16 Chapter 12.2: The Project Fiasco Part 2

It has been three days since the partners for the physics projects have switched. Aiden and Sarah didn't even look at each other after that colossal argument. Sarah and Vincent worked together very efficiently, got to know each other, laughed together, and always hung out after school, whereas Olivia and Aiden had immense quandaries with each other.

They agreed to work together on the same field of interest that is, astrophysics. The problem is that even though both of them were qualified IB students and went for the same extra classes after school, Olivia's work ethic was stronger than that of Aiden's. In other words, Aiden always relaxed and completed his assignments leisurely and submitted them on time. Olivia was perpetually the first one in the class to complete her tasks, homework, and fulfilled her responsibilities and submit them weeks before the actual due date. She detested people who couldn't catch up to her speed of work when it came to group projects.

There were a few periods in science class to work on the projects. Olivia had her own time table to complete the outline, main framework, and final touches of the assignment. Aiden was still in the process of comprehending the draft, whereas Olivia was all set to start the building up the model and write down the explanation of how it would operate. She observed Aiden reading the outline, and her blood started boiling at the mere sight of that. She yelled, "TUM ABHI BHI WAHI PADH RAHE HO! CHAL GADHE! HAMEN ISSE POORA KARNA HAI! MERE PAAS, TUM JAISE ANAPADH BEVAKOOPHON SE NIPATANE KA SAMAY NAHI HAI! NAAYALAK!" ("You're still reading that! Come on, asshole! We need to get this done! I don't have time to deal with illiterate idiots like you! You shameful person!") Aiden looked at her with confusion and asked her with rage, "What the hell are you talking about?!"

Olivia's eyes turned red; filled with anger. She yelled at the top of her voice in the classroom, "Why on earth should I do all the work, and you slack off like an asshole with nothing to contribute!" All the students present there fell silent. Even Dr. DK! Sarah and Vincent turned around to listen to what Olivia and Aiden were yelling about. Vincent whispered to Sarah, "Oh, boy! This is going to be good!" Olivia and Aiden didn't even notice that everybody was looking at them! They were too busy arguing like elementary kids. Aiden answered in irritation, "OH HELLO! We don't have to finish all this by tomorrow! We have a week to complete it!" Olivia lost her patience and said, "I don't care! You're working with me! I want it done now! NOW MEANS NOW! Am I clear you sissy!?"

Aiden replied sarcastically, "Okay okay! It will be done you, grandmother! I don't want to hear more of your hissy fits!" Before Olivia could react to that offending statement, Dr. DK screamed, "As much as I want this drama to continue, I'm afraid all you buzzheads need to get back to work now! Olivia; control your obnoxious temper, and Aiden you--" Dr. DK stopped mid-sentence as he had nothing to say to him because Aiden didn't do anything wrong.

Nevertheless, he continued, "Aiden, please do me a favor and bear with her." Aiden raised an eyebrow and shrieked, "Sir! How could you expect me to do that! Have you ever tried to work with this idiot before!?" Dr. DK took a deep breath and said, "Mr. Zhou, I demand to see you after class. I need to discuss something confidential with you." Aiden gulped with fear, and he stammered, "I-I w-will b-be t-there." With Olivia glaring at him the whole time, he approached Mavis and Pauline and whispered in fear, "Okay! I understand that you're friends with Sarah because she's warm, sweet, and smart. But what do you possibly see in Olivia!? She's the exact opposite!" Pauline asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Aiden took a deep breath and replied with trembling hands, "Olivia is the most anguish girl I've ever met! I bet that her house is a torture chamber! If I ever go to her home, I would end up like the poor Jews." Mavis consoled him by saying, "Look Aiden, Olivia's not that bad! You just need to--" Aiden interrupted, "Need to what?! I've been trying to work with her for three days now, and I cannot even bear with her overbearing attitude!" Pauline responded, "Aiden! She's like that for a reason, okay?! If you want to be stubborn about this, then fine! Good luck with that." Mavis whispered into his ear before leaving the area with Pauline, "Take all the luck you can get, pretty boy." They walked away, leaving Aiden alone with his frightening thoughts.

After class, Aiden approached Dr. DK's desk and asked politely, "Sir, you wanted to see me?" Dr. DK replied, "Yes, Mr. Zhou! Have a seat." Aiden obediently sat down, and Dr. DK started conversing, "Aiden, first of all, you didn't get along with Sarah which I understand entirely; because you both are at different levels. I set you up with Olivia, who is also an IB student, and you're still facing troubles with her. I saw everything that transpired between the two of you. And it's not your fault." Aiden inquired, "Then what is this about?" The teacher continued, "There's something about her that you should know. I know Olivia since grade 9 before she migrated to PEI. I used to work at ISM; her previous school until I got fired as I raised my hand on a student. Olivia has faced a lot of difficulties in life, and she has no one to talk about it."

Aiden questioned, "Can't she talk it out with her friends?" The instructor answered, "Unfortunately no. She doesn't trust anybody. People have betrayed her in the past, which is causing her to be overbearing at times. To be honest, I'm surprised to see her like this! Yeah... she was a little bossy when it came to teamwork. But you must know that all her teammates used to slack off whereas she did all the work as she didn't trust anybody with it. And she couldn't help it because her grades were depending on what was going to be presented. I think she took off her anger on you because she expected you to be like her. She needs somebody to understand her, talk to her without any hesitation or judgment of character. And Aiden, I hope that from you, not from her friends."

Aiden's eyes suddenly filled up with tears. Dr. DK didn't ask about them, he somehow already knew what was going on. Aiden asked, with his eyes flashing red with tears, "Why?" Dr. DK responded, "Aiden, I'm aware of what your parents do for a living as I have been in touch with them for years now. They are businessmen and women who aren't able to take out time for you. They argue all the time at home, and that causes you discomfort; don't think that I don't know that! Your father sees a friend in me and tells me everything that happens. And I respect his privacy, even though I promised him that I wouldn't tell you. As a mentor and a family friend, I can tell you that you can trust Olivia. I'm one hundred percent sure that she will understand what you're going through. So please, give her another chance and try a different approach to improve the situation for both of you." Aiden replied while wiping away his tears, "I will try my best sir. Thank you!" Before he left the classroom, he turned around and said, "Sir?" Dr. DK answered, "Yes, Aiden?" Aiden continued, "Thank you for being there for my family and me." Dr. DK smiled, genuinely, and replied, "You're very welcome."

During the weekend, Olivia invited him to the Confederation library to complete the project. She arrived there first and was waiting for him by reading one of the astrophysics books she found on one of the shelves. Aiden ran inside and said huffingly, "Oh my gosh! Sorry, I overslept!" Olivia replied, "It's okay. Even I just came in." Aiden raised an eyebrow and asked, "Wait... you're not mad at me?" Olivia smiled and answered, "Aiden, I might be short-tempered, but I'm not a monster." Aiden stammered, "I--I thought that you were." He immediately covered his mouth, regretting every word he said.

Olivia took a deep breath and said, "Aiden, I'm sorry that I overreacted that day. You're right! We do have a week, and the fact that I have hissy fits once in a while." Aiden sat down and asked, "Why is that?" Olivia replied, "Maybe because I don't know who to trust." Aiden responded, "I get that. Sometimes, I just blow up at someone else even though it's not their fault." Olivia asked, "Really? Why?" Aiden replied, "Because I don't have anybody to talk to about my problems." Olivia noticed the pain in his eyes and consoled him by saying, "Okay. I have several problems, and so do you. So, how about this? We talk to each other about them and give helpful pieces of advice." Aiden asked, "Would you actually do that?" Olivia replied sarcastically, "Well... I am desperate!" Aiden and Olivia shared a laugh and began working on their project while conversing with one another. They both became good friends and started laughing and questioning why they were arguing in the first place.

Then finally came that day when all the students had to present their models in the class. Olivia and Aiden made a great team when they got along. Their project received the highest mark in the entire 10B homeroom, which impressed Dr. DK. The teacher said with pride, "Mr. Zhou and Ms. Madhavan, I expected nothing less."