THE ILLUSION

05. Different World

A notification pops up from a smartphone.

CONGRATULATION!

YOU WIN THE FIRST MISSION.

Reward: No missions for 24 hours.

"You stingy," Merin grumbled.

“You should be grateful to be able to return to a normal life even for a day.” Merin was taken aback when Iron interrupted. He turned, looking alternately at the brothers.

Merin squinted. "What was that? The trick again?”

"Second level situation, your world is put to sleep," said Scarlett, "when your smart lens is activated, it will project a holographic character into your subconscious. Taking the exact situation of the real world, while 'your real world' is put to sleep."

Merin's brows furrowed. “What happens when my real world is put to sleep?”

"You stand still. Not moving, not even blinking—like a dead robot,” said Iron as he circled Merin with a grin. The boy tried to intimidate him.

"Are you guys crazy? People will think I'm dead standing!"

Scarlett pointed her index finger up, right at the drone. “If that thing can give rise to us, then your existence can also be disguised. Of course, as long as the two of us are around, we will try to protect your body in the real world.”

"Unless you fail the mission, well... we'll tell the gravedigger right away," Iron interrupted, while Scarlett immediately pinched her brother gently.

Merin squeaked as she walked away. Suddenly, Scarlett's eyes widen. "Where are you going?" she asked, shouting a little.

"I'm tired, you guys are trouble makers."

***

There have been five times Jasper's moans clashed with Loey's typing sound.

"Ah, today is finally over. It turns out that it's also difficult to be anxious all the time,” Jasper quipped.

Eldric took a sip of the coffee latte in his hand. "Don't worry, your security is hard to redeem."

Hearing Eldric's praise, Jasper immediately chuckled while shaking his head. “Ha, of course!”

Olivia was used to this ridiculous situation, just shook her head. She walked over to Eldric and handed him some files with Merin's photo in the top right corner.

“This is what you asked for,” Olivia said, “you told me to do a background check on that girl right?"

Eldric nodded with a faint smile. "Thank you," He then shuffled. "It's getting late, you can go home."

Loey finally removed his fingers from the top of the keyboard after a day like a machine. The only thing that indicated he was human was his breath, it was barely audible. Strangers might misunderstand his attitude, but his teammates didn't mind it.

Because, in his portfolio, it says, "I have a hard time socializing, but I will do my best."

As proven, his position as a system operator can make the project run well.

"Me first," said Loey in a thin voice. Jasper gasped as he embraced her.

"Come on together!" Eldric and Olivia had time to wave at them.

Eldric turned. "You're not coming home?"

"This is it," said Olivia. She grabbed her backpack and slung it over her shoulder. "Tonight your part of the vigil huh?" The girl's question was greeted with a nod by Eldric.

"That's right."

"Yeah, I'm going home first."

After Olivia left the room, there was instant silence. Finally, Eldric's phone vibrated for quite a while. His smile was etched as soon as he realized who was calling.

***

“Report commander!” Eldric joked in a soft voice.

A woman's graceful voice followed. "Eat?"

"Have done," answered Eldric spoiled, then a deep male voice followed. “Stretching?”

His face was suddenly shocked. "Right, I forgot."

“Naughty son.” Scolded the father. 

"Sorry, Mr. James Peterson."

“When are you coming back to Beijing, kid?” He asked.

Before he could answer, Eldric chuckled lightly because he heard a small debate on the phone.

“Why ask that? Our son's big project has just begun.”

“A mother has to ask when she's coming home, Honey.”

Eldric scratched his temple. “Eum… Madam Bae Lui? I'll call you a week before going home, don't worry."

“Good boy, a mother will be looking forward to it!”

“Then, it's been a while!” interrupted Mr. Peterson, “Honey, let's not interrupt his break anymore.”

“See you soon! I love you guys, always."

Although the voices of his parents disappeared when he put the phone back down, his warmth still lingered. His smile lingered on, thinking about how lucky he was to be born to them. Flashes of small family togetherness flashed through his mind. He reminisced about his happy times with his father, mother, and Aldric.

The four of them live in harmony. Almost all tourist attractions have been visited on the sidelines of the busyness of his father who is a chef at a restaurant. Even farming became their weekend agenda. The laughter of his family rang in Eldric's ears. His eyes heat a little, remembering their peace was disturbed when Aldric was poisoned by his father's co-workers.

Eldric took a deep breath. The emotion parameter sensor connected to the drone glows red. The device picks up unstable emotional spikes. The emotion parameter itself is designed as an 'alarm' to prevent criminal actions from suspects when their emotions increase.

The chair creaked as Eldric pushed it. He quickly sped up to his desk. His fingers typing instructions to turn on the camera on the drone.

OPENCAM MODE

Broken flower vases splattered on the floor. Merin squeezed her head while screaming in front of her parents.

“I told you my troubles won't bother you! Why are you here?” She screamed. The father's big hand immediately slapped the girl's thin cheek. Eldric who witnessed it on the screen immediately gasped. It didn't feel like his hands were clenched into fists.

“You think this matter is trivial?” snapped the father. He still wears a pilot uniform with the name Aziz Dirgantara.

Meanwhile, Merin's mother looked away. Her hands crossed.

“Don't you know that rumors in Indonesia spread so fast? 'The daughter of a famous actress, Rosalina Noella involved in a murder case?' Ha! Seriously!" Her mother complained.

“We were going to ask you to hold a press to refute, but instead you immediately joined the ridiculous project. You stupid!"

Merin narrowed her eyes. One hand was still covering his cheek because he felt the lingering pain.

“How can I argue? How—AAAAAA!!!!” Merin shouted to herself. She couldn't put her emotions into words. Realizing the parameters were getting to the peak, Eldric couldn't stay still. Something dangerous could happen.

Connecting voicemail to smart lenses. . .

“Little bastard!” Merin's mother exclaimed.

Merin's body shook violently. Her common sense was messed up. One hand scooped up the broken glass, she clenched it so hard that blood started dripping. Her blue eyes trembled, she was about to throw the shards at the mother. Before the end, a blue light flashed in her pupils. Her ears echoed, picking up on a familiar voice.

“Merin, it's me... Prof. Eldric. I see you hurt, even if they pretend to be blind to your wound. I can see it."

That soft voice began to shake. He swallowed heavily, his sobs soundless. His head was still floating in the air. Eldric lowered his head, his heart starting to feel tight. He felt like he had shared his emotions with the girl.

“Get your fists off… you don't have to be hurt to punish them.”

As if feeling knocked, Merin lowered her hand slowly. The emotional parameters decreased little by little. The first opened, raining back shards on the floor.

Eldric raised his head. He breathed a sigh of relief with a big smile.

"Smart girl,

now leave them and lock your room. Don't listen to anything, close your eyes."

Merin's father and mother just stared at their daughter walking past them blankly. Even though her lips were still trembling, Merin managed to get into the room. She immediately locked the door tightly, then plopped down. Her chest heaved up and down, trying to stop sobbing.

"I can't... can’t... close my eyes," she said dryly. Eldric could see the girl was staring blankly at the wind.

"May I meet you?" Merin chirped again. Eldric's eyelids widened, not expecting the girl's request. However, he felt that asking why was unnecessary.

Eldric lowered his gaze. "No," he replied, "I don't want to break the rules."

"Why? What are you afraid of? What will happen if we meet again? Are you going to eat me?” Merin asked a few questions with a chuckle. Seeing that the girl was still trying to joke around, Eldric smiled faintly. Then, the smile disappeared, replaced by a sad look.

"Because I was afraid it would be like before," he said, "instead of paralyzing you, I let you go."

Merin was touched. Her shoulders finally dropped after stiffening.

“This brat turned out to be a good boy.”

“Shh! At first, I really wanted to keep the mood tonight, but mom and dad came instead," Merin grumbled while wiping her tears.

She rubbed her back, feeling sore despite leaning against the door.     

Merin shouted. Shorter and less shrill. But still, her eyeballs seemed to be about to pop out. Not an external attack, but rather because she saw himself in the mirror. Her cheeks were bleeding, no—more like she was crying blood.

The girl raised her right hand. How could she forget that she was hurting? So numb or maybe he has invulnerable knowledge? Whatever it was—to her, utterly disgraceful.

Merin glanced doubtfully at a drone, then cleared her throat.

"You still there, Professor?" she asked for sure.

Merin was relieved that there was no sound. Thankfully that person didn't get to see her stupidity. Merin leaned forward, pulling several wet wipes at once. Then, rub her cheeks as quickly as possible.

Eldric was still there. Watching the screen with crossed arms. Countless times, he had chuckled alone.

“Okay, problem solved!” Merin exclaimed

The last tissue she threw in the wastebasket.

"Wait, your hands... " Eldric chimed in as Merin tried to pick up a document on her desk.

Merin's small groan confirmed Eldric's warning.

“Argh, right. I have to treat my wound first before the presentation practice,” Merin muttered.

The ends of the man's eyebrows arched with a heavy sigh.

“Stupid, you should rest.”

Merin's left hand worked harder. Pulled out the drawer and pulled out the first aid kit. Merin dropped the box on the edge of the bed, then sat down. Plasters, sterile gauze, antiseptic gel, scissors, and tweezers were displayed. However, she instead looked at the objects.

Merin scratched her temple. "What should I take first?"

Suddenly, Eldric's eyes widened. He rubbed his lower lip, sorting out the right way to help the girl. His fingers landed on the keyboard, typing a command on the smart lens.

Sending a videomail ...

Amid her confusion, Merin found a small vibration in the smart lens. A video tutorial on treating wounds appeared in front. Merin’s smile immediately broke into a crescent shape. It was so bright and a relief that at least Eldric was the only one to witness that rare moment.

Eldric leaned back against the chair. Using both hands as a cushion with eyes still on Merin. Like a kindergarten teacher watching over his little girl.

Eldric's position didn't even change after Merin finished with her wound.

Like watching a comedy, Eldric felt at home watching Merin's training session. In front of the people, the girl looked fierce. As it turned out, she looked very silly when only faced with a wall.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us ..." Merin shook her head quickly. "No, it's a stiff opening, like a dry chamois."

Eldric laughed. "Turns out he's not good at anything."

The hands of the clock continued down the rows of numbers. Along with the motion of the moon which is now at its peak. Merin started to yawn, causing Eldric to straighten himself up immediately.

"Go to sleep. I already let you free tomorrow." He whispered.

As if her telepathy had worked, Merin stretched and stumbled onto the bed. She pulled the thick blanket and buried her head in the pillow. Slowly, her eyes began to close. However, it didn't take long to fall asleep.

Eldric watched him sleep, even until dawn.

***

When the world started to show sunrise, Eldric was still awake. Indeed, he was used to it. But this time, his thoughts were disturbed by the shadows of Merin and her family. He couldn't let last night's thing happen again. He had to guarantee the girl's safety. All night long, he had struggled with anxiety just because of it.

He immediately grabbed his coat to end the restlessness. Opened the aluminum-coated headquarters door. This time, the headquarters is located in the middle of the research building of PYRAMID—Prof. Takeda. Many people in white coats were seen passing by. On average, they head to their respective headquarters units. Makes Eldric look against the tide.

Eldric reached into his cell phone and called Olivia with his shoulders up and down.

"You might be surprised by last night's track record, I'll explain later. Tell the kids I have business outside."

"You're not going to see her, are you, El?" Olivia replied anxiously.

Eldric stopped in front of his car. Slightly lost in a dream.

"Let's see."

***

Only this time, Merin's breakfast atmosphere seemed different. Usually, Merin just asked Bi Olaf to prepare her favorite cereal on the table, but it seems that Bi Olaf took the initiative to fill the dining table. How could it not—after a thousand times through the full moon, Merin's father and mother wanted to have breakfast with their child.

"I don't want to know, we have to persuade the kid to come back to Indonesia for the press!" demanded Mrs. Rosa. Countless times she sulked at her husband.

Bi Olaf tried not to be influenced by the hot atmosphere in the apart. Slowly, she poured the hot tea into the second cup.

Mr. Aziz cleared his throat. "Where's Merin? Why don't you grab her to join breakfast?" He protested to Bi Olaf.

“Miss Merin is still in her room, sir. It seems Miss will not be leaving for campus today."

Mrs. Rosa squeaked. “Why do we raise lazy children? This is why I always regret adopting her. We were completely deceived.”

"Oh! Remembering the past makes me dizzy," said Mr. Aziz, "call the child now!"

Just as Bi Olaf nodded, the ringing of the bell caught their attention. With a whimper, Bi Olaf tried to ask permission to see who the guests were. 

Likewise with Merin who immediately gasped. Inwardly, she wondered—who else would know where she lived? So far, she's never shared any personal information with anyone, huh... except when she's forced to fill out a college application form. In fact, there are only three contacts on her cellphone, namely Bi Olaf, an emergency taxi, and a fried chicken seller in front of the campus.

She removed the blanket from her body, then froze on the edge of the bed. Reluctant to rush out, she was afraid it was just a trick of her parents. However, her mind was in denial. Why bother? They could break down the door if they wanted to. As father used to do.

“Then who,” she mumbled to himself, “the only one who has any interest in me is…” Merin widened her eyes, inching in one beat. She smiled as she remembered what happened last night. She thought, Prof. Eldric changed his mind and decided to meet her.

Excitedly, Merin tried to reach for the door. However, her cell phone suddenly rang. The notification panel displays a message from its chancellor.

THE FIRST TRIAL WILL BE BACK TOMORROW. HOPE ALL STUDENTS PREPARE THE PRESENTATION WELL WITHOUT EXCEPTION.