Chapter 38: Miss Einstein

"Oh my god, Ariadne, congratulations!"

Ariadne looked up to see her friends quickly coming towards her. She was sulking in the canteen, wallowing in her sorrows because she believed she didn't do well in her Microbiology quiz. Just when she was about to take another bite of Devil's food cake, Macy and Kate swiftly sat beside her.

"Congratulations, Ms. Ariadne Foster... or should I say Miss Dean's Lister number 1?"

Before she could say thank you, she rushed to the bulletin board where they posted the dean's list. Sure enough, her name was beside the number one. She was about to do her special victory dance, but she knew that would be embarrassing. She smiled to herself, and went back to the canteen where her friends were waiting.

"Kate, Mace. We're going to celebrate. Let's have dinner, tonight, my treat." She smiled at them.

"Are you sure? I mean, we've seen you worked hard for that spot, surely we should be the ones who'd treat you with food."

"I insist. Anyway, I'll be right back."

Her friends waved her off as her heart began thumping in her chest. She had to tell Arthur the good news and oh, how she just missed him!

Just before she knocked on the door of the faculty room, Arthur was on his way out.

"Hi, sir. Um, I was just wondering what we're studying for Midterms. I mean, we really don't know what to study."

He had a playful smirk on his face. "What do you mean you don't know what to study? Just familiarize yourselves with Existentialism and Phenomenology... And don't forget Transcendence."

Was that the British accent in his voice? She wasn't sure, but he does seem a little bit too happy today.

"Okay, thank you." Ariadne had an aura of professionalism, but she couldn't help but wonder why Arthur was still too giddy. Just before he left, she muttered under her breath, "By the way, I'm a dean's lister."

She was about to smile, but her heart sank when he didn't look back at her. He quickly said, "Well, congratulations, Miss Einstein. I've always known how smart you are." And with that, he hurriedly went up the stairs.

He didn't really hurt or offend her at that moment, but she started feeling needles slowly pricking her heart. She finally decided to let her feelings flow for Arthur, but why did he seem distant. Sure, he was amiable and approachable, but what happened to the man whom she actually fell in love with? What happened to the man who finally became sincere about his emotions?

Ambivalence and hurt swelled within her chest. She didn't want to play with the thought that Arthur has suddenly lost interest of her. She mentally cursed herself for listening to her idiotic heart. Deep within her mind she knew he was the type who didn't really want commitment. She began to think his satiety for lust was the only romantic inkling that seemed to matter for him.

"Okay fine, Mr. Levitt." She thought to herself, "I've always known you were a coward when it comes to life but I never knew you were also afraid to face your own emotions. Pathetic."

She found herself in the canteen once again and she was really focusing on her chocolate cake. She felt that she needed more than a slice of it.

"Ariadne, why are you crying?" Macy's anxious voice broke her from her reverie.

"Oh, it's just that that Microbiology quiz really got to me..."