Chapter 4
1156 Words
Zephyrine glanced at the large faculty sign in front of her.
AUTOMOTIVE AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING FACULTY.
She wasn't sure if she was happy to be back in school. But the break was over; there was nothing she could do.
Pulling up her black hoodie, she sluggishly maneuvered her way to the Automotive department.
Although the number of students in the automotive department was quite small, the class was still very much rowdy as Zephyrine walked in, probably because today was the start of a new semester.
Zephyrine quietly walked to the back of the class, where she could openly avoid everyone.
It wasn't like they spoke to her, anyway. Since the incident with Vanguard, many people avoided her, including her classmates.
After sitting, she noticed two boys walking towards her.
“Hey, congratulations on winning the race yesterday.”
Zephyrine glanced at them but didn't respond.
“Hey, we're talking to you. Why are you not saying anything?”
“What the f**k do you want?” Zephyrine questioned aggressively.
These same people had pretty much avoided her last semester. She did not have the energy to deal with these cowards.
“We're just congratulating you, why are you being so mean?”
Zephyrine scoffed, “Keep your congratulations to yourself and leave me the f**k alone. Understand?”
“Sheesh, asshole,” one of the boys commented.
Zephyrine just responded with the F finger.
“Good morning, everyone, and welcome to ECE 380: Automotive Electronic Systems & Telemetry,” The lecturer's loud voice echoed through the class.
“Let's have our seat please,” Professor Harrison encouraged all the students.
Zephyrine sighed in relief, seeing that both troublemakers had left her to go back to their seats. Subsequently, she pulled her notebook and textbook out of her bag.
********
“Class dismissed. Vance, see me in my office.”
Everyone's attention was drawn to Zephyrine, who was playing with her phone at the back of the hall.
The professor left the class, and immediately, everyone resumed their conversations.
They were talking about her, and they did not try to hide it.
“Some people think they can just waltz in here like they own this place.”
“Being a criminal must have been tough.”
The class erupted into laughter.
Zephyrine did not concern herself with them. She simply packed her things and walked out of the class without saying a word.
She had almost gotten to Professor Harrison’s office when a slender hand grabbed hers.
Zephyrine threw the intruder an annoying glance.
“Hi Zeph,” Clara Peterson greeted her with a bright smile. Clara was the only other female in the automotive department apart from Zephyrine, but Zephyrine did not have a good impression of this girl.
Clara was neither her friend nor her enemy, but Zephyrine knew how cunning she was. Clara was the kind of person who never picked sides, always pretending to be fair to avoid being held accountable for anything. She claimed to be fair, yet was always trying to please everyone while trying to get on the good books of all the guys in the class.
“I just wanted to tell you not to mind what those guys are saying, they're just joking. You know how boys are.”
Joking? More like bullying.
Zephyrine shrugged her off. “Thank you for the kind advice, but I don't f*****g care.”
Without hesitation, we walked away.
*********
“Professor, you wanted to see me?”
“Yes, Zephyrine, please have your seat.” The professor gestured towards the chair in front of his desk.
“How are you doing?” He tried to make small talk.
“I'm fine, sir,” Zephyrine responded politely.
This professor had been one of the few people who did not judge her during her moment of crisis. Zephyrine had almost dropped out twice and had missed several of her classes due to the constant bullying and depression she was battling.
But Professor Harrison had been the one calling and encouraging her to at least not miss the last semester exams.
So Zephyrine had a good impression of him.
“I saw the race yesterday, you were quite impressive.”
Zephyrine smiled in response.
“It's good to have you back,” the professor beamed.
“Anyway, I called you here because I need your help.”
“Help?” Zephyrine wondered what she could possibly help him with.
“You know our faculty is having its symposium soon, and thankfully, the Automotive department is anchoring it this year.”
“Mhmm,”
“I'm thinking of asking Apex Alpha Racing to be a guest speaker at the program.”
“Okay? And what does that have to do with me? I'm pretty sure you can reach out to them directly.”
“That's the problem, Zephyrine.” Professor Harrison's excited face suddenly turned sour. “I've sent them several invites, and they have rejected every one of them.”
“Oh,” Zephyrine could faintly guess where the conversation was headed.
“Now that you're a member of Apex Alpha, I believe you're in the best position to convince them to accept our invite.”
“I literally just joined them a month ago,” Zephyrine argued.
“But you helped them win their first race, didn't you?”
“But professor…”
“Please, Zephyrine, every other department in this faculty already looks down on us. We can't give them more reasons to do that. The glory of this department depends on you.”
“No, it doesn't.”
“Yes, it does.”
Zephyrine sighed in defeat. Since the professor had personally begged her, she would feel bad for not giving in.
“I'm not making any promises but I'll try my best,” She gave her words.
“Thank you, thank you! Oh, and one more thing.”
Zephyrine raised her brow at the professor's additional request.
“We want Cassian Sterling to be the main guest Speaker.”
“What?” Golden retriever boy?
“Why?” Zephyrine's tone immediately became defensive.
“Common Zephyrine, if we're going to be doing this, we have to go all out. You know everyone loves that Sterling kid. Imagine the massive crowd that day if he actually shows up.”
“So you need him for publicity?” Zephyrine interjected.
“Exactly. This symposium is one of the few chances we have at elevating our status in this faculty. Please just say yes, please,”
Zephyrine immediately regretted her decision to come to the professor's office, but seeing his desperation, she doubted if she could argue her way out of this.
“I'm telling you, no promises.” She could only use that statement to reduce the
hopes of this man.
She sighed again.
Thinking about it now, she realised she couldn't avoid golden retriever boy forever.
Or could she?
- Writer
