SHANTAL'S POV
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Time continued to drag on and months passed by without me even realizing it. At the same time, over the course of these past few months that I have been with my Android Partner, I could now say that living with Alex has gotten a lot better and we knew that we would keep getting better.
Oftentimes, I would wake up in the middle of the night and I would see my robot sleeping next to me. We decided to share the same room and bed a long time ago. There were also times when I would wake up with my face pressed into Alex’s chest. I must admit that at first, I was a little unnerved whenever I found myself lying in his arms. I could not explain what compelled my body to pull him closer in the middle of the night as I sleep but eventually, I also got used to it that now, I almost felt having trouble sleeping without Alex beside me. I just hoped that Alex would just note this under 'Weird Things Humans Do' and just allowed
One day, while I was busy making my lunch, I heard my robot asked me something.“You don’t like me, do you?”His face was devoid of any emotion at that time but there was no mistaking on the subtle tone of pain at the edge of his voice when Alex asked me that question.I looked up to meet his gaze and knitted my brows together.“What? Of course, I like you. You would not be living here with me in the first place if I did not like you.”I told him that but my answer was not enough to satisfy him and I arrived at that conclusion because I saw him letting out a deep sigh and shaking his head.“No... That is…that is not what I want to hear..."Alex's voice was trailing off as he spoke as though he was having a hard time expressing himself and he could not seem to find the right word to say. I, on the other hand, remained silent. I allowed him time to think and let him spoke his mind but
Gathering all the courage that I could muster at that moment, I swallowed my nerves and took Alex's hand from him. I pulled him closer and initiated a hug. I enclosed him to my embrace and I was surprised when he hugged me back. But unlike what I would often do before, I did not pull back this time, and instead, I let him envelop me with his warmness.I had never properly hugged anyone before so it was a bit awkward for me at first. But the feeling of Alex's arms wrapped around me just felt so right. Alex was a bit warm and I found his natural core processor temperature, and the whirling of his “heart” rather comforting.Compared to me, it was way easier for Alex to have this kind of interaction. He welcomed me with his open arms so easily that I was once again reminded that Alex was created for this very purpose. He was made to bring someone happiness through a stable, loving relationship. I was a bit guilty of being unable to give Alex what he
When the next morning came, Shantal found Alex at the edge of her bed. Whenever the robot was done charging, he usually sat at that same spot, facing the window until the first ray of the sun broke into the horizon"Would you like me to prepare a futon for you and put it there so you could have your own place to rest?"On few occasions, Shantal would offer Alex that, but the other party would always decline her kindly."That is so very nice of you, but you don't have to bother; really. I prefer the heat that I received from your bed. Besides, I love the view from this window."She remembered Alex telling him that same answer whenever she would ask him.On many mornings, Shantal has woken up slowly and turned himself to watch Alex. The sunlight played beautifully in his brown hair. Alex really was like a doll sometimes, especially when he thou
Some time later, Shantal is pulled out of his increasingly morbid thoughts by a voice calling for him. He jumps up and opens the door to see Alex there with arms open wide and his ever present smile glowing on his face.“Look, I have a band-aid!” he says brightly, pointing to the blue tape on his forehead.Shantal feels something build up in his chest and he laughs to alleviate the pressure, eyes stinging.“What’s wrong, Shantal? Don’t you like my band-aid?”Shantal launches himself at Alex, muffling a sobbing sound he will deny to the ends of the Earth. Alex catches him and laughs, wrapping his arms tight around Shantal’s smaller body. Alex is also the one who sees the “medics” out, thankingthem happily, all while holding Shantal tightly against him.Shantal buries his face in Alex’s
“Don’t you get it?” Shantal tightens his grip, resisting eye contact. “I can’t….” Loose tears fall from his heavy eyes. Some fall on Alex, who tries to catch them and give them back.“Shantal, you’re leaking!”“You, Alex,” Shantal says seriously. More tears fall. “I don’t care about any of your defects or faults. I don’t care about your facial twitch, I don’t care if…if you don’t have enough time left. You’re already perfect for me. You’re already all I could have ever wanted. I don’t regret buying you. My only regret is that I took so long to…kiss you the first time.”“Shantal—““It’s okay,” Shantal continues, smiling through his tears. “We’ll make the most of our days. There’s no reason for me
Jodi was waiting for Shantal when they arrived but when the other party saw Alex, she excused herself and told her cousin that she forgot what she was about to say. Shantal, on the other hand, did not think much about it and she headed back to her room. She was still distracted by thoughts of what Alex could be getting himself into. Alex has a habit of collecting bugs from outside and bringing them in, if only to watch how they interact when faced with his probing fingers.One day, he asks Shantal if animals feel pain.“Some of them do,” Shantal nods. "Animals with complex nervous systems feel pain but I know some insects don’t because they’re so primitive.”“Am I like an insect then?” Alex asks, lifting his finger to show the tiny moth clinging to his fingertip.“No, you’re not an insect. Insects can’t feel a lot of the feelings you can. You&
Swallowing his nerves, he takes Alex’s hands in his and pulls him in for a hug. He has properly hugged anyone in a few years but Alex is a bit warm, his natural core processor temperature, and the whirling of his “heart” is comforting to Shantal, who has heard this noise for the past thirty days without pause.Alex envelops him easily and Shantal is reminded once again Alex was created for this very purpose. He was made to bring someone happiness through a stable, loving relationship. Shantal’s a bit sorry he currently can’t be the one to give Alex all that he needs but he wouldn’t send him back for the world, not now.“I’m sorry,” he says, speaking into Alex’s clothed chest. “Don’t be,” Alex replies. “Can I…Can I kiss you?”Shantal shivers, head swimming. This is a bad idea. This has bad idea written all over it in large, very obvious fon
When the next morning came, Shantal found Alex at the edge of her bed. Whenever the robot was done charging, he usually sat at that same spot, facing the window until the first ray of the sun broke into the horizonShantal had once asked Alex if he would like a futon to rest on but the other party declined, saying he preferred the “heat” of Shantal’s bed and the view from his apartment window.On many mornings, Shantal has woken up slowly and turned himself to watch Alex. The sunlight plays beautifully in his brown hair. Alex really is like a doll sometimes, especially when he thinks Shantal isn’t looking. It’s still a mystery what Alex thinks about when he watches the sunrise.He’s painfully oblivious about certain things but he’s not by any means stupid, no matter what Kris or Tao try to tell Shantal. He finds Alex’s interest in the smallest forms of life endearing and also cute. But t
"Gosh it's good."Harold said when he got to taste how refreshing the drink was. When he looked at the other two guys, he saw them gesturing to their head but he did not give them much attention."Yes.Sam repeated the same thing with a voice and face devoid of emotion."Something needs fixing."Harold told Sam afterward and so Sam fought back to urge to do and eye roll before replying flatly to him."Okay."This time, Harold noticed that Rico and Michael still keep on doing the same thing so he asked them instead,"What? Is your scalp itchy.""No."The two answered in unison. Jodi on the other hand who was watching all of this farce unfold right before her eyes, could not help but let out a sigh."You sure are made for each other."She said to no one in particular and it was also as seemed she was only talking to herself."Anyway. Michael, I need you to go to Casterly."
"I am right here. Respect my existence."Michael insinuated afterward before he sarcastically added,"Do you guys want be to get you a room instead?""I should not have fallen asleep that night."He muttered to himself as he recalled the night Jodi asked Rico out for a date. He believed that if only he was not asleep that time, then maybe Jodi would also consider dating him.On the other hand, Rico seemed to be out of it and oblivious of him."Lover."The other party mumbled to himself as he observed the tarot card in his hand.'"I did not know this will happen. I feel so lonely."Michael muttered to himself out of despondency and while he was in the middle of self pity. Someone walked into the room.They though the one arrived was some random girl who was in full glam and obviously had just gone to salon for her touch up when it decided to have some coffee."Wow! I told her she would be pretty."
"That robot was sometimes human and sometimes a robot for me and that was why others who can't understand my situation mistakes me as someone who hallucinates and believe a robot as a human just because I am treating it just like one. But for my opinion, my situation was no different from those who loves their pets so much, they even considered them as their child and called themselves as furparents.""My emotions were input into that robot and that person. That is how this miracle happened. That fact completely changed the way I view things. This will be yet another scoop for the reporters present. Nordstorme Corp will go from financing mergers and acquisitions to investing in futuristic industries that involved human sensibilities. Just like what Alpha Tec Inc pioneered years ago.""This is your first change in business strategy in 15 years. Do you have anything mapped out?"One of the reporters raised a question just like what a normal press conference should
On the flip side, just like what Shantal assumed, Mr. Takashi with Mathilde's instruction called for an emergency meeting on that afternood. Which happened to coincide to the time when Shantal will hold her press conference.Moreover, since Mathilde would not be able to make it there since she was still held in prison, her secretary presided the meeting."We shall begin the emergency board meeting."Secretary Ye declared loudly and her voice reverberated in the room. Jiro was also there along with other board members."The agenda is the dismissal of Director Shantal Nordstorme and the cause is as you were all informed. An illness."She continued while everyone was silent and anxiously prayed so they could ever this meeting once and for all. On the contrary, Mr. Takashi was nodding his head on the side and though he was anticipating for this day come.Mr. Takashi nodded his head toward Secretary Ye to signal her to start it once and for
In there, Jodi found a list of shares under her name as well as a soft copy of memorandum of renunciation address to Shantal with her name on it and it was then that Jodi realized that her mom had already long planned about it ahead of the time.As it turned out, Mathilde was thinking of using her influence to oust her cousin out of the position.In addition, inside the flash drive she also found an old email account with records of bunch of emails and it took Jodi more than four hours to go through all of them.But by the time she finished reading the exchange of chats Mathilde had with her hitman, Jodi's eyes was bloodshot.It was unsure if this was cause by her prolong exposure to the screen or if it was exhaustion that was doing this thing on her body, but when she get up from her chair, Jodi balled her hands into a fist.She slammed the door shut behind her back as she left the office and on the screen, the last conversation
It was late in the evening when Jodi received a call out from nowhere. When she checked that registered on the caller ID, she was surprised to see Jiro's name.Truth be told, he was the least person he would expect to contact her. After all, the two of them never talked to each other for ages.Jiro used to be a good friend of hers as well. Just like how she and Shantal were cousins, Jiro and and Zorens were first cousins too so naturally all four of them get to know each other and as a child, they eventually became acquaintances in no time.Besides, since Zoren's parents were a family friend of the Nordstorme they often had an opportunity to hang around during their childhood.However, ever since the day Zoren committed suicide due to the incident regarding the Nordstorme controversy, Jiro also stopped communicating with them.So this made Jodi wonder what had come to Jiro to decide and phone her at this time of the night.But
"In other words, she wants me to become director and cover up all his shortcomings?"Mr. Takashi insinuated after his contemplation. He did not exactly declined the offer this time, unlike before. Although he also did not directly implied that he would do it.Nonetheless, Secretary Ye considered his response as a good sign. At least, the other party was no longer adamant at turning them down.So with the same insinuating manner, she answered him back."That would make it easier for you to do your duties once you become a director. All that was left for you now is to leave Ms. Shantal Nordstrome no other choice but to step down and abdicate the position of board directory to your hands.""Ousting her is not enough. He will just come back. We must make sure he loses the will to come back."Out of nowhere, Mr. Takashi declared with conviction and for a second, the secretary was taken aback by this.One moment, he almost drove her a
"You told Jodi about everything?"Mathilde asked her secretary as soon as the two of them were finally allowed to have some private conversation within the prison hall where she was currently detained. Panic was noticeably present on the other party's face when she raised her question. Meanwhile, the secretary remained silence yet that was all enough for Mathilde to guess her response and not long after that, her shoulders dropped on the side when the realization hit her."I guess she was bound to find out about it sooner or later."She muttered under her breath with despondent undertone.An exasperated sigh escaped Mathilde's lips afterward. But then, she suddenly tenses up when she recalled about something else.Leaning towards the other party all the while grabbing a hold to the iron bars, Mathilde looked around her warily first to make sure that no ears were on them.Only when she confirmed for the umpteenth time that no one was listenin
Adelaine Smith's P o V~~~~While Jodi and I were driving down the road looking for any sign of the robot, I received a call and when I checked who it was, I found out that it was Amanda so I accepted the call right away."Ms. Smith, the robot just got on the bus number 707."I heard her voice telling me the moment it picked her call"Great! Thank you for the information."I replied and not long after that, she hung up on her because I reckoned that it would be best if I could relay this news to the other search parties. In this way they would also know where to start looking. Of course, the first one that I tried to call was my lady boss. However, to my dismay, I was only redirected to the voice call feature of the phone.'The number you have dialed is busy at the moment. Please try your call later or leave a message aft