Chapter 6 - Survival Simulation II

The next day,

The second day of 'Survival Simulation'.

Suddenly Poppy and Olly shout their cute voices while jumping on my bed. They slip  behind the curtain. Their actions managed to wake me from dreamland. My red-swollen eyes opened. They run away from me immediately because they saw my eyes which is very scary. My soul is not fully collected yet. This mattress really makes me helpless. I close my eyes again. However, the sound of footsteps and the curtains of this room open.

"WAKE UP, CUPCAKE HEAD!!!!" Rico exclaimed while shaking my body with her enthusiasm soul.

She keep calling me until my ears are deaf for a moment.

"Stop it, Rico!" I grumbled annoyed.

"I'll keep shaking your body until you wake up from the mattress!" she said. "Are you forget what day is it?"

"Oh my God, Rico you disturb my sleep after last night I couldn't sleep!" I thought annoyed.

"But your shoulder still hurts, you know," I said, trying to persuade her. "Shouldn't we just postpone it for a day or two days until you're well again?"

"BIG NO!" she exclaimed. "Deal is a deal! It can't be changed!

"My shoulder has healed anyway. I don't feel pain at all."

"Are you sure?" I asked to be sure.

"Very sure!" she answered very confidently. "Now, wake up! You can't persuade me anymore."

I sighed. Then said, "Alright alright. Wait a minute, my half-soul hasn't collected yet."

"YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR FROM CUPCAKE HEAD!!!" she seemed happy after hear my words. "I am waiting for you!"

Then, she come out of my room. Her form is blocked by a blue curtain. Now, I am  alone in the silence. Slowly I wake up. My soul begin to gradually gather into my body. The red color in my eyes gradually disappear. However, the swelling there still gives rise to a stinging feeling. I cannot stay here for long because the Strawberry Rico will definitely come back.

I stretch the muscles all over my body for a few seconds. After that, I get out of bed. I do not forget to inculcate the habit of tidy up the mattress before I leave the room.

In this cave where Rico lives, the common room — including the kitchen, dining room, and family room which are integrated into one — are separated from the bedroom. Here are two bedrooms, one occupied by myself and the other occupied by Rico, Poppy, Polly, Olly. It is enough to walk a little from the bedrooms to the common room because it is only separated by a cave passage.

When my hand flicks the curtain, suddenly Rico standing in front of me. Now, we face each other. I get a little bit surprise by her sudden appearance.

"Thank god, you're out!" she exclaimed.

"What happen?" I asked confused.

"I want to tell you that the supply of clean water is running out," she said. "Therefore, I want to invite you to look for clean water outside. Do you want it?"

"I see. Alright then!" I answered.

"Then, let's get on with it. Help me carry some empty wooden buckets, please," she said.

"Okay," I said.

The two of us heading to the common room to bring some empty wooden buckets. The wooden buckets are deliberately piled into three piles so that we would not lift them too much.

"We brought all these buckets?" I asked to be sure.

Rico nodded. "We don't necessarily carry everything by hand. There's a cart outside."

"Oh,"

It turned out that Rico had already prepared a cart outside. It is beyond my expectation. She actually prepare everything independently.

The two of us bring six wooden buckets. Then, we put them on a medium-sized wooden cart that had been behind the bushes. I do not know why she put the cart there.

"Let me pull the cart," I said. 

I am trying to drag the cart with all my might. Of course, pretty heavy. However, I can still do it.

Now, Rico is guiding this trip to find clean water. Just a few steps, we arrive at a clear river flow. I did not realize there is a clear river nearby the cave. So clear, the view under the river can be seen with naked eyes. My eyes widenly. My lips parted slightly, see the beauty of the flow of the river.

"This is the flow of the Trent River. The river I used to get the water for my daily needs," Rico explained.

"The water is so clear!" I exclaimed.

"You can relax here while we get some water," she said.

The two of us decided to sit by the river while enjoying the springs of the river that continue to flow quietly. Pebbles color the beauty of this river. The pine trees around add to the beauty of this natural landscape.

Also, I wash my face with Trent River water which is still a little bit sleepy.

"Oh, how fresh!" 

A cold sensation hit the pores of my face. I also wash my hair, neck, and hands up to my shoulders. Instantly my eyes which initially swelled up, now disappears because of this river water. Absolutely amazing!

My white shirt get wet being splashed by the river water. As a result, it displays a large wet stain on the front side uniform and makes it damp. However, that does not stop me to enjoying the fresh water of this river on my skin.

Rico sit next to me with her legs stretch out against the flowing river water. "That's why I am looking for a place to live close to a water.

"This River water is also good for health," she continued.

"Yeah, it's also different from where I live. There's no river and lots of big buildings," I said.

"Big buildings??" She confused. Her eyes narrowed at me.

"Skyscrapers," I said.

"I don't understand what you're talking about. I just hear about that right now," she said.

"I hope someday, I can invite you into my world," I said.

"How?" she asked.

"With a restaurant door?" I said doubtfully. One of my eyebrows raised.

"About the restaurant you mean, it's really weird," she said.

"Yes I know," I said and sighed. My eyes turned to the river. "Sort of like a door to another world, but trough a restaurant.

"Even if I can return to my world, I want to find my her first," I continued.

"Who is her?" she asked again. "Sorry, I was curious since a few days ago you said that you were looking for your best friend."

"No problem," I said. "Her name is Ayse.

"She is my childhood best friend and I like her.

"The two of us separate after arrived in this world. I don't know where is she and I haven't confess my feelings to her either."

I sighed again.

"I shouldn't have taken her out to that restaurant."

"Don't be sorry. It's useless if you still regret about that because the incident has passed," she said. "I can help you to find it if you want."

My eyes turn to her with a surprised look. "Are you serious?!"

Rico nodded. Then said, "Yes. I know how it feels to be separated from the person we love. It's very painful. Then, I offer to help you."

"I can't believe you would say something like that," I said.

"We have to waiting for the right time," she said. "Also, you have to get used to fighting in this world because otherwise it will be troublesome for you.

"The future no one knows, right?"

I nodded slowly. My eyes turn back to the flow of Beautiful river in front of me. Then said, "You are right.

"By the way, may I ask you something?" I asked.

"Sure," Rico allowing myself to ask her.

"How do you know everything here — i mean you memorize the names of the places, nature, plants and so on?" I asked. "And why do you live in the middle of the forest?"

Rico smiled. She turned her gazes towards the beauty of the flow of the Trent River. "I was exploring on my own with the help of a map at that time. Sadly, I lost the map. However, it's good that I already familiar with the names of places and so on around here.

"The reason I live in the middle of the forest is because I want to live in a quiet life and don't want anyone to recognize me out there," she explained.

"I see," I said. "So what's the function of that mask you're wearing—"

Rico cut my words off. She also said, "… as an act so that I would not be recognized."

"Every time you go to town you always wear a mask??" I asked.

"Sure, but sometimes I don't because the mask suffocates me," she answered.

I try to understand every her sentences.

"Don't you feel lonely while living here?" I asked again.

"There must be loneliness sometimes. But the presence of Poppy, Polly and Olly has made me happy," she answered. "They are like little angels who come to accompany me and comfort me.

"Also with sufficient natural resources, it makes us feel more at home here," she continued.

"I understand how you feel," I said. "I also want to live in a beautiful environment like this. It really gives a different sensation that I  can't find it anywhere else.

"Well, there's no way I could live like this in my world," I chuckled.

"Nevertheless, now you can still feel like living in a beautiful place of this world, can't you?" She turns to me with a crooked smile.

"Yeah, I am actually grateful for that," I answered, turn my head to look at her.

Her dark green eyes radiating a warmth feel.

"Okay, the chat session is over and now let's get some water!" she said suddenly.

She got up from her sitting position immediately and take some wooden buckets from the wooden cart.

"Okay," I said. 

I follow her movement and takes several wooden buckets from the wooden cart to carry the Trent River water before we heading back to the cave house.

One by one the wooden buckets are filled with water, closed with the bucket cover immediately. Then, put them back on the wooden cart in a parallel position with the others. The six wooden buckets become heavy because already filled with water, so when I pull the cart, it makes a heavy load.

Second or last day of 'Survival Simulation' is over.