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Aiko
Aiko felt the weight of uncertainty on her chest as she made her way toward the labs. The pristine, white hallways of Genetech Labs felt too clean, too cold. She wasn't there to snoop or gather intel—at least, not this time. After all the chaos, after all the time apart, she just wanted to talk to her mom, to feel the comfort of a mother's presence again. There was so much she wanted to say, so many questions that had been gnawing at her heart for years. But more than anything, she wanted to reconnect.
Reaching the lab, Aiko paused outside the door, taking a deep breath. She didn't want this to feel like an interrogation or a mission. She wanted it to be a normal conversation. Just her and her mom, like it used to be.
She tapped lightly on the door before pushing it open. Inside, her mother stood in front of a large microscope, engrossed in something on the screen. Various lab equipment was scattered around, and the sterile scent of chemicals filled the air.
"Mom?" Aiko said softly, stepping inside.
Her mother didn't look up immediately, too focused on her work. After a moment, she finally turned, her expression neutral. "Aiko, you're here."
Aiko smiled, though it faltered a bit when she noticed how distant her mother seemed. "Yeah, I wanted to see you... to talk."
Her mother nodded, turning off the microscope and motioning toward a small table with chairs. "Alright, let's talk."
Aiko sat down, her heart racing slightly. She hadn't had a real conversation with her mom in what felt like forever, and now that she was here, she didn't know where to start. She clasped her hands together nervously, taking a deep breath before speaking.
"I missed you, Mom," Aiko began, her voice quiet but sincere. "It's been so long, and... I just wanted to know why you never answered my messages. I tried so many times. I thought maybe something had happened to you."
Her mother's expression didn't change. She sat across from Aiko, hands folded in her lap, but her eyes seemed distant. "I've been busy, Aiko. There's a lot of work to be done here, especially with everything happening outside."
Aiko bit her lip. "I get that, but... I was worried. It wasn't just that you were busy. It felt like you disappeared. I thought maybe you didn't care anymore."
Her mother's gaze flickered for a moment, but she didn't respond right away. Instead, she leaned back slightly, almost as if she were considering her next words carefully. "It wasn't about not caring, Aiko. It's just... there are bigger things at stake right now. I had to make sacrifices."
"Sacrifices?" Aiko repeated, a small frown tugging at her lips. "But I'm your daughter, Mom. I was out there, alone, trying to figure out what was going on. I came to Korea to find you because I needed answers. I needed you."
Her mother's face remained impassive, her hands resting on the table. "And you found me, didn't you? You made it here. You're safe now."
"But that's not the point!" Aiko's voice wavered, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I needed you before this, too. When everything was falling apart. I was scared, and I didn't know what to do. I... I needed my mom."
Her mother sighed, looking away for a brief moment before speaking again. "Aiko, you're not a child anymore. You've always been strong, independent. I knew you'd survive."
Aiko's heart sank at her mother's words. She had always been strong, but that didn't mean she hadn't needed comfort or guidance. "That's not fair, Mom. I didn't want to be strong all the time. I wanted to feel like I had someone to rely on."
Her mother finally looked at her, but there was still a coldness in her gaze. "You have your friends now, don't you? You've managed just fine without me."
Aiko's throat tightened. This wasn't the conversation she had imagined. She had hoped for warmth, for love, but all she was getting was indifference. She swallowed the lump in her throat, trying to push forward.
"I... I met them on my way here. They've been amazing, honestly. Heeseung, Jake, Sunghoon, Yuna... they all helped me get here, and I wouldn't have made it without them." Aiko paused, watching her mother's face for any sign of interest, but there was none. "We've been through so much together. Neomorphs, abandoned towns, all of it. But I never stopped thinking about you. I kept hoping that when I found you, things would be different."
Her mother gave a slight nod, but her expression remained unchanged. "You're here now. That's what matters."
Aiko blinked, feeling a rush of sadness. "Is that really all that matters to you?"
Her mother frowned slightly, the first sign of emotion she had shown during their conversation. "What do you want me to say, Aiko? That I'm sorry for not being there? That I regret the choices I've made? I don't have time for regrets. Not with what's at stake."
"But I'm your daughter!" Aiko cried, her voice breaking. "Don't you feel anything? Don't you even care?"
For a moment, her mother's face softened, but it was fleeting. "Of course I care. But there's more to this than you realize, Aiko. There are things you don't understand. Things I can't explain right now."
Aiko shook her head, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. "Why not? Why can't you just talk to me like a normal person? Like a mom?"
Her mother stood up abruptly, turning her back to Aiko as she walked toward one of the lab tables. "It's not that simple."
Aiko remained seated, feeling a mix of hurt and confusion. She had come here expecting answers, expecting some sort of reunion, but all she was getting was cold detachment. She stared at her mother's back, trying to figure out what had gone wrong.
"Do you even care about what I've been through?" Aiko asked softly, her voice trembling. "Do you care about the fact that I risked everything to find you?"
Her mother turned around slowly, her expression unreadable. "I'm glad you're safe, Aiko. But you have to understand that there are things going on here that are bigger than both of us. We're trying to save humanity."
Aiko blinked, her heart sinking even further. "And what about me? What about us?"
Her mother looked at her for a long moment before replying, "You'll understand one day, Aiko. There's more at stake than you can imagine."
Aiko stood up, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. She had come here hoping for a connection, but it felt like she was talking to a stranger. "I don't think I will understand," she muttered under her breath.
Her mother didn't respond, instead turning back to her work, the conversation seemingly over. Aiko clenched her fists, holding back the tears that threatened to spill over. She had so much more she wanted to say, but what was the point? Her mother wasn't listening.
Without another word, Aiko turned and walked out of the lab, the door closing softly behind her. As she made her way back down the sterile hallways, she felt a deep ache in her chest. She had come all this way, endured so much, just to find her mother. But now, she wasn't sure if it had been worth it.
The truth was, her mother wasn't the person she remembered. Or maybe she had never really known her at all. Either way, Aiko felt more alone than ever.
