“Can I go outside now?”
“No.”
Her shoulders slumped a bit, then turning her head back to the view through the tall window. She observed the city as she was standing before the transparent glass.
There was light. It wasn’t dark anymore. She could see tall buildings and people walking down there. There were also this moving colorful boxes with black wheels attached under it (Alex said they were "cars").
So this was how it felt like to be outside of the dark. It looked so… lively. It wasn’t like she wanted to meet and talk with those people (she had enough with being in the crowd) but it made her curious. She just wanted to know what exactly they were doing under the light. What other else is down there?
“Why not?” She tried to ask again.
“You’re not fully recovered yet.”
“But I’m already standing.”
“And that’s not enough,” Alex said firmly, giving no room for more argument. She was sitting on that same chair. The bed was wide enough for two, but since three days has passed, she just sat there with her book. She didn’t know if Alex ever sleep at all.
It’s been three days since she was awake, and she slowly learned something new. She already knew that black box’s name (she was so fascinated when the picture displayed on it was moving and there were real people), that she was actually in a tall building too (she could see tiny people from here and beautiful colorful lights under there when it was dark) and oh she also knew there was morning and night, how it changed the day. She saw the sun and moon through the window, and they were so beautifully bright.
Not only that. She was recovering, although slowly, but Alex helped. She also gave her nice foods. It was nothing like the food back at the lab. Alex’s food was way more tasty and made her craved more. While back at the lab, just by looking at it she would lost her appetite. But those people forced her to eat that horrible food in order to keep her “healthy”.
Three days she has also learned that Alex was nothing like those people. Alex is kind. Though she still didn’t answer all of her questions, but Alex has been really taking care of her. Alex answered her every simple questions patiently and never mad at her and never screamed at her.
Alex made her sleep on a comfy bed, tended to her injured eye and severely injured right hand (she just realized about it the next day she was awake), and gave her comfortable outfits. Right now she was wearing a bit loose black T-shirt and red shorts.
All of this was beyond contrast compared to when she was in that lab. She was in that lab for years, while it has only been three days she was with Alex, and it felt like she was living a completely different life.
To be honest, it was a bit overwhelming. It made her anxious somehow, being treated like this. She was used being treated like an object, being told and forced to follow every words, being screamed at, being in a cage inside a really dark place. Then one day, without her knowing what really happened, a stranger came and took her, giving an entirely different treatment.
She felt anxious. But that’s okay. Because Alex seemed like a nice person and wouldn’t yell at her. Though she still wasn’t used to her cold, cold eyes, she was anything but cold. She talked very little, but that was enough for her. Also, Alex went away in the morning until afternoon since the last two days, but today she stayed.
The girl turned her body away from the window and looked at Alex. “When will I be fully recovered?”
“Depends. A week, at most.”
The girl didn’t know how long that is, but she guessed it would be pretty long. “Will you answer to my previous question too when I recovered?”
Alex shrugged. “Maybe. I have something to tell you too, something you need to know.”
“Why do I have to wait?”
“You need to be fully recovered first before knowing it,” Alex answered patiently, repeating the same answer.
The girl looked down, pondering on why she was in this condition. Like why suddenly she couldn’t open her right eye (actually she could, but Alex wouldn’t allow her) and why her whole right hand was covered with thick layered gauze. When Alex mentioned it was a burn scar, it scared her. She’d stunned in shock knowing that she has a burn scar, but she didn’t mention it to Alex. At least she didn’t has to look at it directly. She only asked why she got it, but Alex wouldn’t answer it either. Her reason was always the same.
She wondered if this has anything to do with her health at all if she has to wait until her full recovery. But she has no clue on how it was related.
Alex turned her head to see the clock, then she stood up and put down her book. Oh, is she leaving again? She thought she would stay today since she said so.
“I’m getting some lunch,” Alex said.
Oh. The girl nodded quietly.
Then she went to catch her coat, stepped outside the room and closed the door. The girl turned herself to the window once again, viewing the city.
She waited.
“No.”
Her shoulders slumped a bit, then turning her head back to the view through the tall window. She observed the city as she was standing before the transparent glass.
There was light. It wasn’t dark anymore. She could see tall buildings and people walking down there. There were also this moving colorful boxes with black wheels attached under it (Alex said they were "cars").
So this was how it felt like to be outside of the dark. It looked so… lively. It wasn’t like she wanted to meet and talk with those people (she had enough with being in the crowd) but it made her curious. She just wanted to know what exactly they were doing under the light. What other else is down there?
“Why not?” She tried to ask again.
“You’re not fully recovered yet.”
“But I’m already standing.”
“And that’s not enough,” Alex said firmly, giving no room for more argument. She was sitting on that same chair. The bed was wide enough for two, but since three days has passed, she just sat there with her book. She didn’t know if Alex ever sleep at all.
It’s been three days since she was awake, and she slowly learned something new. She already knew that black box’s name (she was so fascinated when the picture displayed on it was moving and there were real people), that she was actually in a tall building too (she could see tiny people from here and beautiful colorful lights under there when it was dark) and oh she also knew there was morning and night, how it changed the day. She saw the sun and moon through the window, and they were so beautifully bright.
Not only that. She was recovering, although slowly, but Alex helped. She also gave her nice foods. It was nothing like the food back at the lab. Alex’s food was way more tasty and made her craved more. While back at the lab, just by looking at it she would lost her appetite. But those people forced her to eat that horrible food in order to keep her “healthy”.
Three days she has also learned that Alex was nothing like those people. Alex is kind. Though she still didn’t answer all of her questions, but Alex has been really taking care of her. Alex answered her every simple questions patiently and never mad at her and never screamed at her.
Alex made her sleep on a comfy bed, tended to her injured eye and severely injured right hand (she just realized about it the next day she was awake), and gave her comfortable outfits. Right now she was wearing a bit loose black T-shirt and red shorts.
All of this was beyond contrast compared to when she was in that lab. She was in that lab for years, while it has only been three days she was with Alex, and it felt like she was living a completely different life.
To be honest, it was a bit overwhelming. It made her anxious somehow, being treated like this. She was used being treated like an object, being told and forced to follow every words, being screamed at, being in a cage inside a really dark place. Then one day, without her knowing what really happened, a stranger came and took her, giving an entirely different treatment.
She felt anxious. But that’s okay. Because Alex seemed like a nice person and wouldn’t yell at her. Though she still wasn’t used to her cold, cold eyes, she was anything but cold. She talked very little, but that was enough for her. Also, Alex went away in the morning until afternoon since the last two days, but today she stayed.
The girl turned her body away from the window and looked at Alex. “When will I be fully recovered?”
“Depends. A week, at most.”
The girl didn’t know how long that is, but she guessed it would be pretty long. “Will you answer to my previous question too when I recovered?”
Alex shrugged. “Maybe. I have something to tell you too, something you need to know.”
“Why do I have to wait?”
“You need to be fully recovered first before knowing it,” Alex answered patiently, repeating the same answer.
The girl looked down, pondering on why she was in this condition. Like why suddenly she couldn’t open her right eye (actually she could, but Alex wouldn’t allow her) and why her whole right hand was covered with thick layered gauze. When Alex mentioned it was a burn scar, it scared her. She’d stunned in shock knowing that she has a burn scar, but she didn’t mention it to Alex. At least she didn’t has to look at it directly. She only asked why she got it, but Alex wouldn’t answer it either. Her reason was always the same.
She wondered if this has anything to do with her health at all if she has to wait until her full recovery. But she has no clue on how it was related.
Alex turned her head to see the clock, then she stood up and put down her book. Oh, is she leaving again? She thought she would stay today since she said so.
“I’m getting some lunch,” Alex said.
Oh. The girl nodded quietly.
Then she went to catch her coat, stepped outside the room and closed the door. The girl turned herself to the window once again, viewing the city.
She waited.
***
“What are you reading?”
“A fiction novel.”
“What is it about?”
“An immortal human.”
She tilted her head. “What is immortal?”
“They don’t die.”
“Are there humans who don’t die?”
“No.”
***
“What are you reading?”
“A fiction novel.”
“What is it about?”
“An immortal human.”
She tilted her head. “What is immortal?”
“They don’t die.”
“Are there humans who don’t die?”
“No.”
***
Eating has never been so pleasurable. She could already taste the delicacy of it just from its smell. It was also rich with colors; the redness of well-cooked shrimps on top of pasta with white carbonara sauce and green from peas and parsley leaves. She could also feel the warmth emitted from the creamy food. And it filled the whole dish. She swallowed as she felt her mouth watered just by looking at it.
“Do you make all of the food?” The girl asked without letting her eyes off the pasta in front of her.
“Not really. I ordered it from the hotel service,” Alex answered, sitting in front of the girl with her book on her left hand (she seemed like she was never be separated from books).
“But can you make it?” She started to take her fork.
Alex shrugged. “Perhaps, if I have the ingredients.”
She took a fork of her food. There was brightness in her eye as she chewed the pasta with the shrimp, looking amazed on how the taste melted in her mouth and warmed her body when she swallowed.
The girl looked up at the other sitting across her. “Why are you not eating?”
“I’m not hungry.”
She tilted her head. “I never see you eat yet.”
There was a delay when Alex answered, “I already ate before you.”
“Oh.” Then the girl continued eating her pasta in peaceful silence.
For once, she wanted to keep on living if this kept going on for the rest of her life.
“Do you make all of the food?” The girl asked without letting her eyes off the pasta in front of her.
“Not really. I ordered it from the hotel service,” Alex answered, sitting in front of the girl with her book on her left hand (she seemed like she was never be separated from books).
“But can you make it?” She started to take her fork.
Alex shrugged. “Perhaps, if I have the ingredients.”
She took a fork of her food. There was brightness in her eye as she chewed the pasta with the shrimp, looking amazed on how the taste melted in her mouth and warmed her body when she swallowed.
The girl looked up at the other sitting across her. “Why are you not eating?”
“I’m not hungry.”
She tilted her head. “I never see you eat yet.”
There was a delay when Alex answered, “I already ate before you.”
“Oh.” Then the girl continued eating her pasta in peaceful silence.
For once, she wanted to keep on living if this kept going on for the rest of her life.
“Are you going to sleep?” The girl asked on her bed, already covered with blanket.
“Later,” Alex answered shortly. She was on her usual place, sitting on the sofa beside the bed with a book on her left hand, head propped on her other hand, legs crossed.
The girl blinked and stared blankly, wondering if Alex did ever sleep. She never seen her yawn or being sleepy once for three days straight. Or maybe she had sleep, when the girl didn’t notice or was sleeping, and then she awakened early.
But she also never seen Alex eat or drink in front of her, even never taking a bite of snack. She thought maybe she did already eat outside, as Alex already answered the question.
Then after a thought, she wondered why those things bothered her. She never thought anything about anyone else like this before. All of her mind was filled with the notion of “how am I getting out of here” and “when will this ever stop”. Right now, the only thing in her head was “why?”.
She couldn’t wait to get the answer, but she was also nervous and anxious.
Then she remembered something. That question Alex asked her and made her spoke for once in a really long time. “Are you going to give me a new name?”
Alex lifted her head up from her hand and stared at the girl for a while. Her gaze was always cold naturally, but the shape of her eyes were neutral. Even though they didn’t show any clear expression, they were almost nearingly gentle. “Do you want me to give you now?”
The girl’s eyebrow raised a little bit, then averted her eye to the side almost shyly. “If… if that’s okay,” she mumbled.
Alex was quiet and kept staring at the girl. She sank further to her blanket when the silence was getting a bit awkward, but then Alex closed her book and propped her chin with her hand, eyes staring down as if she was thinking. Her shiny eyeballs were simultaneously moving to any directions every seconds passed. The girl watched her in wonder.
After long minutes of silent thinking, Alex raised her head again. “Helen.”
The girl’s lone eye widened.
“Helen Valerie,” Alex added. She observed the girl’s face. “How about it?”
The black haired girl just stared, her dark eye still wide in surprise. There was amazement glinting inside it. Her lips unconsciously opened a little.
Alex snorted shortly, then returned to her earlier position, opening her book again. “Now go to sleep, Helen.”
The girl finally blinked and got back to her sense. She nodded quietly and shifted under her blanket.
There was something in her chest when Alex seriously decided a name for her. It made her wanted to jump, to raise her hands up high, to... smile. She didn’t know how to let it all out, this yet another strange feeling. So she ended up closing her eye and let herself sleep with this oddly warm heart.
“Later,” Alex answered shortly. She was on her usual place, sitting on the sofa beside the bed with a book on her left hand, head propped on her other hand, legs crossed.
The girl blinked and stared blankly, wondering if Alex did ever sleep. She never seen her yawn or being sleepy once for three days straight. Or maybe she had sleep, when the girl didn’t notice or was sleeping, and then she awakened early.
But she also never seen Alex eat or drink in front of her, even never taking a bite of snack. She thought maybe she did already eat outside, as Alex already answered the question.
Then after a thought, she wondered why those things bothered her. She never thought anything about anyone else like this before. All of her mind was filled with the notion of “how am I getting out of here” and “when will this ever stop”. Right now, the only thing in her head was “why?”.
She couldn’t wait to get the answer, but she was also nervous and anxious.
Then she remembered something. That question Alex asked her and made her spoke for once in a really long time. “Are you going to give me a new name?”
Alex lifted her head up from her hand and stared at the girl for a while. Her gaze was always cold naturally, but the shape of her eyes were neutral. Even though they didn’t show any clear expression, they were almost nearingly gentle. “Do you want me to give you now?”
The girl’s eyebrow raised a little bit, then averted her eye to the side almost shyly. “If… if that’s okay,” she mumbled.
Alex was quiet and kept staring at the girl. She sank further to her blanket when the silence was getting a bit awkward, but then Alex closed her book and propped her chin with her hand, eyes staring down as if she was thinking. Her shiny eyeballs were simultaneously moving to any directions every seconds passed. The girl watched her in wonder.
After long minutes of silent thinking, Alex raised her head again. “Helen.”
The girl’s lone eye widened.
“Helen Valerie,” Alex added. She observed the girl’s face. “How about it?”
The black haired girl just stared, her dark eye still wide in surprise. There was amazement glinting inside it. Her lips unconsciously opened a little.
Alex snorted shortly, then returned to her earlier position, opening her book again. “Now go to sleep, Helen.”
The girl finally blinked and got back to her sense. She nodded quietly and shifted under her blanket.
There was something in her chest when Alex seriously decided a name for her. It made her wanted to jump, to raise her hands up high, to... smile. She didn’t know how to let it all out, this yet another strange feeling. So she ended up closing her eye and let herself sleep with this oddly warm heart.
***
“Do you like books?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“They interest me.”
“How?”
Alex raised her head and stared at the girl. “They make me realize.”
She waited.
“That humans are the most perfect being.”
***
“Do you like books?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“They interest me.”
“How?”
Alex raised her head and stared at the girl. “They make me realize.”
She waited.
“That humans are the most perfect being.”
***