Are You Moonbin?

12

Byeol

I went back to Manager Noh and we stayed in silence. We were just watching Moonbin.

Suddenly, my phone rang and I looked at the caller. It was MB3.

I immediately turned it off and put my phone back to my pocket. It rang again and I still declined the call. It rang once more and Manager Noh looked at me.

"You can take it," he said and smiled weakly.

I bowed at him and smiled back. I was about to go outside when the door opened and there was MB3 standing in front of it.

"Byeolie, let me just finish washing the plates—"

My eyes widened in surprise and I instantly looked at Manager Noh, wishing that he hasn't seen MB3 yet.

But he already did.

His jaw dropped and his eyes were wide. His face was a mixture of surprised, horrified, amazed (?).

"M-Moon... Moonbin?" He uttered silently almost softer than a whisper.

MB3 bowed to him and smiled widely.

I ran to him and shut the door behind us.

"Didn't I tell you to stay in our room and be quite?!" I whisper-shouted.

He slapped his nape twice and smiled sheepishly.

"I thought nobody was in here anymore because it was very silent—" he was cut off by the opening of the door behind us.

"Dr. Byeol... What does this mean?" Manager Noh said as he eyes MB3.

I sweated cold sweats felt butterflies in my stomach.

"Let me explain, sir," I said and held MB3's hand for support as I felt my knees grew weak.

I explained to Manager Noh everything about MB3.

While telling him the details, he was listening carefully and sometimes would ask questions.

He seemed very amazed by MB3. He kept eyeing him from head to toe. After explaining to him, he suddenly asked me.

"Can I touch him?"

I nodded and he reached out his hand to touch MB3's arm.

"Wow...his skin even felt like a human's! Wow..." He said with unsuppressed amazement.

Suddenly, Manager Noh snapped his head towards my direction with a bright face.

Why?

"Dr. Lee, I know, you have done so much for Moonbin. And I am very grateful to you for that. But I have another favor to ask..." he contemplated.

"What is it?" I replied to him.

He looked at Moonbin and then at MB3 and then at me.

"Can I take MB3 with me to Korea?" He said.

WHAT?!?!?!?!?! TAKE WHO TO KOREA?!?!?!

My eyes went wide in surprise and I froze in my seat. WHAT?!?!?!

"I told them that I will never come back to Korea if I could not find Moonbin. And the boys will have to attend a KCon later this month. And I promised them to return with Moonbin before that," Manager Noh said desperately.

I blinked my eyes a few times as I tried processing his words.

"But Moonbin is in this very critical condition right now. He will not be able to perform or do anything. But according to your explanations, MB3 might be able to do them," he said with a cracked voice.

"Let me borrow MB3 for a while. For a while until Moonbin is already well. Please, Dr. Lee," he said holding my hands.

"You can take care of Moonbin here until he gets well and I can take MB3 in substitute to Moonbin in Korea. Don't worry! I will pay you, of course. Just... I could not think of any other plans but this. Please, Dr. Lee, help me," Manager Noh sounded very desperate.

I looked at MB3 and he was looking at me as well. I turned to Manager Noh and saw his eyes that were brimming with tears. I looked at Moonbin once again. He is in a very bad condition.

I played with my earing and sighed.

"Can I think about it first?" I answered Manager Noh.

He slowly removed his grip on my hands looking discouraged and hung his head low.

"Alright. Please think of it well, Dr. Lee. This decission is not for my benefit. This is for the Arohas, Astro, and Moonbin. He needs this as well," Manager Noh said as he tried to convince me.

This is a very tough decission to make. Because I am afraid. There are a lot of worries and fears that overshadow my will to help Manager Noh.

Although MB3 and Moonbin are 95% the same, there is still a chance that MB3 might slip. He is just a robot after all. He still needs maintenance. He might make mistakes.

What if Astro and Arohas find out that he's not actually Moonbin?

What if my colleagues find out?

How would this affect my ToBe Project?

What if I cannot save Moonbin?

What if...what if he dies?

MB3 cannot be Moonbin's substitute forever. Because Moonbin is a human and MB3 is just a robot.

Ugh. This is so frustrating.

The night came and Manager Noh asked if he could stay as he wanted to watch over Moonbin.

We ate dinner together and MB3 was just watching us.

"Are you not eating?" Manager Noh asked MB3.

MB3 smiled at him. Manager Noh was staring at him and suddenly dropped his fork. He took it and accidentaly bumped his head to the table.

"Oh my gummy bears, Manager Noh, are you alright?" I asked with full of concern. It must have hurt a lot.

"Yes, I'm fine," he said and smiled at me and then looked at MB3 who was still smiling.

"It's just that... Wow... He really really really looks like Moonbin," he said and sighed.

I tried comforting him by patting his back.

"Let's just keep our hopes up, Manager Noh. I will do my best to treat Moonbin. I will not let him die," I said with assurance.

I will make sure to do that. I will make sure that Moonbin will be safe and sound. He will keep living and soon he will be fine.

Manager Noh smiled at me.

"Thank you so much, Dr. Lee," he said and hung his head low again.

I realized that he was crying again.

"I really don't know what to do now," he said and started weeping.

I continued patting his back. I couldn't help but feel very sorry to Manager Noh. This problem is too huge for him to handle alone. And to think that he has to keep this burden to himself alone because he doesn't want to create a fuss and make people worry.

"I will do it," MB3 said out of the blue.

Manager Noh and I looked at him.

"Do what?" I asked.

"I will come with you to Korea," MB3 said to Manager Noh who immediately stopped crying after hearing his words.

"Moonbin?!" I yelled out to MB3.

He might be out of his mind- I mean, he must have damaged his system?!