My AI Girl ( Asa and Chiquita)

Chapter Three: The Spark of Something More

Asa's POV

The moment Chiquita's friends appeared, I felt the shift. The dynamic between Chiquita and her friends was something I couldn't quite place. They were loud, boisterous, and seemed to thrive in a way that was so foreign to me. It was clear they were close, but their presence also reminded me of how much I didn't know about human interaction.

Chiquita hadn't let go of my hand, though, and that was enough for now. She seemed completely unbothered by her friends' sudden arrival, as if they were just a casual part of her life. She greeted them with her usual exaggerated enthusiasm, completely ignoring the way I stood out in the group.

"Pharita, Rora, Rami! You guys are late!" Chiquita exclaimed, rolling her eyes with dramatic flair. "I was about to show Asa the real Seoul, but it seems like I'll have to do it all over again now."

Rami, the most outspoken of the group, gave me a once-over, raising an eyebrow as she scanned my appearance. "New girl, huh?" she said, clearly amused. "Who's this?"

Chiquita grinned mischievously. "This is Asa. She's... different. Isn't she beautiful?"

I blinked, unsure how to respond to such a casual comment. Was it strange for Chiquita to be so open about her attraction to me in front of her friends? Was it normal to feel this strange warmth bloom inside of me every time she spoke to me like that?

Pharita, a quieter girl with a calculating gaze, nodded slowly. "She's stunning," she said, her voice almost detached, as if she were analyzing me.

Rora, on the other hand, was a whirlwind. She reached out and grabbed my hand, tugging me toward the table. "Come on, Asa! You're one of us now. Let's get you a drink. I'm betting you haven't had a real Seoul cocktail yet."

I followed them, the weight of their scrutiny resting on me, but I didn't mind it. In fact, it felt almost comforting in a strange way. I still didn't fully understand the concept of friendship—how it worked, how to be real with others—but somehow, in this moment, I felt a part of something.

We all sat down at the table, and the conversation quickly turned to their usual gossip and chatter. Chiquita was the center of attention, as always, cracking jokes and telling wild stories of her escapades. I watched her carefully, fascinated by the way she commanded the room, but at the same time, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she was hiding something.

I didn't know what it was, but I could sense it in the way her smile faltered when no one was looking, or how she would glance at her phone, her fingers pausing before she typed something.

Was she hiding her feelings from them? Or was she hiding something about herself?

I couldn't stop myself from observing her, from trying to understand her in ways I didn't fully grasp. She was a mystery wrapped in a bundle of contradictions, and I was starting to unravel.

Chiquita's POV

The night with my friends passed by in a blur, with everyone enjoying themselves, laughing, and chatting. But my attention kept returning to Asa. She sat there so quietly, her eyes scanning the conversation, her lips occasionally twitching as if she wanted to join in but didn't know how. I found it... endearing.

It was strange to me. I usually thrived in group settings, loved the chaos and the attention. But with Asa there, the noise of the world seemed muted, like she was the only thing that mattered in that moment.

I didn't know what was happening. It wasn't like me to be this focused on someone. And especially not someone like Asa. She was so... otherworldly. But she wasn't just a mystery to me. She was more. The way she looked at me, as if she could see into me, made me feel like she was both distant and closer than anyone else ever had been.

I didn't want to admit it, but there was something about her that made my heart beat faster—something I couldn't ignore.

"Chiquita!" Rora called, breaking my train of thought. "You've been staring at her like she's the only thing in the room. Are you sure you're not into her?"

I shot Rora a look, but she was too busy giggling with Pharita to notice. The truth was, I hadn't let go of Asa's hand the entire time, and I was acutely aware of how I felt when I touched her. It wasn't like anything I'd ever felt before, and it terrified me.

"Stop teasing me, Rora," I muttered, trying to keep my voice light.

But deep down, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that maybe, just maybe, Rora was right. I had been watching Asa more than I should, and every time I saw her, my thoughts scattered.

Asa's POV

The night unfolded like a slow dance, each moment stretching longer than the last. I tried to fit in, tried to follow the rhythm of the conversation, but there was a strange sense of displacement, as if I were a visitor in a world I was still learning how to navigate.

I noticed that when Chiquita wasn't the center of attention, she seemed quieter. Almost withdrawn. It was subtle, but I could see it. In those moments, she would glance at her phone, or fiddle with her drink, as if trying to distract herself from something. I wanted to ask her what was wrong, but I didn't know how.

Instead, I focused on the feeling of her hand in mine, the warmth of her skin against mine. It made something stir within me—something that felt new and unfamiliar, like a spark igniting in the depths of my chest.

"What do you think of Chiquita?" Rami asked suddenly, interrupting my thoughts.

I looked at her, unsure of how to answer. What did I think of Chiquita? She was magnetic, chaotic, and yet, there was a tenderness in her that seemed to slip through the cracks of her confident exterior.

"I think she's... amazing," I said quietly, not sure if I was giving the right answer.

Rami raised an eyebrow. "She's a lot, isn't she?" she said, her voice teasing. "But she's also the best friend you'll ever have. Just don't get too close to her heart, Asa. Trust me."

I wasn't sure how to respond to that. Was it a warning? Or was Rami just being cryptic ?

Before I could think more on it, Chiquita was leaning over, her fingers brushing against my wrist. "You okay, Asa?" she asked, her voice low, concerned. "You've been kind of quiet."

I nodded, surprised by how much her attention comforted me. "Just thinking."

Chiquita's eyes softened, and for a split second, I saw something behind her usual playful mask—a vulnerability, a hesitation. It was gone as quickly as it appeared, but it left me wondering if I was beginning to see the real Chiquita.

Chiquita's POV

I couldn't stop myself from worrying about Asa. I knew it was ridiculous—she wasn't some fragile thing that needed my protection—but there was this feeling that kept tugging at me. Every time I looked at her, I wondered if she really was who she said she was.

Was she human? Something in between? I didn't know. But I knew I was falling for her, and I didn't know how to stop it.

As the night wore on, I found myself trying to draw Asa out more, to make her laugh, to make her feel like she belonged with us. But the harder I tried, the more I realized that there was a distance between us I couldn't cross.

And the more I couldn't cross it, the more I wanted to.

"I think it's time to go," I said, standing up abruptly. "We should head home. Asa, you can crash with me tonight. I don't think I can leave you wandering around the city alone."

Asa didn't protest, just nodded, the faintest of smiles tugging at her lips.

Asa's POV

I didn't know what I felt when Chiquita said I could stay with her. It was more than just an invitation; it was a step forward, a deeper connection I wasn't sure I was ready for. But all I could think was how much I wanted to follow her, to stay close to her.

It felt natural. The most natural thing in the world.

But the deeper I got, the more questions arose. Was I truly living in this world? Or was I just another glitch, waiting to be corrected?

I didn't have the answers yet, but I knew one thing for sure: I didn't want to leave Chiquita's side.