CHAPTER 3

It's been quite a number of days since Jeonguk and Aurora have been associating with one another. Aurora realized that she didn't even have shoes. This whole time, she's been barefoot, traveling in and out of the city. It's no wonder people looked at her strangely. A girl with a beautiful red dress, stunning shoulder-length hair—walking down the street, with nothing to praise her feet? Once Jeonguk learned what it meant to be kind, he decided to find Aurora some shoes that would match her outfit.

Aurora was waiting on the bridge at the beach, kicking her legs over the ledge. Jeonguk would soon return with some items. With a mango in hand, she enjoyed the fruity nectar as it splashed against the boardwalk. Aurora's mind wandered off into a fictional world of how life would have been if she actually had a family. Would she have needed an AI? Would she have been different? Would she have ever met Jeonguk?

Aurora only shrugged. At this point in her life, a family was the last thing she wanted anymore. Aurora stood up tossing the mango seed and skin into the ocean, watching as the waves swallowed it up and drove them away. She kneeled, washing her hands in the water and shook them dry. In the distance, Jeonguk was coming down with a bag in hand.

She hurries over to him excitedly. Jeonguk looked at her, handing her the bag. Opening it, she peered inside. There inside, were beautiful red shoes that would definitely go well with her outfit. Dropping onto the sand, she grabbed a shoe to put on. But Jeonguk stopped her immediately.

"Did you wash your feet?"

"If I wash it, then sand will stick to them."

Jeonguk frowned, folding his arms.

Aurora rolled her eyes, dropping the shoes in the bag. She stood back up and went over to the shore, barely touching the water. Taking a few steps further, the water reached her ankles. She allowed them to soak for a bit, rubbing the sole of her feet against the sand. Sea water and sand was actually healthy for skin. It removed dead skin cells and repaired any damaged skin, along with killing bacteria. She grunted because she knew if she were to step out of the water, all the sand would start sticking to the bottom of her feet, which would defeat the purpose of washing them. Sighing, she went about her business.

Before she was able to fully turn around, she was swept off her feet. Frightened, she yelped, but Jeonguk was merely helping her out.

The water from her toes dripped onto the side of his shirt.

"You're clothes!"

"It's fine." Jeonguk assured her as he carried her to the boardwalk. Sitting her down, he took the old sheets he used to wear, and wiped her feet completely dry, then dressed them in her new pair of shoes. Aurora wriggled her toes in them.

"You're really good at finding the clothes that fits me just right." She complimented.

"I examined your body." Jeonguk said innocently.

Aurora knew what Jeonguk meant, but it was still awkward hearing him say something like that.

Sitting down next to her, Jeonguk asked, "Do you like them?"

Aurora nodded. "Uh-huh."

The two sat quietly, gazing at the bright sunny sky and the ocean below.

"What would you like to do for today?" Jeonguk questioned.

Looking at him, Aurora didn't know what to say. "I honestly don't know. I've hardly done anything interesting in my life besides stealing and getting beaten up for it, so…"

Jeonguk did not find that funny.

"It wasn't supposed to be a joke," She rolls her eyes.

Jeonguk glanced at the sea. "If I were to leave you tomorrow, what would you do?"

Befuddled by that question, Aurora interrogated his sudden eccentric question.

"Going into the city these past couple of days, I've realized that the only reason why many humans have AIs," He looks at her. "Is because we're just tools for them to use. If they need to, they'll get rid of us and replace us like old thoughts. So, if the AI decides to leave before that happens, would the outcome still be the same?"

Aurora didn't understand where this question came from, but she understood where Jeonguk was coming from. Humans indeed saw AI as just a tool—a means of enhancing society. But at the same time, AIs were in a way pets—pets that you can replace if you feel that they aren't meeting the family's idea of the perfect human—the perfect plan.

"They create machines like me with the capacity to have emotion, to think, to understand, to know. But yet, they also created a machine like me, who has to learn how to understand what it means to have emotion, to understand what others think, to know what to do." Jeonguk paused. "Perhaps that's the reason why I was found by you," He says. "My owner must have gotten sick and tired of me not understanding her, not thinking about her, not showing any emotion for her, and not getting to know her."

Aurora felt terrible, because she was thinking the same thing previously, but only out of anger.

"Her…?" Aurora repeated.

"Yes, my owner was a young girl," Jeonguk expounded. "Her father had me created for her 16th birthday, deeming me a wonderful asset and extension of their family. She requested that her father build me from scratch, to inculcate in me the power to show her love and affection—something that I've failed to achieve."

Aurora was deeply moved by Jeonguk's rant.

Who'd knew a robot could actually go through so much…? She thought in awe.

After Jeonguk finished his thoughts, he remained silent.

"If your owner threw you away because of that…then, she's wrong," Aurora reassured. "She should have taken the time to teach you and train you. It's not your fault if she's failed on her part to help you grow."

Jeonguk stared at Aurora. He turned back to the water, changing the subject.

"Do you want to live on the beach forever?"

"I…don't know…" Aurora fiddled with her thumbs. "…like I've explained to you, I don't have much nice things, I have no family or friends, no money—I didn't even have shoes! And I've never thought of living anywhere else…I've been a street runner for most of my life, so…"

"I'll find you a home."

Aurora gazed at him. "…what?"

Jeonguk seemed to be serious. He never looked at her when he said it. He was meditating long and hard on what it meant to be kind. He wanted to show it at the max, but he didn't know how to.

"Kindness…" He mumbled.

"…what?" Aurora questioned his distant mumbling.

Getting on his feet, Jeonguk looked at Aurora. "Would you like to visit the city?"

Unsure of what to say, she stood up. Looking at Jeonguk, she shook her head. "Not really."

"Why not?"

Aurora looked down. "Well…if I do go back again, I might see that man again."

Jeonguk tensed up. "What man?"

Staring at the boardwalk, Aurora pointed at her stomach. "The man who kicked me here. I got badly bruised, but it's recovering quickly, surprisingly."

Jeonguk's eyebrows tried to furrow, but they remained neutral. "Is that the day you tried to steal mangoes?"

"…yeah." She nodded. "I'd rather not see him."

Jeonguk stretched his hand out. "It will be okay."

Aurora didn't understand why this AI wanted so much for her to travel to the city. Sighing, she took his hand calmly, allowing him to lead her off the beach. She glanced back, watching as the sandy surface was getting smaller and smaller. As they traveled towards the border of The North Sea, there were suspicious men and women eyeing at her. Aurora felt their eyes glued on her, and she began to feel somewhat uncomfortable. Subconsciously, her hand tightened around Jeonguk's. He noticed, looking down at her. "Are you alright?"

"…there's people looking at me," She exhaled nervously. "Can we hurry?"

Jeonguk began to walk faster. Aurora felt his pace getting faster and faster.

"Jeonguk, aren't you going a little bit too fast—" Jeonguk lifted her up into his arms and hurried to York Seoul City. Aurora was puzzled by why Jeonguk lifted her into his arms. She didn't need Jeonguk to carry her like as if she was his bride. She just wanted to escape the onlookers that she knew was questioning her relationship with this AI. They probably recognized her too, thinking, how did a low-life scumbag like that girl manage to get her hands on an AI like that?

"Please, put me down," Aurora pleaded. "Please!!!"

Jeonguk didn't understand the issue, but he calmly puts her down once they reached the city.

Aurora's eyes teared up a bit. She wiped them aggressively, turning away.

"What is the matter?"

"It's nothing. I'm just overly sensitive."

"About what?"

"People judging…" She didn't finish her sentence. "…forget it. Let's go." Aurora began to take the lead.

Watching Aurora go ahead, Jeonguk balled his fists. He felt that—no—he was convinced that he wasn't being good enough for her.

Are people judging her because of me? He thought. Following behind her, he didn't say a word.

Aurora kept her head low, walking like a soldier through the crowds of wealthy citizens. Being that she was now well-dressed, she looked like one of them. She could have been any of them if she had wanted to be.

People's eyes were now focusing on the two. But in reality, it was Jeonguk that was the star of the show. Women were whispering past them, questioning who that handsome young man was. Aurora ignored it. Being that she's never had a full-fledged experience of having any sort of relationship with a male, she couldn't care less that women and girls wanted him. She just wanted to go somewhere and hide.

As they reached the end of a block, Jeonguk finally stopped her. "Wait,"

"What is it?" Aurora looks at him unsettled.

"Would you like to ride the subway?" Jeonguk pointed at the subway that was leading downstairs.

Following his finger, Aurora hesitantly responded. "Why?"

"Have you ever ridden it before?"

"Well…" Aurora exhaled. "Only a few times in my life, but only because I was running from the cops."

Jeonguk frowned.

"What?" She shrugs casually. "What else were you expecting me to say?"

Ignoring her, Jeonguk grabbed her hand and led her down the stairs. Aurora didn't understand what was going through this AI's mind. Jeonguk seemed to be an AI that has to learn things from scratch like a little child to grow, yet for some reason, he already had prior knowledge of what the purpose of certain things in life were—like subways, for instance.

Stepping up to the turnstiles, Jeonguk paused.

Aurora folded her arms. "Forgot something?"

Jeonguk stared at the turnstiles.

Aurora shook her head, sucking her teeth. "See what I mean? If you were like me or had to live a life like me, you would have easily jumped the turn—" As soon as she mocked him, Jeonguk hopped over the turnstile. Aurora gawked at him. "Jeonguk!" She cried. "You're gonna get into a lot of trouble for doing that right in front of the—"

"HEY!" An officer approached Jeonguk, snatching him by his wrist. Startled, the AI looked at him. Another officer pulled up with handcuffs. "What do you think you're doing?"

Jeonguk stood silently.

Aurora knew she had to say something. Running to the turnstile, Aurora pleaded. "I'm so sorry, officers! It's my fault he jumped the turnstile!"

The officers looked at the little girl, failing to realize—she wasn't actually that little.

Giving her a questionable look, they glanced at Jeonguk, back at her. "Wait—doesn't this AI belong to someone we've seen?"

Aurora began to get extremely nervous by that question.

The officers leaned in closer to look at the collar that was hugging Jeonguk's neck.

Thinking irrationally, Aurora ducked under the turnstile and shoved the officers off him, taking Jeonguk and began running.

The officers yelled after her, but she wouldn't stop.

One of the cops pulled out their gun, bloody thirsty to shoot the girl down, but the other officer yielded his weapon. "Stop, you'll hurt someone."

"That bastard dared to assault us!" He snarled.

"Let it go," The mature cop said. "We'll catch them." Lifting his radio to his mouth, he called for backup.

While the two troublemakers were running down the platform, the train was just approaching.

"We need to get on this train, right now!" Aurora demanded.

Jeonguk nodded his head with understanding. As they neared the end of the platform, the train already stopped, opening the doors. Aurora and Jeonguk quickly got in. Relieved, Aurora lets go of his hand, and happily looked at the opened doors. Her face shattered seeing a couple of cops rushing towards the train.

"…oh god." She whispers faintly.

Jeonguk noticed the police. His intelligence rewrote his knowledge, calculating the cops as now, enemies. Aurora froze in her spot, unsure of why she couldn't move. Jeonguk had to yank her, running down the train car. The police followed after them.

"Stop in the name of the law!" They shouted.

But they wouldn't stop.

Opening the door that led to the next train car, Jeonguk hopped over, taking Aurora along with him. The door immediately shut as they entered the next car. By now, the train already began moving. The two kept traveling down each car by foot. Each car they sprinted through led eyes to follow them as police officers chased them. Aurora repeatedly glanced back to see how far down the police were. She could not believe this was happening. In less than five minutes over entering the subways, she already had the police hunting her down. Aurora gritted her teeth, pushing ahead of Jeonguk. Jeonguk was impressed to see that his little master wasn't as slow as he perceived her to be.

Their little journey was cut short when Aurora saw that the two officers she shoved earlier was coming from the other end two cars down. Aurora stopped Jeonguk hastily. Looking down at her, Jeonguk stared through the windows, noticing what Aurora was observing. The train would make sharp turns, nearly causing Aurora to fall onto passengers. But Jeonguk held her tight, making sure she was safe. Aurora looked behind her, seeing that the mob of cops were just entering the car behind them. They would soon be in their car if they didn't act fast.

"What are we going to do?!" Aurora cried in panic.

Everyone in the car was confused by what was going on. A handsome AI and a little girl running away from what? They all turned to the windows. Realizing the cops were approaching this car, everyone fell into a state of panic and froze, wondering how dangerous these two were that cops had to chase them down from both ends of this train.

Aurora cursed under her breath. "…we're screwed."

Jeonguk held Aurora's hand. Fiercely, Jeonguk charged out of the car, taking Aurora along.

"Jeonguk, why?!" She shouted hysterically.

He stopped them both in between the cars. The train wasn't going any slower. Turning towards her, his eyes glowed with anger. "Stay here."

"…what?" She muttered baffled. Once the train jerked again, she stumbled, clinging onto the sides of the train.

Jeonguk entered the next car, slowly closing the door behind him. He tampered with the lock discreetly and dropped his hands to his sides, ambling forward. The cops quickly approach him. Once they got a hold of him, they threw him onto the ground, handcuffing him.

"NO!!!" Aurora screamed. She forced herself up, pulling the lever to open the door, but it wouldn't budge. "…what?" She gasped. Her eyes darted to Jeonguk, watching as everyone in the car looked on in horror as the officers confidently kept him on the ground. Aurora banged on the door, yelling at them to let him go, but they ignored her. The friction of the train moving speedily on the tracks echoed within the cars, making it hard for them to hear her scream. But they sure heard her banging like a beast on the hard glass windows.

The mob of officers tried to pull the door behind Aurora open, but it wouldn't shift. They tried with all of their might to force it open, but it wouldn't budge. They'd have to wait until the next stop to alert an operator. The train was soon approaching the next stop.

Aurora wept angrily, regretting that she allowed Jeonguk to walk past that door. Once the train stopped, Aurora ducked under the heavy wires that connected the cars together, and made a run for it. She had no idea where she was, but her feet were taking her somewhere. The cops followed after her.

Thoughts raced through Aurora's mind as she couldn't tell where she was or where she was going. She never took this train before, let alone, gotten off at this stop. Everything was new to her in a sense.

As the cops lifted Jeonguk away out of the car, the train was put on hold.

"This son of a gun really just approached us like as if it was a bargain," The angry cop ranted. "This isn't a sweet little fairytale, son."

Jeonguk was being shoved to move forward. Giving them a side glare, he bounced back, knocking the officers away. With force, he broke the handcuffs, ripping them from his wrists. He tossed them onto the ground, giving the cops one last glare. Pedestrians and onlookers were confused by this scene, unsure of how to respond. He immediately took off running in the direction Aurora went.