Life Clouds; Someone's Mystery Gaze

Steven analysed the olive complexion of this Asian girl. After she disseminated herself from the group, she went to the stage area to collect her bag. A short girl was tagging along behind her. Steven was not sure whether his sharp looks at her being sensed by the girl or not but the mystery girl suddenly looked back and stared at him. The dull and cold look from her made his heart pondering faster. He kept calm and observed her face in detail. He was so sure that she was reminding him to someone.

" Hold a second... Tower incident? … Is she the one? '' a cold chill crept up his spine and fear began to fill his eyes. His eyes widened in shock. He closed his eyes for a second before opened them back. He did not want to spend another second here any longer. He needed to check whether she was the one he was looking for. The latest news he got turned out to be true. He had investigated a few schools in Benta as a visiting student or an exchange student before finally ended up in this small town. Steven smirked cunningly. He turned around and headed to the canteen.

Anna's house.

Anna reached home. She immersed herself in a bath before she changed into a beige coloured short sleeve crew neck T-shirt and a black pants.

" Sweetie! Come down now and have lunch before you go out. " Ms Selvi placed the food on a dark brown oak table. Without any urge to reply, Anna came down the stairs and sat on the chair. She placed her red sling bag beside her on another chair. She did not nod or look at her mother. The past reminded her every time she looked at her mother's face. Although she successfully being expressionless and extended cold aura in the school and not let any outer vibrant affected her internal emotion, yet she could still not guard up against her own mother.

It had been five years since the incident happened. Yet, she could not get out of it. She had to wear a cold shield to protect her fragile and unstable emotion.

Anna sighed. She could not accept her mother's decision until now. She wore a tense face.

I don't want to look at you….I can't.. Actually…I don't know how to…face you…

Anna struggled inwardly. She ate her food silently without a word or looked at her mother nonetheless gave her a smile. Ms Selvi got used to Anna's cold and ignorant characters. Since her husband went missing without any traces after the lab incident, all the elders in her family and neighbourhood accepted the fact that he was no more in the world. They already investigated the case by even hiring private detectives. A lot of money was spent and times had been spared. Still, the missing person remained missing. Even the policemen also gave up.

Anna was a child at that time and although she was the only one witnesses presented during the incident took place, her imaginary words could not be digested by adults. Due to her traumatic behaviours seen afterwards, she had been sent for psychological treatment for about three years. The doctors said she would heal by time.

Ms Selvi sighed thinking about the destiny surrounding her and her daughter. She hoped Anna could accept the fact and lead a normal life like the other teenagers. 

Anna took a glance at her mother without her notice. Her mother wore a worried expression and seemed in deep thought. Thinking about her mother's action in past years and the way she gave up searching for Anna's father made Anna furious. She hated the fact in accepting her mother's cowardly act. Till now, Anna still believed that her father was still alive even though many were given up ready including her mother. Her heart ached.

Due to the contrast opinions between these two, these duo relationships were not good. An obscure smoke being created between these mother-daughter pairs and the gap itself became wider by time.

Anna spooned some spinach and added into her fried rice mixed with sliced chicken. She ate quietly. After she finished eating, she rushed to the front door. She did not care about a figure standing there looking at her minute actions.

Anna put on her white sports shoes and walked fast. After a few minutes, she reached the forest area near the main road. Familiar with the area, she entered inside the forest and walked on the used trail. After passing by some bushes and trees, she reached to the white painted cabin made from wood. Although the colour faded by years, the wood stood strong.

Memories with her father flashed her mind. She was there to help her father when he built this cabin. They painted the wall with white colour together. Every time Anna stood in front of the cabin, it made her feel good.

She quickly took out the key from her bag and unlocked the padlock. The door unlocked.

A few photos were hanging on the wall. One of the photos portrayed a middle-aged man wrapping an 8-year old kid from the back and both laughing heartily. The portrait had been captured in front of this cabin. Her mother took the photo. Another photo pointed out the trios of the family laughed towards each other in swimming suits. There were a few more similar photos hanging on the wall shared between these three souls in different locations.

Anna touched the photo. A tall and thin man with an innocent look held a little girl's with one hand and another hand encapsulated a gorgeous lady beside him. Three of them were laughing freely. She still vaguely remembered that day.

Flashback, on the beach.

The atmosphere was warm and lively.

" Pa! Look! It's moving! " A little chubby girl in a red swimming suit scooped the shells. The creature hid inside the shell.

" Is it? Show me. " With a warm and loving look, the man volunteered his palm hand where the girl threw the sands and shells onto his hand. She happily built a sandcastle and when she noticed the small shells moved, she called her father.

Her excitement was like a burst of sunshine. 

" It's called cone snail. "

" Is It? Hahaha… " The girl chuckled.

" Ma! Look. We captured cone snails! " The little ran towards her mother who sat on the mat reading a book.

"Oh, wow! My little girl is curious about snails! " Ms Selvi messed Anna's hair. 

Anna remembered. Her mother was a beautiful and vividly warm lady. Her smile was radiating at that point. She loved both of her parents. Since her father went missing, her mother became dull and thin. No charm but only sadness surrounded her. She looked different now and her characters also seemed to change.

Damn it!

Anna tried to control her emotions. She took a deep breath. She lifted her head and tried to blink her eyes a few times to control her crystal eyes from getting wet.

I need to focus!

" Pa! I'm sure I will solve it! '' Anna clenched her fist. She was determined to complete the work today. She nodded her head as she gained a sudden confidence from nowhere.

There was an old computer at the edge of the room and there were two long tables attached on both sides of the room corner. One of the tables was full with fine and rough wooden stripes and pallets. There were a few small machines used for cutting wood placed near to each other besides the pallets. While on the opposite table, a few piles of books and documents alongside some parts of electric and electronic components had been neatly arranged.

Anna walked towards the computer table. She passed by a small square table in the middle of the room which contained all the unfinished projects she had been working on recently. Anna sighed after taking a glimpse on the piles of half-abandoned works on the table before she reached the computer.

She had worked hard for a few months on designing the same prototype. All efforts seemed to have failed. She found her father's workbook in the wooden cupboard after a year since she completed psychological treatment. Since then, she tried to study the sketches and scribbles written in the book which aged years.

She opened her bag and transferred the design from her mini pad to the old computer. Anna sat straight and fully immersed into the computer. She typed some codes. This time, Anna was pretty sure her design would combat the old unfinished design her father had created prior to the incident day. She fully immersed herself in the work.

Anna double-checked the 3D- printing design in front of her. Due to her fast movable fingers, she managed to use the keypads and mouse smoothly despite the computer being old and inferior to use. Anna completed the whole design after a few attempts of combining the old and new codes into a new adapted design. She saved the design in a pen drive before she stood up steadily.

Anna stretched her body by lifting her arms upwards and bent right and left.

Ah, I feel great!

After exercising lightly, her muscles became relaxed. Anna headed towards the small wooden cutting machine which she recently modified into a 3D printer. It took her 6 months to insert fused filament fabrication parts and an extrusion nozzle head into the small table machine.

Instead of using full plastic polymers, Anna moulded it with wooden stripes as a thread to ensure the end product would be stronger and possessed high durability and flexibility.

By using her small and fine fingers, Anna inserted the medium-sized thread at the top of the machine and inserted the cable head into the electric socket. Then, she inserted the pen drive at the memory port before pressing the button on.

The machine started to work automatically to design the prototype exactly the same as in the software. By wearing a smug expression, she grinned her thin lips. She felt proud of herself as someone who just won a medal prize.

Not bad. I thought I couldn't finish this project before the due date. As Pa says, nothing is impossible if you put your heart into it. I wonder how the end product would turn out...Hehe, well done, Anna!

Anna patted herself. She went back to the computer place and opened her mini pad again. Her fingers caressed the light rose protective case covered the mini pad. It reminded her the day her parents had gifted her a mini pad after her completion of her first coding lesson. She was nine years old at that time and it was the best gift she ever could get. For her, the mini pad was like her precious treasure. She took care of it well.

Anna opened her school assignments and did it while waiting for the machine to create a 3D prototype. After a few hours she finished her homework, the machine also completed the prototype.

Anna stood from her place and walked towards the long bench. She switched off the machine and unplugged the cable. With intense care, she took the lightweight prototype which sized a medium box . Anna put the prototype box on the corner table.

After taking the nearby stool, she sat facing the table. She analysed the end product. The box can be opened from the top. The cubic form of the box had various small compartments inside it. It looked like a complex maze. Anna amused.

" Omg! There is a path inside it. But wait… where is the ending point?" Anna was excited when she discovered the maze looked like a small continuous road but in a complex way. There was only one small square hole being designed in outer space. That was the starting point of the maze. But there was no ending point inside it. The 3D design was too complex and Anna could not figure it out at once. She closed the box back. Then only she noticed a few symbols protruded on the side of the box lid. This part, she followed exactly her father's design in the workbook. It looked like an ancient key and lock. Anna pressed hard until the lid touched the box.

" Click"

There was a locking sound. Anna was impressed with her design.

" Wow, that's great pa! But it's so complex. What's the purpose? '' Anna murmured. She wondered about the purpose of the box and how it can serve to find her father. Anna wrinkled her forehead. She was confused. She kept the cubic and her father's book inside the cupboard before packed her stuff. She glanced at her wristwatch. She did not have time to analyse the prototype further. It had been a few hours since she came to the cabin. Anna peeked outside through the small window.

Wah, it's almost getting darker! Sure, time passed very quickly!. I should rush back home!

After locking the cabin, Anna started to walk. She felt chilly when she observed the darkening forest around her. She fastened her steps. The wind blew her short hair. The wind was getting stronger and the weather seemed cloudy and gloomy. At any second, the rain might start.

Sh*t! I didn't bring an umbrella! 

The thought of it made Anna worried. She hugged her bag. She did not know what would happen if her bag got wet.

Anna started to run slowly while she was walking faster. She felt cold and uneasy. Once in a while, she turned around and examined the surroundings. Nothing seemed weird. She dismissed whatever bad thoughts emerged into her mind like she was being monitored. Anna shook her head and she fastened her steps.

After a few more minutes, she reached the main road and her house was nearer ready. " Fuh…" Anna felt relaxed after she crossed the road. She walked towards her house. She reached her home on time before the rain started.

Anna wanted to head straight to her room but once she passed by the kitchen, she changed her mind. She felt hungry. Anna searched for something to grasp easily. There were a few freshly baked cookies served on the table. After washing her hands, Anna took some of the cookies in a bowl before leaving the kitchen. She freshened up herself, changed clothes into a simple shirt and short pants before lying down on the bed.

Anna reached her hands towards the near cabinet. She opened the drawer and took a diary and a pen. While eating cookies, she started to write.

_ Dear Pa,

I finished the prototype today. Although I do not know the purpose of it, I believe it would be the starter key to find you. Even though everyone said you are no more in this world, my heart does not accept it. One day, you'll return. I believe that… and... _

Anna could not write anymore. The waters bubbled in her eyes and the vision blurred.

Anna closed the diary, held it to her chest and closed her eyes tightly. The water drops began to flow slowly behind her eyelids. She stayed in the same position for a few minutes until the tears stopped. She opened her puffy eyes slowly and placed the diary inside the cabinet of the first drawer.

She headed to her bed again and after her head touched the pillow, she felt a deep sorrow piercing right through her heart. She did not know how but eventually ended up sleeping soundly. Only her even breaths filled up the quiet room.