V's POV
My feet had carried me to the Tree of Unity square before I realized it. I figured I should stay here for at least an hour, hoping to clear the way for Sade to escape.
It was hard to believe.
My routine had been completely taken apart since her arrival. As much as I craved going back to normalcy, it felt like I had gone too far to ever return to it now.
That's it, I thought. The experiment had lasted six days.
I had succeeded.
My hypothesis had been proven.
The machina had chosen to escape, distancing herself from me as far as possible.
The conclusion was sound. All variables aligned. I had my data. I will be able to move on with my research.
Yet, why did I feel such a heavy weight on my chest?
Why wasn't I feeling ecstatic?
I had succeeded! I should feel relieved. Triumphant even!
I regretted forgetting my glasses at home. We had left the house so fast, I hadn't even noticed. If I had them now, instead of sitting idly, I could visualize dual monitors, input my final observations, and draft an evaluation report to be filled by Love Machina Inc.
I sat on one of the available benches, observing the passersby around the Tree of Unity.
To my left, a woman sipped from a smoothie cup. It reminded me of the breakfast I shared with Sade earlier. Was it a distraction Sade thought of? To let me believe that everything was supposedly fine? While she was planning to run away?
Was the birthday cake a trap to lower my guard while she planned her escape?
I couldn't help but wonder what would have been the last straw. There must have been something in her programming, something equivalent to human intuition, that had led her to want to run away. She must have felt the danger of my presence. She must have known her mission was impossible as long as she was in my house.
In my presence.
I nodded faintly to myself.
Yes. That must have been it.
I relaxed my back against the seat, observing the crowd.
For the first time, I wondered what would happen to her next. Love Machinas were so expensive, she'll probably be used for another contract. I felt uncomfortable at the idea that I could meet her again. What if I saw her with a new owner one day? Would she remember me?
No, they would probably change her appearance. The company had given her the most attractive physique, according to my taste. It would be different for someone else.
She would be reset, too.
No, I should focus on the future instead.
I retrieved my tablet and opened a note file. I began jotting down some conclusive notes, but my thoughts kept drifting away.
The image of Sade clasping her hands together, her eyes sparkling for the burstlights.
I had never seen her smile like that before.
But these memories would fade. I had to remind myself that all of this was just a distraction for her to plan her escape.
The contract will soon be canceled. The pod would be taken away. Everything that appeared with her will be removed: her clothes, shoes, and all the printed items.
I would sleep in my bed again.
I made a mental note to schedule a bedsheet change. Her smell might be all over the bed, just like it did in the bathroom, after she showered.
Eventually, I would forget. The way I had forgotten everyone else that had entered my life before her.
I looked up at the tree in the center of the square, its great branches swaying gently inside the golden cage. A crowd had gathered around, admiring the skyflocks flying above their heads. Some kids were monitoring these bird-like drones from their tablets. Their father offered instructions from the bench beside me. I looked away.
The crowd gasped in unison as the skyflocks dove and spun in perfect formation around the golden cage.
I found myself thinking that Sade would have liked to see this.
How stupid could I be now?
A drone dipped too close to the crowd, drawing screams before it rose high up to the top of the dome, rapidly flapping its silver wings.
And then, I saw her.
The dense crowd had parted, revealing her silhouette standing alone among them.
She was looking up at the dome, her marveled eyes following the birds' smooth flight.
Was I hallucinating?
I rubbed my eyes, thinking I must have been.
What was she doing here?
I got up and moved to the crowd, wanting to confirm it was truly her. When I was a few steps away, I stopped, observing her.
There she was.
Sade stood just a few feet before me.
Her graceful neck tilted back, her bright eyes wide as she watched the flight of skyflocks. She wore that usual expression of hers, curious, unguarded, and always radiant.
As if she were seeing the world for the very first time.
What was I supposed to do?
Why hadn't she fled yet?
An entire hour had passed. She had countless opportunities to flee. Why was she here, in the exact place I'd said I would be?
Unless...
No, it couldn't—
A loud crash interrupted my thoughts. Two drones collided midair. The square erupted into screams and shouts as debris rained down from the small explosion.
I lost sight of her.
"Watch out!" someone yelled as pieces fell nearby. The crowd pushed and scattered, shoving in waves.
The group dispersed, and I saw a glimpse of her long hair, her small body getting pushed against the cage, her face wincing in pain.
I surged forward, elbowing through the chaos before she could disappear again.
My heart pounded, still so confused as to why she was here.
She wasn't supposed to be here!
However, until the contract was formally terminated, I was still her owner, the one who had to ensure her safety.
And I wanted her to be safe and sound.
My hand shot out and caught her arm before she could fall. I drew her close, surprised by how light she felt.
Our eyes met.
And for a second, I forgot where we were.
"You're back," I said.
"Yes," she replied, before looking up at the damage drones still in the air.
It seemed that the other drone had crashed onto the cage and was now threatening to fall on the people below.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, sharper than I intended.
Her brows furrowed. "What?"
She looked as confused as I was.
The crowd surged again, and I braced one arm against the cage to shield her from it.
"You said..." she started, blinking rapidly. "To meet you at the Tree of Uni—"
A loud announcement broke over her voice.
"Important. Safety Announcement."
My hand slipped around Sade's, and I began to find a way for us to leave the square.
"A potentially unsafe crowd movement has been detected around the Tree of Unity square. Please remain calm," the system's voice filled the square. People had begun to walk away from the center. "We invite you to spread around to adjacent places. All the restaurants and cafés in the Unity area will offer free desserts until midnight. No rush and enjoy!"
Some joyful cheers and applause rippled around the square.
We walked against the crowd, pushed along by the current of people flowing to the largest avenues, where they would find most of the cafés and restaurants.
Her hand stayed in mine, small and warm, the same as when I had first helped her out of the pod a week ago.
Finally, we reached a nearby archway, far from the main crowd.
I turned to her. She was still watching me, as if waiting for something important I hadn't explained yet.
Maybe I hadn't, indeed.
She stepped slightly closer, her voice hesitant.
"Did I... Did I do something wrong?"
"No," I said too fast. I kept holding her hand. "Are you alright?"
She nodded. Her gaze lingered on my face, carefully studying me, probably wondering what was wrong with me (again).
If she could see what was wrong, why hadn't she escaped yet?
I reluctantly released her hand, slipping my tablet out of my pocket.
Her gaze turned toward the square. From the corner of my eye, I watched her admiring the tree and its tall branches spreading high up to the dome.
When she looked back at me, I pretended to check the map on my tablet.
I had expected to walk home alone tonight. What were we supposed to do now?
"I didn't think you would come back," I admitted and regretted it instantly.
"What do you mean?" she asked with her big, curious eyes.
I looked down at the floor between us.
Sometimes, it was too much to look at her from so close.
The adrenaline of the last moments decreased, and I felt my knees weaken. My senses felt overwhelmed by the crowd, the noise, and the bright lights, but somehow... I also felt relieved.
This feeling caught me off guard.
Had I wanted her to come back? Or had I only feared she might?
She was still watching me, and spoke again, quieter this time:
"V..."
It was the first time she said my name.
"If I did something wrong..."
She looked so helpless, as if she feared one word from me could erase her from the world.
"No. Nothing. Don't worry," I answered, checking my tablet for familiar places around. "Do you want to eat pizza?"
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