Amanita: Poison Shot

Chapter 29: Congratulations!

"No, of course not!"

"I don't know. I've got mixed feelings as regards her. I agree with everything she said about clones yesterday. She was right, every word was true. Their tyranny should be stopped. And I admire her 'cos she's a genius. Creating a sentient robot like K8? Amazing! I admire Agape, and yet, I loathe her means. I don't want to owe my life to someone like her.

"Besides, I don't fit in the group, although she seems to like me. She even told me that she doesn't see a girl when she looks at me, she said she saw a mirror."

My hands were shaking when I said that last bit.

"A mirror? You mean she thinks you're..." he began to say but didn't finish.

"... just like her," I finished the sentence for him, feeling uneasy. "I'm not like her. At all. What did she see in me that reminds her of herself? I don't get it. I don't want to be like her. Not planning to either."

"I don't know about that. She's a complex woman," he replied as if he was at a loss for words. He sighed. "Tell me what I can do for you, Daphne."

Those words echoed a burning desire to help me. I felt it when I turned my head instinctively to him. His eyes locked with mine as if there was nothing else to look at in the world, as if he needed to do something to preserve them at all costs.

I realised that he was sitting next to me much closer than before, much more than I had expected.

"I want to help you," he added with all the love in the world. "I don't think I can help you with the garage. I have no idea about what I could do, but... I want to." He made a brief pause, only to speak again as if he hated himself, "Fuck, Daphne. I put you into this mess."

He sighed deeply. He seemed to be fighting against himself when I saw his clenched fists and a protruding, thick vein in his neck, but he managed to go on.

"I'm in trouble and lost, and you fix my bike, on the side of the road. Then, you show me the right way. Only to end up meeting again an hour later, hacking your chip against your will, and all that shit. The only things I do right are making your life hell and arguing with you. Next, you come to see me at the Sports Palace and protect me from harm. Then, you apologise to me when I should be the one doing it. But I make you angry again. And today, you even give me a present!" he exclaimed while staring at the gloves. "You fix my bike again... and when you say you're in trouble, what can I do in return?"

He was staring at me as if I had the right answer, but I was too stunned at his outburst against himself.

"I don't know what to do. That's it!" he exclaimed. His beautiful lips had drawn his resentment on his face. He put a hand over his forehead as he stared directly at the floor between his legs. He even grabbed a few locks of his long fringe with anger. "Fuck, I'm such an idiot!"

He made a brief pause, again. His voice then was calmer and charming, thankfully.

"Since we've met, I have done nothing but destroy what was good in your life."

He let out a brief hysterical giggle between his teeth. After a deep intake of air, he seemed to chill out.

Next, he looked at me with a warm smile and softly put a thumb on the grease stain on my left cheek and swept it. His warm fingers felt nice on my skin, and my heart skipped a beat while I stared into his eyes, full of hurt and regret.

"I don't know how many more times I have to screw it up to realise I'm a fool."

He left me speechless for a few seconds.