Syndedeménos (Connected)

CHAPTER 17

Keenan's breakfast today looks simple. A sunny-side up egg combined with chickpea stew. Although simple, Keenan prefers to eat the breakfast that Aquila always brings compared to trying the food that Haylie and Zack bring every morning. But unlike yesterday, Aquila did not accompany Keenan to eat and the girl was only busy moving her finger on the cellphone screen.

While Haylie and Zack were still busy moving equipment after equipment they took from the motorbike parked right in front of the glass door, Pygmy approached Aquila while holding a cellphone in his hand.

"Hey, Aquila. What time are you here?"

"I'll be leaving around twelve. What's wrong?"

"Since you're here, I'll go first."

Without removing her finger from the phone screen, Aquila looked at Pygmy with a flat look and nodded, then continued to look at the gadget in front of her. Pygmy immediately approached Haylie who was arranging the trays on the table. After asking someone else to lead the prayer, Pygmy came out of the dining room while holding the cell phone screen to his ear.

After Pygmy left the dining room, Keenan's gaze shifted from the items used by Pygmy to the food in front of him again. Before Keenan could put the spoon into his mouth, his eye caught someone looking at him. Make the spoon that has been raised put back on the pile of rice.

This time Aquila's gaze wasn't awful at all unlike last night. Even so, the fact that Aquila could cover up her intimidating aura and act normal like now made Keenan have to remain vigilant. Keenan really reduced his speech in front of Aquila and everyone involved in this kîdnapping.

"What is it?" There was a voice with a range alto from across Keenan's table. Aquila questioned Keenan's expression which changed when he saw Pygmy earlier.

"Just wondering why Pygmy can use his cell phone here when there is no electricity." Because Aquila was silent, Keenan continued the simple analysis he had been thinking. "Pygmy has been using his cellphone from yesterday afternoon until today. Even though he has a power bank, he should save his phone battery unlike yesterday. But his usage was too casual, as if his cellphone could be charged at any time."

"Wow, you observed such a small thing like that."

Keenan raised his eyebrows. He didn't know if Aquila's words were a compliment or cynicism. Trying to choose a safe path, Keenan just nodded even though his mind was already filled with words that could provoke Aquila's thoughts deeper.

I just had to hold back my words before getting any clearer information.

Keenan continued his breakfast after waiting for a while. There were no follow-up questions from Aquila so he could chew his food again. But Keenan could feel that his movements were still being observed. And sure enough, when Keenan looked up, Aquila was still watching the faces of the people across his seat.

"You just had a few hours to sleep, didn't you?"

Keenan was silent for a moment. Again, Aquila's words and actions disturbed Keenan's mind. All night long Keenan had been convinced by his assumption that the girl in front of him was a pragmatic kîdnapper who only obeyed orders from his superiors. Aquila's attention had shattered some of the puzzle that Keenan had put together. But in the end Keenan just nodded back to answer Aquila's question.

"I'll take you downstairs. The bed there should be more comfortable than here. I've also brought clothes and other equipment for you."

After she gave her terrifying words last night, she showed her concern like this. Is there something wrong with my thinking or hers?

Apart from providing proper food, this time she had prepared my equipment just to make me comfortable.

Keenan's mind began to branch out from all the information that was neatly organized in his head. Keenan repeatedly questioned his own capabilities for not being able to fight back against someone like Aquila. A girl who was confident and hard to put down. A kidnapper who had a strong belief in what he is doing and planning.

From Keenan's prediction, Aquila seemed to be only three to five years older than him. Her face was not like that of a woman who was over twenty-five years old. If only he found Aquila in a normal condition unlike now, Keenan intended to accept Aquila as his personal secretary. Firm. Self-confident. Leader spirit. Pay attention to details. Good at negotiating. Keenan had not been able to find anyone like Aquila in the company.

Keenan was silent when he woke up from his daydream and became even more awkward when Aquila looked at him with furrowed brows. Thoughts that got off track were not uncommon for Keenan. Even Keenan was surprised at his own thoughts after realizing that he was imagining the physique of a girl he just met last night.

In his own mind, Keenan was slapping himself. Since childhood, Keenan was not someone who was used to paying attention to the visuals of his surroundings. Most of the time Keenan didn't know if Karen was wearing lipstick or if Valencia had just gotten a haircut. Although Keenan's thoughts were very detailed and attentive, those details only apply to certain things. And usually Keenan never paid attention to visual things like he did now.

Because this person in front of me is a rare creature. Ha ha ha….

Keenan even laughed at himself. Making excuses so as not to be labeled stupid by his own mind.

"I just wanted to say thank you," said Keenan after swallowing the food in his mouth.

Aquila was shocked to see the man in front of him who was smiling. Although she didn't understand what that smile meant, Aquila saw a side she hadn't seen in Keenan.

Seeing a Keenan Aldrich who was so confident on television, made Aquila really want to question what Keenan actually had done to the company so far. Aquila wanted to ask from the side of the wealthy person, if Keenan had ever thought that there were still many people out there who depended on George Aldrich's company for their livelihood. Did Keenan have the heart to defend his employees rather than trusting one hundred percent of the data?

Aquila didn't know what Keenan was grateful for at this time. Was her actions not as intimidating as yesterday? Or the plan to provide a more comfortable bed? But the words of gratitude from Keenan sounded so warm to her ears. And because of Keenan's unexpected actions, suddenly a sentence she received from Keenan's fans yesterday crossed Aquila's mind.

"...Keenan went to his sister's place because he wanted to reassure himself that his sister was fine…. Karen definitely couldn't accept the loss of an older sister who was as caring as Keenan..."

That piece of information filled Aquila's mind so that her thumbs stopped a few millimeters above the cellphone screen. Even though Aquila's gaze was still on her cell phone, her mind wasn't there at all. Aquila stopped what she was doing and let her mind create a new branch that she had never planned.

"Aquila! I'm glad you were here in the morning."

The high and expressive voice of a child named Mary had interrupted the thoughts of the two people who were sitting up in the dining chairs. Not long after, a group of small children came from their bedroom and created a lively atmosphere in the dining room.