Chapter 12

Katherine rounded her eyes when she found the presence of a man she knew quite well, Elano Benjamin. The man came after one of her seniors had just called for the person who would become a helper and participate in the business of searching for the disaster-proof building formula they were working on.

"Good afternoon everyone," said Elano issuing the first greeting. "Some of you must already know me, my name is Elano Benjamin, I am a businessman in city A. I came here to do research together and at first it was hard for me because I did not know that it was difficult to live in this city because the changes were quite extreme. I did not expect the earth to be like it is now, because it is quite different from the situation in other cities."

Some of the professors were watching him speak, as was Katherine who still didn't think that it was the businessman her colleagues were talking about last night. She thought it might be someone else but who would have thought, it was Elano who was standing there and unexpectedly he was the one who had helped this man the first time when he came to this city and almost melted under the heat of the air and sunlight.

"Has Mr. Benjamin done any research before or does he like research? Because we will of course discuss with you and if you cannot understand what we are saying how will we manage to read one with you? However, you should at least understand a thing or two about the business of research, science and modern technology that we are going to create." The senior professor who was the greeter and speaker said making Elano smile.

"Ever since I was a kid, I've loved research, experiments and advanced things. I did some projects like this when I was in college so I actually have some experience even though the experience was only limited to learning and developing that learning. I have absolutely no intention of destroying whatever you are doing so if it is for the good of the project then I don't need to be asked too much. Won't there be conclusions and notes later? So we can get things back to normal," Elano said while looking at Katherine from earlier.

The girl looked energetic in her typical clothes as a professor. Her face, although tired and wrinkled, was still trying to show seriousness in the discussion.

It was obvious that she was a strong girl and it made Elano quite amazed.

"Well, I hope we can work well together." The senior professor said while shaking Elano's hand.

"Well, it's been a pleasure working with you. Hopefully the results will meet our expectations."

"Hopefully, that is also our hope."

Katherine rose to shake Elano's hand, her face looking calm as if she was trying to read what exactly Elano wanted to join and wanted to be part of them. It could be said that this business was difficult and they had to make a lot of considerations in it, but how could he enter and become one of them if not because there was something he really wanted.

It's just that, Katherine knew that she couldn't read that right now because whether the intentions were good or bad, it was unlikely that this man would directly reveal it. She could only restrain herself, because she could not carelessly suspect others either.

***

"You didn't seem happy when you saw me join."

Katherine who was eating at one side of the building turned her head towards him, then sighed softly when she found Elano who was walking towards her.

"Surprise for me, because it seems to me that you know what I'm doing here but you have absolutely no intention of telling me that you want to join as one of the people who participate in the business of finding formulas and preparing anything that can be prepared to make disaster-proof buildings." Katherine said matter-of-factly making Elano smile softly.

"I didn't intend to keep this a secret from you actually. Just wanted to give you a little surprise. I'm becoming one of your colleagues, aren't I? Shouldn't you be happy?"

"I can be happy because what? I don't know you at all except as a man I helped. The rest I don't know at all even though you once said that you were a businessman. I don't know if I briefly helped a good person or not."

Elano smiled and sat on Katherine's chair in front of him. He looked at Katherine who was no longer as warm as yesterday. This woman must be feeling disappointed or vice versa, she might feel displeased with Elano's sudden presence who had to get into the same business with her.

"Do you not trust me? Or do you think I might be doing something evil in this project so you can say that?"

Katherine looked at his face with a flat gaze. "You already said that we don't know each other beforehand so what can I expect? I have no idea how you really are. I guess it's also only natural that I'm a little distrustful of what you're doing right now. Didn't you ask me a lot about this matter? I've already explained to you that I'm a professor working under this organization and one of the people trying to gain peace by finding ways to make disaster-proof buildings? If you really intended to join here, why didn't you say so?"

Elano sighed softly then silently looked at Katherine's face who looked like she didn't believe him anymore. Originally he also did not trust this girl so he kept it a secret, but it turned out that her thoughts were not what he thought, Katherine actually looked displeased and that made Elano feel a little guilty.

For no apparent reason, even though they also shouldn't have talked much about this. Because after all, he should have opened up to Katherine first because this girl was also part of the organization he was targeting. His unwillingness to confess naturally made Katherine feel suspicious, what was the main reason for remaining silent and then at this time suddenly entering and joining them.

"I know we're not that close so we can't trust each other either. So if you want to say I've never asked further it also makes sense, I know it seems more suitable for you to express than you have to say about what you don't want. I also helped you by accident and I don't know if it was a coincidence or something that was planned. As a big businessman like you, you should not be so stupid as to not know that this city is experiencing a disaster and a massive change in the earth's climate." Katherine got up from her seat, she had already finished eating so she was reluctant to talk too much with Elano.

"Let's just say we don't know each other so the people in the organization won't ask me much about who you are either. I'm lazy to take care of this, it will just be an endless discussion and it's annoying. It's easier to want us to interact in case there's something I need to discuss with you."

After saying that Katherine walked away and really did not look back at Elano even when he called out to her. She was too lazy to talk much and it was better for them to pretend that they did not know each other even though they met quite often these days and went through some things together.

***

That afternoon they did a trial run by making some building materials from Katherine's findings. The materials that she had used for several things and she had mixed with several other materials to make them suitable for use, and they were also going to build a small house in the next week or so so currently all the materials were being processed so that it would be easy to build the house later.

"It's very sturdy and seems to be enough for the basic building materials that we can use. It's just that it's still quite simple and we still have to perfect it. If we don't hurry this up, the house will cause accidents to children or the like who are not careful using a house like this."

"The inside can also be said to be cold because it does not absorb heat. This house is quite good and can be used for future reference which will be useful. But after this it doesn't seem like it will be easy, we have to find the same and similar materials in order to maintain the quality and that might take a while."

"That's why we have to install it from now on and conduct trials immediately. If the trial is successful, we can make a big change in the city for new houses. It can at least be used as an outer layer so that it can protect the main building of the house that is being occupied. We just need to add control features and also earthquake detection or the like. I think we can use systems and robots to make this easier."

Discussion after discussion passed, conducting small experiments, linking each other inside what they would be working on and connecting together with the disaster-proof house.

"For today's hard work is enough, we should go home from the break. There's no need to think too far ahead, we'll find what we can find. We should not push ourselves too hard and the results will not be good."

Katherine tidied up her bag and tools before leaving the office. She walked slowly outside, not wanting to participate in the conversation that some of her colleagues were having with Elano. It was reluctant to waste time with the man because right now she did not even know what Elano's purpose for joining them like this was.

"Katherine..."

The girl turned her head slightly, then looked away again and walked towards the house because it was not that far away.

"Can you not ignore me like this? My good intentions in joining you guys have absolutely no bad intentions and secrets or anything like that. I'm doing it because I have a hobby in searching and testing the science that you guys are doing. I just didn't tell you, because my request hasn't been approved yet so if it fails I won't look so embarrassing in front of you. So can you not be so rigid and indifferent to me? Didn't we promise to be friends?" Elano said as he walked after her to persuade her.

He had to win Katherine's heart because somehow he felt uncomfortable when shunned by this girl.

"You've got everything you want and your life is good here so there's no need to be friends with me because it makes no difference to you. I should go home and rest, you don't need to add to my burden, I'm already tired."

"Yesterday when you were tired you were still willing to have coffee with me at the cafe. Now why be in such a hurry or go home if it's not because you want to avoid me?"

Katherine turned her head slightly to Elano, but then she walked on without a care and completely left the man. Elano stopped walking and watched Katherine's steps, that woman did not hesitate to stay away from him even when she knew that he had a lot of company and the like.

He didn't know how far the girl would stay away from him but for sure he wouldn't stop, he had to be able to win the hearts of everyone in the organization because that was the thing he had to do first before getting what he wanted. If he failed to get Katherine's heart then he would not be able to get all the things he wanted.

"Take it slow, she won't like it if I force her either. Katherine has her own thoughts and principles, it would be better if she doesn't do activities she doesn't like but slowly she will definitely come closer again. The next few months until all this is fixed I can't do anything too much and upset her." Elano sighed for a while then nodded.

This was something that could be done now. Katherine certainly could not just do this because she could do anything with her talent and position. That woman also seemed to be highly respected in the organization and there were only a few women who were professors there. Katherine's ability could not be underestimated especially the material she had found that they were currently testing.

"Can't offend that girl or I'll only get the destruction of the mission I'm doing. I must treat her well and be able to persuade her gently so that she will come back and be friends with me."

***

"Master doesn't have to think about her feelings because there are many people there who can be a substitute and most likely even if it will be legalized it also won't happen because we are trying to get it." His assistant voiced out making Elano who was looking up at the starry sky take a breath.

"You don't understand, I can't carelessly endure all this. If it's just to maintain cooperation between me and the other Professors in the organization, I can do it. But that doesn't mean I have to tackle and bring Katherine down. I have a debt of gratitude to her and I must repay her until she repays me."

His assistant was silent because he did not understand the way Elano was thinking at the moment.

"It's not too late, there's still time to fix everything. I just need to be more gentle and wait for her. Don't show excessive behavior right away or she'll get suspicious. Hopefully all of this will go according to my wishes. I hope so..."