"You—you scared me!" she said, yawning and rubbing her eyes.
"You scared me!" Karl huffed. "Julian said not to disturb you, but come on! It’s been hours!"
Ruby chuckled softly, brushing back her messy hair. "Alright, alright. I’m coming."
In the blink of an eye, three days had passed, and Ruby finally decided it was time to seriously go and check laptops and computers. Her head had started aching from the endless piles of papers, notes, and manual records—her business was growing, and she couldn’t afford to run it like some old letter-writing club anymore.
Julian wasn’t coming with her today. He had promised to help Kenji with some work, and Ruby didn’t want to disturb him. So, she decided to take Karl and Milo with her.
As always, a dramatic scene began even before they left.
"Nooo! Why do I have to sit in the back?" Karl groaned loudly, clutching his chest. "I’m not a bag!"
Milo was already sitting in the front seat with a soft smile on his face. "I just wanted to press the music buttons..." he said innocently, twirling the dial like it was a toy.
"Hump!!" Karl sulked as he flopped into the backseat, arms crossed and lips jutted. "This is injustice. Pure injustice."
Ruby, trying not to laugh, looked at him through the mirror. "Karl, last time you sat in the front and ate all the snacks and spilled half the chips. Be grateful I’m even letting you come today."
"Huh! So now I’m being punished for loving food? Fine! I don’t care about this stupid computer thing anyway!" Karl yelled and looked out the window with fake tears.
Ruby sighed with amusement. "You don’t even know what a computer is, do you?"
Milo blinked. "Actually... I don’t. What’s the difference between a laptop and a computer? Is it like... phone we use?"
"I thought computer is those big fat boxes which make noise?" Karl chimed in from behind.
"Those are CPUs, you idiots," Ruby said, almost laughing. "And no, a laptop is like a small computer, but portable. You can carry it anywhere. It has screen, keyboard, everything built in."
"Okie dokie," Karl said, stretching the words like a dramatically as he leaned against the car window, his cheek squished against the glass.
Outside, trees passed by lazily, and the sun was shining too brightly for someone who had just lost a front seat war. He sighed again, very loudly this time, as if hoping Ruby would feel guilty.
"Look at that tree," he muttered to himself, pointing at a random bent twisted tree. "It looks like me. Tired. Disrespected. Bent by betrayal."
Ruby didn’t even blink. "You forgot overdramatic," she replied calmly, her eyes steady on the sky ahead.
Karl made a loud, exaggerated gasp and clutched his chest as if her words had stabbed him.
"How dare you," he whispered dramatically, making a face and rolling his eyes. "I bring light into your dull driving journey and you call me overdramatic? I’m deeply wounded."
Milo, sitting in the passenger seat, burst out laughing, his shoulders shaking. "You are kind of dramatic though..."
Karl gasped again, this time even louder. "Milo! Not you too! Et tu, Milo?"
Ruby smirked but kept quiet, pretending to focus on a turn while hiding her grin.
In the backseat, Karl crossed his arms and slumped dramatically into the corner. "Fine. No more words from me. I shall suffer in silence like a misunderstood artist in the rain."
Milo looked back at him with a playful smile. "But it’s sunny."
Karl peeked from under his arm. "Then I shall suffer... under the betrayal of sunlight."
Ruby shook her head and sighed. This is what she had signed up for.
Ruby finally stopped her car in front of a very big glass shop, and Karl’s eyes almost popped out. He pressed his face on window glass, looking at the building which had glowing signboard written in elegant font, and inside they could see shining items kept on display.
Ruby finally parked her car in front of the glowing glass building. She turned off the engine and looked up at the signboard—"Zenix Electronics" Her heart started thudding. It was finally time.
Time to buy her own laptop.
She could feel her palms getting slightly sweaty—not out of nervousness, but a strange mixture of excitement and longing. It’s been so long. So long since she touched something that felt like her real world. Something that connected her to the version of herself she used to be.
She got out of the car and locked it, waiting for the other two to come out.
Milo stepped down slowly, his eyes blinking wide behind his fringe as he looked around the huge building. "Wow... it’s really big," he said, almost in a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the technology inside.
Karl, on the other hand, jumped out dramatically and straightened his robe, combing back his already messy hair. "Hmph. Not bad. But I’ve seen bigger halls," he said with fake elegance, lifting his chin like some nobleghost.
Ruby gave him a flat look. "Don’t act rich, Karl."
"I’m not acting!" he said quickly. "I’m naturally graceful."
She sighed and walked ahead, pushing open the glass door. Cool air instantly brushed against her skin. The scent of metal and something minty hit her nose, and her heart squeezed a little.
The building had a minimal design—white exterior walls with soft golden outlines. The transparent glass door had smooth chrome handles, and through it, Ruby could already see neat rows of displays, small glowing lights, and clean, open space inside.
The shelves weren’t crowded. Just one or two items neatly spaced apart. Everything felt fresh, organized, and almost calming.
Inside, soft music was playing quietly in the background.
There were laptop models on white tables—each with slim glass frames, metallic keys, and fancy keyboard. A few tablets hovered on transparent holders, gently rotating to display their features. There was a section with anti-virus tools, storage upgrades, and simple accessories lined up in soft beige trays. Nothing felt cheap or outdated... just thoughtfully made. A little behind Earth, yes—but still charming in its own way.