#108
Even on the private jet to India, Yoo Seong-woo kept nodding off drowsily. The sudden increase in sleepiness was one of the symptoms of his malfunction.
Thinking that sleep was a waste of time, he considered secretly injecting Centimeneide, but unfortunately, Yeon Tae-soo had taken all the Centimeneide he had kept in Popo.
In truth, Yoo Seong-woo didn’t want to abuse Centimeneide either. He knew how hard Yeon Tae-soo was trying to extend his lifespan, and Yoo Seong-woo also wanted to spend even one more day with him. But that wasn’t the only reason.
The side effects of Centimeneide seemed to be more than just accelerating corrosion. There were probably many other side effects as well. He thought that these malfunction symptoms, like drowsiness, might be included among them.
Fortunately, the visual function of his eye that had stopped working had returned, but he didn’t know when it would break again.
Couldn’t he spend just a little more time with him in a “normal” state?
The regret grew until his chest ached, but he tried not to show it. Even time spent being sad felt wasteful.
The private jet was neat rather than extravagant. And yet Eden had been decorated so lavishly.
Well, considering his office that didn’t have a single proper decoration, maybe this was Yeon Tae-soo’s actual taste. Similar to how he pretended to have emotions and dressed messily.
Some items in the private jet looked quite old, while others appeared to be newly acquired. For example, the cushioned covers on the seats seemed to have been put on recently, as there was still a piece of packaging plastic attached to the bottom.
And the box where Popo was now placed, whose original purpose was unclear, looked so out of place with the private jet that it made him laugh.
As he was looking around the interior and then turning his attention back to the book he was reading, Yeon Tae-soo returned with drinks. He placed a juice on Yoo Seong-woo’s table. The juice was cool and sweet.
“Is the book interesting? Stop reading and play with me.”
Reaching out and snatching the book away immediately was so like Yeon Tae-soo. The fact that he wasn’t annoyed despite such forceful behavior showed that he too was thoroughly blinded by love.
Previously, he would have dismissed it as an error. But now he was greedy. Even if he couldn’t have “real” emotions like humans, couldn’t he at least imitate them? If his body was going to break down anyway, he wanted to pour all his remaining strength into his emotions.
An android created to fulfill commands, but never actually used for its intended purpose, decided to determine its own purpose.
“What kind of book is this anyway? You were reading it before too.”
Yeon Tae-soo stood flipping through the book he had taken.
“It’s a story about stars.”
“Oh ho.”
It was the book he had kept at Byeolbyeol Animal Hospital and often reread.
“What’s it about? Explain it to me too.”
Yeon Tae-soo had already sat down across the table, resting his chin on his hand and facing him. He looked innocent like a young boy. Yoo Seong-woo took the book from his hand, placed it back on the table, and touched it with one hand as he searched his memory.
“In the beginning, there was a great chaos. In that place, by chance and coincidence, a certain phenomenon occurred. Something called ‘existence’ was created.”
Yeon Tae-soo focused on his words like a good student, his eyes shining. Seeing those bright eyes, Yoo Seong-woo suppressed a laugh and continued.
“As everything began to boil, they started to run wild. In a place where there was nothing, everything was born, rose up, and collided with each other.”
He had read this book dozens of times. But explaining it to Yeon Tae-soo made him strangely nervous.
He remembered the photo he had seen at the star exhibition not long after meeting Yeon Tae-soo. Though it wasn’t that long ago, it felt distant.
“So because of that coincidence 13.8 billion years ago, the universe was created. Accelerated expansion began at a speed unimaginable to humans.”
He raised his gaze from the book to meet Yeon Tae-soo, who was still facing him. With an expression that anyone would say belonged to a man in love.
“Like emotions that couldn’t be contained.”
The Yeon Tae-soo before him seemed to smile, then his face came closer, and their lips met. It was a light kiss without the intertwining of tongues, yet it was incredibly sweet.
***
When night fell, Yeon Tae-soo woke the drowsy Yoo Seong-woo to look outside the window. Half-asleep, Yoo Seong-woo moved his gaze as directed by him.
And he was left speechless at the sight before him.
Stars were scattered like dots in a majestic sea of darkness. Like moonlight reflecting on water.
The night sky viewed from the darkened airplane was the most vast scene his visual display had ever captured. And also the most beautiful.
The stars were fixed, and it felt as if he and Yeon Tae-soo were slowly swimming between them.
The universe was more majestic than when seen in dreams. Yoo Seong-woo trembled in the breathtaking, overwhelming presence.
In the black ocean that stretched outside the window, each star shone and called to him. Though most were likely light from billions of light-years away, they were so bright they seemed within reach.
He had vaguely thought before that since he wasn’t human, he wasn’t a child of the stars.
But now he could be certain of a few things. That his existence belonged to this vast universe.
That no matter how small and frail, he was alive.
And that he was living in the same universe as Yeon Tae-soo.
When he turned to the side, Yeon Tae-soo was looking at him. When Yoo Seong-woo turned his gaze back to the window, he shifted his gaze as well.
The hands of the two people, looking at the same place in the same universe, touched.
***
India was hot. And vibrant. They said it was less hot now because it was winter.
In the narrow streets, colorful advertisement boards floated semi-transparently in midair, and on stalls that had come out to the street, robots helping with sales moved briskly.
On the streets, human voices and mechanical sounds mixed. Looking up, flying scooters flew overhead, leaving long tail-like lights. Primary-colored clothing, prosthetic arms, and legs dazzled the eyes.
The accommodation Yeon Tae-soo had arranged was not far from the bustling area. The hotel with a good view overlooking the city was as luxurious as the room in Eden.
Although they had come to India, meeting a technician was harder than expected.
The fortunate thing was that Yeon Tae-soo and Yoo Seong-woo were already world-famous. Yeon Tae-soo said he would give an interview to the local press.
“If I reveal your condition and say we need a humanoid engineer, someone might step forward even if just to dissect you. Even if not that imprisoned gentleman.”
Any scholar would be curious about a human with black moonstone embedded in their body. But Yoo Seong-woo was appalled.
“Don’t say such things even as a joke. Do you know what kind of humans might come after you?”
His face was so stern that Yeon Tae-soo couldn’t smoothly pass it off as usual. He scratched his head awkwardly.
“We should use our fame at times like this.”
“Then I will do the interview.”
The fact that Yoo Seong-woo was an android was now revealed to the whole world. However, the fact that he was a malfunctioning unit had never been publicly disclosed.
“If I reveal that I’m an android on the verge of disposal and need help from the engineer currently in custody, public opinion will surely move. And when public opinion moves, the correctional facility in this country won’t be able to just sit by.”
Yoo Seong-woo and Yeon Tae-soo were already being hailed as heroes. If sympathetic public opinion arose, even the government might try to repair Yoo Seong-woo. They wouldn’t miss the honor of repairing an android who had become a hero.
But Yeon Tae-soo was still worried. Becoming a hot topic meant being exposed to danger as well. That’s why he wanted to step forward himself, but Yoo Seong-woo said he would do it directly.
Of course, Yeon Tae-soo knew that Yoo Seong-woo taking the lead would be more effective than himself.
“…Strange people might cling to you. What if they try to feed you weird things in the name of treatment?”
“The same could happen to you, sir.”
Since there was nothing wrong with Yoo Seong-woo’s words, Yeon Tae-soo swallowed a sigh. Yoo Seong-woo gently pressed his forehead against his shoulder. Yeon Tae-soo carefully embraced him.
“But you… you will protect me from such people.”
Yoo Seong-woo spoke as if whispering against his shoulder. Yeon Tae-soo tightened his arms around him.
“…How could I ever win against you?”
Since he couldn’t win, he had no choice but to willingly follow.
The man accustomed to ruling embraced his lover with all his might. Hoping and hoping again that a miracle would happen as soon as possible.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
