"Even the person who loves the most gets tired Chloe... and I'm sorry " my tears slowly falling down in my cheeks when he said those words.
Then that day Jenny was able to tell me that Charles was courting her.
"Why don't you answer her yet? "I asked her
"I wanted to ask you first... what do you think? is it okay for you to answer him right away? "
"No"
"Why? "
"Ahmm... I mean its up to you "
"You'll support us right? "
" Yeah sure" I lied, shit no!
I'm sure she will and that's what happened. They became official... I thought I could... I thought I'd be happy for them but it never happened. Jenny and I go out with him ,even though he's not around we used to talked about him often. Mad? Envy? I do not know... I gradually lost my appetite
"Are you ok? are you sick? "
"I'm Fine Jen... I'll go ahead, I'm going to have a lot more work today "
I'm used to getting everything I want. There's something inside me that I wanted to have... I also wanted to be loved by Charles.
"I love him Dad, I badly want him" I said to my Dad, aggressively
"I'll give all you want, just tell me" my Dad hugged me tight, I grinned
I heard that one day Jenny was in the hospital. It was car accident but I was more surprised to find out. She was with Charles and he was found dead on arrival
I trembled while calling my Dad "It was a Blunder!!! "
(but It's all your plan) he said on the phone
"Dad, he's gone! bring him back "I said with anguish sobs
(If only I can Chloe)
Dad was right, I planned all of this. I wanted to lose Jen from Charles to come back to me. Dad ordered to cut the wire of the brake of her car but that day I didn't think Charles would accompany her.
My world is slowly collapsing. I went to his funeral and a few thousand sorry I said in my mind. This should not have happened. He should not have been here.
Jenny was still in the hospital during those times. Her body was not yet recovered. I visited her once but I did not felt pity, I'm very angry to her to the point I blame her of what happened. She must be the one who died not him.... That was the first and last time I visited her, I locked my room, isolating myself while anxiety's killing me inside.
"Chloe! Please open the door "
"Leave me alone Dad! "
"If this is what you want, I'll bring him back" shocked was apparent in my face, How could my Dad bring dead people into life again?
-
There was a drowsy silenced lay over my large, square room but the loud, echoing sound broke it like gunshot. I went outside, curiously.
"What's happening Dad? "
"I'm sorry for that sound Eirenne, this invention requires a lot of energy needed to function"
" ... so can you tell me what's inside the box? "
"I've been working on this for a year and now I'm going to use it for him"
He slowly opened the box bigger than me. A human machine came out of there... A robot designed like a human being.
My father was a great scientist and an executive officer of Microsystems. He has been working in the 21st-Century technologies-genetics nanotech and robotics company.
"I started it when your mom died but in a few years of doing so it was too late for me to try to enter her memory... so I decided that you will benefit from it. Changing some of his figure was easy I just needed the fresh memory of the guy you liked "I stand still while Dad explaining me the information, I can't believe this.
"You mean... "
"Yes Chloe, The artistic intelligence of this Robot was came from that guy. It acts and decides like him... introducing Hw2.0 a.k.a- "
"Charled" I continued with what Dad said "How about his memory? what if he doesn't like me? "
"No worries, He still can remember his long term memories but you can control him anyway... here, try this toy "Dad reached out to me a controller with different modes, my smile widened.
"He's not my toy Dad... He's my boyfriend"
"Whatever you say"
"Thanks Dad"
"I will do everything for you my princess besides your birthday is nearly approaching.... You have grown too fast if your mom is still alive she will be proud of us”
I hugged Dad before he left and went straight to work. I read some guidelines he gave and studied it well. The looks were not perfect as Charles but I feel like I'm with him now.
I turn him on and listened to his Artificial heartbeat
"Hi, Charles"
"YOU-KILLED-ME"
That's what he always says when I'm not in control of him. I was scared. Does he know what my plans are? Is he mad at me? I didn't know but he's just a machine!
"You're mine now" I grinned and pushed the button of bearing mode.
"Are-you-ok? "
"Yes, because I'm with you"
"Will-never-leave-you- Chloe"
Now that I've been happy with this, I'm just crazy about this, just for him, for Charles.
He doesn't remember his past memories when I was in control of him so I was the one who reminded him. That how long he liked me, he gave me letters and gifts back then, he courted me, I answered him and what so ever.
I could talk to him all day. Jenny was right he's very gentleman, he loves to joke, be sure and drop corny pickuplines but I can't help but thrill every word that comes out of his mouth. Even his angry mode is still funny.
I immediately came home from work to see him. I feel so complete. I'm happy, we're happy.
and then she came back...
Some parts of her body was covered with bandage, her eyes were swollen and she was weak. Tears flowed as we faced and she smiled at me as if she wanted to see me. It quickly ran closer and embraced me. The person I was trying to kill, the person I was blaming, my bestfriend... Jenny.
"Chloe! Happy Birthday "she said while hugging me so tight" I almost died when I heard the news that Charles was gone but I fought back... I fight because you're still here and I wanted to see you, I miss you so much "
I was unable to speak that time, my conscience swallowed me. What I've done? What am I doing? My heart had pierced by the words she said. I hugged her back and dripped with tears in my eyes.
"I'm sorry Jen... I'm so sorry "
"Why are you sorry ? I'm fine, maybe next time we can go out again. I want to spend time with you again and I want to move on from what happened.. would help me out? "
She stared into my eyes. I didn't speak. I try not to do it. I couldn't say any words. I think she'll know the truth by the time I speak.
"Hon-I made- you - a cake" I abruptly glanced at Charles.
"Get inside Charles! "I shouted but he did not move.
I let go of Jenny's hands. I tried to find the controller, my body's quivering in nervous.
"You called him Charles? What's happening? "Jenny wondered
I continued the search as Jen stared at it. He's under my control but why am I nervous like this? I stopped searching when Charles held her hands.
"Je-n-ny"
I didn't move and held my mouth shut when he mentioned my bestfriend's name. A teardrops was visible in his face. No! There's no emotional mode in the guidelines. I control him!
"Chloe? What's this? Why do I feel this way? "
"Listen-to-my-artificial-heartbeat-my-Love"
"Charles? "
"Let me explain Jen"
"What did you do to him? "Her voice was sad and angry as I continued to shed tears "Why are you doing this?!!! "
"Because I love him!... Yes I love him Jen" I said in a cracked voice
"Then why didn't you told me at the very first place? "
"If I had said... Would you give him to me? "
"He's not a thing Chloe! he is not a matter of passing... he is not something that can be controlled "
I knelt down in a bad mood. Tears just keep flowing. Mafuyu approached me and confronted me "But I have my words, remember? two years ago? "so it said.
"It's all my fault Jen, forgive me" I admit but her emotions have not changed. She was still sad staring at me.
"If you just said earlier Chloe... if you just said "Jenny took my hand and put a silver necklace on it, something we both liked in a jewelry shop that she chose to give me.
"Maybe you left it when you visited the hospital" her last words and left me forever.
I was consumed by anger and envy. I drowned in so much love. I was the villain in my own megillah that even in this photo I am not the star
I forgot someone who was most important to me. I didn't think her memories with me because of Charles back then was my real problem. I couldn't have been better... I couldn't afford to lose Jen... my bestfriend
I confronted Charles. I wiped his artificial tears "S-Sorry" is the only word I can tell him.
For the last time I listened to his artistic heartbeat and I turn him off.
