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Siebren was used to receiving praise, especially when it came to his work. His understandings of the universe and the stars above gained him quite a few compliments on the daily. He enjoyed it thoroughly and it even pushed him to keep going, to find out more about the endless abyss above.
Although, over time, the praise was becoming quite tormenting to him, the same compliments being thrown at him slowly became mundane. He expected them now and they were no longer surprising. In fact, he would try to guess what the next words to come out of their mouths were.
“You’re really amazing, Professor!”
“Can’t wait for the next finding!”
“Keep up the brilliant work!”
Among many more, they were drilled into his head, a symphony he couldn’t stop no matter how many times he would try to put his mind elsewhere. All he would do now was nod, smile and keep working, ignoring the comments that came. Each and every time he would wander the hallway, someone would say something, so he would plan his time to avoid everyone whenever possible.
In fact, he was getting so tired of it, he hired an assistant to help him. He would stay in his lab while you would go on coffee runs and transport papers to others. You were his personal assistant, under one rule that you weren’t to compliment him. It confused you at first, but you agreed as you needed the money, and he was paying well.
You would watch him write down some of the most mind boggling equations on the board at the front of the room, each of them confusing you more and more as you looked on. No matter how hard you would try to think to try to work it out, your mind would come back blank.
Occasionally he would offer to teach you, but each time you declined, knowing that no matter how long you stared at the letters and numbers, it wouldn’t make sense.
All you could do was do run his errands during the day, go get his coffee, tea sometimes when he wasn’t in the mood for high caffeine, run some documents to other employees and bring him reports or books. Whatever he asked, you would do. Most days it was just the coffee run, other days it was hectic. You did your job well, and that’s all that mattered to both you and him. You stayed silent most days, only talking when he started the conversation, whatever it may be.
Siebren grew quite fond of you as the weeks passed by. He enjoyed your company and he enjoyed the quietness. His mind was clearer than before and he managed to get quite a lot of work done since hiring you.
He knew he made a good choice. You followed his orders immediately, and if you had any qualms, you were direct in telling him, rather than moping around. Siebren could work comfortably around you, and sometimes at the end of the day, he would partake in casual conversation with you, usually asking about your future plans or listening to your complaints from outside of work.
Although he only had you as his assistant, you were more of a friend to him, and your presence was always welcome around his lab.
Those weeks merged into months and the two of you grew closer. Close friends but not lovers. It was a calm and sweet feeling as the two of you continued to share stories about your past and Siebren of his findings. Yet you would refrain from complimenting him, and it irked you in ways he wouldn’t know. All you wanted to do was congratulate him on his new research, to praise him for all of the work he had been conducting recently but you saw the way his face soured after the countless compliments he’d receive whenever he walked to and from his lab.
Just like every other day, you would enter the building, instantly grabbing yourself and Siebren coffee, sauntering through the hallways until you reached his lab, unlocking the door with the keycard he made for you and placing his cup down on his desk, mindful not to spill the contents on his papers.
The professor was scrawling over the whiteboard, muttering incoherent words as he wrote, not seeming to notice you enter and stand next to him. You watched on, keeping your distance as to not distract him before he turns and smiles at you and then goes back to writing his equations.
You move out of his way, sitting down and waiting for his order, slowly sipping on your drink as you continued to watch him.
“Ah! Finally!” The professor exclaims after some time. He turns to you, eyes sparkling under the fluorescent lights above as his smile grows.
You look at him before looking at the board, nodding in little understanding. “You have spent weeks on this singular equation and you’ve finally cracked it, well done! I knew you could do it!” The smile on your face faltered slightly as you realised what you had just done, and the look the scientist gave you confirmed your fear.
There was an uncomfortable silence in the room as you avert your gaze, looking around before looking down at your hands. “I- I apologise.” You stammer, feeling his eyes still on you.
Siebren stood there in shock before his shoulders relaxed. He didn’t know why but something felt different. Hearing the praise come from you felt right . His cheeks grew warm at the feeling, wanting to hear more of your praise.
“Say it again…” He voice was low but accent thick. “Please…”
Your head shot up, the confusion clearly plastered on your face as your mouth opened. “I-I am proud of you, well done…”
He stood there for a moment longer, face red and an awkward smile on his face. “Thank you, [y/n].”
All you could do was nod, not knowing what else to say in the moment. Your eyes lock with his before he looks away, walking back to his desk to grab his coffee. He felt strange . Happy, almost. No, definitely happy. Excited , maybe. All he knew was that your praise to him was something he thoroughly enjoyed and wanted to hear more of it.
He glances over at you, watching you as your eyes scan the whiteboard ahead, the confusion ever present on your face. Siebren chuckles to himself, leaning back against his desk. He had this pang of want and need in his chest as he stares at you, something inside of him burned and it wasn't the coffee.
You caught him looking at you, cheeks warming up as you smile at him before looking away again, suddenly shy and timid. His smile grew on his face as he stood straight, your words echoing in his head as he grabs a handful of papers.
“Perhaps you could deliver these for me?” He approaches you, handing the stack of papers to you.
It caught you off guard, but you nodded, taking the papers from him as your fingers brushed his in the process. Both parties smiled gently before you stood and left the room.
“No rush, take your time!” He called out to you, and for once, he wanted you to take your time. The professor watched you leave before he made his way into his private office at the back of his lab, locking the door behind him as he sat down at the desk in there. Your words continued to echo within his mind, overpowering every other thought as he slumps down in his chair, one hand ruffling his hair as he contemplated on what to do next.
No matter what he thought about, you plagued his very mind. Words like a broken record, never ending and he loved it .
“ I am proud of you, well done. ”