Chapter 103
"I have no idea what you're planning, but since you put it that way, how about we sit in the front row? It will make it easier to pay attention to the speaker."
"Not in the front. You'll be watched too closely, and you're not the type who enjoys a place like that."
"The very back row, then? So no one will bother us."
"Too many lovestruck couples there, and they'll ruin your focus."
"The third row from the front? Not too close, not too far."
"Decent, but we'll still be caught in the speaker's line of sight. So that's not it yet. Try somewhere else."
"Then the middle row. Fourth or fifth from the top, slightly to the right. Acceptable?"
"Not bad, we'll sit there now."
They stepped inside after paying for their tickets with movements calm yet purposeful, walking side by side through the observatory corridor wide enough to welcome the flow of visitors coming and going.
Aldraya looked slightly confused.
Her eyes scanned the interior while occasionally glancing at Theo, questioning where exactly they were headed.
Without rushing, Theo guided her with steady steps, explaining that they would attend a brief lesson about the solar system and everything within it, a presentation arranged in an indoor room with cinema-style seating so each visitor could watch comfortably.
Hearing this explanation, Aldraya offered a small nod, accepting the direction without additional words, and the two continued toward the designated room, adjusting their pace in quiet synchrony.
Inside the room, they began searching for suitable seats.
Not too close to the front so the view remained comfortable, and not too far so they could still catch every detail of the presentation.
Theo allowed Aldraya to choose, offering a few gentle questions about seating position, a subtle exercise he intentionally gave so Aldraya could experience choosing freely without relying solely on his guidance.
Their exchange of options and light discussion flowed so quietly it was almost inaudible to other visitors, creating a space where the final decision rested on Aldraya, yet framed within Theo's soft guidance.
Eventually, they agreed on the middle section, specifically the fourth or fifth row from the top, slightly to the right.
The position provided a perfect balance of visibility, comfort, and personal space away from other guests.
They lowered themselves into their seats, adjusting their posture while observing the steady flow of other attendees filling the rows.
The room gradually grew lively yet remained orderly, leaving the two with enough room to feel balanced between interaction and the solitude they preferred.
The two sat in silence, waiting for the lesson to begin.
"Basically, a pulsar is a neutron star that spins extremely fast, emitting electromagnetic waves in rhythmic pulses. There are several types, including millisecond pulsars, binary pulsars, and other variations related to extreme magnetic fields."
"Aldraya."
"What is it?"
"In your opinion, which celestial object is the most unique? Not just in shape, but in nature and what it contains."
"Why ask that now?"
"In ancient times, celestial objects served as humanity's compass. Even now, nothing has changed. So just answer."
"A millisecond pulsar, for instance, spins hundreds of times per second and is believed to have been 're-energized' by mass transfer from a companion star in a binary system. Meanwhile, binary pulsars provide perfect laboratories to test Einstein's theory of general relativity. Another type is the Magnetar, which possesses the strongest magnetic field in the universe—trillions of times stronger than Earth's—and emits powerful bursts of X-rays and gamma rays."
Fuuuuuh!
"You asked for my version of uniqueness, didn't you? Then I choose the Magnetar. The remnant of a star that betrayed its own form. That is the most unique to me."
The event inside the observatory unfolded with a steady rhythm, each passing minute colored by presentations about the solar system, nebulae, and various celestial phenomena delivered by several speakers up front.
Light from the screen and the rotating three-dimensional star models reflected across the visitors' faces and the neatly arranged cinema seats, creating a cool yet curiosity-laden atmosphere.
Theo sat calmly, his eyes following each movement and projected illustration, though his mind was not entirely fixed on the material.
He was more interested in how Aldraya interpreted every passing piece of information, how her expressionless face and still posture held wonder, evaluation, and hidden curiosity within her silence.
As the event continued, Theo allowed himself to delve deeper into thought.
Then he lowered his voice, whispering softly—almost inaudible—without turning or shifting his gaze from the screen or the speakers.
The whisper was not merely a question, but an attempt to unfold Aldraya's way of thinking without forcing an explicit response.
Theo observed every gesture of the speaker's hands, every shift of light on the star models, and the way Aldraya's gaze moved, seeking points of focus that might reveal her thoughts.
In that quietness, he realized that the deepest interactions often arise from silence paired with meticulous observation.
Aldraya seemed hesitant and confused when the question arrived, as though questioning Theo's logic in connecting celestial bodies to humanity's ancient sense of direction.
But after considering the meaning behind his words, she responded through her internal reasoning, choosing the Magnetar as the most unique celestial object by her preference.
Not merely for its form, but for its complex nature and extraordinary energy, the remnant of a star that once betrayed its own shape.
The choice emerged as a reflection of Aldraya's understanding of order and disorder, a small sign that while her face remained neutral, her mind could unveil layers of meaning deeper than what appeared.
The Magnetar became her point of focus.
Not only as an astronomical object, but also as a mirror of her quiet yet resolute way of thinking.
"Correct, your perspective is not wrong."
'To be honest, my heart tightened. Because your answer isn't just about cosmic uniqueness—it feels like a glimpse into an old wound, a betrayal you once committed for the sake of your own beliefs.'
Theo drew a short breath and muttered for a moment, his voice thin yet audible enough as a reflection of his thoughts.
He fell silent for a few seconds, letting the tension and subtle meaning behind Aldraya's answer sink in without haste, examining every layer he sensed within it.
When he finally nodded, it was not simply acknowledgment of her choice, but recognition of the depth behind her reasoning—something he understood yet found difficult to verbalize.
Behind the praise, Theo's heart remained tense because he knew Aldraya's choice was not only about the cosmic uniqueness of the Magnetar, but also a reflection of a heavy past.
The answer carried traces of betrayal Aldraya once committed out of conviction and principle, a painful experience that shaped her view of herself and the world.
And Theo realized he had just brushed against a fragment of her past, one never easy for anyone to confront.
The awareness created a quiet space between them, no further words needed, because each gesture and presence already conveyed what could not be spoken.
Theo continued looking toward Aldraya, observing the calmness in her flat expression that concealed layers of the most complex experiences, layers he could read only through concentration and patience.
To be continued…