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63.15% The Sphere / Chapter 24: Robotman

Capítulo 24: Robotman

My searching did not take long. After a few minutes of interviewing the participants and the visitors there, something quite interesting has caught my eyes.

"Hmmm, these guys look not too shabby." I said that spontaneously as my eyes landed on a group of three boys whose their aura and charisma had really captured my attention. There was something astonishing about them. I could not really figure out what it was. Maybe their outfits were different and more outstanding than the others, or maybe the way they were carrying themselves in those outfit in such confidence that did it, I was not so sure. I was wondering the characters they were doing because they looked unfamiliar to me. But as much as they were interesting to my eyes, I had a little bit of doubt that I should feature them in the Hey magazine, because the difference they made seemed a bit off from the theme of the carnival.

One of them was topless with just a black pant on and fake tattoos on his body. Another one was in a character from the Star Wars, a Stormtrooper and both of them were 'guarding' the third guy in between them who was wearing a black suit with a robot head and to me honestly, the third guy had my attention the most. To me his style was unique and humorous in the same time. From afar, I could see the robot head was made from a brown box with golden touch to it. The eyes were made from red, oval shaped bulb and the lips were drawn perfectly. I got Miss R to get her opinion about these trio.

"Ummm I don't think what these guys put on match the theme of this carnival," said Miss R. "Especially that Stormtrooper guy! Isn't that from the Star Wars?"

"But the other one does look interesting, doesn't he?" I pointed to the guy with the robot head, hoping that Miss R would take a look at him. But there's no response from her.

"Miss R!" I half shouted.

"What! What is it, Marina?"

"That guy...he looked...interesting...right?" I repeated my question.

"That one? The topless one? Cute!" Miss R moved her eyebrows up and down and gave me such a naughty smile.

"Not that one! I meant the one with the box head," I gently pinched her hand.

"Cute? I meant I can't barely see his face!"

"I know... But what I'm saying is his style. He got flex!" I tried to convince Miss R who was then taking a few minutes to 'scan' that guy.

"Hmmm you are right... He's the only one wearing such costume today."

"So what do you think? For our magazine?"

"Okay. I think let's just get them and get the job done. Put aside their theme hit-or-miss outfits for a sec, and maybe later we can ask him to remove the box from his head as well. From there only we could tell if he's really a unique person or not," Miss R came out with a strategy.

"If it's not?"

"If not...then just drop him from the possible material for the magazine. Easy!"

"Alright then...Let's do it!"

We both came closer to approach them who seemed quite taken away with the exhibition of anime figures at one of the booths.

"Hi, we are from Hey magazine. Can we ask you a couple of questions?" I took the first step in. All three of them were simultaneously turning their heads on me.

"Sure! No problem!" the robot head guy responded, in a very robotic voice. That had made me look at Miss R who was ready to take our photo. Both our eyes were wide opened as we did not expect it at all that he could respond to us in a real robot voice. Miss R gave me a thumb up as a sign that it was a good material for Hey. She loved it and she believed Daniel would give a green light for this to be featured in the official vlog of Hey.

"Oh wow! How could you make that voice?" I asked him, impressed.

"I was born this way..." the robot man answered followed by a big, electronic laugh from him.

"So, can you tell me about the concept of the outfits that all three of you are rocking for the Animax Carnival today?" I asked further.

"I'm The Robotman!" the guy with the robot head said it out loud.

"Ah...The Robotman..." I just nodded at that, not really sure just from which anime this Robotman character was from. But since he introduced himself as that, I just followed along and called him Mr. Robotman from then on. Then I moved to the next guy.

"What about you?" I asked him still, even though it was obvious there that he was wearing a Stormtrooper outfit.

"I am Stormtrooper!" he replied in full spirit. 'Well duh...' I thought. But he's using just a normal voice, without any robotic effect like Mr. Robotman. Something interesting about him really caught my eyes, and it was just how white, clean and shiny his suit was. As I was observing the suit, my mind was playing a guessing game of how much Mr. Stormtrooper had spent on this suit. As far as I know, a suit like that could easily reach thousands of Ringgit. Now if he really had spent that much for this Animax Carnival, I had no doubt- he was really a die hard fan. But I was not sure if a Stormtrooper had made any appearance in any Anime series? I had no idea! Then I moved to the shirtless guy that Miss R deemed as the 'Cute' one.

"My name is Ichigo Kurosaki!" he blinked an eye to the camera. I took a glance at Miss R and she was all smitten. Her face was blushing and before she might lose it, I grabbed her by the shoulder to remind her to keep calm and stay focused. Then I looked back at this self claimed Mr. Ichigo Kurosaki. Up and down. Well, it really was... interesting. I meant the character he was portraying! I had heard about the name before. It was the main character of the Bleach series. But why was he topless? I had watched a few episodes of the series and as far as I could remember, the main character, Ichigo Kurosaki were seen a lot in black outfits like Yukata, coats and alike. Hmm maybe he just wanted to show it off and grab the attention of the ladies in the carnival, including Miss R who has obviously shot by the Cupid now. Thankfully his body was quite lean so it was easy on the eyes. I could not imagine it if he showed up half naked with his belly overflowing to every direction!

"So, would you mind to share with Hey readers, why are you coming here today? Are you guys a big fan of the Animax and a regular of its carnival? Or do you just come to look around?" I continued with the interview.

"We are here because we really really love Anime!" answered Ichigo Kurosaki, in full Kurosaki's move that showed us his enthusiasm.

"Yeah!" continued Mr. Stormtrooper, raising a fist to the camera in Miss R's hand.

"Well it is a different case for me," Mr Robotman butted in.

"Oh really? Well tell me then, what is your motive coming here today Mr. Robotman?

"My motive coming here today is to find me a long lost princess..." he replied.

His random answer has made both Miss R and I laughed out loud.

"Ah I see. So how is it? Have you found the long lost princess you are looking for?"

"Yes I have found her!" Mr. Robotman moved his head up and down.

"Oh really? That's amazing! So where is she? Is she around here now?" I looked around the space to see the princess.

"She's here."

"Well then show us," I honestly became quite excited at that moment. I was such a sucker for a romantic story like this.

"Sure!" Mr. Robotman then digged his hand in the pocket. He was searching for something nobody knew. "Look!" It's a small mirror and he flaunted it right in front of my face. That had me laughing a little. He was being naughty but quite adorable to me. I knew what he was doing at that time. He was trying to say that I was the one he was looking for at the event. That I was 'The long lost princess'. 'Silly him' I thought to myself.

"You are the princess I have been looking for!"

"Oh me?! Are you serious Mr. Robotman?" I asked him back pretending surprised, just playing along with whatever it was that he was up to. A little fun when working never killed nobody right?

"Yes! You are the princess, Marina!"

Miss R and I were both looking at each other soon as this stranger robot mentioned my name. The character that I put on to just play along with him flown out my body right away, making me felt naked and shocked. I looked down on my anime costume. The only thing that mentioned who I was, was a name tag that said "Media". That was it. There was no 'Marina' written anywhere!

"How do you know my name, Mr. Robotman?" I asked him, but with a serious tone this time. He did not answer my question. Instead he just gave me a little laugh. In front of us, there was Miss R busy recording. She also looked quite serious now, like she was covering a criminal scene.

"Who are you for real Mr. Robotman? Who is this guy behind this costume, actually?" I asked again, also in a deep, serious tone. Mr. Robotman touched the box head. Slowly he took it off, revealing his true, real face.

"Eddie?!" I shouted. My mouth was half opened, I believed.

"Do you know him, Marina?" asked Miss R.

"Very well! So so well, Miss R. He was my schoolmate."

I looked at Eddie with my head shook left and right, still in disbelief that he was the actual guy underneath the Robotman mask.

"All right.. all right...maybe you should close your mouth now Marina, before you start drooling," teased Eddie.

"Oh...sorry..." I laughed. "What are you doing here, dude?"

"I told you earlier right? I was looking for a long lost princess," Eddie joked around.

"Oh come on! Be serious please!"

"Okay okay sorry! I'm just accompanying my friends here. So I thought why not I do it in a costume as well. And so, tadaa.." he seemed proud with the Robotman mask. "Oh by the way, let me introduce you...this is Joe, and this is Nas."

"Hi! I'm Joe..." Mr. Stormtrooper took off his mask to say hi. Nas on the other hand just waved his hand at me slowly.

"Excuse me, am I interrupting you guys?" all of the sudden one of the organizers showed up.

"Oh not at all. Is there anything can I help you with?" I replied.

"It's this Miss, in a few minutes we are going to do a game show, and if it's okay with them, I would love for these three gentlemen to participate in it, soon."

"Oh really? But why us?" asked Eddie.

"To be honest, we really like what you guys are wearing. Very interesting and they fit the theme very well. We need these kind of costumes in the game show as it will be aired in the Animax channel later!"

"Wow! you got prizes for joining in?" Joe alias Mr. Stormtrooper asked. He seemed quite interested and excited for it.

"Of course! If you guys are interested, let's go to the respective hall one floor up," replied the organizer.

Eddie, Joe and Nas looked into each other, obviously thinking about the offer.

"How is it guys? Are you in? I got no problem at all!" Eddie expressed his willingness.

"Count me in!" added Nas.

"Well then let's do it! I think it's going be fun!" shouted Joe.

"So how is it? Are you guys in?" the organizer tried to confirm it.

"Yes we are in!" said Eddie.

"Great! Now come with me! We've got a little briefing to do," the organizer said happily.

Miss R and I wanted to join them to the hall where the gameshow would take place. However, we were told that anyone from TV stations, newspapers or magazines were prohibited from entering the hall to see the recording of the game show.

"I'm so sorry Miss, I can't allow both of you to get in as you are both from Hey magazine, I might have to face the consequences, if I do," the organizer told us.

"Why is it so strict?" asked Miss R.

"Because we are protecting the content from possible leaks before it is officially aired on the channel."

"Oh wow! This is not just any game show it seems!" responded Miss R.

"Well.. looks like it!" I sighed. "Never mind… Eddie, Joe, Nas… hope you guys having fun in there! Break a leg all right!" I cheered them up.

To be honest that restriction disappointed me a little bit. I wanted to have more conversation with Eddie. We had not met for a long time. I did not even have the chance to ask him what had been going on in his life. The surprise he gave me earlier had also made me feel more excited.

However, we had to abide by the rules. Eddie, Joe and Nas were leaving me and Miss R.

"So...what are we doing now?" asked Miss R.

"Let's just continue with work," I responded while rechecking my 'to-do-list' in my phone.

"Oh man!" I shouted, hitting my forehead. I just realized something very important.

"Why? What is it?" Miss R asked.

"I should have ask for Eddie's phone number! Ah damn it!" I replied, in full regret and anger.

"Oh...Aren't you guys friend on Facebook or something?" asked Miss R. From the way she questioned me, she seemed to remind me that we were no longer in 2004.

"Hmm you are right!" I clicked on the Facebook application on my phone and searched for his long forgotten profile.

"Marina!" I heard someone shouted my name, loudly.

"Marina, it's Eddie!" informed Miss R, pointed to him.

I turned around and he was still there, just about to take the escalator up. He was aware that his shouting had attracted other people's attention too and so he was just moving his lips this time, not to gain any more attention. I had no problem with it, because even though it was voiceless, I could still get it what he tried to say- 'See you'.

"Okay!" I replied also in mute, just raising my thumb up for him. He smiled, and went up the escalator with his two buddies, going to enjoy their thirty minutes of fame.

Less than an hour later, Ally showed up in his Inuyasha costume, as he promised. I took no time to tell him about what had happened in the carnival, including about Eddie, alias the Robotman.

"Well well well...looks like the game is getting more and more interesting!" said Ally after I told him about Eddie.

"The game? What do you mean?"

"You...Eddie...and Daniel..." answered Ally puzzling around. But I knew it immediately just what he meant by that.

"Wooo...don't get it wrong okay! I have nothing to do with Eddie. We were just high school buddy okay!"

"Yeah...nothing to do with him...YET!" Ally gave me the most skeptical face known to human. I knew he was starting to speculate things up.

"You and your speculations!" I tried to stop him from talking more about this.

Miss R and I continued our task for that day. Throughout the event I was quite happy with all the findings we got from it especially everything that Daniel requested, including short interview with May'n and also coverage on the Cosplay competition there in which Daniel claimed as a 'compulsory material' for Hey's upcoming issue. Miss R, Ally and I stayed there in the event up until the very last minute and the closing ceremony was such a blast!

*****

It was almost 8 p.m. and I started to look around for Eddie, who had promised to meet me again there. Well...maybe not a proper promise, but I took that 'See you' sign he gave me earlier as a promise and I believed that he would keep his word and look for me. In fact, I had even sent him a message on Facebook letting him know that he could text me on Facebook Messenger whenever he wanted.

I really wished to see Eddie again before we went back home. If an hour was too long, a few minutes would do it. I just wanted to know what he had been up to. That was it.


Capítulo 25: Sawadikap

I started to feel anxious when I saw one after one participants and vendors were packing up and leaving the carnival space. According to an announcement made just now, the area must be emptied in the next half an hour. I looked around again, and Eddie was nowhere near to be seen. Then, I went to the main stage and waited there until 8.30 pm, hoping that Eddie would miraculously appear right in front of me. But it was all came to nothing. I finally gave up. At the moment, I had a feeling that Eddie must had left this place long ago with his friends and forgotten about me who was holding on strong to his 'See you' sign as a promise.

"Are you sure he's gone?" asked Miss R.

"I don't know. Maybe," replied me, raising my shoulders up.

"Why don't you just text him on Facebook?" added Ally.

"I did. Three hours ago. No response. It's enough. Got to save some dignity," I said slowly.

That answer had made both Ally and Miss R looked onto each other and shook their heads left and right.

"Well then I rest my case..." said Ally.

A few minutes later, three security guards came in and checked around the venue. That meant it was time for us to leave the place. All three of us then walked towards the parking space before we said goodbye to each other and got to our own cars. Just as I was about to start off the car engine, I received a call from Daniel.

"Hi Daniel!"

"Hi Marina! How are you doing? How was today?" asked him.

"I'm good. Today was not bad, Daniel..." I answered briefly.

"Did you both manage to get all the material we need?"

"Of course we did. Camera-full! So many actions from the participants, especially Miss R."

Daniel was laughing at my answer.

"Good...good...oh by the way where is Miss R?"

"She's probably in her car now. We have parted ways for home already."

"Alright Marina. Well you sound very tired now. Why don't you just go home and have a deep rest. We'll talk later okay..."

"I'm not tired. But I'm actually quite hungry now."

"Why not ask Miss R to come with you?"

"I did, but she said she could barely open her eyes."

The call that I thought was going to be a short one turned longer when Daniel just did not stop asking me this and that. At the moment, I even thought that we might go out together for a dinner after the call. The possibility was high, as he started talking about a restaurant.

Bappp! Suddenly, a pair of man's palm stuck onto the window, right next to my face. Then, he slowly knocked the window making a sign that he wanted to talk to me.

"What happened, Marina!?" asked Daniel after he heard me screaming a little just now.

"Oh nothing! It's just a cat...jumped onto my car."

"A cat?" he asked back sceptically, as if he had known I was hiding something from him.

"Yeah...Mmm...Daniel I think I got to go now," I told him, trying to get off the phone call.

"All right Marina. Sorry, I delayed you up! Careful driving okay? Bye!

"Bye Daniel!"

'Why didn't I told him that much sooner?' I ridiculed myself for not being able to cut the call off much earlier.

I turned my sight onto the man standing right next to my door and slowly rolled down the window.

"Marina..." the man said gently.

"Eddie...you made my heart skipped a bit just now! Thank god I don't have a heart attack!"

"I'm so sorry Marina...I just don't want you to get away," replied Eddie, still in his Robotman outfit except for the box mask that he already taken off.

"I thought you have left with your friends?"

"Not yet. I was still around. Nas and I had to help Joe. He twisted his leg."

That made laughed a little bit.

"How on earth a Stormtrooper's leg could be twisted?"

"He fell down the escalator. The outfit was too heavy I supposed so he lost control. Thank God I found you here! I looked around the building to catch you. Phew!"

"Mmm realllly? I can't see a drop of sweat on that face."

"Oh come on couldn't you feel it just how cold the place was? It's like an Arctic!" he tried to convince me and he actually made perfect sense. It was really cold in there.

"You know what Eddie...I never thought I would see you here in this event."

"Me neither. I didn't know it that you have become a reporter now."

"Oh no. I'm not a reporter, Eddie. I'm actually just an assistant to an editor in chief. But I was bound to any task given by my boss, and so here I am."

"I see. What was the magazine again, Marina? Sorry I forgot it"

"Hey Magazine," I answered, proudly.

"Oh it's Hey.." he nodded.

"Do you know the magazine?"

"Of course! I've read quite a number of its issues. I really loved the 'Art' issue and also the 'Green' issue. You all did a very good job!

"Well thank you very much. Oh you know by the way, I never got a chance in there to tell you just how interesting your Robotman costume was."

"Ah thank you! I really love all the things like this. I have been a regular to this carnival for the past couple years but I never worn any costumes before so safe to say this was my début."

"Well I can tell you are such a big fan of Anime aren't you? You travelled miles away just for this carnival!" I shook my head. I could not believe it that he came all the way from the south not to be missed out.

"Nothing stops you when you love it right? Oh by the way, I am not going to teach at the old school no more. I got to transfer to a closer one here."

"Oh really? How close? What's the school's name?"

"Just around the corner. In Petaling Jaya. Bukit Bintang Boys School."

"Wow! Good for you. But I'm sure you will be sorely missed by the former students Eddie..."

"I hope so. I really like to be missed," Eddie said in quite a naughty smile.

"Hey Eddie, I think this is not a proper way to reunite with an old friend. How about I treat you for a dinner? Make that a welcome treat for your move here soon as well."

"Where at?"

"What about I take you to a restaurant in Shah Alam? Shall we?" I showed him my serious effort.

"Hmm sounds good. But it's okay Marina, let the dinner be on me, all right?"

"Oh no no no. Don't worry about it."

"Come on it shouldn't be that way...I'll take care of it."

"Well if you really want to, up to you then. But I'll scream my lungs out here and tell that security next to the lift over there that you are trying to rob me," I teased him, while pointing to the security guy at the said direction.

"Oh really? Did you just put a gun on my head?" he said with smile.

"I did. Now tell me how is it gonna be, Mr. Robotman?"

"All right all right! I agree. But..."

"What is it?" I became slightly uneasy with the 'but'. I was afraid that it would be a reason for him to cancel it going out with me for the dinner soon.

"I have to change this outfit first. I don't want people to think that robot invasion is finally here," he laughed.

That tickled me so much. I looked at his outfit and yes it seemed worn a little bit, probably from the game show he participated earlier in the carnival. But I really did not care about it, because I thought it was quite cool to be honest.

"Up to you. Go change. I'll be here."

After he agreed and done with the outfit change, Eddie followed me with his car to Section 9 Shah Alam. We were lucky the traffic was good making the convoy super smooth. I took Eddie to my favourite Thai restaurant there.

"Wow! How beautiful is this place, Marina..." complimented Eddie as we sat down.

"Gorgeous, isn't it? My friends and I love this restaurant. We are frequents."

"I bet the food is amazing too!"

"Of course! If not I wouldn't dare to bring you here. Now, what do you want to have?"

"Well since you are the frequent customer, why don't you order for me. I trust your palettes!"

"All right then, I think we should go with something heavy now, since we haven't had anything since the carnival. We go for rice, and let me choose the side dishes. Do you have any allergy?"

"Nope!"

"Great. What do you want to have for a drink?"

"I would love watermelon juice, please."

"All right. Hold on I'll get the waiter," I waived to a waiter who had been actually observing us since we arrived.

"Can I take your order, Mem?"

"Yes. We would like two serves of plain rice, one big serve of Tom Yum Goong, one serve of Som Tam, and one serve Yam Nua."

"Noted. What about the drinks, mem?"

"One watermelon juice, and one orange juice, please."

"Alright. We'll serve your orders in around ten minutes, okay?"

"Okay, thank you."

I noticed Eddie was staring at me when I ordered the food. I knew he was actually surprised when I made it in Thai language.

"Why are looking at me like that Eddie? Anything wrong?" I asked him, just to be sure.

"I didn't know it all these years that you could speak Thai."

"Well it's just for a specific purpose-to order food in Thai restaurant!" I laughed.

"Oh I see..." he nodded slowly. "But has anyone told you before that you sounds so sexy ordering food in Thai?"

"Sexy??? Euww..." I was blushing when Eddie said that and I tried to cover it with a little laugh.

"Why, Marina? You don't like that word?" asked Eddie back.

I shook my head, as a NO.

"Okay, okay I'm sorry. What about...'cute'?"

"Cute?" I paused for a second. Hmmm...Okay, that will do. I can take it more than 'sexy', I supposed," replied me.

We spent the dinner time updating about ourselves and asking about each other's life. One hour could unearth just so many things. Stories about the school days back then, about work and its surroundings and just generally about ups and downs of life. And the some. As I expected, Eddie did ask me about Norman whom he never heard of anymore since high school ended. I tried to gather my emotion and remained calm as I was sharing with Eddie about him. Eddie was really a good listener, I must say. At one point I felt like I was speaking to a therapist. The dinner went smoothly and perfectly. All the exhaustion I had from the carnival disappeared like morning mist. On the way home, I could not stop smiling thinking about tonight, and Eddie. He was still like the old Eddie that I knew. Funny, fluent and generous with smiles. It's great to have met him again and spent some time together.

As I reached home, I told Gina every single thing that had happened that day. As expected, I knew it Gina would laugh at me when she heard about 'the Princess and Mr. Robotman' story. She could not take it that someone called me 'a princess'. That made her burst with laughs.

"Gina! Not all princess looking like a Barbie okay!" I told her that while gently smacking a pillow on her. When she had done teasing me and the laughs stopped, Gina told me how happy she was with everything that has happened to me tonight. I knew she was sincere because I could hear the serious tone in her voice, despite all the jokes before that. According to her, she was relieved that I finally could get over my past and learn something about this life. And most importantly, I was not afraid to experiment it all again with love.

"Experiment with love?"

"Yes," Gina nodded. "Now you have Daniel, and then you also have Eddie."

"Gina...Ally and you are really the same! I just met Eddie for barely one hour and here you are making assumptions!"

"Well...just you wait. Maybe Ally and I see what you don't," added Gina. At the moment it did cross to my mind though, as to how both of them would come out with the same thought. In my head it was too early for them to think that I would involve with Eddie, romantically. Not too soon! But anyway I did not take Gina's say personally. I only took it as a joke.

However, I could not deny the fact that I was a bit confused with Gina's statement just now about me seeing or experimenting with two men in the same time, and it was like she was okay with that. Knowing her for many years, I expected something more dramatic due to her assumption, like "Are you crazy Marina! You're setting yourself up on fire!" or at least "Is Daniel just not enough for you?"-Was she telling me anything? Was she telling me that she liked Eddie more than Daniel? Maybe Gina was right. Maybe she saw something I did not.


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