Everything about it was big and grand. The people, the buildings, the prices. But not the space. Malik apparently thought it would be a good idea to venture through the city alone. Big mistake - too many cars, too many people walking in the streets. Whether he went by bus or by foot, he was screwed. He should have accepted Sofia’s offer to drive him through the city and show him some nice places. But he couldn’t accept that, he wouldn’t dare distract her from her work, so he decided to take the subway. What could possibly go wrong after all?
After getting out on the wrong station about three times, he finally made it to Central Park, though by the time he arrived he wasn’t even in the mood to go in anymore, so he went around the place.
A few stops at some places and he came back to Ezio’s place with a bunch of trinkets and gifts for his brother and Anne, plus the new nano generation from the Apple Store - he really needed a new one. He couldn’t have been more grateful for finally propping down on the couch. He heard movement from the kitchen and turned around. Ezio came in his direction.
“Glad you’re back. You should probably go change yourself, Sofia and I are leaving in half an hour.” Ezio patted his shoulder once and disappeared in the halls, probably heading to his own room.
Malik wasted no time. Grabbing his things, he marched to his own room and dropped everything on the bed. He grabbed the social attire he brought specifically for the conference and ran to the spare bathroom.
Just before getting under the warm water, Malik sighed. He was nervous and he knew it wasn’t because of the lecture.
----------
Just like the rest of the city, the hall was huge, complete with a big stage and an even bigger projection screen behind it. They arrived early, naturally, so that Ezio could arrange everything with the rest of the lecturers (there were three total, counting the professor). Sofia stayed backstage with them for the most part. He offered help as well, but she told him to sit down and relax.
So sit down and relax he did. The place began to fill with people over time. He noticed that most were young men and women, ranging from 20 to 24 years old, probably. They all held books and pens in one hand and a macbook on another. No doubt students. At some point some teachers and other known professors began to find their own seats as well. He remembered a guy all the way in the front row to be one of the teachers from his college, but they never talked so he didn’t even bother getting up to greet him.
There was still another 15 minutes before it started but the place was already crowded. So much in fact, that some students were sitting on the ground by the side of the chairs. Wow. He knew this would be big, but still.
Just ten minutes left and he noticed Sofia returning to sit by his side.
“Everything is ready now.”
“You always attend to Ezio’s lectures?”
“Wouldn’t miss them for anything.”
He chuckled quickly, but became serious again. “I don’t see Altaïr.” It came out before he realized and he immediately regretted it. Thankfully Sofia didn’t comment on it.
“He’s backstage, no doubt talking business with Ezio. Don’t get all nervous now.” She commented with a low giggle.
Damn you.
She had been right. Not five minutes later and from the stage door to the side came Altaïr, hood in place, walking up the corridor. As he approached Malik’s row, their eyes met and as always, Altaïr didn’t seem too happy to see him. Malik glared back and couldn’t be more grateful that all seats in the row had been taken. He watched as Altaïr went all the way to the back and leaned against the wall among other students, crossing his arms and still glaring at him.
Malik shrugged and turned back to the stage. However, he immediately regretted not having a seat for Altaïr by his side. Now he would have to deal with the creepy sensation of someone watching him from behind for almost two hours. His fingers moved to the back of his neck, scratching. He knew he was being watched and it felt horrible. How was he supposed to concentrate like this?
There wasn’t much time to think anyway, for soon the lights dimmed and the stage was lit with the big projection screen. Ezio finally got on stage with the other lecturers and a couple of journalists that would interview them before the actual thing began.
----------
It all ended faster than he expected.
Sofia promptly got up and moved to the stage where she congratulated the lecturers for the good presentation. All around people started getting up and moving to the back where two very long tables were served with food and drink for all. He didn’t even glance back, Altaïr could wait a little longer. Meanwhile he moved to the stage as well, practically fighting against the flux of people moving in the other direction.
When he finally made it to Ezio, he smiled and extended his hand for the man to shake.
“It was really good. I’m so glad the principal had me come.”
“Glad you enjoyed.”
Ezio proceeded to introduce him to his fellow partners and he couldn’t keep his excitement down. He had been in other lectures before, he even did a few of his own, but they were always small and there was never any celebrity from the history world to accompany him. For all he’s been going through, it was worth it.
He was still talking to one of the men when from the corner of his eyes he decided to glance at the back of the room. When altaïr noticed he was looking, the man uncrossed his arms and lifted from the wall, walking to the terrace outside. Ezio approached him and whispered.
“Guess there’s no more avoiding it.”
“Unfortunately.”
Sighing in defeat and preparing himself to face the man, Malik straightened his shoulders and followed in Altaïr’s direction.
Dream Catcher - Part 4a
Everything about it was big and grand. The people, the buildings, the prices. But not the space. Malik apparently thought it would be a good idea to venture through the city alone. Big mistake - too many cars, too many people walking in the streets. Whether he went by bus or by foot, he was screwed. He should have accepted Sofia’s offer to drive him through the city and show him some nice places. But he couldn’t accept that, he wouldn’t dare distract her from her work, so he decided to take the subway. What could possibly go wrong after all?
After getting out on the wrong station about three times, he finally made it to Central Park, though by the time he arrived he wasn’t even in the mood to go in anymore, so he went around the place.
A few stops at some places and he came back to Ezio’s place with a bunch of trinkets and gifts for his brother and Anne, plus the new nano generation from the Apple Store - he really needed a new one. He couldn’t have been more grateful for finally propping down on the couch. He heard movement from the kitchen and turned around. Ezio came in his direction.
“Glad you’re back. You should probably go change yourself, Sofia and I are leaving in half an hour.” Ezio patted his shoulder once and disappeared in the halls, probably heading to his own room.
Malik wasted no time. Grabbing his things, he marched to his own room and dropped everything on the bed. He grabbed the social attire he brought specifically for the conference and ran to the spare bathroom.
Just before getting under the warm water, Malik sighed. He was nervous and he knew it wasn’t because of the lecture.
----------
Just like the rest of the city, the hall was huge, complete with a big stage and an even bigger projection screen behind it. They arrived early, naturally, so that Ezio could arrange everything with the rest of the lecturers (there were three total, counting the professor). Sofia stayed backstage with them for the most part. He offered help as well, but she told him to sit down and relax.
So sit down and relax he did. The place began to fill with people over time. He noticed that most were young men and women, ranging from 20 to 24 years old, probably. They all held books and pens in one hand and a macbook on another. No doubt students. At some point some teachers and other known professors began to find their own seats as well. He remembered a guy all the way in the front row to be one of the teachers from his college, but they never talked so he didn’t even bother getting up to greet him.
There was still another 15 minutes before it started but the place was already crowded. So much in fact, that some students were sitting on the ground by the side of the chairs. Wow. He knew this would be big, but still.
Just ten minutes left and he noticed Sofia returning to sit by his side.
“Everything is ready now.”
“You always attend to Ezio’s lectures?”
“Wouldn’t miss them for anything.”
He chuckled quickly, but became serious again. “I don’t see Altaïr.” It came out before he realized and he immediately regretted it. Thankfully Sofia didn’t comment on it.
“He’s backstage, no doubt talking business with Ezio. Don’t get all nervous now.” She commented with a low giggle.
Damn you.
She had been right. Not five minutes later and from the stage door to the side came Altaïr, hood in place, walking up the corridor. As he approached Malik’s row, their eyes met and as always, Altaïr didn’t seem too happy to see him. Malik glared back and couldn’t be more grateful that all seats in the row had been taken. He watched as Altaïr went all the way to the back and leaned against the wall among other students, crossing his arms and still glaring at him.
Malik shrugged and turned back to the stage. However, he immediately regretted not having a seat for Altaïr by his side. Now he would have to deal with the creepy sensation of someone watching him from behind for almost two hours. His fingers moved to the back of his neck, scratching. He knew he was being watched and it felt horrible. How was he supposed to concentrate like this?
There wasn’t much time to think anyway, for soon the lights dimmed and the stage was lit with the big projection screen. Ezio finally got on stage with the other lecturers and a couple of journalists that would interview them before the actual thing began.
----------
It all ended faster than he expected.
Sofia promptly got up and moved to the stage where she congratulated the lecturers for the good presentation. All around people started getting up and moving to the back where two very long tables were served with food and drink for all. He didn’t even glance back, Altaïr could wait a little longer. Meanwhile he moved to the stage as well, practically fighting against the flux of people moving in the other direction.
When he finally made it to Ezio, he smiled and extended his hand for the man to shake.
“It was really good. I’m so glad the principal had me come.”
“Glad you enjoyed.”
Ezio proceeded to introduce him to his fellow partners and he couldn’t keep his excitement down. He had been in other lectures before, he even did a few of his own, but they were always small and there was never any celebrity from the history world to accompany him. For all he’s been going through, it was worth it.
He was still talking to one of the men when from the corner of his eyes he decided to glance at the back of the room. When altaïr noticed he was looking, the man uncrossed his arms and lifted from the wall, walking to the terrace outside. Ezio approached him and whispered.
“Guess there’s no more avoiding it.”
“Unfortunately.”
Sighing in defeat and preparing himself to face the man, Malik straightened his shoulders and followed in Altaïr’s direction.