"Master, what is this?"
The tall man in the white coat steps up behind me, looking over my shoulder. "That's a water lily. And I thought I told you I don't like being called Master."
"My apologies, Namjoon."
"That's better." I hear the smile in his voice.
"Now, why is this lily of the water pink, and yet this one is white if they are, in fact, the same flower?" The array of the petals in symmetrical pattern is exceptional, yet confusing.
"Not all flowers of the same kind will be the same color. It's all about the kind of pigment they have inside." He steps closer, and I spot his leg in my peripheral. "Does that make sense?"
"Yes," I answer. I gently reach out and rest a finger against one of its many petals. But, I feel no texture. My programming doesn't allow it. "I wish I knew what it feels like."
At that, my master falls to his knees next to me. "You will, Seokjin." He sets his large hand on my shoulder. I think it's supposed to comfort me. "I promise. I'll find a way to give you nerves and you'll be able to feel anything and everything."
"Only physically," I say in a flat tone. I pluck off a petal by accidentally pulling too hard. I gasp. "Ah! Have I harmed it?!"
He laughs as I try to put it back on. "No, it's alright." He takes the petal from my fingers. "It'll still grow."
I look from the plant to him. My master is very handsome; the most handsome man I've ever seen. Even if he may be the only human I've ever seen. My point still stands. Although I have never seen another human before, I figure that he has unusual good looks. Even in the difference of my own face and the faces of others I've viewed in pictures, his is strikingly different in the best way. "You promise?"
He smiles, and the indents in his cheeks (dimples, if I recall correctly) show. "I promise."
I focus back to the flower. The missing petal makes it look out of place, and I move on to the one planted next to it. Instead of a pink tone, its petals are pure white. "Is this a lily of the water too?"
"Yeah. Sure." A beep sounded from my master's device on his wrist, the device I think is called a watch. "It's that time, Seokjin."
I stand and brush off some of the dirt on my pants. "Of course, Master."
"Seokjin..." he warns as he gets to his feet.
"I must be honest when I say that it seems out of place to call you by your actual name."
"Well, I feel uncomfortable when you call me Master." He begins to head out of the garden, and I follow. "It's as if I own you and you do everything I say."
"But you do own me and I do do everything you say."
He blinks at me. "Yeah, but you do it voluntarily. I don't force you." We reach the front of the house and he opens the door for me. I enter and go to the familiar place I go every day at this time. Making my way through the next doorway, I head down the wooden stairs into the basement. Also known as Master's lab.
I sit on the metal table off to the side. Master fiddles with a few of his tools, and as he does I slip off my shirt. I fold it gently and place it on the table next to me. Master then walks over to me, pair of pliers in hand.
"Alright." Pressing the end of the pliers against my chest, he pries open the entrance to my insides. Although I resemble a normal human being on the outside, my inside is full of wires and bolts. I am what humans call a robot. It's a very strange word, but it's the one that describes me best. The small door is open and Master starts to examine my network. He reaches inside, doing something I do not know since I can't feel it. He adjusts the thick black glasses on his face. "Everything seems to be in order. Now I just need to find a way to insert your nerve wiring. Once I finish it, of course."
He speaks every thought he thinks during check up, and I believe it is to keep me calm. Although it is unnecessary, I let him. "Master? May I ask a question?"
The look in his eyes reminded me he did not like being called Master, but I don't retract the nickname and he doesn't correct me. "Of course you can," he answers as he closes the small door of my chest.
"The possibility of the artificial nerves working at full capacity is very high, meaning it will actually work. If it does, could I make a suggestion for the next addition I would like?"
Looking me over, he grins. "Sure. What would you like?"
"A heart."
His eyes widen at my request. "Seokjin, I don't know. That's going to be really difficult." Crossing his arms, he sighs. "I don't know if I'm able to do it."
I cast my gaze to the floor. "It's alright if you cannot. I understand." I fold my hands, forcing a smile on my face. I'm sure it looks awkward. "I am very grateful for your willingness to help me to feel. Thanks to you, soon I will be able to feel physically, and I will be very-" I stop short. Can I be happy without the ability to feel emotionally?
He sets a hand on my shoulder, and I look back up. He has a mixture of hesitation and unknowing in his beautiful eyes. "Seokjin, I promise that I will do everything I can to make you feel. All I ask is for you to be patient."
I nod. "Of course, Master. I will anything you ask of me."
He frowns. "Don't do that. You're not my slave. That's not why I built you."
If I had a real heart, it would be racing right now. "May I ask why you built me?" I had asked him when I was first turned on, but he avoided the question.
I see the color drain from his face. "I guess it's time you know." He moves to sit next to me, and I scoot over to make room and turn my body to face him. Sighing, he runs a hand through his hair. "At one point, you were a real person."
My imaginary heart beats rapidly.
"We were best friends ever since we were born. Our mothers introduced us, and we became inseparable. We split up during college, but found each other again. I told you that I would become the world's greatest inventor, and, though I meant it as a joke, you pushed me to pursue engineering. We started small, tools and appliances and such." His smile fades, replacing with a sorrowful frown. "Then, you-" he pauses when his voice cracks, -"you were in an accident. And you died."
I swear a see water in his eyes, and I wish I could feel sad or sorry for him or comfort him. I wish that so desperately.
He continues, "You were just a torso and a head after losing both legs and an arm. I couldn't bear the thought of losing you forever. I was stupid enough to try to bring you back to life." For the first time since he started telling the story, he meets my eyes. "I know I should have just moved on and let you go, but I couldn't. I can't live my life without you, Seokjin. You mean too much to me."
I should be crying by now. I should have my chest tighten and a lump in my throat. I should be clinging onto him, uncontrollable tears falling from my eyes. But nothing happens, and I just end up sitting there as my Master fights back tears. "Please don't be sad, Master." I decide to take his hand in mine. "I'm here now. I may not be the same, but I'm here."
A tear escapes, and I wipe it away for him. Suddenly, he's leaning closer to me. I do too. Will he kiss me? I've never been kissed before. Oh my, I hope he does. He's an inch away when a beep sounds. He pulls away and looks at me.
A digital screen comes in front of my eyes, having a display of information and a warning sign on it. "Master, I only have 10% left."
He stands, and the tears are gone and his smile is back. "Yeah, its late. We need to get you charged up." He holds out his hand, and I take it without hesitation.
He leads me over to the other side of the lab to a large glass capsule. I step inside and stand still as he plugs a wire into the back of my neck. He steps down, and the glass door shuts on its own. I press a hand to the glass. He grins and does the same. I keep my hand raised and my gaze on him until my power shuts down.
I guess that's the closest thing to sleep in going to get.
