The Golden Boy

Jonathan, still Jonathan. It turns out he hasn't changed, he's always been the person who understands me the most. It was strange because Jonathan always intended to make amends with me even though I was the one who was wrong.

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, my body and soul felt better. It's true, support from those closest to you always succeeds in driving away the pain.

"You look better, Lea!" said Pierre. Do I really look better than before? I feel really embarrassed because I am someone who is easily persuaded.

"Pierre!"

"Yes, Leah?"

"Earlier, the person who called me was my best friend since childhood, Jonathan. He is a very valuable friend to me. Actually, when I decided to come to this city and leave my hometown, I didn't tell Jonathan because he is currently continuing his studies in Zurich, that's because I kept it a secret because I couldn't tell him earlier. But, when I finally had the courage to tell him the truth, Jonathan felt very disappointed. I felt he was very hurt, that's why I felt very sad when he ignored me. But, you know? It turns out he's still the same Jonathan I know, a good person. He called me just when I was thinking about it. That's great, isn't it, Pierre? Isn't it?" I said. I don't know why, but I feel very emotional.

Without me realizing it, my tears flowed even though I didn't feel sad. In front of me, Pierre did not take his eyes off me. Maybe Pierre couldn't understand what I was feeling right now and the reason why I was crying. Yes, Pierre would not be able to understand the longing that felt so excruciating like this.

"Is he someone who means a lot to you, Lea?" Pierre asked. I was silent hearing his question and my heart wondered, can Pierre understand the meaning of someone's existence?

"Yeah, he means a lot to me."

"Do I mean anything to you?" Pierre asked, now the distance was getting closer and the look in his eyes made you feel confused and intimidated.

What did Pierre actually say? Shouldn't Pierre not care or rather, not understand things that involve emotions and feelings? but why suddenly he asked like that?

"Pierre, you mean more to me than anything," I said. My voice was shaking, it was so hard to say something to something that wasn't as lifeless as him. No matter how perfect he looked on the outside, from the inside, Pierre was not human. He's just a machine, yes, just a machine that moves with tools.

I looked down, my tears flowed again. What I said to Jonathan was a lie. My father is dead, he is not here, he is not in front of me. Dad never even met me, but why did I lie to him? why don't I just be honest and tell the truth that I really want to go home?

"Lea... are you crying again?" Pierre called me just as I was about to lose my train of thought.

I've been feeling really messy lately, probably because of all the problems I've faced since coming to this place. It felt like I was really being tested, both physically and mentally. I don't know if I can survive and get through it all?

"Pierre!"

"Yes, Leah?"

"Thank You."

***

"Grandpa is sleeping in the laboratory again?" Rafael asked, just as his feet took him into the private laboratory of his grandfather, of whom he was very proud.

"Are you home from school? How was your day at school? Everything okay?"

"Grandpa asked, what's the wind?"

"Is that how you talk to your grandfather?"

"I'm sorry, but mother always warned me not to get too close to grandfather. I didn't know why before, but now I understand!"

"You understand? That's good, what did your mother say anyway?"

"Grandpa is a terrible crazy professor, mother is afraid that I will imitate Grandpa!"

"Hahahaha...your mother is a very smart woman, it's not wrong for her to be my favorite daughter!"

"Is that so? But mother said, mother is not close to grandfather, and even often fights!"

"That's because your mother is as stubborn as your grandmother. You know what a man needs? support, yes support from his wife and children."

"Does it include supporting Grandpa in creating dangerous objects?"

"Rafael, listen! You don't understand what grandfather is doing to save humanity from the destruction caused by Pierre Malverick!"

"Destruction? what does that mean?" Rafael frowned, he didn't understand the meaning of "Destroying the world" by Pierre Malverick, who died 10 years ago.

"You want to know?"

"Of course!"

"But there are conditions, if you want to hear Grandpa's story, you have to obey all the rules that Grandpa applies."

"What rules?"

"Never convey this information to anyone, even people you really trust!"

"But why?"

"Because this concerns the lives of many people. There is a secret that only the scientific guild knows about the discovery created by Pierre Malverick, the golden boy!"

"Golden Boy?"

"In the past, that's what he was called among world scientists. He was called the golden boy because he was the youngest professor at that time and grandfather was the teacher of the super genius golden boy. Someone who was considered just riding on his enormous popularity, Grandpa was just a spectator of the sickening flattery that constantly aimed at him."

"Does that mean grandfather feels jealous? Or is that just my feeling?"

"No, you're right. Grandpa really hated him, especially when he succeeded in creating the deadliest chemical weapon in the world called Antitorpilia."

Seeing his grandfather's facial expression immediately change, made Rafael feel even more that all this time he had not known who his grandfather was. This was the first time he had seen that vengeful face. Even though he was small, Rafael was not close to his grandfather. Someone he considers uninteresting, gloomy and boring. However, when he started to love the world of science, his view of his grandfather changed.

Rafael began to understand why geniuses looked strange and different. That's because they always think about things that other people don't think about.

"Antitorpilia? what is that? is it some kind of bomb or dangerous virus?"

"At this point, can you follow Grandpa's rules?"

"Does grandfather think I'm the type of person who has close friends or something?"

"Hahahaha...so, you don't have any friends? Do you want to end up like your grandfather who was dumped by his wife and hated by his children?"

"If it can let me save the world, no problem!"

"Hahaha...is that so? It turns out my grandson intends to become a hero!"

"No, I just want to know what made grandpa go crazy like this, that's all!"

"Is that so? OK, I understand. Grandpa will tell you how this useless old man wants to save humanity from the destruction caused by that long-dead man, Pierre Maverick."

Rafael began to prepare his heart and mind to hear the story he had wanted to hear for a long time. The story of Pierre Malverick, a genius scientist who died at a young age due to cancer and the reason why to this day people like his grandfather continue to be haunted by him.

***