Chapter 20: 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 went to.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

Removing her seatbelt, that alarmed Aiden.

“Hey, I’ll stop the car”

“No need, we won’t find any store if we ever stop”

‘Right… everywhere, it is just trees and grass… are we going in a nowhere place?’

He thought to himself agreeing in what Lea said.

‘But can she act a bit decency?’

Looking straight to the lane, he dare not look at Lea that was trying to get on the passenger seat.

‘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 in what I would tell her to finish yet would still do so, and now… she is like that…’

Shaking his head, he then heard a small falling sound. It was the basket bumping the window. And Lea holding it as she balance her knees on the seat.

“What… are you… doing?”

“Nothing, just drive there. I am looking for something”

‘But… ‘

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 for the mean time”

He just stay silent as they have no other option.

‘What good is it to have money when you can buy nothing in this kind of place?’

“Here, eat some”

“No thanks”

“But you are hungry”

“I am not”

He lied.

“Okay… then I’ll finish this then”

She mumbled lying but that made Aiden look at her.

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.

In the middle of nowhere, a savior finally exist.

It was a store. A small shop but surely it have 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 remember something. A small grin then escape his lips.

“So it is already existing huh?”

“Hm? What?”

“It is a store build by system. A build store for places like this. It was proposed last year and I was one of the chosen few to give investment on it”

“You did?”

“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.

“Pick items you want, and put it on the counter, you can use either card and cash and it is all good”

“What if someone snatch it?”

He then picks up some bread and paste like jams and butter.

“That is why they need 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 it 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 states the same with my card and they verified it was me. So maybe it was something like that”

“Wow, so something like that exist…”

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?”

“They can’t get out without paying what they brought”

Smiling Lea is so amazed by what she learned. Another information to be added on her mind’s library called brain. It was indeed a hobby of her to learn new things. Each time she learns more, she feels happy.

“Done picking up?”

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”

Not looking at Lea he was aware of that. he underestimate 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. 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.

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”

A slight worries 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”

“You are going to eat that thing inside that plastic?”

“Why? I read the ingredients, and it looks nice”

“What if it is poisoned?”

Giggling, she pull 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 looks so much appetizing, the smell is nice as well as the presentation.

“Hmm, what a meal. It taste decent. There have a taste”

‘This tastes fine?’

He gulp and put a spoon of that meal on his mouth.