Ryan opened the door just as Alex raised his hand to knock again.
Alex took one look at him and sighed. "Why is it this outfit again? Is this your only formal wear?"
"Is anything wrong with it? I don't have any other appropriate clothes."
"Not particularly. But tomorrow, we're going shopping," Alex announced. "You can't keep going out like this."
"I don't think I need that many clothes."
Alex gave him a stern look. "What do you plan to wear to the graduation ceremony next month?"
Ryan was silent.
He did wear it every time there was an official event, award ceremonies, donor luncheons, and when he had to socialize with other researchers. It wasn't often, but it seems it had been too many times.
Alex looked up with a bright smile. "You could pick something from my wardrobe."
Ryan gave him a once-over. Alex was in a silk rainbow-striped shirt and sequinned black pants.
Ryan shook his head. "I'll go shopping with you tomorrow."
"But—"
Ryan lifted his wrist, checking his watch. "Look at the time, we're going to be late."
Without waiting, he started walking toward the elevator.
Alex grumbled but followed.
They stood on the sidewalk waiting.
"The ride I booked is almost here." Alex was looking at his phone, where a map was displayed on the taxi app. "We should get there in about an hour."
"You know how to get to the professor's house?"
"Eh, not exactly," Alex said, eyes still glued to his phone. "The address was sent to the group chat."
"What group chat?"
Alex sighed. "The one with all the junior staff members of the department."
Ryan still looked confused.
"I sent you the link. You didn't join. Then I got someone to add you, but you've never spoken a word there, even though you've been tagged multiple times."
Ryan nodded. "Oh. That one."
He seemed to have an impression. He had archived the group chat after the notifications got too many. In one day there were over 500 messages. Looking at it made him stressed.
"The ride is here," Alex said, waving at the sleek black car driving towards them.
The car slowed in front of a wide wrought-iron gate, which was wide open, and there was a car ahead of them. It drove along a cobblestone-paved road surrounded by trees, not far ahead was the house, a modest brick mansion, not flashy but clearly expensive.
"Wow," Alex breathed. "Professor Ken is loaded. Did you know this?."
Ryan shook his head. "It's my first time here."
"But aren't you his last disciple?"
"He's invited me before, but I had already planned a trip with Cole then."
"Look, they have a pool," Alex gasped. "I spend the rest of my life here."
Ryan rolled his eyes.
Professor Ken had always been quite low-key, and that was one of the major reasons he and Ryan got along so well. For his birthday, a department-sponsored cake and people gathering in his office to sing the happy birthday song was usually enough. But this year was different.
The professor's only child, his son, had returned from studying abroad, and the professor decided to host a party that would double as a welcome banquet.
When they walked into the house, it already had a lot of guests standing around with wine glasses and snack plates. Most of them he recognizedz were people from the university, researchers he had interacted with or read their works, basically people he knew.
"Alex! Ryan!" someone called.
Ryan turned. A fellow teaching assistant waved from a small group by the windows. "You guys are finally here."
Ryan struggled to remember his name. The guy had joined just a few weeks ago and they had handled a general class together before.
"Peter," Alex said with a smile, dragging Ryan towards them. "We aren't too late are we?"
"Right on time."
Ryan greeted the others and was soon pulled into a discussion about his recent paper.
A tap of glass drew everyone's attention.
Professor Ken stood on the landing, a drink in his hand. "Thank you everyone for taking time out of your weekend to celebrate the day with me," he said warmly, raising his glass to toast the crowd. "Please eat and enjoy."
He stepped down the stairs and began weaving through the guests, shaking hands and sharing quite conversations.
"Ryan," someone tapped his shoulder.
He turned to see one of the department lecturers. "The professor is asking for you."
Ryan nodded and excuesed him self from the group.
Professor Ken was standing near the kitchen door now, talking to a tall man with broad shoulders.
"Ah Ryan!" he greeted. "Come. I want you to meet someone."
Ryan stepped closer. The man turned slowly.
"This is my son, Carl," the professor said proudly. "Carl this is my youngest disciple, Ryan. He just published a paper on the metamorphosis of the Siberian butterfly. It's a brilliant read."
"Professor," Ryan said looking down shyly.
Recently Professor Ken had been spreading the gospel of his paper to anyone who cared to listen.
"Hello, Mr. Ryan." Carl said, holding out his hand.
This voice.
Ryan froze.
He shook his head.
No it wasn't possible.
"Ryan?" Professor Ken prompted gently.
He snapped back to reality and reached out quickly.
He pulled his hand away a little too quickly.
The heat of Carl's hand seemed to want to burn through his skin. Making him think of last night again.
"Nice to meet you." Ryan said, forcing a polite smile.
"Professor, do you have a minute?" someone called from a distance.
"I'll leave you two to chat," Professor Ken said as he walked away. "Be nice to him, he's a little shy."
And then they were alone.
Ryan stared at a spot on the floor.
Carl watched him silently.
After a beat, Ryan muttered, "I— I need to get back to my friend," and turned away.
Carl didn't stop him, he watched Ryan disappear into the crown with a small crowd.