Light and Night: Across Two Worlds

Chapter 7: The First Cook

Alex gave Aya a digital watch with voice commands. This tool helped Aya to bring up Poo wherever she was. Because Aya was still very small and had difficulty communicating, Alex put Eva, a young crew, to follow Aya. Eva looked like a calm, pretty teenager. Alex made a series of activities for Aya to do every day. Alex made a homeschool curriculum for Aya. Language learning was certainly an important main topic for Aya. Besides, Alex also provided basic natural science covering biology, chemistry, and physics. Aya could practice directly in the garden, in the workshop, and chemical laboratories in the Villa area. Teachers were brought in to teach Aya on the same schedule every week.

To outsiders, Aya introduced Alex as an adopted child, Matias’s niece, who was trained as an apprentice to help him in the future. In order not to attract attention, Alex gave Aya contact lenses that must be worn every day. With this contact lens, Aya's eyes became black like the eye color of Light Land people. This contact lens could be used for a month and disintegrated itself in the form of liquid, resembling tears.

Alex also taught digital programming lessons to Aya directly. Alex also asked Matias to teach Aya martial arts and shooting. Thus, Aya could protect herself. Outside the curriculum set by Alex, Aya was very interested in cooking. She often went to the kitchen to pay attention to the cooking process. Because of her great curiosity, the chef finally allowed Aya to learn how to cook. Alex was very busy. Aya barely had time to meet Alex, except during the digital programming lesson. Aya could meet Alex sometimes to have dinner together when he came home early. Therefore Aya wanted to express her gratitude by making dishes for Alex. Aya asked the chef to keep her cooking a secret from Alex to make a surprise.

Outside of Aya's knowledge, actually, Alex always monitored Aya by placing a drone with an invisible mode that followed Aya everywhere. This activity seemed overprotective, but Alex felt this was necessary for Aya's safety.

Alex worked under the digital technology ministry in the city center. This job required him to be in the head office at least 4 days a week. Because of that, Alex couldn't accompany Aya. Alex entrusted Aya's safety to Matias and Eva. Eva looked like an ordinary crew from the outside, but she also functioned as a bodyguard for Aya. As a butler in the Villa, Matias was obliged to guarantee the confidentiality of Pullau Villa and protected its contents from any attack.

Aya felt comfortable with Pullau Villa. Her activities in learning kept her busy. When having free time, Aya would explore the forest around the Villa with Poo and Eva. Besides that, Aya went to the kitchen to learn how to cook, learned about herbal medicine and poison. A month has passed. Aya was now fluently communicating with workers at Pullau Villa. Poo managed to get her to speak in full sentences.

That day Alex would return to Pullau Villa and had lunch with Aya. From morning Aya was busy cooking several dishes. The shape was still not perfect, but it felt good and hygienic. Alex had just landed on a jet before lunch. He just finished attending a weekly meeting in the capital by the ministry of digital technology. His status as a city prisoner was released two years ago because it was considered insufficient evidence. For three years, Alex was under strict supervision by the government. They wanted to prevent Alex from doing something bad that threatened the safety of the country. The government's suspicion was based on suspicious activity detected by digital radar right at Alex's residence five years ago. Of course, this happened right on Aya's birthday. Fortunately, Alex had already made preparations for anticipation, so that when the government special security agent came to check the situation, Alex had hidden everything well. Even so, this did not decrease his suspicion. With the fact that Tania Angkasa, Alex's twin, disappeared after releasing the subject of a government-class VIP experiment, Alex must have been the government's target of surveillance.

Alex was cautious. Because of that, Alex tried to show his compliance with the government and contributed a lot to the digital technology ministry. In the past five years, the ministry of digital technology had created many innovations, and Alex was a genius who was greatly admired in the ministry. Many people think Alex helped the ministry because he wanted power, status, and wealth, like most people. No one knew that Alex's motivation was to hack, spied on, and control government technology by inserting many of his ghost programs into digital networks without being discovered. Thus, Alex could cover up his activities and also protected the existence of Aya.

After becoming a trusted person, and supervision of him weakens, Alex finally decided this was the right time to pick up Aya. The condition five years ago was really chaotic and dangerous. Alex ordered Matias to protect and evacuate Aya and make sure the baby was alive and safe. Aya's condition was indeed not feasible in an orphanage, but at least enough to survive and far from government radar.

Alex changed his clothes and sat in the dining room. He found the chef standing near the table to greet him. He couldn't see Aya in the dining room.

"Where is Aya?" Alex asked in surprise.

"Aya is getting ready, Sir Alex," said the chef.

"Get ready for what?" asked Alex, confused.

The Chef smiled and gave a sign. The door opened, and Aya entered while pushing the train containing her homemade food. As quick as a bird, Aya put it on the table, a set for Alex and a set for herself. On Alex's plate, there was writing written with a sauce that read "Thanks." Alex immediately felt so touched. Aya's small face reminded her of Tania's face. Aya approached Alex and kissed Alex's cheek softly.

"Let's eat," Alex said, trying to divert his overwhelming feelings. Alex scooped Aya's food and chewed it. Aya watched Alex's expression without blinking. After swallowing Aya's cooking, Alex turned and smiled at the little girl.

"Very delicious. Aya is good at cooking. Come on, eat together!” asked Alex.

Aya smiled happily and nodded enthusiastically. Aya took her own plate and ate heartily.