Neptune: Love

In universe number 46b, there existed an Earth. Beautiful, yet only a luxury the wealthiest humans in the galaxy could afford. Centuries ago, humans built civilizations on a number of planets, including the entire solar system and other planets around neighboring stars. Space travel became casual and humans migrated. One of the most densely human-populated planets was Neptune: the Planet of Illusions. A blue planet with no sun, yet brightly lit by lights 16/7. It has been a planet with no lack of resources for centuries. It was the top-most in education and #2 in technology. It was a planet with happy and proud citizens. Sigrid was one of those happy and proud citizens. Well, something like that. Because her life has been so boring for two whole years that she could die! And that beautiful not-so-little girl is me. I'm Sigrid, a junior student at the Neptune Planetary University Continent A Campus, the top most educational organization on the planet. I worked my ass off to get here. But I surely wouldn't have, if I knew my life was going to be this dry. Why is my life dry? Amazing question! I don't know! Probably it is because I distanced myself from everybody trying to get out of my heart-break in my freshman year, or pushed away every other guy that showed interest in me. Or maybe because I was less competitive than usual last year and my grades are pissing me off. Ugh that Mike! I'm not losing my top score to that guy again this year. I have a plan though. This year, I am going to study like a mad-woman. That would at least keep me sane rather than hanging out with a bunch of people doing absolutely nothing. Then, I am going to socialize with everybody like I always used to before my tragic heartbreak. And I am going to let guys have their chance on me. But there is no way, no ultimate way, that I am setting the bar down. I need a hotter guy than my ex. This has been decided in the freaking heavens. "Sigrid! Sigrid!", a voice called. I snapped out of my thoughts to face my friend Mila, who was waving her hands at me, now sitting at the opposite seat to my table. I was in my university cafe, repeating the plan I made for this year in my head again and again. "Oh, hey!", I greeted her, with my eyes fluttering in an attempt to come back to reality. "Why do you look like you're going to go conquer Jupiter?", she asked, chuckling. "Okay. First of all, Jupiter is off limits", I laughed. "And second of all, I am going to stop being a wreck this year", I said. "Seriosuly girl! I hope so. Please date someone", she pleaded. "I don't need a man to make me happy-", I spoke. "Bleh-bleh--", she cut me off. "See. I am only going to date someone if I really like them. I am not going to date just because I am lonely or something. Plus, I am not lonely. I was acting like that last year because I was stupid. I am seriously going to be nice this time", I explained. "You're always nice to everyone, Sig. You're not as nice to yourself. Let things happen to you. Be more active", she said. "Yes, thanks Mila. I made plans for this year though", I smiled, sipping my Frappe. "Good for you!", she chuckled. "So can we get going? My class starts at 9, doesn't yours too?", she asked, getting up from her seat. "Yes let's go", I stood up with my frappe in one hand and a small vocabulary book in another, and leaned forward to grab my bag that was lying on the floor. And when I lifted myself back up again, my back hit a taller frame that probably was passing by. I almost lost balance, but two hands gripped me by my waist from the back and helped me straighten my posture. "Are you okay?", he asked. I couldn't see him since my back was facing him. I felt his breath on my hair. His voice; it was too sweet, too beautiful, and totally my type. "Yes. I am sorry and thank you", I said as I felt him nod and go away. I quickly leaned down again to pick up my vocabulary book that I dropped when I lost balance. Luckily my Frappe remained safe. By the time I looked back to see him, he was gone. I sighed heavily, looking at Mila, who seemed to be in a state of partial shock and amusement. I raised an eyebrow in a questioning manner. "That guy", she breathed, "was hot". I chuckled at her cuteness and waved at her. "Let's go", I smiled and left the cafe to find my class. Being a Space Engineering major, my classes were more rigorous and frequent than other majors. I was also minoring in space studies, the research side of education. I was interested in getting to know more about the parts of the multiverse we haven't explored yet. Though we have the best knowledge of all our other multiverse counterparts, who are still stuck on Earth in the 1000s, I believe there is still a lot more to explore. Year 1023 is going to be my year! "Can you believe humans in other universes are still fighting over racism?", I scoffed, now walking in our fully green-themed corridor. "I swear. It's so disappointing. Why can't they look at bigger problems like climate change, meteor attacks or I could even accept if it was about love or something", she said. "This is why we need an inter-planetary civilization", I sighed. "By the way, you look so pretty today", I commented, finally noticing her fit. She was wearing an orange hoodie with a white tennis skirt underneath. Her hair was let open. "OMG! I was going to tell you that! But I got distracted", she said. "You look so pretty", she cried. "Okay stop! You're too sweet", I chuckled with a frown. I was wearing a faded-pink crop top with faded-pink leg flare pants. I paired it with hoop earrings and let my hair open as well. By this time, I found the room I had my class in. "I'll see you later. Bye", I waved to her. I had three classes that day. My first class was in the morning at 9 on Fluids in Space, my second one was at 12 in the evening on Dynamics, and my last one was in the night at 3 on Space Manufacturing. I was in the library until 3 pm studying ahead of what was taught. Work would pile up in the future anyway, so this was a precaution. I finally wrapped my studies up and headed to my next class. I should sleep when the clock hits 5 sharp so that I can wake up at 7 in the morning. Our hours are short compared to Earth, but yet we are so productive. All my classes were an hour long, but Space Manufacturing was the only exception, being one and a half an hour long. I stopped in front of my class, fixing my appearance on the glass door. As expected, there were only a few, considering I was around five minutes early. I took one of the front seats and scrolled through my phone. Just then the professor entered, greeting us all. He was setting up his equipment as we waited for the clock to strike 3 pm. By 3, the class was almost filled. I kept my phone aside to witness a broad smile on the professor's face. "Good afternoon students! Welcome to Space Manufacturing A. My name is Dr.Colin Sharp. I am very glad to have this class with you. This course mainly consists of coursework, projects and reports. You will be in the lab most of the time, making something or another. To assist you this year, we have our teaching assistant, a previous year topper of all the Neptune Planetary University campuses from the Continent B campus. He is here to pursue his research on space while he helps assist this class. Please welcome Tove Baner", he smiled. A man from the back of the class, towards my right, passed by me to the front. "Good afternoon", he spoke, shifting himself while arranging the papers in his hand. That voice. Isn't that the guy from the cafeteria? I couldn't see him properly since he was staring down at his papers. He was slim, fit and his hair was perfectly messy. "I'm Tover Baner", he looked up, now smiling at the class. Well, I know now why Mila looked so astonished. This man is such a meal. Right from his perfectly siren eyes to his plump lips and sharp jawline, he looked ethereal. He had black hair and beautiful dark brown orbs. His skin was perfectly tanned. And you're telling me he is the topper? He is totally my type. But sadly, he will be my teacher for a while. "I am your new teaching assistant for this class this semester. Don't use any formalities with me, I just graduated last year", he chuckled. "I will be with you in your every class, guiding you through the lab and projects. You can contact me anytime if you have questions or if you need help. I am looking forward to these three months", he finished with a smile. "Well, you will see me more in theoretical classes than lab ones. Tove is going to spend more time with you. Tove is only going to spend his time here for three months as of now due to his research. And he is one of the smartest people I've seen. I must say you're lucky. Take full advantage of that, students", Dr. Sharp chuckled. "Sure Dr.Sharp", a girl from the back of the class shouted. Yes, I see where this is going. Only if he wasn't in that role, would I have considered him romantically. He is only two years older than me though. If we meet again in the future after this, I might do so. Dr. Sharp began the class with the history of space travel and equipment. After 45 minutes or so, he handed it over to Tove. Or should I call him Mr.Baner? He explained the structure of the first interplanetary transport system, the beginning of it all. I must say, he was really clear about his points. His teaching induced thinking. I felt grateful. "So any doubts?", he asked. While everyone was dumbfounded, I had a question in my mind. I raised my hand. "Yes? Ms.?", he asked, now looking at me. He first had a slight frown on his face and he regained his composure like a realization hit him. He recognized me. "Sigrid Rekoba", I spoke. He nodded, "Yes Ms.Rekoba, go on." "If humans back then knew planetary travel was risky enough, why did they send a human crew on their first mission to Jupiter instead of animals like dogs or even monkeys?", I asked. "That's a great question", he smiled. He looked pretty, god! " The animal crew idea was actually the original plan. But the astronauts back then were desperate to do this themselves. They trusted the engineers and were involved in the engineering process themselves. And it worked out for them", he said. "Amusing, isn't it?", he chuckled. "Yeah", I smiled, nodding. That's it. There were no questions. He was that good. Oh my god, at this rate, I am going to crush on him. Never have I ever thought I'd like a staff member, though he is just temporary. The class got over in a few minutes after ending discussions. I left my seat to exit the class. I greeted the professor and Mr.Baner once more while going. Just then, Mr.Baner signaled me to go towards him. "Hey. It was you this morning in the cafeteria, yeah?", he asked. He surely did recognize me. "Oh yes. I am really sorry!", I apologised. "Oh don't worry about that", he smiled. "I just wanted to know if you were alright. If I wasn't wrong, there was a Frappe in your hand right? I couldn't check on you since I was in a rush this morning", he explained. "Yes, I am perfectly alright. The Frappe was safe", I said. "Cool then", he chuckled. "Yeah, I'll get going Mr. Baner", I said, turning. "Yeah", he said. "By the way", he spoke again, "what shampoo do you use?". Shit, there go the butterflies. "Pantene: Rose Water", I replied. "Beautiful", he smiled, but more like smirked this time. Calm down, Sigrid.