The passing bus left behind a gust of wind and dust. Tires glided on the road in hush, building up the queer atmosphere. Once silence conquered, impatience adjured for an answer.

How did she know I'm going to Reypal Brew?

Thankfully, the woman with a name that resembled the seventh month didn't make me wait any longer. "I'm just guessing since the warden told me to go there after I was released," she let out.

That was odd.

"So why do they suggest us to go there? And what's with that at the bus?" I asked.

"To work, of course. I tell ya, I tried finding a job elsewhere, no one will spare me a glance. And don't you know that using cash is against the law?"

Before I could answer her, she wrinkled her nose with a sigh, "Of course you don't. Who in their right mind got out of jail to do another crime, right?" She chuckled.

I was surprised to hear what she just said. "Using cash is a crime?" I asked with wide eye.

Her smile deflated instantly, and substituted with a shocked expression. "How long were you in there?"

Again, I only managed to separate my lips before she blurted out her thoughts. "I guess long enough not to know that law enforced no cash four years ago. What did you do actually?"

Without thinking much, I gave her the answer. "Assault," I muttered, even though it wasn't the real case. Telling her the truth would mean disclosing Alfie and risking myself to HEROIN again.

Following suit was another of her jaw drop. By this rate, she might get a sprained face if she ran into another of my surprise.

"And I thought that you stole a lip gloss or something. You look too innocent for the type to hit someone. Should I be worried?" She eyed me with suspicion.

I sighed, "It was never my intention to hurt anybody. It's complicated."

Physical violence was a very serious crime in our law. So as early as kindergarten, we were taught to be reposed. It was their way to compel piece in society. However, it didn't do so much when it comes to words in Peggy's case.

Apparently, one could hurt without making the other bruise and bleed.

"I understand," she replied with a gentle nod. Probably she didn't want to push our newly acquainted state into awkwardness and decided not to pry more.

Under reticent, I gave her a smile. Years in isolation made me more deprive on making conversation.

Despite my lack of words, she didn't seem to mind. After looking at her phone, she started again, "So let's get you one of these first," she suggested, flashing the mode of payment she had used on the bus.

The rectangular card looked like a transpicuous thin glass. A symbol of a plant in bronze was embedded on it. When I looked carefully, it was the magnetic stripe. The receptacle vase at the bottom was the microchip. I inwardly praise how impressive the design looked.

"How did you get the cash anyway? Lemme see..."

I took out the cash from my bag and showed it to her, instantly earning a look of astonishment. Her eyes looked like it could fall out of her eye sockets at the sight of it.

"Sway, this is vintage! We'll exchange this with a lot at the pawnshop."

"Vintage? I don't get it."

"This isn't cash, silly. This is a collector's item. Look at this-" She pointed to the image on the green paper "-I dunno who he once was but thanks to him you'll be buying me lunch today." A grin was plastered on her face as she finished.

Only then I realised the picture of a man with white hair in the centre. My mouth sprang open in inane. I was too preoccupied with other things that I didn't even look at it carefully. Besides, it looked the same when it was rolled up together.

Agreeing with her suggestive idea and the treat, I nodded. "Sure, I don't mind."

She eyed me. "I paid for bus money. You pay lunch. See... Win-win."

Receiving only my nod, she took the hint of my less involvement in conversing and tipped her head for me to follow. "This way to the bank, " she said.

During our walk, she babbled again. "The government, whoever they are, announced the disbanding of physical currency to preserve the environment. For some, it might seem to be their cause for saving the earth, to decrease cost, energy, chemical waste and such in production. But I know that's not the only case. Our long issue of robbery had reduced ever since they enforced the law. How can anyone steal when the money is entitled only under our name, right?"

The idea seemed to be a great alternative. "But wouldn't it be an advantage to someone with a hacking skill?" I asked. Alas, come to think of it, schools didn't educate the kind of technology. I pushed the thought aside. "Nevermind."

She smirked. "You have a good nugget there. Let's just hope those with the kind of skill wouldn't."

I managed a weak nod, amazed by the scenery. The ambience certainly looked different than five years ago. I could see how the earth had flourished. Although in autumn, it was beautiful. The vast fallen leaves announced that trees had spread tremendously. Different shades of Aster bloomed like wildfire. Suddenly the word beautiful seemed to be underrated for it.

"Whatever the government's real cause may be, they aid the earth too. After all, we depend on it to repopulate. Are you listening to me, Charis?"

"Yes, I am."

"For a second there I thought I lost you. It looked different than years ago I presume." She jutted her chin towards where I was looking.

I realised something about July that I was sure about; she was very observant. It got me thinking about why she was in jail because she seemed nice. But I decided to ask her about it at another time. I didn't want to ruin the serene moment.

"Yes. Very different. I'm glad the earth is healing."

"You'll be happy to know that more pod men now emerges healthier than before. Horrid cases of them missing body parts had lessened each day. By the way, were yours fertile?"

For certain, she was sure with the word were, assuming mine had deceased.

I knew the inseparable topic would arise. Fortunately, we arrived at the building with a Bank sign on it.

Yet something was strange, there were only two booth sections at the front, both with dark glass windows. There was no entryway.

"Where's the door?" I was attempting to change the topic, nonetheless confused with the situation.

Her eyes skimmed to my shoulder for a slight second before she answered, " Just go straight to one of the sections. Tell the thing you want to open an account."

Thing?

I didn't think much of it and did as she instructed. As I stood in front of the booth, the dark aperture slowly turned clearer. It earned a moment of my amazement. Then a silhouette became visible inside. But once I took in the full view, I flumped back in shocked.

"How may I help you?" A very systematic female voice entered my eardrum.

The thing stood up, peering through the window and looking down at me who was now sitting ridiculously on the ground.

"How may I help you?" It repeated, the same tone and pace perfectly lined together.

I'd never seen anything like it ever before. Somehow, looking at the humanlike metal moving in an uncanny way was creeping me out. The body was somewhat hollow, with a permanent smile masking its face.

While I was still under the startled state, a hand touched my shoulder. I flinched in reflex, but the feeling receded gradually with the thought that it was July who came to aid me.

Alas, the idea was voided as I spun my head to where she was standing before. All of her, evidently by the striking colour of khaki maxi dress she wore, was still there. Once again, she was busy talking to thin air.

"Are you alright, miss?"

Suddenly, a low deep voice reverberated from behind me.

My heart was in tremor instantly. I tried to process what my ears had collected as faulty, but I couldn't. The undeniable information was assimilating deeper when the person reiterated, "Miss?"

The voice obviously belonged to a man, but it wasn't my Alfie. The fall must be messing with my head, right?

To be continued...

***

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