Rihan Daniel sat pensively for a long time in front of the computer desk. At first glance he seemed to be focused on his work. But in fact his mind had drifted somewhere else.
Rihan's eyes moved from the computer screen to the Igo game board on the left side of the monitor. A classic war strategy board game between black and white pieces. The two of them tried to surround each other, dominate each other's territory, and eat each other's opponent.
The game has gone halfway. Black and white pieces seem almost fill the board. At first glance, it looks like the black are more dominant. But when Rihan places a white piece in the middle of a black territory, the game changes completely.
The last white is like a scapegoat among the onslaught of black troops. It ruffled the opponent's formation from an unexpected position.
Rihan smiled as he rubbed his left jaw. The direction of the game has been obtained. But he was not interested in continuing until the end. Rihan returned his focus to the computer screen and started typing something. For a moment, he looked at the empty cup beside him. Coffee has been drunk without a single drip.
When he decided to come out of from study room, Rihan took a glance at the door of the next room which was tightly closed. He had no choice except unconditionally lending his bedroom to those three foreign guests.
He took a deep breath and walked towards the kitchen. A small light in the kitchen was turned on and then the empty cup was placed next to the sink. He was getting ready to brew a new coffee when the sound of the bedroom door opening startled him.
Alvi who just came out of the room also gasped in surprise. She didn't expect to see someone actually. Especially when the house is in half dark. She was about to say something, when Rihan stated calmly. "Sit down. Don't move too much. Your stitches haven't dried yet."
"Are you sewing it?" Alvi asked in a careful voice.
Rihan smiled with his back to Alvi. "Your friend is quite reckless. In order to save you, they were willing to break in and threaten me. I don't have choice."
"I apologizing for them, and thank you…." Alvi looked reluctant.
"Sit down." Once again, Rihan asked Alvi to sit down. Apart from being afraid that the stitches will open again, Rihan is also worried because Alvi's face looks pale.
Finally Alvi sat down obediently.
"Alvi Veenessa Endley…" She introduced herself as Rihan placed a cup of hot chocolate on the table in front of her.
Rihan could not immediately process such a strange and long name. "Al… what? Vee… Veena?" he said very confused.
Alvi suddenly jumped in surprise. She raised her head and stare at Rihan for a quite long time. Something that had been buried deep inside her memory seemed to be resurrecting. Alvi smiled glumly. "How could it be…." she thought.
"Alvi Veenessa Endley." Alvi repeated and this time with a slower and clearer pronunciation.
Rihan's mouth formed the letter O without a sound, indicates that he clearly listened to Alvi's name. "Rihan Daniel." This time it was his turn to introduce himself.
"Ryan Daniel," Alvi muttered, repeating the name a few times so she could remember.
Due to the lightness of the 'h' pronunciation, people—especially Yi Lu residents—often think Rihan's name is 'Rian' or 'Ryan'. Unlike Alvi, Rihan didn't bother to correct the mistake of his name. After all, he and Alvi are just a stranger which is meeting-accidentally and by force to be honest.
Damn! Annoyance began to rise when Rihan recalled the incident earlier. He tried to contain his emotion and not to blame everything to the innocent woman in front of him. What that her friends did was not Alvi's will, right?
"You hungry? I can make something for you to eat." Rihan offers.
"N—No need. I'm fine." Alvi hastily refused. Lightning-fast hands grabbed the hot chocolate cup in front of her.
Rihan still with a probing look. If he look closely, Alvi is quite beautiful. Her age slightly younger than Rihan, three or four years difference. Her long black hair fell past her shoulders and was left loose. Black eyes are round and actually enough to make her look cute. Unfortunately behind those eyes there is no light. Something dark covered the gleam of those beautiful eyes.
"I'll make something to you. I happen to be hungry too." Rihan deliberately added a reason behind so that Alvi did not refuse. This method works everytime.
"I can help." Alvi also stood up and Rihan immediately gave her a refusing look. "I was injured in the stomach, not the hands or feet." Unexpectedly, Alvi is quite stubborn.
"Okay then." Rihan allows Alvi to help.
The two of them stood side by side while preparing the ingredients to make a sandwich. One of the practical meals without much preparation but quite filling.
"Sorry for the mess on stage this afternoon. Those dogs didn't hurt you, did they?" Alvi apologized again.
"Eh?" Rihan didn't really understand.
"The sudden attacks of those hound dogs… they're actually after us. From Olprone, Bargescrow Harbour, Rami all the way here." Alvi started explaining.
"Are you being chased? Who sent the dogs?" Rihan tries to understand.
"Samsara." Alvi's voice sounded hateful.
"Are you sure? Hasn't Samsara collapsed many years ago?" Rihan asked while starting to crack the eggs on the frying pan.
"Although the collapse of Samsara has been almost 5 years, Lady and her remnants followers are still not completely destroyed. They scattered and now began to form a new force. Just like Alice Nebula hunting down the remnants of Samsara's followers. Samsara is also hunting for it ex-prisoners that once used to be their research subjects."
"The hound dogs belong to Samsara… They want me," said Alvi.
"Then why did you guys run to here? Alice Nebula is safer than Yi Lu," Rihan commented.
"Actually we're looking for someone..." For some reason Alvi hesitated to continue her sentence. Then she was suddenly lost in her own thoughts.
"Sorry. I talk too much. Usually I 'm not talking to stranger. But for some reason I felt very anxious to tell you." Alvi realized tonight she was not like her usual self.
"It's okay." Rihan smiled widely.
Alvi replied with a faint smile. Then, she grabbed the hot chocolate which she brought to the kitchen. "There used to be someone who always serving hot chocolate like this for me. Especially when I wake up from a bad dream in the middle of the night. But that person is already dead. He is Samsara's and I suppose to hate him so much. When Samsara collapsed, he died in my own hands. I should be happy. But after I made the stabbed… for some reason my heart screamed in regret."
"Your guard?" Rihan guessed.
It is not difficult to guess, since many stories have circulated from the prisoners who were once is the subjects of Samsara's research project. After carrying out a series of experiment, at night each of them will be locked in a separate room where there is one prisoner and one guard.
Alvi nodded slowly as respond.
"Freedom. Isn't it what you'd expect as former Samsara's research subjects? You've got it, so there's no need to regret what you've done to achieve it. There is no achievement without sacrifice. Reality is that cruel." Rihan spoke.
"You are right. Maybe I'm being too sensitive." Alvi ended the conversation. While Rihan has finished cutting the sandwitch into two triangles.
Alvi started to enjoy the sandwich in her hand and, Rihan seemed busy with his cellphone.
"I have to go back to work. There is a sudden deadline by today." Rihan asked permission to return to his study room, and Alvi nodded in agreement.
"Just eat all my share. I was deliberately looking for an excuse to make you want to eat something. Have a nice rest." Rihan smiled mischievously before going into the study.
"Ryan." Alvi suddenly held back.
"Yes?" Rihan turned.
"This afternoon I heard you playing the flute. Your melody is so beautiful and calm." Alvi openly praises Rihan's skills.
Rihan's smile grew wider full with joy. "As a token of you compliment, maybe at another time, I can play it specially for you."