The sound of laughters and faint squeals of seagulls blended with the rumbling waves awaken her conscious thoughts. She followed them closely, then her memory returned. It was October 14th, 2002, the day at the time when everything around her enlightened by the golden glow of the afternoon light. Her and his shadow melted on the ground. At her left, a tomato plant grew out in their father's garden, sprouting several fruits hanging on the weak branches. Its height was about hers, but it was only a matter of time she would grow taller than the plant. One more year and she was going to turn seven.
"You can’t catch me, Rose!" Valentin looked back at her as he shouted in happily rhythm. The sounds of their laughter mingled in the warm breeze rustling between the sunlit leaves. Up above her head, a distinct sound of a plane caught her attention.
“Look!” Valentin pointed toward the sky.
She lifted her left hand and then pressed it on her forehead in a kind of salute. “Where?”
“We’re here! We’re here!”
Hopping around in their father’s small garden; their feet stomped on the dry leaves scattered on the ground. The sun radiated heat into their damp eyes. She knew that those passengers sitting in the plane could not see them, but still she jumped around along with him— splashing mud onto her new pink slippers and purple flowery dress. Mommy was certainly going to be mad again at her for blotting her new dress especially bought for that night, but Valentin barely paid enough attentions for that evening either. Dirt remained thick on his cheek. He wiped it off with his sleeve.
“Watch out!”
The gurgling water out of the sprinkler and her squeals pushed the bees away from trying to sting her. She covered her face, even though it’s too late as the ripe tomatoes had already reflected the golden lights in the crystal dew upon their red skins.
“Got youl!” Rosaline patted him on his back, a sign that it was his turn to chase her.
"You can’t catch me, Rose!" Valentin looked back at her as he shouted in happily rhythm. The sounds of their laughter mingled in the warm breeze rustling between the sunlit leaves. Up above her head, a distinct sound of a plane caught her attention.
“Look!” Valentin pointed toward the sky.
She lifted her left hand and then pressed it on her forehead in a kind of salute. “Where?”
“We’re here! We’re here!”
Hopping around in their father’s small garden; their feet stomped on the dry leaves scattered on the ground. The sun radiated heat into their damp eyes. She knew that those passengers sitting in the plane could not see them, but still she jumped around along with him— splashing mud onto her new pink slippers and purple flowery dress. Mommy was certainly going to be mad again at her for blotting her new dress especially bought for that night, but Valentin barely paid enough attentions for that evening either. Dirt remained thick on his cheek. He wiped it off with his sleeve.
“Watch out!”
The gurgling water out of the sprinkler and her squeals pushed the bees away from trying to sting her. She covered her face, even though it’s too late as the ripe tomatoes had already reflected the golden lights in the crystal dew upon their red skins.
“Got youl!” Rosaline patted him on his back, a sign that it was his turn to chase her.
“Rose?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you know you look so funny from behind?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you know you look so funny from behind?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That I’m gonna catch ya.” Valentin ran past her. “Let's twisted inside, or that stinging bug will kill ya.”
Once they were in, they bounced a few thumps on the stairs. The pigeon she had saved at a lake last Saturday squeaked in its cage as they clunked in their father’s library. If mommy were around, she would have already yelled at them. However, she was far away downtown, pampering herself in a new beauty saloon. It wasn’t like her to leave them alone with a babysitter chatting on the phone somewhere in the house, but she had mentioned about how they should appear nicely at their dinner with the richest family in the town who had financed their father’s research.
"Got ya!" Valentin patted her shoulder. She stood still as she halted at a view of a bookshelf inside their father’s library.
Propping up on her toes, she gazed up at the second top shelf, lifted her right hand and then traced her index finger on each embossed titles. "A..B.. " She stopped at a book with no title on it. Her head tilted slightly, eyes widened in astonishment.
“You gonna read that book?” Valentin stared at the book which was quite thick indeed. It had a blue hard cover with a picture of a sun, planets, and stars. “ I’d rather go out and play. Do you actually understand all of these?"
“Nope.” Rosaline smiled. At a single brush, slanting the book from its original position in the shelf, a rumble sound and vibration on the floor startled them.
“What’s that?” Valentin tried to balanced himself from falling.
She had been taught to hide under the desk or get out of the house if an earthquake happened, but her feet froze -- her eyes followed the source of the rumbling. Full of disbelief, she turned to Valentin standing in an awe, dropping his jaw while he was staring at the floor.
“You gonna read that book?” Valentin stared at the book which was quite thick indeed. It had a blue hard cover with a picture of a sun, planets, and stars. “ I’d rather go out and play. Do you actually understand all of these?"
“Nope.” Rosaline smiled. At a single brush, slanting the book from its original position in the shelf, a rumble sound and vibration on the floor startled them.
“What’s that?” Valentin tried to balanced himself from falling.
She had been taught to hide under the desk or get out of the house if an earthquake happened, but her feet froze -- her eyes followed the source of the rumbling. Full of disbelief, she turned to Valentin standing in an awe, dropping his jaw while he was staring at the floor.
“A stair?”
“A stairway to where?”
“Dad’s laboratory.” Valentine said.
“Dad’s laboratory?” All she knew her father’s laboratory was supposed to be in the next room.
“Only one way to find out.” Valentin said, initiating the first step toward the stair.
“Is it safe?” She pulled his shirt, trying to keep him from going into the unknown. Dust from the underground room pricked her nose.
“C'mon, It’ll be fun. " Valentin smiled.
"I'm not sure."
"C'mon."He grabbed her hand and then lead her into the underground room.
After a long, narrow hall, they met a frosted glass door.
Valentin kicked it open slightly.
“Aren't you supposed to push buttons to open it.” asked Rose.
“Yeah, but obviously Dad forgot to lock it.” he grinned.
Once they were in, he let go of her hand. He was amazed by the view inside the laboratory. Computers, centrifuge tubes, microscope, and laboratory equipments were scattered on tables and desks.
“Hurry!”
“What do you think is this, Rose?”
“I don't know but I don’t think it’s OK, Val. “
Valentin smiled toward her and then suddenly clutched at his stomach. His brows knitted. "Rose, h-help!-”
Rose widened her eyes.
“It’s not funny, Val.” Her eyes rolled. She shook her head for his foolishness and quickly spun around on her heels toward the door.
“Wait, wait!” Valentin stopped her from going onward. “Behold Stranger! This is Starship Commander. Surrender or we’re going to target you with our laser beam.”
“Are you kidding me..?” Her eyes rolled. Her shoulders lifted up as she flexed down her muscles.
“Hahaha... I am the Commander and who are you Rose?” Valentin chuckled.
“Hulk." she said without any expression.
“Hulk." she said without any expression.
“Hey, hey... That's funny! we know Hulk can't live outer space, besides you’re not green enough and big enough to be Hulk.”
“If I am green won’t you be afraid of me?”
"Nope. If you’re green, I’m gonna get you a rose and slip it into your ear. Got ya! “Valentin patted her shoulder . “.. It’s your turn now!”
Rosaline chased him. She cornered him until he was confined between singular equipments. Valentin's elbow shook a table behind him and then something like a glass rolled on the table.
“Whoa...” Valentin held the neck of the bottle gently. "wow, that's almost."
Their mother cornered them as they turned around.
“What are you doing, val? How did both you come here? You know your father is going to be angry if he finds out .”
“We’re just playing, mom.”
Helen brushed the hair on her son's forehead gently. "You know you shouldn't be in here. Now, get into the car. We must not keep Mr. and Mrs. Landgraab waiting. “
“What are you doing, val? How did both you come here? You know your father is going to be angry if he finds out .”
“We’re just playing, mom.”
Helen brushed the hair on her son's forehead gently. "You know you shouldn't be in here. Now, get into the car. We must not keep Mr. and Mrs. Landgraab waiting. “
"Are you ready, guys?" Alex, their father was already sitting in the driver seat as they fastened their seat belt.
"Dad, at what time we will come home?"
"The dinner will only take about one or two hours . What's up, sony? Feel bored already? There's Malcolm there and you'll love to meet Mr. and Mrs. Landgraab. They are nice people. You will love the dinner, and then soon you will forget the hours ."
"Dad, at what time we will come home?"
"The dinner will only take about one or two hours . What's up, sony? Feel bored already? There's Malcolm there and you'll love to meet Mr. and Mrs. Landgraab. They are nice people. You will love the dinner, and then soon you will forget the hours ."
---
But it seemed time ran unusually slow as they spooned the Turkey into their mouths, while sitting on victorian chairs.
“Professor, have you heard about Professor Seethermen’s research? That’s quite ridiculous, isnt it? What kind of life are genuinely more develop than us are living in outer space?”
Mrs. Landgraab's voice faded as Rosaline's eyelids turned heavy. All she wanted just to go home and sleep. Her eyesr rolled as she felt sticky potatoes crumb slid on her cheek. Across the table, Valentin grinned at her. The way he held his spoon assured her who the convicted was."I'm going to get you, Val." but Valentin only laughed seeing her sullen face.
“I may say-“ Alexander White said, while fixing his glasses from slipping down his nose. “Any kind of extraterrestrial lifeform may live in outer space. As on earth, any creatures would evolve and adapt to their own habitats. There’s a possibility that small life forms like microbes are developing, especially in a universe having more than 100 billion galaxies -- it is unlikely that life forms only existed on earth. “
“But can they reach us... here?”
"With high velocity as they enter the earth, it's quite impossible unless they are very intelligent creatures with higher technologies than us. In my opinion, we should avoid these kinds of extraterrestrial life form since they may endanger our own viability.”
“Professor, have you heard about Professor Seethermen’s research? That’s quite ridiculous, isnt it? What kind of life are genuinely more develop than us are living in outer space?”
Mrs. Landgraab's voice faded as Rosaline's eyelids turned heavy. All she wanted just to go home and sleep. Her eyesr rolled as she felt sticky potatoes crumb slid on her cheek. Across the table, Valentin grinned at her. The way he held his spoon assured her who the convicted was."I'm going to get you, Val." but Valentin only laughed seeing her sullen face.
“I may say-“ Alexander White said, while fixing his glasses from slipping down his nose. “Any kind of extraterrestrial lifeform may live in outer space. As on earth, any creatures would evolve and adapt to their own habitats. There’s a possibility that small life forms like microbes are developing, especially in a universe having more than 100 billion galaxies -- it is unlikely that life forms only existed on earth. “
“But can they reach us... here?”
"With high velocity as they enter the earth, it's quite impossible unless they are very intelligent creatures with higher technologies than us. In my opinion, we should avoid these kinds of extraterrestrial life form since they may endanger our own viability.”
“Yes, and we'd rather invest in those other kinds of researches. The knowledge would be beneficial for
the university, but not in terms of business.
Right honey?” Mrs. Landgraab nudged at her husband who was being quiet the entire evening.
“Artificial Intelligence interested us. That reminds me, how's your research doing, Professor?” said Mrs. Landgraab.
“Artificial Intelligence interested us. That reminds me, how's your research doing, Professor?” said Mrs. Landgraab.
Alexander wiped the corner of his mouth with a white handkerchief and then again fixed his glasses which was already perked at the right place of his nose. Clearing his throat, he said "It's almost done. I need to make a few observations, and then it will be done. “
"Time is money, professor. "Mrs. Landgraab put her fork down, and then clasped her hands together. "But if you can guarantee about the outcomes, we will surely invest in you more. “
Alexander White stared down at the table, avoiding the glare of Mrs. Landgraab. "Actually, it will be ready in a week. I'll need to run a few tests on it. I would like to ask you a question though. What's the price you will charge for the new medicine?”
"That’s a quite early question, Professor ? We also haven't even tested it yet.”
“I agree, but may I know your plan about the project, since it’s my research.”
“ I would say" Mrs. Landgraab said "About one thousand simoleons.”
“One thousand? It's so high. Actually, I was hoping you could sell it at a lower price, so everyone could buy it.”
“Professor,” Mrs. Landgraab shook her head and smiled. “You’re a smart scientist, but you must learn about business. Though we’re developing a new medicine to cure cancer, we’re not running a charity foundation. Besides, it will only take ten years and the generic medicine will be produced soon. Ten more years and people will be able to buy it at a lower price.”
Alexander White sighed.
“Dad?" she said, shaking her father's hand.
"Yes, Rose?"
"I feel so tired. Can we go home, now ?”
“Yes, but we haven't finished the dinner yet, Rose.”
Rosaline sighed again. She only needed a bed to lay down. She felt her forehead was going hit the table soon, but a touch of her mother's hand shook her shoulder gently. “Go and see your brother. He’s probably upstairs playing with Malcolm now.”
Rosaline shuffled upstairs. Her back hunched and her legs moved stiff along the staircase. She yawned widely as she entered Landgraab's family room.
"H- hi, Rose." Malcolm greeted her with a low voice. His voice got faded by the noises from Valentin's laughter and the beeps sounds from video game.
"H- hi, Rose." Malcolm greeted her with a low voice. His voice got faded by the noises from Valentin's laughter and the beeps sounds from video game.
“Val, can we go home now?” said Rose, still yawning.
“Ha! Take that you monster!” Valentin said, without even looked at her.
"Val?"
Rosaline sighed again. At that point she knew that her efforts were going to be useless because obviously Valentin was being heavily occupied by the new Supersonic game.
Malcolm Landgraab jumped out of his seat and then stepped toward her. “D- do you wanna go home? Y-you can take my bike, if you want to.”
"Thank you, Malcolm. It's so nice of you." Rosaline smiled. Malcolm smiled back at her, but he almost jumped when he heard Rosaline shouted at Valentin. "Val..!”
“Yeah?”
"Tell mom and dad I’m going home earlier.” “
“Okay...!" Valentin said, again without taking his eyes off from the screen. "Take that, you monster Hahahaha! Got ya!”
Rosaline shrugged.
The man looked at her and then slowly arose from the ground.
She clasped her hands at her back , looking down to the grass “C-can I help you?”
The man observed her closely. “yes. but haven't your mother told you not to talk to a stranger?”
Rosaline nodded. "B-but maybe you need my help. A-are you lost? if you’ve got lost, mum said we should call a police... ask where your mother and father”
The man stared at her for a while but then chuckled. “ I’m not lost, girl." he said "I just don't know who I really am.”
Rosaline stared back at him.
“Mom said that if we confused we should take time alone and talk to Him. Mom said He loves us, coz we are special, no one can replace us -- not even my twin. You’re precious too, Sir and He really cares about you. “
The man chuckled again, but then the light in his eyes grew dimly. “It’s not that simple. I'll be out of this place soon --soon that no one wouldn't even notice it. You better go inside now.”
Rosaline pursed her lips and nodded. "Good night, Sir. I hope you'll find what you’re looking for. ”
She clasped her hands at her back , looking down to the grass “C-can I help you?”
The man observed her closely. “yes. but haven't your mother told you not to talk to a stranger?”
Rosaline nodded. "B-but maybe you need my help. A-are you lost? if you’ve got lost, mum said we should call a police... ask where your mother and father”
The man stared at her for a while but then chuckled. “ I’m not lost, girl." he said "I just don't know who I really am.”
Rosaline stared back at him.
“Mom said that if we confused we should take time alone and talk to Him. Mom said He loves us, coz we are special, no one can replace us -- not even my twin. You’re precious too, Sir and He really cares about you. “
The man chuckled again, but then the light in his eyes grew dimly. “It’s not that simple. I'll be out of this place soon --soon that no one wouldn't even notice it. You better go inside now.”
Rosaline pursed her lips and nodded. "Good night, Sir. I hope you'll find what you’re looking for. ”
At the single stroke of her palm coating the door handle, heat pricked into the blood cells inside her skin.
The man lifted her up and then carried her while he ran across the lawn. He pushed her across the sidewalk. The night turned bright.. Red flames fused up into the sky. Heat shriveled the palm leaves across the street. Buildings collapsed, leaving paltry of ruins above stack of charred woods and bricks. Sun flowers and bees turned into tiny carcasses.
The man was unconscious, barely moved in spite of her effort to wake him up. She cowered as she saw the blaze of fire scorched her house down.
Her trembling fingers gripped the man’s cold and stiff hand. Drops of tears fell from her eyes.
