Chapter 20
“Lea?”
“Ah, yes?”
“Let’s go, it is almost lunch time, we shall head now and find some restaurant”
Nodding her head, she didn’t notice that time passed by so quickly, it was as if they are just eating breakfast a while ago, but looking at the small watch in her hand, it surely is time for lunch.
“Yes…”
The ride was safe like what it was in their first hours of travelling. She didn’t know that it would be that far but she didn’t say a single thing. Even Aiden did not dare open up a topic about what happened. They are lucky enough to chase those people away. And no other problem occurred. Other than the fact that they can’t find any restaurant nearby.
“I will check if there is some food behind”
Lea mumbled as she heard how Aiden’s stomach seems to be rumbling. He is hungry…
‘I think Lilith would prepare some stock in here. I saw some before in the other car’
She said pertaining to the small bag of biscuits that she saw one time when the two have an occasion to go to. Lilith never fail to put some biscuits for her dear madame after all.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
Removing her seatbelt, that alarmed Aiden. To think that she would do something so reckless, he did not even think that she would do something as that.
“Hey, I’ll stop the car”
Mumbling, Aiden declared as to stop what Lea was doing.
“No need, we won’t find any store if we ever stop”
‘Right… everywhere, it is just trees and grass… are we going to a nowhere place?’
He thought to himself agreeing in what Lea said. It is true that he can find nothing else but a field of nothingness. Just sand and trees and that is all.
‘But can she act a bit decency?’
Looking straight to the lane, he dare not look at Lea that was trying to get in the passenger seat. Even if he knew that Lea is just doing that to get some food for the two of them, he could not find the will not to me mad nor annoyed.
‘I really don’t know how her mind works. One time she is cold that I can’t even tell what she would do next, the other time she would be kind and would help me, then she would be upset about what I would tell her to finish yet would still do so, and now… she is like that… Hah… what is going on in your head? I can’t even tell…’
Shaking his head, he then heard a small falling sound. It was the basket bumping the window. And Lea holding it as she balances her knees on the seat.
“What… are you… doing?”
“Nothing, just drive there. I am looking for something”
‘But… ‘
Wanting to say yet another word, he just can’t help but shut his mouth as to calm himself down.
Soon enough he heard her happy remarks as she peek from the passenger seat holding a bag of chips.
“I saw some snack on the back”
“That’s chips, not lunch”
“Well, it can be. That is… for the mean time”
He just stays silent as they have no other option. No matter how much picky he would be, the fact that he has nothing to eat than those chips for lunch… it is not as if his pickiness would bring him food he would like to eat.
‘What good is it to have money when you can buy nothing in this kind of place?’
“Here, eat some”
“No thanks”
Aiden immediately blur out. Still annoyed by the fact that he is wealthy yet he can do nothing about his problem right now.
“But you are hungry”
Letting out an annoyed face, he quickly replied.
“I am not”
He lied.
“Okay… then I’ll finish this then”
She mumbled lying but that made Aiden look at her. Letting out a deep sigh, that made Lea look at him.
Opening his mouth, Lea put some chips to help him eat. She didn’t know why she feels a bit comfortable now, maybe it was because of the fact that it wasn’t the first time she ever did that to him. In their journey, the two spend time eating breakfast with Lea helping Aiden eat as if he is a child since his hand was resting on the wheels.
“Wait, look at there”
He mumbled as he pointed at the small store not far from where they are. But the small chips that was left on his lips are still visible. That made Lea giggle softly. Finding it somehow… childish.
But as soon as she set her eyes on the place that Aiden pointed, she could not help but smile.
In the middle of nowhere, a savior finally exist.
It was a store. A small shop but surely it has foods inside.
“Let’s go!”
The car stopped and Lea head out first. Looking at the store, no one was inside. But there is a card slot on the door.
“Look, what is this?”
Thinking, Aiden remembers something. A nd so, a small grin then escapes his lips.
“So it is already existing huh?”
“Hm? What?”
“It is a store built by the system. A build store for places like this. It was proposed last year and I was one of the chosen few to give investment in it”
“You did?”
Nodding his head, he slightly let out a smile.
“It was just a small bid. After all, this seems to be a good project. But the sales surely is not as big as what they think it would be”
Making way, Aiden bring out his card. It scans his identity opening the door. They head inside and saw the rack of food organized so well. There is no fresh food but frozen one. The one you would heat up and ready to serve, some beverages ranging from water, milk, juice, as well as soda and few liquor. Snacks have variety, from bread, to chips, to chocolates, and many much more.
“So… how does it works?”
She asked in curiosity. Thinking that something as magical as that exist, it was her first time seeing one right in front of her eyes.
“Pick items you want, and put it on the counter, you can use either card or cash and it is all good”
“What if someone snatches it?”
He then picks up some bread and paste like jams and butter.Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.
“That is why they need a card for identification”
“And if you don’t have card?”
He stops for a second, remembering what the information about it was. On the other hand, Lea pick up some frozen foods and brought them on the board where a machine states what she needs to do next.
“As I remember a scan would be done, to check your image and so on. My features state the same with my card and they verified it was me. So maybe it was something like that”
Explaining it, Lea could not help but still be at awe. After all, it is something that doesn’t exist in the place she was from.
“Wow, so something like that exists…”
Chuckling, he even wonders where in the world did Lea is from. She is not much aware of the advanced technology.
“and if they steal some?”
Looking at Aiden, she waits for his reply. Still wondering what might happen if something as robbery occurred in a secluded place like this with no people guarding the store.
“They can’t get out without paying what they bought”
Smiling Lea is so amazed by what she learned. Another piece of information to be added to her mind’s library that is called brain. It was indeed a hobby of hers to learn new things. Each time she learns more, she feels happy. As if it was a fulfillment of sort.
‘That is so amazing… to think that something like that exist. Isn’t it wonderful? But… since machine would be the one guarding the store, no workers would be in here… and people won’t have a work. That is bad… but… in a place like this… maybe it is a better choice. Who would want to be locked in a place secluded from the other people?’
“Done picking up?”
Lost in her thoughts, it was when Aiden asked her if she is done picking what she needs.
Holding a basket, it doesn’t contain much food. Just enough for him. but as for Lea, she brought so many.
“You sure you can finish all of that?”
“Aiden, it is better to have a back up food than nothing. Who knows how far it was for us to be there”
‘And I don’t want to see you hungry you know… you don’t look good when you are hungry. I don’t want my work to be doubled specially if you are mad so… this is also for my sake’
Not looking at Lea he was aware of that. He did underestimates the distance of that place. Thinking that they can get there in an instant.
“Okay fine”
And so they pay for their food that was scanned and packed by the machine. The receipt came out of the hole together with Aiden’s phone getting a notification about the payment he did.
‘not bad, not bad’
He thought to himself as he feels satisfied with the result of this store. It was a matter he accepted out of curiosity and whim. But since he has been busy, he forgotten about the investment at all. If he did not stumble in a place like this, who knows if he would still remember about that matter.
Picking the frozen food , Lea put it in a microwave as she follows the instruction on the board. Aiden just watch her do so and in just minutes, the food was ready.
“Done, let’s eat this while it’s hot”
There was a slight worries that can be seen on his face. As if he was asking,
‘What the hell is that?’
“Hey hurry up, it is nice that they have a seat inside too. Let’s eat”
Face filled frown, even lea could see the questioning face that Aiden was having right now.
“You are going to eat that thing inside that plastic?”
It was his first time seeing one. And unlike lea, he is not amazed at all.
“Why? I read the ingredients, and it looks nice”
‘that looks nice to you?’
Not understanding Lea’s words, Aiden could not help but wonder.
“What if it is poisoned?”
Giggling, she pulls Aiden to sit down against his will.
“It smells delicious too. Hurry up, let’s eat”
Looking at the food, it was also his first time eating something like that. although it doesn’t look so much appetizing, the smell is nice as well as the presentation.
“Hmm, what a meal. It tastes decent. There have a taste”
‘This tastes fine?’
And so he gulp and put a spoon of that meal on his mouth that Lea offered to him.