Side Story: A peek into the past 2

"Rest easy, all we have to do is sit in on a lecture full of bullshit and make some smart remarks at the end."

Elias nodded at his superior wondering why he looked so eager to sit in on this bullshit lecture, the man's favorite pastime seems to be pointing out his peer's incompetence and dig out their slightest miscalculation then make a show out of it. And for someone who'd been as unproductive as him in the research world, he always manages to get away with it. He Internally shook his head, he didn't know which surprised him the most, Kinsley's baseless arrogance or how well he hid it.

He was still wondering how to get out of this task when P.Kinsley stopped walking and greeted someone. The person he greeted was a short person with black graying hair in a buzz cut and small, almond shaped eyes that he couldn't say if their size was due to his Asian origins or his constant frown. But either way, the man didn't look pleased to see them in the least.

"P.Wattani! we were heading to the conference room. Would you like to walk there with us?" Kinsley said with enthusiasm,

"No thank you, I am waiting for someone." P. Wattani said in a quiet and calm tone that sent chills running up Elias's spine. This person really didn't like P. Kinsley at all, his tone could've frozen the garden if it had any physical impact.

"I was just telling Elias how much I was looking forward to your presentation." Kinsley continued not seeming to mind the other man's tone, or rather ignored it, because just a few moments ago, he was planning this very man's lecture's demise. If Elias didn't grow up in that kind of pretentious society, he would've let the snort he was holding back escape, who knew that professors could be as skilled in sugar coating words as socialite debutantes. P. Wattani in the other hand didn't even bother to return the pleasantry as he he nodded dismissively at him then looked at Elias as if seizing him up.

"I see you have a new member" P.Wattani said with what sounded like a mocking tone "And he looks younger than fifty years old, Kinsley! did the higher force twist your hand or shall we expect the sun to be rising from the other side of the world."

Elias fraught to hold back his chuckle, this man really doesn't hold back his punches. How he got to where he is in the academia with that personality, he didn't know, still the man sure got far, he's so renowned in his field that even Elias who wasn't specialized in botanics heard about him. And he just pointed out the most taboo subject in academia right in front of the department chief. Elias felt a ping of admiration toward the man, for someone to call Kinsley's bullshit as easily as that, he deserved to be admired. even though he was practically saying that Elias got his position through connections. which wouldn't be exactly wrong.

P. Kinsley let out an awkward laugh seeming to recoil, "oh! come on Wattani, it's not like we're that hard on the younger generation. unlike your institute, the university must maintain its national and international level, that's why we need people to be competent before they join our team. it's a heavier responsibility that's why we can't let young people do whatever they want in our department. otherwise we will become the laughing stock of the academic world."

"i know, i know," P. Wattani said as if reciting something from a book." that's why it can't be helped that they're all 50 years old geezers when they reach your desired level of competence."

P. Wattani paused, when Kinsley was about to retort he continued, "you know what happens when the master dies before teaching his pupils?" P.wattani said ready to walk away from their conversation " the pupil, still ignorant, takes over his place and that's when the catastrophe happens" he told Kinsley then turned toward Elias and said "My assistants are going to do the presentation today, I'm going to sit down with the audience and watch the fruits of my hard labor. make sure to pay attention and not let yourself be surpassed"

Elias was shocked as Wattani looked at him straight in the eyes, He could practically hear him saying 'you could learn a thing or two from them.'. The strange professor walked away toward the parking lot where a young man and woman emerged from a recently parked car chatting in low amicable tones. as he reached them, their smiles dissipated almost in sync and they began discussing the content of the documents in their hands.

"don't mind him Elias, he's just blowing smoke with no fire to speak of. one of his assistants is our graduate, he recruited him before he could finish his thesis." Kinsley said with disdain,

"perhaps he saw himself in him, the rejected doctorate student whom no one would hire or associate themselves with." he added with a smirk that made Elias internally sigh. if he knew him well, he was already planning to ridicule them and chase them out of campus in a shame walk if he could manage it. but judging from Wattani's confidence, it wouldn't be easy.

A few minutes later, Elias was sitting in a surprisingly jostling conference room. But the research community knew how to make a big show out of their discoveries, so it wasn't surprising that the attendance was high, after all the department chief worked hard to convince P. Wattani to do the lecture. Still, the room looked like his first batch of freshmen in their first lecture. the chaos was so deafening the Elia was wondering if they could hear each other talking.

Rumors floated around like pollen in the air, settling and germinating at a frightening speed only to repeat the process all over again. P. Wattani's assistants were the center of the gossip circle, or rather the guy named Adam was. everyone seemed to be talking about how he left the university when he received an offer from the institute before finishing his thesis. Someone had tried to sabotage his project right before the presentation. he left as soon as his diploma was handed over to him.

"It's his revenge" said one of the female professors near him to her partner "He wanted to show us his success" her partner nodded continuing with that line of gossip.

In the middle of that chaos, the assistants were preparing their materials in silence, watching them, Elias noticed how well they worked together, in sync like a well oiled machine. they must make a good combination in the lab, this kind of sync comes only from working together for a while. but also, he noticed how uncomfortable the woman was, constantly adjusting the hem of her sleeves and walking so slowly on her heels that it was clear the she wasn't used to wearing them.

The noises were abundantly increasing as the tension grew, they were all waiting for Adam to step into the stage. Some were waiting for the confrontation, and some wanted to scrutinize him. The content of the presentation was like a second thought to their minds, but they all came here for one same thing, they all came here for a show. And they knew that they wouldn't get one when Adam sat down and the woman stepped into the stage.