Sade's POV
I followed behind him, after taking one last look at the square.
The crowd had scattered around, happy to be looking for free desserts. I took one last look at the tall tree, standing imperturbable, its branches swaying, unaware of the agitation around it.
When I saw it, I first thought it was a gigantic sculpture. I had seen trees like that in movies, but seeing one in real life was entirely different. People brushed past me as I stopped to admire it. I couldn't tear my eyes away from that gigantic tree in its huge golden cage. The trunk was thick and gnarled, like the face of an old person. Its roots twisted and disappeared into the soil, never touching the ground outside the cage that contained it.
V called an elevator and held the doors open for me. Just ahead, one of those strange flying devices soared, then glided down gracefully near the archway we had just left.
Without thinking, I had leaned to the side, trying to catch one last glimpse of its sleek panels before the doors closed.
"They really do look like birds, don't they?" V said next to me, seeming to have noticed my interest.
I nodded politely, even though I had never seen birds fly in real life.
The elevator quickly descended into the lower floors of the Agora. The deeper we went, the fewer people appeared behind the clear panels.
I wasn't sure how to feel about this turn of events.
When I left the meeting earlier, my mind was so clouded with everything said that I had barely paid attention to my surroundings.
Until I reached the tree.
If I had any doubts before, Calypso's answer to my questions didn't leave any now. If I failed, my contract would be terminated, and I would have to return to the clinic.
At least, it felt like this question was still pending now. Neither the owner nor the Love Machina staff had broken any news to me.
Yet.
We reached the last floor, and the only other person there stepped into the elevator we had left, disappearing as we arrived.
Again, I followed V down the hallways.
The way he had appeared earlier had left me speechless. When I was hoping for someone to help me, he had materialized out of nowhere, his whole body protecting me from the crushing crowd.
Even more unsettling was the way he looked at me.
As if he had seen a ghost.
As soon as he led me through the dispersing crowd, I noticed something was off about his behavior. Until now, I couldn't shake from my mind the startled expression he had when he caught me before I slipped.
"This way."
This part of the Agora was nothing like the bustling upper floors. The lighting was dim, and the corridors were similar to the sterile and quiet ones of the clinics.
"Here," V gestured toward a wooden storefront, holding the glass door open for me.
Stellar Slices was written in elegant red calligraphy on the window.
I stepped inside and inhaled the smoky scent in the air. As soon as V scanned his tablet at the entrance, the restaurant seemed to awaken to life.
A flame sparked inside the rustic oven, and warm lights flickered on the brick walls. The initial cold room turned into a welcoming and cozy place. Only three small tables, each with a white tablecloth, stood in the middle.
"What is this place?" I asked, too curious.
"A restaurant," V answered, getting rid of his jacket by the door and offering to hang my bag too. "The only restaurant without a dessert menu in the Agora..." he added, more quietly, and almost just for himself as he turned around and headed to the counter.
I couldn't care less about desserts.
My first time in a restaurant!
I could barely contain my excitement, pressing my fingers together.
Faint music escaped from a square box, where a wide, flat disc turned by itself. I had seen one of these in a movie, but I didn't know the word for it. The song felt foreign to me, even the words in a language I had never heard before.
"It's not the fanciest, but it's really good," V said, reappearing by my side, "and it's quiet," he added, pulling out a chair for me.
"You like quiet places?" I asked, sitting down.
"Mmhm."
His lips pouted slightly as an answer as he sat in front of me, already fidgeting on his tablet.
I had to remember that.
From now on, everything had to be an opportunity to learn more about him, his likes, his dislikes, his patterns, anything for me to use to my advantage.
That was what the Love Machinas had recommended.
It felt a bit uncomfortable, but who was I to dispute the advice of machines created to be loved? They knew better than I, that was for sure.
"What about this... One half with forest veggies and mushrooms, the other with spicy cheese... Do you like spicy?" V asked, glancing up from his screen.
Meeting his dark eyes felt unsettling.
I nodded, not knowing what most of these words meant. I only knew he mentioned the word pizza, and I remembered Calypso had used that word to talk about something delicious. I was excited to try something new, and grilled veggies with cheese sounded great.
As soon as he confirmed the order, he placed his tablet back on the table. Behind him, the kitchen hummed to life, the sounds of clinking metal and a soft mechanical whir filling the space. Already, the smell of a busy kitchen perfumed the place, making it all the more cozy.
V let out a long sigh, stretching his legs to the side and crossing his ankles. He rubbed his face with both hands before pushing his hair back.
Leaning deep into his chair, he crossed his arms on his chest, his gaze getting lost in the large window of the restaurant.
Outside, the sun was beginning to set. We had descended so far that the high skyline of Piao Aasman was no longer visible. We could only see the warm glow settling on the bustling city below. Even more down, I could see a large area covered in what looked like giant generators. Everything was so aesthetic and effortless in the City that it was easy to forget the energy needed to operate this fantastic spectacle had to come from somewhere.
Maybe that ugly sight below was the reason this floor of the Agora wasn't the most popular.
I peeked again at V.
He seemed relaxed, but troubled at the same time. His dark stare remained locked onto something invisible in the distance.
I remained silent. The machinas had advised me to observe and wait. He had chosen this place because it was quiet, so I wouldn't be the one to break the silence. Instead, I imitated him and followed his gaze to the window.
The last moments of sunlight spilled over the cityscape, casting everything in a breathtaking orange glow. The glass skyscrapers caught all the light, igniting the horizon in a golden fire.
A warm feeling surged in my chest. I wanted to feast on the beauty of it all, yet I was still dreading the moment it would disappear.
Was this my last sunset in the City? I really, truly hoped not.
I lost myself in thoughts, appreciating every second of the changing scenery.
And then, as if the night had been listening, the darkness fell all at once. The window slowly darkened, and our reflections looked back at us.
That was when I realized V was observing me.
His elbow rested on the table, his chin against his fist.
Without a doubt, he was looking at me.
I turned to meet his dark eyes, waiting for me. It was unsettling again to get his full attention, his expectant stare on me.
"You're not going anywhere, are you?" he spoke right away, his expression unreadable.
I held my breath.
His voice was calm, but the words carried a weight.
"What... What do you mean?" I spoke, my mouth dry.
Was this the moment I had been fearing since yesterday?
V straightened in his seat, his fist loosening to stroke his jaw.
"I just want to make sure," he hesitated, licking his lips before continuing. "You want to stay here, right?"
My chest filled with air.
"Yes," I said in one, hopeful, short breath.
V shook his head as if something had just clicked into place.
"I understand now," he murmured, staring at the ground with thoughtful eyes, his fingers still stroking at his jaw.
A loud bell rang behind us, making me jump. V, unfazed, was already on his feet, walking to the counter. The oven doors had opened, releasing a warm, mouthwatering smell. A round dish moved from the center of it to the counter, steam rising as incandescent red letters appeared above it: Caution: Hot!
He brought the plate to our table, and I gaped with curiosity. It was round, almost the size of the table, sizzling with melted deliciousness.
"Let's wait a minute for it to cool down," V warned, frowning at the oil still bubbling on the surface. "And in the meantime..."
He walked over to a black cupboard behind the counter and rummaged through it before selecting a dark bottle. He returned with two beautifully rounded cups.
"This has been sitting here for fifteen years!" he commented after checking the slip on it. "No better day than today to open it!"
He poured a deep red liquid into my cup. Then, just as he finished pouring his own, he hesitated.
"Actually..."
He winced in a funny way, an expression I had never seen on his face.
"I'm not sure if I should let you have wine..." he confessed, a small frown appearing between his brows.
He studied me as if searching for my approval.
Or disapproval, maybe.
When I shrugged in answer, he pulled both cups toward him.
"Not for you today," he decided. "I'll have to do some research about it."
I didn't mind. The strong smell of the beverage didn't seem particularly appealing to me. I still had the flavor of hibiscus tea on my lips, and I preferred for it to remain this way.
V, however, seemed enchanted by the beverage, already finishing what would have been my drink. He checked the writing on the bottle again, just as his tablet emitted an urgent beeping.
V snorted.
"Not for you today either..." he muttered to himself, walking back to the fridge.
I watched, dumbfounded, as he placed his tablet inside and shut the door on it. The muffled alarm continued faintly, barely audible if you were not listening for that sound.
"It won't stop ringing until I stop drinking," he explained with a defeated shrug, a guilty pout forming on his lips.
He grabbed a lemonade from a shelf and opened it for me.
"Shall we eat?" he finally said, distributing napkins.
As eager as I was to try a new dish, my mind had run back to those last bits of conversation before the oven interrupted us.
"So..." I shifted in my seat, taking the napkin he was handing me. "Are you..." I began to ask, wanting to take advantage of the relaxed mood he seemed to be in now, "...are you not going to send me back?"
Against all odds, V raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"No...?" he scoffed as if the thought had never even crossed his mind. Then his smile dropped, his eyes becoming serious again, "Wait... Should I?"
"No!" I answered too fast, the air cutting short in my chest. "I mean—no..." I added in a quieter voice, my fingers brushing some imaginary hairs behind my ears in embarrassment.
I bit on my lower lip, unable to stop smiling now.
The weight on my shoulders lifted.
I could breathe again!
"You said you wanted to stay, right?" V asked, as if double-checking.
"I want to stay," I confirmed without any hesitation.
He nodded and gestured toward the pizza between us as if sealing a deal.
"Okay, let's eat then."
I looked around the table for a fork. Triangle shapes were cut in the round dish, but I wasn't sure how to proceed.
"Is this your first time having pizza?" V asked in an amused tone.
His eyebrows shot up as if he had just realized.
"Of course. Everything is new to you," he said as if reminding himself of it. "Look."
He tore a triangular piece from the pizza, handing it to me on a napkin. I took it carefully, unsure whether to bite from the larger end or the pointy one. But V answered that question by taking a bite of the pointed side himself.
I followed his example.
The flavors burst onto my tongue. Maybe it was because of the joy of knowing I was going to stay, but I decided right then and there: pizza was the most delicious thing I had ever tasted in my life!
"Good, right?" V chuckled, his mouth full, seeming appreciative of my delight.
"So good!" I grinned, my mouth full.
V smiled, already reaching for a second bite. He seemed lighter too, as if some weight had also been lifted off his shoulders.
Now was the moment for me to get to know him better.
"You seem... more relaxed now," I observed.
"I am."
He took another bite.
I licked my lips. He was in a good mood, and he had confirmed I would stay. This was my chance. I had to prove my worth and usefulness.
"Did something happen for you to feel this way?"
If he could tell me what it was, I would make sure it would happen again to keep him in a good mood.
His eyebrows rose again on his forehead, his dark eyes studying me for a moment. I got scared for a second that I might have gone too far. But then, he swallowed his bite and answered.
"I guess... I wasn't the best host this week, was I?"
I held my breath.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin and then looked at me seriously.
"I should apologize," he said, his voice quieter now. "My behavior must have appeared... Extremely strange. The truth is... I'm not really used to this."
He gestured vaguely between us.
I froze.
I had expected everything but an apology.
"Oh—no, no..." I stuttered, waving my hands. "It's not your fault. I'm also not used to it either."
His expression turned inquisitive at my answer.
"Aren't you programmed for it?" he asked with a slight frown.
I gulped on the bite I was chewing.
If Love Machina were programmed for it? Yes.
Yes, they were.
As for me...
V had leaned forward, his dark eyes patiently waiting for my answer.
"I am, but..." I began to lie, feeling the heat on my cheeks. "It's my first time. I still have..." I cleared my throat, trying hard not to shy away from his intense stare. "...I still have a lot to learn."
I remembered the same kind of words coming from Chaoxing, the Love Machina I had just met that afternoon. This last part was only half a lie as, without any doubt, I did have a lot to learn here.
V seemed satisfied with my answer.
"I have a lot to learn too..." he sighed, his hand reaching for the glass and taking it to his lips once more as he turned to the city lights outside.
He licked his lips, releasing another sigh as he looked deep into his thoughts again.
Finally, I could observe him without the intensity of his black eyes on me.
I noticed the drink had stained his lips dark red. Instinctively, I licked mine, the hibiscus replaced by the salt of the delicious pizza.
I remembered today was his birthday.
I didn't know much about birthdays as we didn't celebrate them at the clinic. I learned about them from movies, books, and older colleagues who told us they used to have them. It felt strange that V would spend his birthday with me, someone he barely knew.
Now, I remembered Chandra's text from the day before, asking him if he had plans for the day. Why wasn't he with her right now?
He seemed to be living a comfortable life, in a big house just for him, in a good neighborhood. His job appeared important.
And he was undoubtedly handsome, I had to admit, looking more at him now.
And yet, he was alone on his birthday.
Finishing my first slice, I went in for a second slice when V's attention turned back to me.
Our eyes met.
And then, he laughed.
"Sorry... I just had a crazy thought."
Still chewing on my pizza bite, I couldn't speak but raised my eyebrows to encourage him to tell me more.
"I was thinking..." V's eyes narrowed in the distance, as if identifying something intriguing, before turning to me, a deep interest in them now. "...could you teach me how to love?"
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