Two Degrees

"Hey!" A friendly voice broke through his thoughts.

A guy about his age jogged up, wearing a bright orientation team shirt and a smile. "I'm Mark. I am part of the freshman helping team. What department are you in?"

"I'm in a few departments. I'm in the computer science department and the medicine department."

He'd chosen these two degrees carefully.

The combination would prove useful for his long-term plans.

Mark's jaw literally dropped, his clipboard lowering. "Are you joking?"

Noah fixed him with a level stare, expression neutral. "Why would I joke with you when I just met you?"

The question hung in the air, neither accusatory nor defensive, just matter-of-fact. This was the approach that unsettled people most—the complete absence of the need to impress.