Before the story begins, Genright was known as Happy City.

...

Charles was standing talking to Professor Keylor and the new members of the scientific research team. He always seemed to be in a state of excitement. His hands swung as if he wanted to pull thoughts from his head. His gray-blue eyes flickered like they were smiling. His way of talking was as eloquent as that of an orator. He was always full of confidence. Although most people couldn’t fully understand what he was saying – It was too academic – the atmosphere he created was strangely convincing.

That’s what Jenny thought as she sat at the table by the window watching him, her chin on her hand. When his gray-blue eyes turned in this direction, Jenny pretended to look out the large window of the scientific room to see the smiley face on the famous tower in the distance – it’s the symbol of Genright City. But when she turned her face inside, she met Charles’s gaze once more. His slightly curly front hair fell to eye level, deepening his gaze. Jenny looked back for a couple of seconds, then she looked down at her notebook on the table. Sometimes she and he would glance at each other for no reason at all. Usually, Jenny would smile, like some kind of compliment or encouragement. But she wasn’t in the mood to do that now, especially after last night.

“How was last night?”

As if reading her mind, a clear voice filled with excitement sounded from beside her. It made her startled. She turned to look at Alex. The expression on her face at that moment was like “Thank you for making me the most attention-grabbing person in the room.”

Alex put his hand over his mouth when he realized the people in the room were looking in their direction and said apologetically but with a smile on his face, “Oh, sorry.”

It seemed like he was the type of person who was always happy when he teased others. Sometimes Jenny was often noticed because of Alex’s love to stand out. He likes to joke around with everything. Just like his well-groomed appearance: smoky hair, pierced ears, eye-catching clothes, and all the famous brands. His body exudes a gentle and comfortable fragrance. Charles is much simpler. In the fall, he usually wears long sleeves and light color pants. He wears extra coats when it’s cold. However, Jenny didn’t hate Alex’s character. Jenny likes that easy-going and slightly crazy personality. Partly because Alex has some Asian blood in him, like Jenny. Talking to him always made her happy and feel close. Charles was different. Jenny often didn’t dare to look at him in the eyes for too long.

“How was last night? Have you told him yet?” Lowering his voice low enough for just the two of them to hear, Alex continued to ask her, his blue eyes widening in utter curiosity and excitement. Sometimes Jenny often wondered if the people in Genright City were too cheerful actually. It seemed that their positive emotions were always beyond measure.

She pushed her long lavender hair behind her back, trying not to let out a breath as she replied, “No.”

“Why not?” Immediately Alex exclaimed in astonishment.

And once again, he attracted the attention of everyone in the room.

“Oh, god. Thanks, Alex,” this time, Jenny stood up, picked up her bag, and walked out of the room.

It’s not she felt bothered. Jenny often did that when Alex or anyone became crazy about something. She just left this serious place to talk about some crazy stuff. Alex got up to follow, as always.

Leaving the science room, Jenny walked down the hallway. Alex walked next to her, not in a hurry to start a story, but just kept quiet as if he wanted to let her decide whether to tell or not. Anyway, the result was not what he expected. The thing was, Jenny lost a bet to some friends at a party and had to confess to her crush. Oh yeah, her crush was Charles. Fortunately, in the research group, only Alex knew about this.

“I don’t know why I didn’t tell him,” she said slowly, as bewildered as she was at the moment.

 Saying she didn’t know was to be less sad. Most of it Jenny thought she knew clearly. Having known Charles for a year and a half, she had enough time to feel and also enough time to decide to confess her feelings. However, every time she wanted to say it, she hesitated. Because it seemed that Charles’ feelings for her were not as she expected. What Charles loves is this city and his studies.

Jenny smiled at Alex, coming up with a slightly plausible reason, “Probably because I feel insecure. Charles is famous, and I am nothing.”

“Insecure?” But Alex’s reaction was beyond expectations, he stopped, wrinkled his forehead, looking back at her with a puzzled expression, like he heard something very stupid. “You are nothing?”

She stopped to ask him, “Ain’t that right?”

Well, that’s very clear. Charles was one of the most famous people in this college, even on the streets of Genright people knew him.

She turned her face away and was about to continue walking but Alex suddenly pulled her hand to stop.

“Jenny,” he said. “Have you forgotten why Charles is famous? He’s famous all because of you!”

Jenny looked at Alex, was silent for a while, then said, like mumbling, “That doesn’t mean anything. Maybe it’s time for me to give up.”

Then she lifted Alex’s hand off and left.

He didn’t follow.

***

Things were slowly getting worse. Jenny went to the elevator to go downstairs while remembering what happened last night.

“Charles, do you ever find the symbol of this city a bit odd?” Jenny asked him, taking a sip from her can of latte.

They were standing by the window in the hallway in front of the science room. Everyone on the team had already left. This team included students with a passion for scientific research. They were responsible for researching and representing the university to participate in contests. Not everyone in the group was brilliant, though, like Jenny, she thought. Honestly, she joined the team but didn’t understand everyone’s research. Instead of doing research, she was responsible for media channels and was willing to apply for grants or raise funds for the team. That was right. She only joined because of Charles. That’s also the reason why she went to Genright to attend university when her hometown is in the northern city of this country. Sounded crazy, she knew. Everything was crazy.

But when she came to Genright, Jenny was strangely in love with this city. Genright was known as Happy City because of its large tourist and entertainment areas and the generous and optimistic personality of its residents. In the 70s, people built a tower with a smiling face on top. Since then, this image became a symbol of the city. Although everyone said it was a friendly and welcoming face, Jenny found it like a clown’s face. It looked a bit weird when there were many types of flashing lights at the night. Like right now.

“Sure. Sometimes I feel like it’s laughing at me,” Charles replied after chuckling. Then he brought the coffee can to his mouth and drank, his throat rising and falling seductively, and everything about him was especially attractive. Jenny tried not to stare at him. She took a deep breath. Most of the time, standing next to Charles always made her nervous.

“But the strange thing is that I still love this city.”

Like I love you. But Jenny didn’t say that sentence. It’s not that she didn’t have the courage. It’s just useless to say it or not.

“Genright is like a drug,” Charles said and laughed, looking at her with his gray-blue eyes that reflected the light and amusement. “There was a tourist who once told me that. He always comes back here every summer.”

Jenny smiled. Charles usually told her interesting things about this place like that.

“Our research will make Genright even more popular. Jenny, do you remember when you told me that people here are always too cheerful? I came up with this…”

Then he started rambling about a drug that he and some members of the scientific research team were working on, which can calm people’s nerves and make them happier but is not addictive. Charles often had very crazy ideas, most of the time thought about them. Sometimes Jenny hated him so much because he didn’t notice her feelings. Ironically that was also what made her like him.