Chapter 9

Chapter 9

    She didn’t see the need to push this further; she just wanted both of them out of her office.

Reaching into her drawer, she pulled out a form and handed it over to Ryan without saying a word.

"Umm, sorry, what am I supposed to do with this?" Ryan asked, seemingly confused.

The professor, in her head, was about to cook up the nastiest response to such a dumb question from Ryan.

"Well, you can read, can't you?" Eleanor interrupted, saving Helena from her misery. "It clearly states there that you should indicate the course you are willing to study."

"Oh!" Ryan exclaimed as he looked down at the form handed to him and began filling it out, slightly embarrassed that he looked illiterate in front of these two women.

"You do know what you intend on studying, don’t you?" the professor added, further embarrassing Ryan.

"Yes, I do," he blurted out. "I intend on studying something related to business, just like my father, so I will be able to take over his business someday."

The professor nodded, refusing to argue any further.

Ryan filled out the form and handed it back to the professor.

She nodded rather emotionlessly and stretched forth her hand. "Welcome to the University of Lerudia. We will be hoping to see you here tomorrow."

"Thank you very much for this opportunity," Eleanor said as she received the handshake. "It’s an honor to have an offspring present in your university."

The professor smiled back. "Likewise, here.

It They got down from the bus as they arrived at the station they had come in from.  

Justine whipped out her phone for the first time in hours. "Damn, seven missed calls and twelve messages," she muttered in a low tone.  

"Sorry, what? From who? Are you in some kind of huge debt or something?" Sophia teased.  

"Oh, please, it's the guy from the store yesterday." She opened up the messages. "He said he wants to meet for dinner. Really, bro?"  

"Aww, I think that is so sweet! Dinner? Justine, you definitely have to go! Don’t tell me you’re going to reject it."  

They were already at their home. Sophia was struggling to take off her pants—it had been much easier for her to wear them earlier that morning.  

"I can't go!" Justine blurted out. "I don’t even know him that well."  

"Exactly the whole point, cousin. Dinner is an opportunity for both of you to get to know each other better."  

"I get your point, but I’m still not going. Please don’t push it, cousin. It’s not like I even have any nice dress to wear."  

Sophia smiled sheepishly. "Well, cousin, dressing shouldn’t be a problem when you have me."  

She hurried over to Justine’s bed. "Now, just one question, and I need you to answer genuinely. Do you find him attractive?"  

Justine hesitated a bit before replying, "Yes, I think I do."  

"Well, that settles it then. You are going on that date! And don’t worry about dressing up because I am going to style you, cousin."  

Sophia hurried to Justine’s wardrobe and pulled out a couple of dresses. "You, my friend, are going to get a total makeover and then go on that date with your absolute love."  

"Grab a seat." She lifted Justine up from the bed and sat her down, pulling out brushes and all sorts of makeover tools. She loosened the knot in Justine’s hair and combed it out. It was black and lush as it fell over her shoulders.  

She began applying all sorts of hair products, styling the hair as she worked.  

"Wow, I didn’t know you also had a career in hairstyling," Justine teased.  

"Well, there are a lot of things I can do that you don’t know about, cousin."  

"So, did he tell you the location of the dinner?”

   Oh my God I haven't replied him or called back yet , Justine gasped at the sudden realization,

   "That's true, we got carried away at the mention of a date. Give him a call right this instant!" Sophia stopped what she was doing and fetched her cousin's phone.

"Please give him a valid reason for not picking up his calls and also let him know you're interested in the dinner," Sophia pressed.

"Will you shut up? I am older than you! I should be the one dishing out advice, not the other way around," Justine snapped.

She was clearly nervous but decided to keep herself calm by transferring her aggression to Sophia.

"Just give him a damn call, please."

"You watch your tone, lady. I am already making the call."

Justine took a deep breath and dialed the number. It rang for a while before she finally heard his voice on the other end as he picked up.

"Hello, Justine. I was starting to wonder if you blocked my number or something, with the way you refused to pick up the phone," he said, sounding like someone who had been waiting for her call.

"Hi, I am so sorry I had to put you through all that. The thing is, I accompanied my cousin to get admitted to her school today, and my phone battery was flat. I’m surprised how calls even went through. Please don’t be mad."

Sophia smiled from behind and gave her cousin a huge thumbs-up, encouraging her that she was doing great.

"Why would I be mad? Of course, I’m not. I’m just glad I get to hear your voice. The only thing that will make me mad is you not showing up for dinner tonight."

"You got my message, right? Are you going to make it?"

Justine hesitated a bit. She didn’t want to sound too desperate or thirsty.

"Umm, I guess I can make it then. It’s the least I can do. So, what’s the address?"

"So, this means you’re coming, right?" He sounded excited. "Damn, I’m so happy! I’ll send a ride to pick you up. Just text me where you’d be comfortable meeting."

"Will do just that," Justine replied. "Well, it sounds like a date then."

"Indeed, it is. I'll text you later, Justine. See you at 8 p.m."

"You got it," she replied and hung up.

Sophia let out a little scream of triumph. "It’s official!" she said with a giggle.

"High five, cousin! My God, he sounds like such a sweet and nice person," Sophia declared.

     I"Know right? Can’t believe I wanted to turn him down at first. He might just be my soulmate! Now, come on, hurry up with this makeover!"  

"I wonder if I’ll ever find my own soulmate," Sophia muttered.  

"Stop that, cousin. You’re a very pretty girl, and I’m sure a lot of guys at that fancy school will throw themselves at you."  

"Well, I don’t think I’m interested in that. I’m there for a purpose, which is to study and get a better life for us all. The degree is all I’m focused on, to be honest," Sophia shrugged.  

"You can’t just put all your energy into studies, cousin. You have to find a kind of balance between it all. I would like to talk more about this, but it looks like I’m slowing you down from my makeover."  

Sophia was fine with how she was. She knew it would feel good to be loved, but she wasn’t planning on forcing it. She focused on her cousin’s hair and continued styling it.  

A few minutes later, she was done.  

"Tada!" she said as she placed a mirror in front of Justine.  

To Justine’s shock, she looked absolutely stunning. Her hair and everything were on fleek. She looked so different.  

"Wow, Sophia! You really outdid yourself. You should seriously consider setting up a salon—such skills shouldn’t go to waste," Justine teased.  

"Oh, please. Get on your feet, I’m not quite done yet."  

Sophia pulled out a red dress. "I think this will look just perfect for the date."  

"Are you sure? It kind of looks too flashy to wear. I would have preferred something with less color."  

"Oh, nonsense! You need to make a statement, and this is just the perfect thing to wear."  

"I’m hungry. We didn’t have much for lunch, and it’s almost night," Sophia remarked, holding her stomach in a dramatic way.  

"Come on, do this for me," Justine pr

essured. "I will give you money to order pizza."  

She unlocked her phone and saw a message from Ward.