Problems and Solution

"Ahhhhhh!" 

Allan's scream pierced the air as he realized what he had firmly believed to be true. It echoed as though his heart had been torn asunder. Summoning his maximum strength, Allan pushed Joe away, breaking free from the strong arms wrapped around his waist.

"That... that...!" Allan gasped for breath, pointing a trembling finger at Joe in disbelief. But Joe, oblivious to Allan's thoughts, misunderstood, thinking he was indicating something behind him. In the next instant, Joe turned around to see Sienna and Mr. Brown had relocated to the pavilion, engaged in discussion. The pavilion happened to be within Allan's line of sight.

Before Joe could shield Allan's view from Sienna's approach, it was too late. 

Sienna, having concluded her talk with Mr. Brown, began to make her way toward them. As her eyes met Allan's gaze, she abruptly halted, her face a mask of horrified surprise. Allan, brushing away Joe's approaching hands that seemed intent on covering his eyes, also noticed Sienna's attention fixed on him.

"No, no, no! It's not like that!" Allan exclaimed desperately, then quickly dashed off, vanishing out of sight.

"What's with him?" Joe complained, utterly confused.

"It seems I'm not the only one who doesn't want to address this date note incident," Sienna sighed, her curiosity piqued. If Allan had finally mustered the courage to ask her out after so many years, why would he be so frightened at the sight of her, as if she were some terrifying monster?

"Funny!" Joe commented. "Where's his courage?"

"Right..." Sienna stared at Allan's retreating figure, already miles away, her mind elsewhere.

"So, done with Mr. Brown?" Joe interrupted her contemplation.

"Oh, yes," Sienna said, presenting a pile of papers. "I have the full list of attendees in the classrooms where Allan Batman was lingering this morning. Care to take a look?"

"So, you still don't want to accept that the note is for you?" Joe smirked.

"Just in case," Sienna replied. "What if it's a mistake, and we're ruining some beautiful, destined relationship?"

Joe said no more, but his interested smile conveyed his agreement as he looked up into the darkening sky. "It's getting dark, and I don't think my place will have electricity tonight. What about trying the library?"

"Sounds better," Sienna said, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.

As the two turned around to head out, Amanda Smith appeared seemingly out of nowhere, her hands holding the phone between her fingers as she typed away with blushing glee on her face. She didn't notice Sienna and Joe.

"Amanda! Hey, Amanda, SMITH!" Sienna shouted, and only then did Amanda look up and see the two acquaintances.

"Oh, hey Sie and Joe, where are you going?" Amanda smiled brightly, though sounding like she couldn't wait to return to her phone.

"The library, what about you?"

"Oh, the library..." Amanda's smile faded, replaced by nervousness. "I... I... I'm going there!"

Amanda pointed at somewhere behind Sienna and Joe's backs, causing them to turn around.

"Where..." But when they turned back, Amanda was nowhere to be seen.

"Holy... What is it with everybody?" Sienna couldn't believe it. Then she heard Joe sigh, "Now I know what you mean by her being glued to the phone..."

-

Meanwhile, Allan continued running, putting as much distance as he could between himself and Joe, attempting to evade Joe's "monstrous claws." He finally came to a stop at the doorway of the café where he often sat, preparing to execute some of his secret maneuvers that he had no intention of sharing with Joe or anyone else.

Sweating profusely, Allan purchased two large cups of ice cola and found his usual seat, his mind still fixated on the events that had transpired back on the campus path.

"No, no, it can't be like this, it... it would be devastating!" Allan muttered to himself. Recognizing Joe's affection for him was one thing, but being seen by the girl he liked was another, and the latter prospect was simply horrifying.

"What if she misunderstands my true sexual orientation? What if she thinks I'm deceiving her? What if she tells her roommate?" Allan fretted, murmuring to himself. He had hoped that the girl's roommate would support him in pursuing the relationship, but judging from the current situation, it seemed he was on the brink of losing one of his closest allies who could potentially boost his position...

With his mind in disarray, Allan subconsciously opened the instant messenger app and located his conversation with Joe. Among everyone he knew, Joe possessed the most extensive and profound experience in romantic relationships. Allan viewed Joe as a walking encyclopedia of love, capable of solving any love-related puzzle.

Except... he couldn't reach Joe right now. Contacting him might just turn the love-buds into fully grown trees in no time!

Frantically scratching his head, Allan finally logged onto a forum and posted a thread: "What should I do if someone I like mistakenly thinks I am involved with someone else?" Instantly, numerous replies flooded in.

"Give up, mate. Seeing is believing."

"You should reflect on why you made such a mistake. Are your actions not aligned with your true feelings?"

"Tell her directly and clear up the misunderstanding."

"Listen, if you don't act fast to clear things up, you're doomed."

"Are you too much of a coward to do it yourself? Get someone you trust to help!"

"Do it, mate! Unless you lack the motivation... maybe you don't love her enough. Then find someone else and start anew."

Reading this last comment, Allan grew annoyed and responded, "Being fickle and playing with love won't lead to any good results. Have some morals, buddy!" Then he deleted the comment in frustration.

But at this point, Allan had already made up his mind - he was going to tell her and explain the situation. The question remained: should he wait until tomorrow's coffee, or text her now?

He started a new thread with this question, which garnered even more responses.

"Definitely now. Don't underestimate the fickleness of heartbroken people. They could easily move on overnight!"

"You could wait if you're patient enough. But ask yourself - are you patient enough to wait until tomorrow?"

"Do it now, or you won't even have enough energy for tomorrow, because this situation will keep you up all night, hanging in mid-air."

Allan closed the forum and composed a text message -

 "What you saw today is not what I meant. I am NOT involved with Joe Sullivan, except for a pure friendship." 

With resolve, he sent the message to the receiver. 

The text flew across the vast expanse of the campus and landed on the phone held in Brandon's hand. At that moment, Brandon was also troubled by Sienna and Joe's interaction earlier in the day, though he kept reassuring himself that it was just a misunderstanding that he couldn't wrap his head around.

However, the more he dwelled on it, the more unsettling it became. 

Over the past couple of hours, he found himself repeatedly opening and closing the dialogue with Sienna, hesitatingly considering whether he should recall the plan to get coffee the next day.

With no one else to turn to for advice, Brandon dialed Jason's number. After two rings, Jason answered amidst the background noise of machines rolling, indicating he was still immersed in his academic project in one of his labs.

"I hope you're not calling because of the girl's problem, because I can't tear myself away from the office right now," Jason's voice gentle but tinged with amusement.

Brandon fell silent for a moment. Although it wasn't the exact issue Jason had mentioned, it still revolved around "that girl."

"I'm not leaking any power stream at the moment," Brandon replied, "But... I'm stuck on a philosophical problem and I'd like to hear your thoughts."

"Philosophical? Sounds intriguing," Jason remarked, setting down a screwdriver and leaning against his desk. "Go on."

"Well..." Brandon cleared his throat nervously, "If you're unsure about something but have a strong negative speculation about its potential downside, would you give it a second chance, or cancel it altogether?"

What Brandon couldn't see was the smile forming on Jason's face, nor could he know that Jason had already deduced it was a problem revolving the girl. 

After pretending to ponder over it for a brief moment, Jason replied, "It's a simple yes or no question, straightforward. You don't need to approach it philosophically."

"Meaning...?" Brandon inquired.

"Don't beat around the bush," Jason advised.

"I feel like you're making it vaguer," Brandon retorted.

"Cool, you're feeling... when you actually think you have 'feelings,' you should use them accordingly," Jason remarked, finding the situation increasingly amusing.

"You're making it sound very philosophical," Brandon countered.

"Isn't that what you asked me for help with in the first place?" Jason quipped.

Suddenly, Brandon's phone vibrated, signaling the arrival of a text. Through his wristband, he could read the entire message at a glance. 

In that instant, he felt a sense of clarity wash over him.

With swift precision, Brandon typed, "OK," and sent it off.

Sensing a momentary relaxation on the other side of the phone, Jason inquired, "Problem solved?"

Brandon, suddenly aware that he was still on the phone with Jason, adopted a more restrained demeanor and replied in a forced tone of seriousness, "I think I should work on what you've told me, alone."

"Good luck," Jason wished him, before ending the call first.

-

"Problem solved!" Allan posted this phrase on the threads he had created earlier, for the online advisors to follow up on, after receiving that "OK" text from whom he assumed to be Sienna.