DICE

[5] b

"Ms. Bellamie won't be able to hear you, sir."

His chest rumbles intensely, his breath becomes ragged due to the overwhelming emotions. His mind is constantly filled with the image of his mother. The one he misses deeply but is also angry at simultaneously.

"Where's my mother?" Gala asks impatiently, wiping the tears off his nose.

"North Metro."

Gala is astonished. His body is slightly rigid after the hologram girl's recent statement. "How could she?" He shakes his head quickly. "What is she doing there now?"

"That information cannot be accessed, sir. There's a system blocking the location of that person in North Metro."

Gala shakes his head softly. It all still doesn't make sense to him. How could his mother be in North Metro? For what reason? And earlier, her face seemed burdened. What really happened? Does it have anything to do with the reason she left?

"Then... Xavier? The man you said was my father?" Gala is quite curious about this. "Where is he?"

"Sir Xavier closed all access to information about his whereabouts after instructing me for the last time. To meet his son, Galaksi Haidar. And then continue the rest of his work."

"Huh?"

"Sir Xavier had an important task, sir. He couldn't continue it, for whatever reason, but the main thing is that we—me and the die you touched last night—have officially transferred ownership."

"I don't understand what you mean."

Dice nods slowly, understanding Gala's confusion.

"This die was made with the most advanced technology and its ownership is locked by Sir Xavier Horratio."

Suddenly, Gala glances at the black box-shaped object. There's nothing peculiar about it; it looks like an ordinary ornament, but he didn't expect something like this to exist in the world.

"Only Sir Xavier can transfer ownership, and it must be to his legitimate heir, which is you, sir."

"For what?" Gala interrupts quickly.

"To destroy Metro entirely. To create a new order where all systems only obey one command: the owner of Dice. You."

***

"Can't you just appear discreetly? Others could see you!" Gala is genuinely driven mad by this hologram girl's behavior. Several times she has come out to help Gala, drawing suspicion from some people. Today, Gala hasn't made a single mistake. All his work is done neatly and well-organized.

Even Mr. Kim furrows his greasy piled-up eyebrows because there's something odd about the quiet kitchen Gala has maintained. But he's quite pleased about it. Perhaps it's time for Gala not to be as clumsy as usual.

"No one can see me unless you introduce me to the person you desire."

"Really?" Gala doesn't believe her at all. "But... you're like a hologram."

Dice nods slowly.

"It's really odd. How can you help me? While you're like a shadow? Transparent?"

"How many times do I have to explain? I'm made with the most advanced technology."

Gala lightly taps his forehead. His steps meander through the hallway where he found this strange gleaming object, as his destination after work is Mr. Jian's residence. He doesn't want to disappoint the person who has been kind to him for the past few months.

"Is your name really odd?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Your name. Dice. It's quite odd," grumbles Gala. He strides slowly, pushing his bike. He's exactly like someone having an intense conversation with their lover. The man pushing the bike, while his woman walks beside him. But this time? The girl walking beside him is a hologram. Absolutely absurd.

"Internal Central Energy Database. That's my name, sir."

Gala sighs softly. "Still weird."

Dice chooses to remain silent.

"Come back. I have to work."

"I won't disturb you, sir."

Gala doesn't want to risk almost getting caught talking to himself, as earlier when he was washing the cooking utensils to end his day, Luke noticed him. He asked mockingly who Gala was talking to, saying, "Gala seems to be going crazy."

Gala's control and his nonchalant attitude toward Luke have reached their peak. Everything Luke says just bounces off his ears. He never comprehends.

"Come in, Dice," he orders. Initially, it felt odd to call this hologram girl Dice. But what can he say? That's her name, and it turns out to be an acronym.

It doesn't take long for Dice to vanish from his sight. The die loses its cover. Only dots on each side are more striking in their colors. Initially, the die was the size of Gala's fist, but it turns out to be flexible in shape. This time, Gala asks Dice to make it like a pendant. So he can wear it around his neck as a necklace and hide it behind the collar of his shirt.

The dark night accompanies Gala back to Mr. Jian's house. The rotten smell from the garbage in the alley that Gala passes through becomes more piercing. Gala doesn't care. All he wants is to finish his work and go to bed.

Today has been exhausting.

Especially when he remembers his mother and father.