III.
"Wait."
If there was one noise that he grew to know over the past year, it was the clatter of his fingers against a keyboard as he toiled tirelessly into the day and night over and over again to please his savior and her organization. It was the only sound other than his breathing that would spring up on occasion; He had been placed in a far corner of the building that was near isolated from the rest of the campus but it was close enough that he could see the Savior within ten minutes of walking through the twists and turns of the growing compound. It was coming together around here, Ray thought as he completed another row of code. It wasn't that long ago when he came to this place and there was a little to see, but now thanks to the Savior, paradise was becoming a place of wonder all over.
One thing that was making this place worth the toil - the newest soon to be inductee that he had chosen from the options Special Missionary Claude had lined up for him. She had warm brown eyes and when she looked at him, there was a glimmer in her eyes of something mysterious and intriguing. Ever since he had seen her photograph, Ray knew that this girl was going to be everything that his Savior wanted her to be. It wasn't just because of the complex files he had yet to decode from her cell phone, or the fact that there had been a kind of messenger on her phone just like the one the RFA used... No, it was because of what he had observed in his fieldwork that his Savior asked of him to do in the place of Claude. He had been working very hard to get her to come to this place, for weeks he had been walking back and forth from his spot in the compound to the town where Lila lived.
The smallest space on the edge of a bridge, a minuscule pocket existed that allowed what was once separated to be opened, and this gap between his universe and the universe that she resided in could have trespassed the binds of what was known and was not. They call it a Leyline, an area of the world where spiritual and supernatural pressure meets to form unexplained and wondrous phenomena. Special Missionary Claude was the one to discover this small bridge, he walked the valley of shadows from that very universe to find the Savior and speak of so many people in need of her passionate hand. That was what he told Ray, that was what the Savior told him - and for Ray to be the first to choose the first recipient of paradise in this new world?
He couldn't feel more like he's proven his worth and this assignment to be his only cemented the fact that the Savior trusted him. The name he correlated with her was that of Wisteria, the same written name that appeared on the photograph he had in his possession. It was a climbing vine type of flora, it was commonly found in a few places around the world and could usually be seen as an intrusive plant that could take control of a garden if it wasn't taken care of properly. He had recalled seeing some in his Savior's growing garden, she admired it herself for its rapturous nature. Ray wondered how she could have such a name when she seemed the opposite of the flower.
It became increasingly clear to him when he began to follow her - and he had the pieces together when she looked him in the eyes and told him what her actual name was the night prior.
The first time Ray had ever ventured out into her town, it hadn't taken very long for him to locate Lila at all. Claude had some intelligence on what she might be doing and that he should check a few places before he does anything else because this girl was a creature of habit. The first place that he found the girl was on a bench in a park, she was sitting and talking to another female about something he couldn't quite pick up within earshot. She looked like she hadn't been sleeping well, at least, her eyes looked tired compared to the photograph he had been using to envision her for quite some time. He didn't approach her that day but it would become one of many encounters.
The second time he would have the chance to touch her cell phone and get into the device. He felt guilty for impeaching her privacy, but it was in the name of the greater good. She left the device on the counter at a local cafe and when the barista wasn't looking, he worked seamlessly and as quickly as he could to get in. It took less than five minutes but he had his information and from that point, he would have the ability to change things in the right favor.
The third and fourth times he had spoken to her, and yet, even with her back facing him on both occasions, she seemed to radiate a kindness to even the strangest people. The first time was in passing when she was in a cafe and she had gotten her first piece on the wall, he didn't know exactly what the big deal with for her, but she had been so happy in comparison to the other occasions he saw her that he wanted to see that smile again. The second time came when she was in a hurry and dropped her things in the street. He lent her a hand and she continued to shine.
It was the fifth and final time that he had found the most intriguing thing on her cell phone. The first time he had gotten into her phone, he had only managed to mirror the access to see what she was doing on a junker phone, there hadn't been enough time to copy all of the data that he needed to complete his mission. The final time had been enough to give him something that caused quite the head-scratcher for Ray. The code was encrypted but it would take a little tinkering to open out. However, even now, he was trying to wrap his mind around what exactly he was looking at. "Who are you, exactly, Lila?" He would murmur underneath his breath.
The door suddenly opened behind him and Ray looked over his shoulder. It startled him, but he kept the feeling in his stomach, not wanting to show the fear but it was written all over his face when he saw who it was. It wasn't his Savior, she always announced her arrival, but it was one of her other right-hand men in charge of this place. It was Claude, the man had been gone for a critical mission and it seemed like he wouldn't be back until his mission with Lila was complete but... things must have changed. "O - Oh, it's you, Special Missionary Claude. I wasn't expecting to see you back so soon."
"Ray, I told you it's alright to call me by my name. We're all family here at Magenta, after all, there's no need to stress titles when we're alone." Claude corrected him, the man approaching him in casual wear. He bore a simple turtleneck and slacks, his blonde hair slicked back out of his face and those dark brown eyes staring through him. "I heard the news from the Savior and I decided I needed to check on you. You managed to bring Wisteria to this place without any protest, I'm impressed, my boy."
Ray slowly nodded his head. "I followed your advice, I wouldn't have been able to do it right if you hadn't helped." He admitted, pitifully.
"Give yourself some credit where it's due, Ray. Wisteria has a soft heart like you, but she is much more naive than you ever were. It's a flaw of hers that was too easy to exploit. The Savior expects you to make sure you keep control of the situation, and that means doing anything you can to keep her doing what she needs to until her Ceremony." He rested a hand on the back of his chair, looking over the monitors. "If you do this, the Savior will be pleased with you once again. Isn't that all you ever wanted to do?"
Ray nodded dimly, once again. Lila was pushed out of his head for even the smallest moment when he thought about his mission and how much he wanted to the Savior happy with him. If she was happy then he could be happy, of course. "Of course, that's all I want to do."
"Now, did you find the program that I told you about?" Claude cut to the chase, leading out the middle man and getting the point of why he visited in the first place. His eyes flickered in the direction of the icon he wanted to see, and his lips curled into a smirk when he noticed it had made its way from Lila's device to Ray's hands. "It's of great importance to the Savior and myself that you work on unlocking it when you can. It has information that pertains to matters that no one should know but her greatness."
"That's why she entrusted you, her most devoted, to unlocking it." Claude pressed.
"Understood."
The older man was pleased with this, he nodded his head and released his grip from the chair back. "Good, I just wanted to make that abundantly clear once again. I'll leave you to your work for now, but I'll be back very soon to check on your progress with it." Claude turned tail and began to walk out of the room but when he reached the frame, he paused just the smallest moment. He didn't say anything for that moment. Ray wasn't sure what more they could want of him. "Oh, and Ray?"
Ray stood up straight when he heard his name once again. "Yes?"
"This is coming from me, and by long extension, the Savior. Feel free to play whatever game you want to play with Wisteria for now as long as it doesn't destroy the mission. There is only one condition to the matter that you must follow, do not speak a word to Wisteria about me as she has been blinded by confusion about the truth of what happened to me the time we met. She might night not understand this place if she knows too much too soon."
And with that, Ray was left to his thoughts. He hadn't thought about mentioning the man to Lila, so why Claude even brought it up made him wonder what exactly had gone wrong between the two of them in the past. His eyes downcast to the photograph he had been given a few months ago by Claude. It was of the man himself, and two different girls who looked varying degrees of similarity to him. The first girl had short cut blonde hair and a broad smile on her face, her outfit was simple and black. Claude himself looked no different than he had in the photo, but the smile on his face was a surprise. Lila was the last to be noted, she was dressed in a white dress and her hair was tucked out of her face. Her smile was almost nonexistent in the photo but you could see a passion in her eyes. That was what drew him to choose her in the first place. She was someone who deserved to be saved from the outside world and brought to paradise with them, with him.
Speaking of the girl, she was cooped up in that room all by herself with nothing to keep her company. What might put her in good spirits about this place, he wondered. He knew things about her that could have helped but what he knew was different than knowing her personally, she had already proven to be much different then the facts he read through. She might have missed the flowers, but he made sure her room had been one that would allow her to be able to view one side of the gardens. She couldn't very well see that in the dark, though, so what might make her morning? Ray brought up the security cameras in the hallway outside of her room. It was quiet in the hall and his sensors told him that she hadn't been out of the room since the night prior. Now, it was very early in the morning and the sun had just begun to rise above the horizon to give light to the day.
What might she like this early?
Ray decided that he would take it upon himself to make breakfast for her that morning.
Wisteria has entered the chatroom.
V has entered the chatroom.
V: Good morning! You got to chat with all the RFA members yesterday. I think you now have a rough sense of what kind of people they are and what they talk about... What do you think about them? Aren't they all so lovely...? And aren't they all so stupidly naive?
Wisteria: What...? That sounds strange coming from you.
Wisteria: Are you okay?
V: Did I just use a term that can cause a misunderstanding? But that was no lie. They are stupid. I know them better than anyone else, trust me. Mind if I give you a word of advice for you? Don't trust us too much.
V: Trust isn't always a good thing. Often you'll find blindness in a guise of trust. Just look at this. Whether I blind them, or whether I shut their mouths, everything is settled with a single effect called friendship. Oh the RFA! Are there any other friends handier then them? They mean so much to me... They're such useful friends to me.
V: Including you.
Wisteria: That's you, Ray, isn't it?
V: ...
V: ...
Ray: ...Tada! Ahaha... Surprised?
Wisteria: I had a little suspicion, but you almost had me going there for a moment. Nice try, Ray.
Wisteria: Good morning.
Ray: I see. My acting mustn't have been great. But figures. You can hardly find any similarity between that hypocrite and me. It was kind of hard trying to act polite.
Ray: Oh, I am nice. I am. I'm saying that it was hard to act like a bad person misbehaving. You do seem to possess sharp eyes. That's excellent judgment you have there. But I'm a bit happy you recognized me. It means that you felt me during that conversation, you know...?
Ray: I wanted to show you, Lila, that I can even do this. Of course, I'm not gonna butt in while you're talking with the AIs. So no worries. Anyways, good morning! Did you sleep well last night?
Wisteria: I deal with insomnia so it's hard for me to sleep throughout the night. I did rest last night, however, so I'm much better than I have been in days which is excellent. Did you get any sleep?
Ray: Oh... I didn't sleep well last night. I was worried about whether you'd be enjoying my game. But I'm glad you rested. Was your room to your liking? I was worried you might feel trapped in there.
Wisteria: It's nice... It reminds me of something that I've drawn before actually, I'm used to drawing scenery from fairy tales and I'm suddenly so struck with inspiration haha. Thanks for the inspiration.
Ray: Oh! I'm so happy that you like it so much! You're very welcome. You must be a very dedicated artist to appreciate those sort of things like you do. I might want to see some of those things soon...
Wisteria: I will have to show you what I come up with one of these days when you're free.
Ray: I would be honored. Anyway, how are things feeling with the AIs?
Wisteria: Your AIs... they feel genuine? I can't say that I've felt like something fictional is really real before.
Ray: It's an honor that you think they're real!
Ray: But no matter how well-made they are, they are no match for real people. I'm sure you already know that even though you're having fun with those AIs, you belong in this world where I am. You're not at the world beyond the phone screen. You're in the same world as I am. Don't forget that... Lila, you have no idea what I've gone through for this moment... Not that you have to know that!
Ray: I just want you to enjoy the stage I poured my soul into.
Wisteria: That's very kind of you to think of my well being...
Wisteria: That's very warm-hearted. I have a feeling this five-star meal that was outside of my room had something to do with you too, right?
Ray: Haha. Guilty as charged. I just wanted to make sure you ate this morning before you did anything else. Was it to your liking?
Wisteria: Of course. To be honest with you, I'm used to not eating at all in the morning or just eating a cold Pop-Tart. This is more well-rounded than what I would have done for something.
Wisteria: You went a little out of your way, right? That's a little too kind of you.
Ray: Really? Nobody ever told me that before. My guardians used to scold me a lot... when I was young. I cried every day, and scolding was a routine. Everyone would condemn and blame me.
Ray: Thank you for saying that. I want to be a warm-hearted man to you... always.
Ray: I wish I could do that forever.
Ray: Oh. Oh no... I wanted to talk to you some more but I have tons of work to do. There's this person I'm preparing a surprise for.
Wisteria: May I ask who would that be?
Ray: Hm... Who?
Ray: A man who needs a bit of shocker, should I say? There's this guy who needs a bit of a scare. No, it may look like a scare, but perhaps it's close to diversion... Anyways, I can't tell you who it is. But there is this guy who needs that.
Ray: I can't say anymore but I miss you even more now that I'm chatting with you. Above all, I hope you enjoyed your breakfast.
Ray: I worked hard on that. I must be leaving, excuse me.
Wisteria: Oh, goodbye...
Ray has left the chatroom.
Wisteria has left the chatroom.
He hated to leave her for the rest of the morning with the RFA but it wouldn't be forever. He was creating another obstacle, another little scare that would that hacker to stay in his place and to not even think about fighting with him. Ray cracked a wide grin as he toiled away for the rest of the morning hours in preparation of the next little game he was going to play with that damned redhead. "I'll show you," he spoke to the monitor. "I'll show you what happens when you hurt people."
Hours would pass before his hands were trembling against the keys and he would be forced to take a break.
At least Lila was the only one online when he checked.
Ray has entered the chatroom.
Ray: The administrator is here.
Wisteria: Oh, good afternoon Ray. Are you running a maintenance check?
Ray: Huh? Oh, no no. I usually run the maintenance when you're not playing. I shouldn't interrupt your gameplay, you know? Do you enjoy your chats with the AIs I built? Did you... enjoy your lunch? I wanna know what you're doing right now... I wanna visit you but I can't just yet... I've been stuck in the development room all this time...
Wisteria: You've had lunch though, right?
Ray: Huh? Umm... I... Not yet. I was too busy. No one has ever asked me if I had lunch. I feel... happy.
Wisteria: If it's any incentive, I won't eat unless you have. It's not healthy to skip meals! It can develop bad habits that can ruin your health. I don't want you to be skin and bones like me!
Ray: No, don't do that for me. I don't deserve that. I'll eat. I promise... but you're more precious to me then I am. To be honest, I'm working on things other than the app development in this building. I'm doing this and that - a lot of things. So I'm always swamped. I want to take greater care of you, but I can't. Sorry about that.
Wisteria: It's fun playing your game in the meantime if that's any consolation.
Ray: Wow, you like it? Thank God. But... I'm a bit jealous... I kept thinking of you while I was working... but that game occupied your mind?
Ray: That feels a bit... am I not attractive enough...? No. I shouldn't do this, should I? Oh right.
Ray: Don't you feel bored inside your room all day? I know you have been throughout the floor but you haven't been outside yet, have you? There's a beautiful garden out there... I took this picture a few days before you came. I wish we could take a walk in there one day... That's right. Why not have a tea time with just the two of us? Have ice cream when it's hot and a have a cup of tea when it's cold.
Wisteria: It would be nice to go outside for a little while. It's so beautiful around here, it makes me feel inspired.
Ray: I can't wait to show you more.
Ray: Yeah, I'll prepare your favorite snack. I hope we get to find some time to spend an afternoon together. I want to tell you what's my favorite ice cream flavor, though that might not be necessary info for you. And if it's okay with you, I wanna know what your favorite flavor... Lila, Thanks for staying here for me today as well!
Ray: I hope you won't leave... until the parties are held. I want to make a lot of memories here with you. Oh. I didn't interrupt you from talking with the AIs, did I?
Wisteria: Actually, you didn't interrupt me. I haven't been talking to them for the last little while. I got sidetracked in my sketchbook, I'm afraid. It was nice to hear from you again, though.
Ray: Really? You mean it? I'm scared... What if I lose you to the AIs?
Wisteria: They aren't real people, Ray - So why would you worry so much?
Ray: Oh, it does sound silly doesn't it? The game and the AIs are vital to me... But to me, our relationship is just as important. And... whether you're happy is essential. You're my precious tester. One who believed in me. Only a few people ever believed in me... in this world. But no one ever trusted all my words wholeheartedly. You know, I want to know what you talk about with those AIs. So I keep finding myself surfing through the logs. Are they keeping you entertained?
Ray: I hope you don't get bored with this game! They have small bugs. I'm worried they might make you bored... or hurt you... I'm afraid you might lose interest in this game and leave... I don't want that to happen.
Wisteria: I'm not bored. It's rather stimulating for my mind - I'm not unhappy. Don't worry so hard about everything. You need to get some rest soon, okay?
Ray: I'm so happy! The happiest time of day is when I talk to you. I like seeing you in the messenger, but I like seeing you in person even more. Yes, that's right. That redhead AI started bombarding you with a bunch of whatever-that-means, didn't he? Saying God or whatever... That's a bug... V also lies a lot because of a bug... Others have small bugs as well but those two are the worst. They keep talking rubbish because of their bugs...
Wisteria: They sounded like they were convinced to me about all of that stuff, Ray. That's the way they're programmed to be, after all. You can't exactly fault them for how you made them. I mean, even if they are AI, you sound angry at them.
Ray: But that's what rubbish is. It sounds convincing on the surface, but in reality, it doesn't make any sense. That goes for what the rest of the AIs say. So need to pay attention to what they say. Don't listen to them, even if they tell you that they're right or that they want you to trust them. Their world isn't real anyway - so you shouldn't worry so hard about their feelings.
Ray: You can make anything in a virtual world. A genius hacker, a CEO-in-line... And I'm also the one who creates those AIs. I can make a person rich or poor with just one single word. You know that... I'm much more significant than that redhead, right?
Wisteria: Well, you shouldn't compare yourself to a character, Ray - you know? Your worth shouldn't be defined by being better than someone that isn't real. After all, since they aren't real they can't be better or worse than you.
Wisteria: Even if they were, you should define yourself alone not by any other person.
Wisteria: Don't think too hard about that, okay? I'll still think you're great.
Wisteria: I think you're a good person, Ray.
Ray: Oh.
Ray: You think I'm a good person? Wow.
Ray: You think that well of me? That's what you mean? That's right, I'm much more amazing than him because I am real - he's just fake. I need to acknowledge that. Once you discover their secrets, your emptiness will be gone. So will mine... Oh. I gotta go now. I have an important meeting with a guest.
Wisteria: Your boss, possibly?
Ray: I'm not supposed to give this person's info. Sorry, I can't tell you... but one day You'll get to meet my guest too. I'll miss you as I'm saying goodbye... I gotta finish this task first. I'll call you again as soon as I'm done.
Wisteria: Good luck with the rest of your work, then!
Ray: Yeah, good luck on your test too! I hope you'll enjoy the next chapter as well... Have a beautiful day! Goodbye!
Ray has left the chatroom.
It would be late in the evening before Ray could even think about checking on Lila again. According to the surveillance cameras she was in one of the other rooms on that floor sitting close to the window. Her own room was one of the only on that floor that didn't have an audio capture device or a video camera within it; But since was in another, he had the chance to see her work. The back of her head was facing him but he could see her shifting her eyes between her phone and her sketchbook. He longed to watch her work as she crafted something out of nothing with her hands. He had only done it once or twice before and it was amazing to watch. She made something out of seemingly nothing without even blinking and he wondered with curiosity what she might creating on her own.
He had never had time or reason to learn something like she had. Ever since the Savior had saved him, Ray hadn't been able to think about anything but pleasing and doing his duty. His mind was rooted in numbers and facts; Her mind was rooted in creativity and kindness. He knew he shouldn't, but he wanted to see what she was doing. He brought up another screen and pulled up her phone to sneak a peak. To Ray's surprise, she had the photo of himself from earlier on her screen. Was that what she was trying to draw...? Or was she using him as a reference for something? Something akin to pride swelled in his chest as he watched her work.
"Goodness," The audio caught the smallest whisper from her throat. "I didn't notice when we met in person but he looks so... exhausted."
Oh, Lila could see through him.
She had mentioned before that she too, had a hard time sleeping most nights so it shouldn't have surprised him that she could see it in his face as she could on her own. She knew that he wasn't sleeping well, and something about the little sorrow in her voice made him want to do what she wanted, to just get some rest. The Savior and Special Missionary Claude wouldn't be happy with him if he took a few minutes to rest his eyes in the middle of the important hours of the night.
Lila might scold him.
Her phone began to ring and she nearly hopped out of her seat at the sudden ringtone that blared through the silence. She let out a surprised little laugh at her own fright and lifted it to her ear. It seemed as though Jumin Han was trying to call at that moment. It wasn't the first time that he would have spoken to Lila since she had arrived, but he might as well check to see what kind of suspicion or thought the man had about her. Ray moved quickly to get the audio line open so he could listen into it.
"It's me, Jumin Han. It's about tomorrow's breakfast. I'd like something soft and tender, something that wouldn't trouble my stomach. Hello, chef? Are you there?" His voice was dull with the tiredness of the day, he had clearly pressed the wrong number and called Lila instead of his preferred contact but Lila didn't budge from her spot as he spoke to her directly. "Wait, this number. It's you, Wisteria. I thought I called my chef, but I must have pressed the wrong number. I cannot believe I made such a mistake... I must have had too much to drink."
She leaned forward with her chin pressed into her palm. "Well, it happens to the best of us sometimes. Can't say I share the sentiment, I don't drink. But it's only natural people make a few mistakes here and there, nobody's perfect. It's nice to hear from you, however, Jumin."
"You're positive," Jumin said. "That's right, even if it was a mistake, you can consider it the other way around. Hm, since our phones got connected, why don't we have a small talk?"
"Is there anything you want to talk about?" She asked him in return. "Since you're the one that called me."
He hummed. "Is there nothing you can think of? If not, why don't we talk about me? Because there's something that just came up. When I was chatting about V in the chatroom before, I was reminded of the old days. So many things happened when we were younger... It's good that I met V, but some things were not all that pleasant."
Ray didn't need to check the chatlog to know that there was tension with many of the members and V. Even V's so-called best friend was having trouble with him, they were already suspicious because other matters but when he took Lila in without even blinking it really drove it home that friendships just weren't what they should be. Heh, what else was new? They were fools to trust him in the first place. He would only screw them over in the end, it was better to cut ties with him before they got hurt like... he did, as his Savior had.
Lila, ever kind, and ever diligent, she comforted him. "I can't imagine what you might have gone through as a child. Don't tell me you were a target for kidnapping ploys because of your father or something like that?"
She hit the nail on the head. Jumin was surprised at her tenacity, he admitted it even. "...How did you know? Your insight is something. Things that people would often see in movies were a reality for both of us, I'm afraid. When I was in elementary school, I was almost kidnapped. They, of course, targeted me because my family is wealthy. That wasn't a secluded event but every instance showed me how capable and competent my bodyguards were. They always managed to thwart kidnappers before the trouble began."
"You know, you don't talk about this like it's something you've gone through when you refer to it like that," Lila pointed out. "It sounds as though you're more of a witness then the victim. Shouldn't you feel a little more bothered by some of these traumatic incidents, Jumin? After all, nobody deserves to have to go through that."
"I suppose in regular circumstances that it should bother me but it's second nature to me," Jumin said. "It's because it isn't new to me, and I'm not the only person that has gone through it. I hear similar stories through the neighborhood news. Although I am talking about this like some daily news, I might have been more shocked when I was younger. After all, I was a child at the time, just a cute little boy."
Lila sounded surprised to hear that he wasn't bothered. She sat there for a moment and pressed her free hand against the edge of the table. "That's kind of messed up, Jumin. I'm kind of upset for you. Is that okay? I feel like somebody should be more upset about the fact that you aren't bothered by this stuff as you should be. Ahahah... what I mean is, I'm a little too empathetic to everybody. I can't quite imagine you as a child, though. But I've known you for a few days as you are, so I couldn't judge."
"I have photographs of course, but it's not like the same thing. Even if it weren't for the money, my looks would have been why people wanted to take me. Of course, that doesn't change the fact that it's still a crime. It feels so new to talk about the old times. I can't help but curious about your own stories." Jumin said.
Lila laughed. It sounded nervous. "I'm not all that interesting. I didn't have an upbringing like you or V, but I lived comfortably even if it was a little modest for the middle class. My Dad was a bit of a scientist but he dabbled in some stuff I never did really understand so I won't even bore you with that context, but my Mom is a hairdresser, but she comes from a family of florists. I spent a good part of my childhood in and out flower shops and hair salons. Most kids my age were out playing, but I spent a lot of time studying to help my Grandparents out in their store and on their land."
"Interesting, that only makes me wonder where you might come from if you've done such things. I haven't been able to pin what accent you have but I can tell you're American." Jumin replied.
"I can't deny that," Lila was honest. "I'd love to tell the rest of the RFA more about those sorts of things but there hasn't been a good time to even try that yet. Maybe the party? Although, I'm not sure anyone would be interested in hearing about that kind of stuff. It's an underappreciated part of the market that a lot of people take for granted."
Jumin seemed to agree, "I've never dabbled near those fields but my company has numerous business ventures with different shops in multiple markets. I've not yet done much work with some of them because I've not been adequately versed in some of the terminologies. Your opinion on some of these might be a thoughtful venture."
"That's flattering, Jumin. I'm not so sure I qualify as an expert in any of those fields." Lila admitted, not used to flattery. "I might have raised in it but my real passion is no different than what V does. Well, no, he's a photographer and I'm a painter. There's a difference but we follow a lot of the same rules in terms of artistic means."
"You do make a point. Oh, look at the time... our chat lasted longer than I thought. I should head to bed. Let's talk again, Wisteria. Excuse me."
With that, Lila was left alone once more. Ray wasn't sure how much he liked that idea that Lila wanted to tell the RFA much of anything about herself, she didn't know any better, but they could always try and turn her against the Savior in the future and that wasn't optimal. He didn't want to even think about that. Lila would never even think of doing that to them, she was his friend, that's what she said. Instead, he turned back to his work and tried to decipher more of the mysterious messenger that lay in wait on Lila's files.
Wisteria has entered the chatroom.
707 has entered the chatroom.
707: Hell-o world! Hell-o RFA! Hell-o Wisteria!
Wisteria: Hey Seven.
707: Hi! Jumin, how dare u take the first place in guest recommendation! You're not gonna get away with it! Here comes the GOD7! I summon the predator of vampires- a werewolf! At least that's what I tried but my invitation failed. So I'm gonna recommend a much more powerful person... no, creation more powerful than vampires!
Wisteria: That's unfortunate, it would be nice to run into the supernatural, you know
707: too bad T-T I couldn't contact one since it's not a full moon. They usually stay wolves unless it's full moon.
Wisteria: That should be the other way around, Seven;;; otherwise, it would be a wereman.
707: lololololol
707: That doesn't sound as cool as a werewolf! This one is usually a wolf, turns into a man on the full moon! So that's why this one is so rare lol so... That's why I wanted to invite one! Anyways, it's a creation of misfortune that's orbiting in the middle of an uneasy freeze that it might leave us for good.
707: [[[I LOVE YOU SOLAR SYSTEM]]] [[[I'M A SWEET INNOCENT SUPERIOR PLANET]]
707; This creation that has sent a desperate call to please let it stay in our solar system would be P - L - U - T - O. PLUTO!! It sent a signal to me that it desperately wants to attend an Earth party. Beep! Beep!
Wisteria: I'll invite it! Sure, what the heck.
707: The Pluto's sign must have reached you well I'll chat about space with Pluto!
707: Oh btw, We're not having an end of the world if it crashes into the world party, are we? Gotta ask it to please control its orbit rate: To slow it down to the scale of a planet visit instead of a planet crash! Umm... though I just through my recommendation in their cuz I was in a hurry... Surprisingly, we're having parties... Ummm... What do you think, Wisteria?
Wisteria: Is there somebody about it that's bothering you, Seven?
707: Yep... I'm not sure entirely if this is okay... Just a little bit... I have this teeny tiny concern... nope nope nope nope nope. V mad his choice, so as his hacking slave, I will silently obey. M-A-N This is frustrating! I wanna tell somebody! I wanna unleash it!
Wisteria: Hm. It's too bad you can't go to the Space Station. Noise doesn't travel in space the way it does on Earth, that way you could say your secrets without anybody being the wiser.
707: !! This looks like the time for...! Help me, an almighty secret store box somewhere in the galaxy!
V has entered the chatroom.
V: Oh...
707: Ohhh V!
Wisteria: That wouldn't happen to be one your photos would it, V?
V: I took it for him.
707: Yep, I was thrilled when he gave it to me!
V: You were fond of it when you saw it.
707: Yep captured my heart at first glance and I still favor it hahaha.
V: I am honored. It's been so long... Since I've seen that picture.
707: It lead me to my love for space... Do you even realize absurdly beautiful it is?
V: I'm a photographer, you know? This is nothing.
707: Whaaaat
V: Just kidding...
Wisteria: That seems on par with Jumin's humor if I'm not mistaken, haha.
707: Yep... thought that was Jumin.
V: No, I was joking. And I'm like Jumin? That's a compliment, right?
707: Ha...
V: I'll take that as a compliment.
707: That picture looks even more beautiful. It's been ages since I last saw it. Waaahh I can feel my love blazing for space!
V: I'm so honored that you like it so much. That picture suggests how small you are in an infinitely enormous space and reflects the adoration and veneration towards the almighty space for holding in its embrace, and...
707: Stop stop! I already know how teeny tiny I am and space doesn't have to know!
V: I'm sure it already knows even if you say that^^;
707: Ughhhhh
Wisteria: Space has always been there so it knows all about us already, Seven, a time before us and a time with us.
V: No matter puny and tiny we are...space will love and understand.
707: T-T
V: Oh, that picture reminds me of a few others that I took with space as my subject... I once took a picture of the beautiful sun. I should shuffle through them and get the best one for the charity auction for the upcoming party.
707: V
V: Yes?
707: Rather than auction you can donate it to me.
V: Personal possession wouldn't be bad.
707: for free...
V: That'd be better if it's for the good. It can make more people happy.
707: Kghh... The lights are attacking me I can see a halo behind u, V.
V: Halo?
Wisteria: Seven, you're such a slave for money, greed isn't a virtue, you know!
707: Yes... I thought money is everything in the world... I feel like I gotta pray and repent in your presence T-T But if you got a good picture of space, can I have it? lol V... tbh ur too virtuous I don't think I can ever understand u... I think I see how corrupted I am while looking at u T-T
V: You're saying that I'm helpful... aren't you?
707: ... From now on I'll call you St. V. Want me to book a baptism session for u?
V: St. V...? Baptism...? Did you forget I'm already a Catholic like you?
707: Ahh... umm... sorry.
Wisteria: Would Holy V be a better substitute?
V: Holy? No, I'm nowhere near holy... I don't think that's ever possible for me.
707: Hey u sound more holy that halo was not my imagination...
V: That does sound funny.
707: yep.
V: Oh... we should settle on the date fast...
707: Can I ask u something?
V: What is it?
707: About this party
V: Oh, if you want to talk about the party, let's talk over the phone. I'll call you.
Wisteria: Wouldn't it be easier to just talk here? It's not like a secret or anything, right?
707: nonono It's not a secret... we can discuss here.
V: Huh?
707: I'm sure we'll keep thinking of Rika if we hold parties.
V: Oh...
707: I was wondering if ur okay with that.
V: I'm always thinking of Rika, even outside of parties.
Wisteria: It's better to keep living rather than hold yourself back. Those already passed would typically want you to carry on.
707: Um... You're right, but...
V: ...You're right, Wisteria. I... I've been trying to find out what Rika is trying to me through Wisteria.
707: Yes? And?
V: I don't know why...
V: But I've concluded that she wants us to hold parties again.
707: Um... if you think so.
V: You don't sound convinced. Luciel, are you against holding parties by any chance?
707: What? Uh no... It's not like that... I've been thinking a lot these days; Somebody attacked the server on my drive... Our situation is unstable too...
Wisteria: When the rough gets going, it's better to stick together through hardship rather than split up.
V: Yes, I agree. If we work together for a common goal. We'll eventually come to trust each other.
707: I'm worried because I don't know if that'll lead to trust or betrayal... but still... But if u want everyone to just focus on preparing for the party I should do as you say... though there are things that keep bothering me.
V: Thank you for understanding...
707: I hope you're right... about holding parties about Wisteria carrying on with Rika's role and about your assumption that this is what Rika wanted.
V: I hope so too.
V: Oh... I'm sorry I gotta
707: ?
V has left the chatroom.
Wisteria: Oh. Did he leave?
707: Yes he's gone. Is he having trouble with his connection? The timing was a little weird ;; No. I'm sure it's just a coincidence. We weren't talking about anything strange now. Which reminds me I feel like V's photos showed the sun a lot.
Wisteria: All artists have a muse when they begin work on a series or project, it's possible that he uses the sun as his muse, something that inspires him to create what he does through his camera It's no different than when I'm painting, I look for inspiration in the world around me. I usually find what I'm looking for when I'm outside among nature which is different than V, he must think of the stars above as his muse.
707: ! Oh- New development in the case of Wisteria! ur an artist?
Wisteria: I'm a painter, to be specific - I'm sorry I'm unable to show any of my work at the time being - But yes I'm an artist.
707: Would you paint me a photo of space?
Wisteria: Not for free lol and besides, I'm in a slump right now. You'll have to wait until I get my mojo back.
707: Anyways it's true that that photo has a lot of light in it. I wonder... Is it because of Rika? She used to mention the sun a lot when she's lecturing or persuading...Is it because of V's photos or maybe it's the other way around. I'm not sure which one it is. Speaking of the sun, I suddenly wonder... Why does V take the pictures of the sun so much? The sun of the day, the sun of the night, and the sun of the space? And they're basically about the sun, aren't they?
Wisteria: Hard to say.
707: Let's think about the sun for a moment, It shines on its own. It explodes every minute. It can feed the entire solar system and... what else is there? Is there anything can attract V there? But V isn't here. No matter how much we talk about this, we won't get the answer. Oh, btw I haven't seen Zen all day what's keeping him from the chatroom all day? ;;
Wisteria: I talked to him early this morning but I haven't heard from him since. Maybe he's busy?
707: Hm I'm worried if he's even aware that we're holding a party now. I should try calling him cuz' I'm always the one most caring about our member's well-being!
Wisteria: It's important to care about your friends! If you're worried you should check on him before you head to bed. Nice to see you have some compassion beyond the jokes.
707: Compliments are the magic words that make Seveny Dance.
707: ...If I'm absent - the other members will care for me, right?
Wisteria: Of course they would! I would too, everyone is friends here, remember?
707: Ur our newest member but you care for me so much T-T I hope he picks up. Then, I'll see you later Wisteria!
707 has left the chatroom.
It disappointed Ray when he came to visit Lila and she wasn't in her room. He had only a few brief moments to spend with her before the Savior would want to be back to his work, but she had to be tired of dealing with the RFA after the past day. They were a bunch of people on the outside world, people who weren't yet saved and knew nothing about the error in their ways, discounting the one he hated the most. Ray hated to think that Lila would have to deal with a liar like that, and seeing her interactions in the last chatroom, he could only guess she was far too kind to tell him she didn't like him. She only played along with his silly games to laugh at him, of course.
Unfortunately, he couldn't stay put waiting for her as he wanted. Ray let out a little-defeated sigh, headed back to his computers, and when he got back, he didn't hesitate to lift his phone and call her number instantly. She answered after the first ring count and that quelled his nerves. "Where are you right now? I was just in your room a few minutes ago, but you weren't there... Were you aware by any chance?" He asked.
"I was in one of the other rooms on the floor, Ray." She answered him.
She hadn't been far from him. Ray felt a little better knowing that she was still doing as he said. "I see. So we missed each other by a few moments. As I said, you can explore that floor whenever you want if you please. I just was a little disappointed you weren't in your room." When she didn't immediately say anything to him, he continued talking. "Umm... If you're in your room right now, could you take a look at your bed? I brought you some flowers. I picked only the pretty and fresh ones for you. I hope you like them."
"Oh, so you did. This is a lovely arrangement, Ray, I haven't seen some of this a long time. I'm surprised you thought some of these choices through. The meaning of some of these is sweet. I think you could have given me a run for my money if you worked with me at my families' farm at the same time I did, though that might have made me a little irked. But, this is different. So, I guess I could say I feel well, happy." Her voice went soft at the end of the sentence.
His heart strained against his chest. Lila was pleased with him? He was taking steps in the right direction to gain her compassion then, it made him want to cry with joy. "Yeah. I was thinking about you as I made it, there were so many choices to pick from I wasn't sure which ones might make you happiest. I'm glad you like it but - this is nothing. I want to give you something even better. What could be better than flowers...? I'll try to come up with something better soon to impress you! Anyways, it would have been better if I could put those flowers in those tiny hands of yours. It's kind of a shame. Um... though it's not included in that bouquet, there's this beautiful flower called anemone. Have you ever seen it?"
"Through pictures, yes I have," she said, "I don't think I've seen one in person before though."
"Yeah. It looks pretty even through pictures. The flower itself is pretty, but its language is so sad. So I don't wanna give it to you. Anemone has several meanings in the languages of flowers, but the most well-known one is a betrayal. Even thinking about it makes my heart ache... and that term doesn't suit you either." He trailed off as if he couldn't find the right word, that theme didn't seem to suit her nature. Ray sat down in his chair and turned away from the computers so he could focus on her for the moment.
Her next words surprised him.
"You don't think I'll betray you, do you Ray? I like to think we're becoming friends now, you can trust me not to hurt you." Lila told him, gently. "Friends are to be cherished."
"Friends? Wow, I've never had one before," Ray breathed.
The word 'friend' leaving his mouth in an unfamiliar fashion. The RFA acted like they were a bunch of friends, a family even, but that charade wasn't something that he wanted to believe. It was a fake friendship they dangled in front of him but when Lila spoke of friendship - he wanted more than just that when she explained it to him. She thought enough of him to want to be friends. "I cherish the thought that you consider us that way. I'll also trust you. I hope your room becomes full of flowery scents. And I hope you can wake up to flower scents and feel good. I hope you'll feel good as you stay here. I want you to be happy as long as you stay here."
"Well, I'm glad that I can be your first friend, Ray. You know, seeing flowers like these remind me of staying at my Grandparents house," Lila said. She changed the direction of their conversation by just the smallest mention of her past. "They run a trendy destination for tourists in our town, there's flowers, plants, and little animals as far as your eyes can see. I spent a lot of my childhood there. There are so many types - and sometimes, I can't remember all of them. That's the place where I first discovered Wisteria, believe it or not."
"...Like your username," Ray concluded. "Right?"
"Uhuh, you got it." She sounded like she was smiling through the phone as she spoke of it to him. "There's a story behind that but I'll have to tell you some other time."
"I would enjoy hearing that someday..." Ray trailed off, just as there a knock at the door behind him. It cracked for just the briefest moment and a Believer popped his head into the room to tell him that the Savior had requested his presence. Alas, that meant he wouldn't be able to talk to Lila any longer for the rest of the night. "Someone important is looking for me, so I have to go. Let's chat again. Bye."
Her voice lingered just as his thumb tapped the end call button. "Have a good evening, Ray."
I stared at the flowers like they had sprouted wings. It had been such a long time since I had received something like that from someone that I didn't know and the fact that in the bunch were some types that I hadn't seen in a few years made me a little comfortable but at the same time made me feel strange. Sure, it was a gift from Ray, but he had thought fondly of me when he crafted it. That surely wasn't a bad thing. I thought. It was just the way that he wanted to express his friendship. It seemed to me like he was desperate for someone to care for him. He just took the extremes to make sure of that as this Ray persona. A part of me had a feeling that this person had been crafted because he wanted to refute all that past pain, and Ray was the part of Saeran that couldn't bear the pain.
As for where the rest of his feelings might have wound up, I wasn't sure of the answer yet.
My phone began to ring unexpectedly - I almost dropped the device onto the ground with a loud thud alongside the flowers. I set those down on the bed and turned my attention back to my phone. The ID card told me it was V, why would V be calling me this late? The last time we had spoken it was the middle of the day and I assumed he was too busy to keep in touch with most of the RFA. If I wanted to believe that he was working somewhere in the mountains, my gut told me he was looking for Rika. I picked up with my finger touching the green button. "Hello, Wisteria. Can you talk right now? There are a few things that I'd like to ask you." He was oddly quiet - enough that I thought my volume was low but upon checking it wasn't. It was like he was whispering but just above it so you wouldn't ask.
I blinked, shaking away my dismay. "This is a little sudden, V... what is it?"
"It's nothing big. I'd like to ask you this question because I'd like to trust you. I'm sure the others members already asked you a lot... But... can you tell me about the place you're staying? Or, what do you see around you?" V asked, reluctantly. I don't think he thought that I was going to give him anything to go from but I would do my best.
I bit my lower lip. What if he didn't already know about this place? What if he didn't? "I'm not sure if you would believe me if I told you about it," I told him honestly. "And I can't answer anything with clarity for reasons that I can't exactly explain."
"Oh." Unsatisfied with this answer, he changed his direction. It was enough of a tip-off that he might note that I couldn't speak to him as freely as I might have wanted to do. If he noticed that, he didn't say. "If that's the case, I would like to apologize for making you think that way- I, I was only curious. I wasn't trying to gain something from you, just in case you're wondering. Um, allow me to ask one more thing. Did you get any gift of some sort at that place?"
Gift?
What did he mean by that?
From the corner of my eyes, I could see the flowers that Ray had brought me.
"A bouquet, why?" I asked.
"A bouquet...? There'll be no problem if it's just a collection of flowers... Still, I'm worried. I've seen this in the news before - A person lost conscious after drinking something from a stranger, so we should watch ourselves. So if you get a gift from a stranger... or feel that something's fishy, I suggest you retake a look at things, even at things you've taken for granted." V warned. If he knew about the flowers then he likely knew more then he let on, not that he was going to tell me anything on the phone on the off chance that these things were being listened to by anyone, I figured.
Secrets were always his game. Whether it was willing or not, it was a part of what he was doing. It wasn't that he wanted to keep them, I hoped, it was that he was trying to protect people from the truth. I stared at the wall ahead of me.V, I thought. I want to trust you. I took in a deep breath and thought my words carefully. "I appreciate your concern, V and your thoughtful words. There's just a lot that I can't tell you yet is all. I... I'm handling this myself right now, and that's as much as I can. I assume that's as much as you can do as well. If this changes, you'll the first person that I talk to. I hope the same goes for you, V. I want to trust you just as much as you want to trust me, but for now, I don't expect anything."
V didn't say anything.
"Understood." He finally said. "I hope nothing happens to you, then, sincerely. I do appreciate that you've considered reaching out if it turns out to be wrong. Since you've joined us, now you're one of the RFA, I truly hope you'll feel safe. Oh, pardon me. I must leave now. Somebody's coming. Now, excuse me."