so he could miss it and not worry about it. Sky was more worried about his friend and didn’t want him to be alone.

“I want to be left alone right now so that I can gather my thoughts and I can’t do that here.” Sky wanted to argue with him but took one look at him and noticed he was tired. He probably just needed some time by himself. He only nodded while trying to comfort his friend by tapping his shoulder.

“If you want to talk, I am always here for you.”

“Thank you” Rain forced a smile and left. He had no idea where he wanted to go; he just knew he had to get away from the university. There are difficulties in everyone’s lives that test them; they have to find the strength to overcome them. Once they do manage to fight past them, they will probably laugh at the thought and the experience, but Rain hadn’t experience such traumas yet. He felt his spirit break. The happy go lucky boy was now depressed with sorrow.

Rain sat in his car not realising where he was or how he got there. He looked around at the familiar workshop and couldn’t believe that this was where he had ended up. He was lucky that he hadn’t had an accident on the way. “How did I get here?” Rain questioned.