Neptune: Love

Chapter 3:

I strolled towards him like an excited puppy. I didn't show my feelings though.

"So Ms.Rekoba will be my partner for today. We need two people to operate this version of spacecraft. I will call myself person A and Ms.Rekoba person B. I would like you to assign the same to your team too. After you've done that, please proceed to sit in a vehicle of your choice", Tove explained in his 'professor' tone.

I followed behind him and took my seat. God! This has been my dream!

I scanned over the controls and the interior of the ship as a whole.

"Information about the controls can be found in your portal under notes for today's class. You can check them later or now as you follow along. But, please follow my instructions for now", Tove spoke through the mic, now putting his seat-belt on. I mimicked his action.

He thought about the operations of the space shuttle and later enabled learning mode for all of the vehicles in the lab. Under learning mode, the ship's front window turned into a screen. The screen displayed how the shuttle would move under certain controls, like we were actually riding the ship. The technology from arcade games for VR was implemented here.

He turned his mic off and flipped his head towards me. "I'm sorry that you don't have a partner to make a report with. So, you can always contact me for any details on this, like I'm your study partner", he said.

"No! That's alright. I am actually happy I am getting to play both the roles of person A and person B in the report. It would help me expand my knowledge", I smiled genuinely.

"That's great! But feel free to contact me anytime. Plus, I live next door, so I think it will be easier for physical meet-ups too", he said, smiling.

"Yes, I'll keep that in mind", I nodded and continued exploring the controls. I switched seats with him as person A for a while and continued exploring the controls.

He sat there for a while observing and occasionally going towards whoever called him for questions. I took my notes efficiently by the time our class got over.

"Alright! I am expecting the report the day after tomorrow", he announced, smiling.

We greeted him and exited the class.

Felix just then joined me. "How did the class go?", he asked me.

"It was great! I have been waiting for this one", I said, honestly.

“So, if you know, there’s a party today”, he shrugged.

“The one at Trent’s home?”, I asked.

“Yes”, he exclaimed. “Are you coming?”, he asked, way too hopeful.

“I don’t know”, I replied. It was waste of time, but it would help me so socialize more.

Felix looked at me with his puppies eyes again, trying to convince me.

“Fine”, I sighed, as Felix clapped softly in delight.

“I’ll see you at 3 pm?”, he asked.

“Yes, by missing my good night’s sleep”, I replied, chuckling.

He laughed along, while I headed to my dance club session.

After a productive day, mostly in the library working on Tove’s class report, I crashed on my bed to nap for an hour.

I don’t know why Trent kept the party today instead of a weekend.

Getting ready didn't take more than 15 minutes, it was choosing the outfit that killed all the time. The party wasn't nearby and I had to take a cab, which is generally free for students for a limited number of rides every month. Trent rented Alfonso bar, one of the liveliest in the city, for us today. Though a whole lot of students were partying there, outsiders were a part of the place too. Its just that we get free drinks, all paid by Trent, and the rest don't.

I dressed up in a classic shiny black dress with thin straps. I decided to stick to the basics and not risk it by trying anything new out of my sometimes not very appreciated choices. I put on light make-up with well-steamed waves to my naturally curly hair that I have straightened.

Our party was in one corner of the bar and I headed there as soon as a signboard indicting Trent's party came into my view. Mila attempted to startle from behind and failed.

"Sigrid!", she hugged. "You need to meet these people, we are playing the Dare Devil", she said, dragging inside now.

"Dare Devil?", I chuckled in amusement. "So original of you guys"

"Oh come on! We at least don't have the truth thing there. And we choose victims differently too"