Now and then, Yu glanced at Alina's face, which again looked troubled, then at her cleavage which looked very tight. Yu swallowed his food. He thought, can he still get Alina at this time?
There's no harm in trying a little forcefully, he thought.
"Okay, Yu," Alina stood up and stretched out her right hand. "Nice to be your supervisor this past week—well, six days to be precise."
Yu stood up, wiped his hands with the hem of his clothes, approached Alina, and shook hands with her.
The handshake of the two of them seemed to represent each other's feelings, so close and deep. And for Yu, there was great hope there.
"Thank you," said Yu who was haunted by the desire to be able to hug and kiss the beautiful doctor. "Ermm, you have helped me a lot."
Alina smiled. "No, Yu, it is my duty indeed. I hope your mission will go well and be successful in imparting knowledge to mankind."
"Hey…" Yu pulled Alina and ventured to touch the doctor's shoulders.
"Yu?"
Alina was silent for a moment as she looked at Yu's face which was getting closer to hers.
"Please?" Yu said with a heavy breath and a hoarse voice.
Their faces grew closer and closer. Yu's hand moved from Alina's shoulders to her waist, then hugged her and brought the girl's body closer to his.
It was only for a moment that their eyes stared at each other, wordlessly but with equally breathless breaths, then their lips met. At first, they touched each other gently, then gradually it became a kiss that was so intoxicating for both of them.
And before things got any further, Alina suddenly realized that she had done something she didn't want.
"Yu!" she gently pushed the man's chest away from her. "No…, don't!"
Yu gasped, he realized that he had crossed the line concerning the beautiful doctor.
"I'm sorry," Yu said with his head down.
"I hope you can enjoy your quiet time in the next three days," said Alina, who deliberately turned their conversations, avoiding the lust provoked by Yu's kiss just now. "Someone will give you a credit card tomorrow morning. Goodbye Yu, nice to meet you…"
Yu was no longer able to respond to the words of the doctor who quickly left the room.
Between the joy of finally being able to hug and kiss Alina's lips with regret for the stupidity he had just done, Yu could only take a deep breath over and over.
In fact, this was the last time he could be with Alina, and he had left an impression that might not be good in Alina's eyes.
"I'm sorry, Alina," he mumbled with his head down and his hands on his sides. "I just meant to leave a good impression on you…"
Yu finally left the dining room feeling uncertain and a little guilty towards Alina.
*
This afternoon, Yu apparently did not have any activities at the swimming pool even though he had been waiting in only his swimming trunks while sitting dreamily on a long bench without a backrest.
When the supervising doctor appeared in the room, he only brought a tablet and a special credit card which he handed over to Yu.
"Go ahead," said the male doctor. "You can use the entire balance on the card. Have fun, Yu. And keep your body in shape."
"Are you sure we don't have a session this time, Doc?"
"Your session ended yesterday, Yu," said the doctor. "All right then," he extended his right hand, shaking hands with Yu. "It's a pleasure to be your supervisor in these few days."
"Thank you," said Yu. "You have given me a lot of knowledge."
The doctor smiled. "Okay, Yu. I hope your mission goes well."
Yu just smiled as he watched the doctor pass in front of him. His gaze was now fixed on the credit card in his hand.
And, didn't Alina say earlier that he would only receive this credit card from someone's hands tomorrow morning?
Yu took a deep breath. Yeah, Alina must be in big trouble, or… maybe she actually enjoyed our kiss, Yu thought.
*
Tonight, Yu deliberately climbed to the top of the building of the Akimura facility. He lay on one side using one hand as a pillow for his head, and the other on his chest.
Yu looked up at the night sky, which was quite bright with the presence of the stars above, while the moon was shyly hiding behind the clouds.
"Could there be other life like on Earth?" Yu muttered half inaudibly.
Yu imagined what it would be like after he came face to face with The Black Eye far up there, in the south of Earth's sky.
At least, Yu already knows enough about what he will do later when he has faced the Black Hole which is only 300 years old.
Then, what about myself later? Yu asked in his heart. Was the decision to do all this correct?
How long will I be able to last after entering that Black Hole?
And a thousand and one other questions popped up in Yu's head. Fear, hope, and even just a fantasy about the Black Hole alternately appeared and sank into his head.
Yu suddenly smiled. "Soon dad, mom… soon I will meet you two. I miss you guys. They say the Black Hole is an interdimensional door, maybe I will be able to visit you in heaven."
Yu felt his vision was a little blurry because his eyes had filled with tears to remember his father and mother, especially how they died at the hands of street thugs. He would not be able to forget that painful incident for the rest of his life.
There were times when Yu swore at the thugs, hoping they would die a more gruesome death, or be tormented forever in hell.
However, all of this only made him feel worse. Other times, he just hopes that life on Earth will be better, and no one will hurt each other. A more harmonious, more civilized, and a better life for every creature that lives on it.
But Yu also knew that his wish was just an uncertain illusion. Just an escape from his thoughts condemning the current state of life on Earth.
Too naive.
"No matter what happens," he muttered hoarsely, "I'm ready!"
***