Capítulo 32: Questioning Eden

The next morning, Noa woke up refreshed and energized. Ever since Eden arrived, Cloud didn't wake him up to serve weird food anymore.

As Noa got out of bed, he noticed Cloud cleaning the already pristine room. He cleaned all the time, although Cloud didn't really need to since Eden was very diligent in keeping the entire apartment neat and tidy.

Noa went to the bathroom. After a refreshing shower, Noa dressed in a dark green t-shirt and cargo pants. His stomach grumbled loudly, reminding him that he didn't even eat dinner.

He took the leftover broccoli cheese rice cooked by Eden the previous night from the freezer and warmed it up in the microwave.

Meanwhile, Eden remained nestled under his blanket. He often slept during the day, only active when it's night, like a nocturnal vampire. Noa walked over to the large window in the living room and pulled back the curtains, allowing the sunlight to hit Eden right in the face.

"Ugh..." Eden groaned, expressing his annoyance from being forcibly woken up by the sun.

"It's morning already," Noa informed him.

"Sorry, I woke up late again," Eden mumbled, gradually sitting up and half-opening his eyes.

Noa couldn't help but notice the exhaustion etched on Eden's face. Concerned, he asked, "Did you not sleep well last night? You look really tired."

"Yeah, that's right," Eden confirmed, rising from the couch and stretching.

Noa's attention was briefly diverted to his computer mouse, which was inexplicably flickering. Since he was outside the previous day, he hadn't used his computer. He wondered why it was lighting up on its own.

"Did you turn on the computer, Eden?" Noa called out, but realized that Eden had already gone to the bathroom.

"Well, maybe I forgot to turn off the computer," Noa muttered to himself. "How could Eden know my computer password?"

Shaking off the puzzling moment, Noa gently moved the mouse, causing the computer screen to illuminate. He opened several important files and found everything in order, alleviating any concerns he may have had.

After finishing his shower, Eden emerged from the bathroom with a bare chest, using a towel to dry his wet hair. A silver necklace adorned his neck, although the locket remained concealed beneath the towel.

Catching sight of Noa seated in front of the computer, Eden instinctively lowered his head and hastily dressed in his usual attire—a black T-shirt paired with navy jeans, barely different from what he wore the previous day.

"Hey, Eden!" Noa called out.

"Yeah?" Eden turned around nervously.

Noa paused for a few seconds before continuing, "Did you happen to see me sleepwalking or something?"

"No?" Eden replied, clearly perplexed.

"No worries then. I was just wondering about how my computer turned on by itself. Maybe I did it myself while I was asleep." Noa raised an eyebrow.

Eden chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. "Well, I'm hungry. Shall I make breakfast for both of us?"

"Just cook your own portion. I just had the broccoli rice. It's delicious," Noa declined.

"Ah, okay," Eden acknowledged as he made his way to the kitchen to prepare a meal.

Noa shut down his computer and took a step forward, hands tucked into his trouser pockets. His gaze narrowed as he observed the tanned man engrossed in the kitchen.

Seizing a kitchen knife from the table, Noa directed it toward Eden, causing the latter to instinctively lean back and raise his hands. "Hey, what's going on, man?"

"I should be the one asking you that. You've been acting very strange, Eden," Noa confronted him with an intimidating tone.

"Oh, come on, man. Don't go down this road again. You've already checked me thoroughly," Eden responded, coughing at the end of his sentence.

"Look, Eden. I trust you, and it's disheartening to see it wasted," Noa stated firmly, maintaining the position of the knife just below Eden's chin.

"I know," Eden complied, tilting his head to ensure the knife's edge didn't break the surface of his skin.

"Now, tell me. Who are you, and what do you want from me?" Noa pressed, getting straight to the point.

"I have no ill intentions whatsoever. I've already told you who I am—an illegal citizen," Eden explained.

"Wouldn't that be a convenient excuse to hide something deeper?" Noa questioned.

"Not necessarily. Just because someone possesses something illegal doesn't automatically mean that they're a bad person. I assure you, I'm here seeking a place to live and a friend. Are we still not friends?" Eden pleaded, casting a pitiful look.

Noa lowered the knife and placed it back on the table. "Of course, I consider you a friend. But don't think I'll remain silent if you ever stab me in the back."

"I'm the type of person who would put my life on the line if someone who is kind to me gets harmed. I am committed to repaying your kindness for accepting me here. Trust me." Eden defended himself.

Noa felt a pang of guilt for suspecting Eden. He approached him and placed a reassuring pat on his shoulder. "Alright."

Eden breathed a sigh of relief. "Are we good now?"

"Yeah," Noa replied, attempting to regain his composure.

Noa's attention was drawn to the sound of a message notification. He pressed a button on his ear, summoning a holographic screen in front of him. It was a message from his superior, the command sergeant major of the army.

[**Urgent meeting in 15 minutes. We need more soldiers for a new project at Infrablack Software Corporation to secure the Inauguration today.**]

Noa's heart raced as this would be his first official duty, even though it hadn't been formally stated. He swiftly gathered his belongings and donned his uniform.

Noticing Noa's quick change of clothes and sense of urgency, Eden asked, "Are you heading out today?"

"I have duty today. Just received the message. So, yeah," Noa replied.

Eden nodded, understanding the situation, and smiled. "Good luck!"

"Thanks."

This time, Noa decided against using his flying motorboard to avoid any wind that could ruin his uniform. He also thought it best for Cloud to stay at home. Making his way to the busy street, Noa hailed a self-driving taxi.

A couple of minutes later, Noa arrived at his destination. The bustling metropolis engulfed him, with towering skyscrapers and sleek flying vehicles soaring overhead.

After settling the fare, Noa stepped out of the taxi and navigated through the thronging streets. His gaze was drawn to the immense building he had been sent to.

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