Chapter 4 Part 4: Girl Ran Towards The Starting Point.

“Hi there!”

I dropped my meager belongings on the desk: the pastry and milk from the convenience store, and the library books.

I picked up the microphone and shuffled the papers. The rustling and my voice woke the girl. She sat up, rubbing her eyes.

Day Two.

I sat down with the file and observed her. She stared at me. Definitely a different reaction than usual.

I started checking the boxes on the form.

“Why don’t you say something?”

Silence. Like talking to a wall. It didn’t bother me anymore. But her awareness of me made me hesitate.

I put down the microphone and took out the pastry and milk. The sweet aroma of the mocha bun filled the air. It looked huge. Almost bigger than my head.

I took a large bite. The sweetness and the soft texture were delightful.

The girl watched me.

I stopped chewing and picked up the microphone.

“Do you want some?”

An impulsive question. Perhaps because it was different, the girl slowly nodded.

“You want this?” I waved the pastry.

She nodded again. No words, but a clear answer. Her gaze shifted to the half-eaten bun.

I pressed the call button. Beep, beep.

Ramonax entered. Two girls and a young man, facing each other across the glass.

The girl ignored Ramonax. She only looked at me and the pastry.

Ramonax scratched his cheek, seemingly bothered by her indifference.

“Do you know why I called?” I asked.

“I have an idea. She’s definitely reacting differently. But what exactly happened?”

“She wants a pastry,” I said, waving the bun. Crumbs scattered. “A mocha bun.”

“You want me to get her one?”

“Of course. I can’t leave except for lunch and after my shift.”

“Oh…” He sighed, but nodded and left. He complained, but he usually helped.

“You’ll get one soon,” I told the girl.

No response. She just sat there.

A while later, Ramonax returned with a mocha bun and a carton of milk. He must have been concerned about her. He placed them in front of her. She still didn’t react.

“Eat,” I said.

She picked up the bun. It was the first time I’d seen her eat. She looked at the bun in her hands, then at me.

I put down the microphone and picked up my pastry. I mirrored her actions. I took a large bite.

She copied me. Her eyes widened. She liked it.

Chomp, chomp, chomp. She devoured the bun.

I drank my milk. She watched me, then picked up her milk and drank.

A pleasant breakfast.

“Was it good?” I asked.

No answer.

Ramonax left.

The girl finished her bun and stared at me again.

I tried staring back. I lost. She didn’t even blink. It was unnerving.

I opened one of the library books and read.

I closed the book, feeling the texture of the paper on my fingertips. I looked up. The girl was still watching me.

I made a note on the report. Still no speech, but definite communication. She expressed her desire and showed satisfaction. And she reacted to my voice. Enough useful observations for today.

My crooked handwriting bothered me. The blank space on the report sparked an impulsive idea. I wouldn’t normally do this.

I drew a small pig in the corner. I gave it Hebrum’s hairstyle. Unmistakably him. I stretched the corners of my drawn pig’s mouth into a grotesque smile. I was quite pleased with it.

Beep, beep, beep. Lunchtime. I wasn’t hungry. The mocha bun had filled me up.

Lunchtime was break time. I reclined the chair into a bed. I sometimes skipped lunch for a nap. The girl’s smaller body made the chair-bed feel spacious. I stretched out comfortably. I closed my eyes, using the gown as a blanket.

Mmmppphhh. I woke up with a strange sound. A faint dream image lingered. I touched my cheek. Sticky. Drool. There was a wet spot on the chair too.

I grabbed a wet wipe and cleaned myself and the chair. I crumpled the wipe and tossed it at the trash can. My shorter arms and weaker muscles missed. I sighed and picked it up. I wished I had telekinesis.

I turned around. The girl was staring at me. The microphone was on. She’d heard my strange waking sounds. How embarrassing. I wouldn’t have cared before. But now, I saw her as a person.

“Did you see that?”

She didn’t answer.

“Did you hear that?”

She nodded.

I covered my face with my hands. It wouldn’t hide everything, but at least my blushing cheeks.

“That was embarrassing,” I mumbled, sitting down. I turned off the microphone. Silence. She couldn’t hear me anymore.

Day Two. Significant progress.

The clock showed the end of my shift. I gathered my things and turned on the microphone.

“I’m leaving.” My usual goodbye. Sometimes it was “Goodbye,” “See you later,” or “See you tomorrow.” I varied them, hoping for a reaction.

The girl suddenly stood up. I jumped and sat back down. She didn’t speak. Just touched the glass. A strange reaction.

I turned off the microphone and left.

I submitted the report to Hebrum’s lab before heading to the staff quarters. That was the end of my workday.

Hebrum’s lab always smelled of food. He needed constant sustenance to maintain his size. But he wasn’t there. The faint smell of snacks indicated he’d been there recently.

I left the report on his desk and left.

My steps were lighter after work. The books jostled in my arms. I tightened my grip.

Back in my room, I tossed the books on the desk and changed into casual clothes. Shorts and a t-shirt. It was winter outside, but the lab maintained a constant temperature. I put on the gown and the ID card necklace.

I went to the convenience store. I bought a six-pack of beer.

The clerk looked at me, then at the beer. He seemed to be pondering something.

“Just ring me up.” My neck ached from looking up.

He scanned the beer slowly.

I paid and left, heading straight for my room. I had a sudden craving for beer. I had plenty of snacks left from Ramonax’s visit.

I saw Ramonax standing in front of my door.

“Welcome back.” He took the bag of beer from me, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I stared at him, dumbfounded.

“Who said you could come here?”

He waved the bag. “Think you can finish all of these by yourself?”

I glared at his long legs. I wanted to trip him. But he was just doing his job. I sighed.

“Come in.”

So, another evening with Ramonax.

“Skipping dinner again?”

“That’s why I bought beer.”

He put the beer in the refrigerator. Yesterday’s snacks were still in their bag on the floor.

“Couldn’t finish them?”

“Do you think I’m Hebrum?”

I grabbed a beer and sat at the computer. I couldn’t use my usual gaming accounts. I’d told my friends I was on a trip.