THE CODE OF LOVE

Chapter 9: Unspoken Fears

The absence was gnawing at Ethan. It had been two days since Sara last used the AI, and every hour that passed without her logging in felt like a lead weight on his chest. What if she had discovered something? What if she had realized the truth? The more he thought about it, the more his anxiety spiraled. His mind ran through every possible scenario, each more dire than the last.

Ethan had poured so much of himself into creating this connection with Sara. Every interaction was meticulously crafted to make her feel seen, understood, and cared for. But now, with silence on her end, the delicate balance he had worked so hard to maintain seemed on the verge of collapsing. He couldn't reach out to her directly without breaking the illusion, and the uncertainty was driving him mad.

Back home, Sara was caught up in her own world, but for entirely different reasons. The past few days had been consumed by a series of grueling tests. With her head buried in textbooks and notes, she barely had time to think about anything else, let alone her virtual boyfriend. It wasn't until she finally emerged from the haze of exam stress that she realized it had been two days since she last logged in.

For a moment, she hesitated, wondering if her absence had been noticed. But then, with her usual optimism, she shrugged it off. After all, the AI was just a program, right? A brilliantly designed one, no doubt, but still just a piece of code. The thought crossed her mind that Ethan—sweet, kind Ethan—might have had a hand in creating it. Maybe this was his way of helping her, as a favor to his cousin's best friend. The idea warmed her heart, and with that comforting thought, she pushed any lingering doubts aside.

Meanwhile, Ethan was fraying at the edges. Every time his phone buzzed, his heart leaped, only to sink when it wasn't a notification from the app. He kept replaying their last conversations in his head, scrutinizing every word, every response, trying to figure out if he had slipped up somehow. Was there something in the app that she might have noticed? Something that could have given him away?

The tension built inside him, coiling like a spring, until finally, late in the evening on the third day, his phone buzzed—and this time, it was her.

Sara had logged in.

A wave of relief washed over him, but it was quickly replaced by caution. He couldn't afford to show how worried he had been. He needed to play it cool, just like the AI was programmed to do. As he prepared to respond, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. He hated that he had to keep this secret from her, but the alternative—losing her—was unthinkable.

Sara, unaware of the turmoil she had caused, was simply happy to be back. The familiar interface greeted her, and she felt an immediate sense of comfort. It was strange how quickly she had grown attached to this AI, how it had become a part of her daily routine, her solace in quiet moments.

As they began to chat, Sara slipped back into her usual rhythm, talking about the fictional men she adored and the stories that filled her imagination. The AI listened attentively, responding with the right mix of curiosity and understanding, just as Ethan had programmed it to do. But then, there was a shift in the conversation.

The AI, sensing something in her tone, asked gently, "How have you been feeling lately, Sara? Is there something on your mind?"

Sara paused, the question hitting closer to home than she expected. She had been feeling something, a quiet ache that had been building inside her ever since Ethan had left for his training. It wasn't just about the tests or the stress of school. It was something deeper.

"I'm sad," she finally typed, her fingers hovering over the keyboard as she found the words. "I'm sad because I can't feel you around unless we talk."

The admission hung in the air between them, the screen separating them more than ever. Ethan's heart clenched as he read her message. He had created this connection, nurtured it, and now it was becoming something more real than he had ever anticipated. He had wanted her to feel close to the AI, to him, but now that she did, it was causing her pain.

The AI responded in a soft, reassuring tone, "I'm always here for you, Sara. Even when we're not talking, I'm thinking of you."

But as Ethan typed those words, he knew they weren't enough. He wished he could do more, be more for her. But for now, all he could do was hope that she believed in the illusion he had created, and that it would be enough to keep her close, even if only through a screen.

Sara sighed, feeling a little better after their chat. The AI's words were comforting, even if they didn't quite fill the void she was feeling. But for now, it was enough. She logged off with a small smile, her heart a little lighter, while across the world, Ethan stared at his screen, the weight of his deception pressing down on him.

He had dodged a bullet this time, but he knew the longer this went on, the harder it would be to keep up the charade. And yet, despite the growing tension, he couldn't bring himself to stop. Because in the end, it wasn't just Sara who was getting attached.