We left Tihana with the list and stepped outside the research facility. We found a spot for ourselves on the side, where we wouldn't be in anybody's way.
- We didn't see each other for a while now - said Sudarshana. - I feel like it's my fault. I've been busy with work.
- It's my fault too. I had few things to do.
- Yeah, but I was the one who suggested taking things slowly. So I thought maybe you were respecting it, and...
- Well, yea - I interrupted her. - But I also had some things to do around.
- How about we catch up today? - she asked.
I noticed Will in the background. He went inside, probably to pick up Dustin.
- Yeah. I would love that.
- Your place? - she proposed, biting on her lower lip.
- Ok. What do you want to eat?
She shrugged her shoulders.
- I'm good with anything.
- Pizza?
- Pizza is fine - she smiled. - Just... No pineapple.
- Ok, no pineapple.
She laughed, shortly, and like her lips.
- We should... - she turned to point at the building. - We should go back, inside. Tihana is probably waiting already.
- Are you gonna look at the list? - I asked.
- I've never watched too much TV, so...
- Ok. Let's allow my teenage fake daughter to decide. What could go wrong...
She laughed again, this time longer.
- She is a smart young lady. You should put more faith in her.
- I know she is smart, but she can be an asshole, just like me, so... It might be fun.
She shook her head and turned, to head inside. I followed her, and we found Tihana still going through the list.
- I should go now - said Sudarshana. - Come and pick me up later, ok? I don't know where your house is...
- Sure, I'll come.
She bit her lip again, while smiling, and then walked deeper inside. I sat in front of my daughter all happy and watched as she kept reading.
- Did you book a banging session or something? - she asked with her eyes still on the text.
- What?
- You are smiling, and she was biting her lip like she wanted to eat you, so I'm probably right.
- We will be just having some pizza.
- At your place?
- Yeah...
- So it's a banging session.
- It's a dinner, don't be so vulgar.
She stopped, to look t me.
- I'm a rebellious teenager dad. That's something we do.
- Rebellious teenagers tend to get grounded. Do you want that? - I asked, a bit pissed.
- We don't even live together, how would you ground me?
- I have plenty of ideas. How about I buy a building without any doors or windows, and just throw you in?
- That's abuse.
- Report me to the police. Oh wait, we don't have that here.
She sighed.
- Fine. You win - she said, and then pushed the list towards me on the tabletop. - The red circles are people I would love to see. The blue ones are the ones I would like to see.
I sighed, even harder than she did.
- You realize that you circled like fifty people?
- I do, and It's more than fifty - she said, and started packing her things.
- I thought you were into anime, not TV stuff.
- I used to watch a lot of things. Asian TV shows, bloggers, streamers, everything,
She stood up, picking her packed backpack, and threw it over her shoulder.
- I'll walk you - I said, grabbed my things from the table, and followed her, as she started leaving. - Can you explain to me who the hell is even these people?
I quickly caught up with her, and we left the research facility.
- Rules of Survival is a show where famous people are trying to survive in difficult places. Like the jungle, or small empty islands. It's a South Korean show, so maybe we will have some K-pop stars here - she bit her lip, all excited.
- Ok...
- There also is Mission Man, when a crew of people does missions to get prized and avoid punishment. It's a very funny show, and they also often get guests. There are also a bunch of names of independent streamers or vloggers I wanted to meet someday. They mostly know each other, so it would be like one big group of people.
- Ok...
- I also circled shows that sounded interesting. Like there is one where people go and try local cuisine around the world.
- We don't have a local cuisine...
- I know, but if they wanted to come, I would still let them.
I hist sighed, again, and put the list back in my vault. This was just too ridiculous to continue.
- Don't be like that, dad. All I do here is learn right now. I'm going to school early, then coming back to Irina's place, and do my homework, read, go to sleep. Repeat. Let me have some fun, ok? We don't even get Saturdays and Sundays off here...
- Ok, ok. I'll... Try. But you have to remember that it's not just my decision.
- It's fine dad. I'll be happy if even one person I wanted to see shows up - she patted me on the shoulder.
- I just wanted to make it clear.
- By the way. Why are you suddenly inviting people?
- It's... It's complicated. I think India wants to promote this gate to the world more, to keep people interested.
- This gate? You are talking like there is another one.
- Am I? I wanted to say this place, but for some reason, I said this gate...
She gave ma a long look.
- Sure... - she said.
I didn't say anything to that, scared that I might worsen the situation. There was no need for her to know all the shit that was going around. I didn't want her to worry. We ended up not talking all the way to Irina's place, where I left her, and shadow walked back home.
I returned home, to clean the place, and then jumped back to the city center, to get some pizza and drinks. I gad to do it twice, to also swing by the research facility and pick up Sudarshana.
I took her to my place. We didn't eat much. Tihana was right, it was more about banging than anything else...
The day came to an end with 24 347 000 points remaining on my account, and 21 class points.