Writing Camp + A Coded Symphony

Week 6 + Relief

The sun had already set when Lucas finally relieved himself from the computer screen. He blinked a couple of times, watching those tiny black circles come, and go. His eyes were beautiful but they were nowhere near perfect. He gets so nauseous every time he stares at a screen for a long period of time. It has always been a problem since he was a child.

During his working hours, Lucas noticed that Mia didn't talk much. Obviously, she still stayed on the screen. She sits on the taskbar, reading a fashion magazine. Sometimes she lays down on one of Lucas's window pages, just staring at him with a blank face. Normally, anyone should be bothered by the stare but Lucas didn't give a crap.

If there's one thing Lucas is good at. That is how tolerant he can be. He is used with people's probing stares, and hushed accusations underneath their breaths.

He's familiar with pity gazes that came from people who never cared. Their plastic concerns, and sympathy that he never wanted. The summer air biting his skin while he waits outside, and—

Lucas stood up. His chair's wheels clattering quite loudly that no doubt, someone from downstairs heard it. He didn't care.

He left his desktop, and directly to his bedroom area.

["Is work done, Lucas?"] Mia asked from the digital mirror on his bedside table. Her hair is now in a low ponytail. Hands behind her.

Lucas nodded, picking a comfy shirt, and some proper jeans. He doesn't want to cook tonight. Even though he even bought groceries just the other day. Well, if there's no motivation, he might as well not force himself. Although there is that nagging feeling that he could just ask Mia—

["I could cook for you?"]

There it is, Lucas sighed through his nose.

"Mia, you're not my maid, alright?" Lucas tiredly reminded the AI. He stripped off his sweater, and wore the shirt. When he glanced at the mirror, Mia was looking unabashedly. "Also, you have my permission to look at my calendar, and to-do lists. So you're updated." He followed.

Mia raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. ["I'm not your friend, and a maid, so what am I?"] She asked, her voice thinning in patience.

Lucas closed the closet's door with a soft click. He gave Mia a frown while sitting on his bed, "you're Mia. That's it." He replied, and reached underneath the bed to get his other pair of sneakers.

["That's just a name. Just… me."]

Lucas could laugh for years at Mia's confused expression. She genuinely has no idea because how could she? Even if she was sentient, Mia was still an AI. A software. A program that consists of codes, and numbers. Yes, Mia is sentient but she still has so much to learn about emotions, and her purpose with that name.

He wore his shoes. "Sometimes, it's enough to just be someone, you know? A lot can get lost along the way without a name." He told her, and held her gaze. "You're not my maid nor my friend. But you are my AI despite it all."

Mia frowned at that. She doesn't sound pleased at all. At least by the looks of it. Lucas didn't give her time to think of a reply. He left the bed, and went to get his wallet, keys, and his phone.

["Where are you going?!"] Mia exclaimed from the screen near the door. Now she's looking childish again with her hands on her hips, and all.

"Dinner." He replied curtly.

["And you're not even bothering to tell me!?"]

"Even if I tell you or not, you're still gonna be on my phone, anyways." Lucas rolled his eyes.

The screen was empty, and now Mia was in his phone, arms crossed, and pouty. ["I hate that you're right."] She grumbled.

Lucas merely snickered, and left his apartment.

[“Hey, don’t put me inside your pocket, please?”] Mia asked, putting the “puppy dog eyes” act on him. Lucas frowned, suspicious. “Why?”

[“I want to see!’] She exclaimed. Lucas doesn’t get it but for once, he followed what she wants. He put his phone in his coat’s breast pocket, camera out so Mia could see.

The trip down to the building was filled with the usual dull elevator music, his neighbor’s clamor, and now with Mia’s gasps, and awes. Lucas doesn’t need to look down to his phone to see Mia’s face. She probably has her eyes wide, dazzling with its own golden sparkle, and hue. Her body tensed in excitement as if she might break out into a speedrun due to excessive energy.

Lucas hummed, stepping out the elevator. To think that he’ll imagine such things.

“Ah. Mr. Taylor!” Greeted by the android receptionist, Connor, behind his counter. His hair is styled in a different way tonight, Lucas noticed. He nodded at him, giving a polite smile as he approached the android.

“Good evening, Connor.”

“Going out again?”

Lucas shrugged. “I don’t feel like cooking so…”

Connor chuckled mechanically. Still it sounds so human for Lucas. “Well, let not this receptionist hold you off any longer! Be safe on your way, Mr. Taylor!” He waved with his pristine white glove.

Lucas waved goodbye.

He was on his way to his usual alleyway route when Mia broke the silence between them, and the dark alleyways. [“Who was that?”] She asked, curious.

Since there weren’t many people around. Lucas deemed it safe to talk to a phone without looking weird. AIs might be accepted hugely by the population but they only see them as working programs that can handle themselves. Some, yes, were made for talking, socializing but not to the extent it can feel human feelings.

Sentient AIs are so rare, and dangerous for the public eye.

Lucas’ face glowed in the dark. He saw Mia, standing behind the glass screen with curiosity in her eyes. “That’s the building’s receptionist, Connor. He’s an android.” He replied.

[“Introduce me next time! He sounds fun!’] Mia chirped.

Lucas can’t say if fun, and Connor fits together well but whatever floats in Mia’s boat. He hummed as a reply. “Any idea where we’re going?” He asked, finally stepping out from the dark alleyway, and into a brightly lit street lane.

This lane was one of the shopping areas. It was full of boutiques, knick knack stores, department stores—any kind! It also has the best restaurants, snack stalls, and fast food places. This lane was called the Neon Lane because of the abundance of neon lights, and basically the occasional light parades. Tonight, the lane is busy as always with people milling about, chattering, and shop employees trying to get customers inside their shops.

Lucas heard Mia gasp in wonder. Accidentally, he looked down, and saw the bright golden eyes sparkle against the lights. As if she was right there in real life, experiencing it all for the first time.

[“This is beautiful.”] She whispered.

For some reason, Lucas thought that he should bring Mia to an amusement park or a carnival someday. However, just as quick he thought about it, he threw the idea away before it manifested any further.

Lucas didn’t comment any further but silently placed his phone in his coat’s breast pocket, camera out. He felt a bit dazed when Mia thanked him quietly.

The cold night bites the skin on his exposed neck, and for once, Lucas shivered from the cold that he is so used to.

He didn’t think too much of it.

---

The inside of the noodle shop was exceedingly warm. It warmed up Lucas's neck, and shivering fingertips. Luckily, there weren't too many people at the moment since it wasn't near dinner time.

"No matter how many times I come here…" He whispered, inhaling the delicious scent of the broth from the kitchen, and that hint of booze in the air.

["This place looks quaint! A bit vibrant too."] Mia stated through his earphones.

"It's just the lanterns." Lucas replied with a skip on his feet.

He nodded with a smile when some of the waiters, and chefs noticed him. He's been eating here for so long that the family who runs the shop knows him already. He took his seat at a lonely table at the corner, far away from people's chatter, and the employees' shouts of orders.

Since he's feeling pretty good now; Lucas placed Mia against a tissue holder. Now she can see the whole interior of the shop from a good angle.

["This place smells yummy!"] Mia awed, eyes sparkling again. Lucas is seriously starting to think that that effect is just made to exaggerate. Just like how the AI is.

Overstating.

"Do you even smell?" Lucas asked, looking at the worn out plastic menu at the side. He was just looking for an excuse not to look directly at Mia, who kept looking around.

She met his eyes shyly, almost embarrassed. ["No. Not really. But the reviews of this place mentioned the authentic noodle aroma! So I figured it smelled good here."]

No matter how advanced or sentient an AI is, it can never be human, Lucas thought with a pitiful gaze towards Mia.

Mia merely laughed forcibly before looking away.

"Well, it's not always good." He replied, looking at the range of noodles on the menu. "One time there was this group of teens who all ordered Luosifen, a Chinese noodle soup that has this weird fishy smell. Usually the smell isn't that strong for one person but this group has like 5 teens—it smelt so bad, and fishy that the employees had to turn off air-conditioning, and opened the door, and windows for the smell to be gone."

Lucas found the whole ordeal hilarious. He even had a hunch that those teens didn't even like the noodles; they probably just did it to annoy everyone or maybe a dare. Whatever the reason, Lucas pulled a tiny smile at the funny memory.

It seems that Mia finds it funny too. ["The poor customers! Were the other customers mad?"] She asked, smiling.

"Nah. Everyone here had a good laugh, so no one got mad."

Mia giggled. Lucas let himself laugh a little too then raised his hand to finally order something.

A familiar face approached Lucas' table with his red apron, and brown eyes that twinkled with amusement. The waiter holds a notepad, and a pen with one hand.

Lucas gave a lazy salute. "Good evening, Oliver."

"Good evenin' tuh yuh, loyal custmmoi." Oliver replied with his thick Brooklyn accent, and a nod. His eyes glanced at Mia, who's looking at him with great interest. "Yuh got yawhself an AI? As a date, or what?" He smirked.

Lucas scowled at him while Mia faked gagging. Obviously, it only amused Oliver a lot more. He shook his head, laughing. "It's a joke, it's a joke! Okay?"

"It better be."

Oliver grinned. "So, what will it be? Your usual or feelin' a bit adventurous, or what?"

"Just my usual. Thanks."

The waiter wrote that down before giving one last wink to him, and Mia. He walked away, directing to the cashier to rely on the order.

Mia grumbled. ["Is he always like that?"] She asked.

Lucas smothered a smile away. "You have no idea."

---

Dinner passed without a hitch; except for Oliver teasing Lucas, and Mia, now that was a new turn of Lucas' everyday life. Surprisingly too, he doesn't mind it as much but he does find it exhausting.

It was nearing 8:30 pm when Lucas stepped out from the warm noodle shop. His body held an uncontrolled shiver at the sudden drop of temperature. Unlike earlier, Lucas held his phone, facing the screen as Mia talked about possible weather tomorrow, and current news.

"Well it's a Friday tomorrow. I still have my work so I can't just laze around, unfortunately." Lucas replied, sparing no mind to the glances of people that passed by him.

He easily slipped inside one of the dark alleyways.

["I can't say if I want you working always so you can be productive or needed rest because of your mentally exhausting work…"] Mia murmured, seemingly in deep thought.

Lucas snickered. It's weird how easily he can laugh whenever Mia speaks. He doesn't know if he just finds the AI amusing or that the way Mia talks makes the air around Lucas a little less lonely. He loves being alone but he never realized how lonely he was.

He embraced the warm idea for a little while before he pushed it away.

Just like how Lucas was pushed all of a sudden. He fell on the floor, his phone gone from his hand. Mia called his name through the earphones, and that was all he could hear until that too was pulled from him.

Lucas hit the ground roughly, releasing a groan from him. He glared through the darkness of the alleyway; it looks like karma has finally caught his a*s judging by the looks of it. Three tall, and bulky men stood in front of him, intimidating with bloodshot eyes. He suppressed another groan but not from pain, it’s frustration. Just his luck, Lucas managed to catch the attention of some druggers.

“What the—f**k!” He gasped out in pain when the bald bulky man in the middle kicked his stomach. He curled up, arms covering his waist area. If he wasn’t prepared, Lucas would have vomited out all the noodles he ate.

It’s so painful, Lucas thought but still strained to sit up. He will not be seen as weak here; not to these men.

“Stop squirming, will ‘ya?” The bald bulky man scowled, puffing out a cigar like some damn mafia don. “We just want to have a little fun.” He chided with that sinister grin.

Lucas glared daggers at him. He pushed himself up, dragging his a*s away from the approaching men until he couldn’t. His back hit a wall. Lucas realized that he accidentally cornered himself. In a dark alleyway. With no any means of calling for help. He’s probably going to die in this stinking place.

He should have listened to Connor.

But now you don’t need to listen to anything anymore. That traitorous voice that sounded so much like the clamor of people in that funeral back then.

He swallowed. Of course, it still haunts him, and now it thinks it’s the perfect time to relish the sign of death that he desperately kept shutting out. He lowered his head, mind spinning, and now for sure, he’s going to f*****g vomit.

Then there was a burst of pain, Lucas struggled against the ground when the tattooed bulky man grabbed his hair, pulling his head up to meet their red eyes. The man smirked, eyes scanning Lucas’ face with great interest.

“Look, boss, he got a nice face!” The asshole sang as if he won a damn lottery.

The other man with a huge scar across his face kneeled down, eyeing Lucas with that hunger in his gaze. “He does~! Maybe instead of beating him up, let’s use him? What do you think, boss?” He turned to baldie.

It sent shivers down Lucas' spine. He couldn’t even hear the following words after that. His heart was beating so fast that he felt like running for hours. He can’t hear their voices but the traitorous voice inside his head; it’s alright, isn’t it? After all, you really don’t have a purpose in this life anymore, take the bait, Lucas. The hand that held his head up loosened, and slowly made its way down to his exposed cold neck.

It scared him; he felt disgusting.

“Hmm—” The bald bulky man stepped in front of him. His eyes were practically devouring him already. “He does have a pretty set of eyes. I wonder what it’ll look like if he cried?”

Lucas gritted his teeth. “Kill me instead, you f*****g sickos.”

The middle man laughed, grabbing hold of Lucas’ jaw, pulling him near his face. Lucas gagged at the stench of alcohol, and cigar smoke. “Where’s the fun in that, sweetheart?”

He pulled Lucas closer, and the latter couldn’t get away with the way his two henchmen held his arms, and legs down. Lucas couldn’t move, and damn the world, and his luck.

He won’t cry. Whatever it takes. His tears are long gone. It will not appear tonight!

But it’s scary, isn’t it? Just a few tears. Let it out. Cry for me, Lucas.

Lucas squeezed his mouth, and eyes shut. He begged internally for someone to save him.

It felt a horrifying eternity but when a sudden flash of light was placed against them. Lucas felt relief wash over him like a shock blanket. His eyes adjusted quickly to the bright light; there were police officers with stun guns, and body cams. Lucas gasped but followed by a groan when he was thrown away to the floor.

“f**k! Who called—”

“Just run, you f*****g idioit!”

The three men ran in haste, tails between their legs.

“You two! Catch them!” Shouted by the blonde officer to his two buddies. The other two were already chasing after the three before he even told the order.

Lucas settled down against the wall, his arms on either side. He feels relieved with the flashlight’s light aimed at him. That’s a first too. He took a few breaths first, only realizing that the blonde officer was a feet away from him, concerned.

“Hey, sorry we took so long. It’s not easy getting through these alleyways.” The officer told him with a soft voice.

Lucas merely nodded.

However, he was startled when the officer gave him his phone. The screen shattered but it was still alive, Lucas quickly took it, tapping the screen repeatedly to see Mia’s tearful expression.

Mia quickly pressed her hands against the screen. New batch of tears streaming down her face, clearly sobbing. [“You’re okay! I-I was so—oh my god—I called, police—I-I’m so sorry! Lu-Lucas, you—?”] She was stuttering so much.

Lucas would have laughed but now, he just feels relieved. “I-I’m fine, Mia. Calm down.” He whispered in reply. It only made Mia cry a lot more.

He sighed helplessly.

The officer chuckled lightly. “Your AI was the one who contacted us. At first we thought she was hacking us until she showed us the map of where you were, and what was happening.” He paused, tilting his head. “She was really worried.”

Lucas couldn’t have agreed more.

---

The kind officer, Officer Fern (“yeah, like the plant.”), drove Lucas home with the patrol car.

Lucas was thankful that Connor was nowhere to be seen. He doesn’t want to be scolded nor feel the guilt of not listening to his receptionist’s warnings. However he promised himself that he’ll use the main streets from now on.

The trip was silent. Mia wasn’t talking but Lucas can feel her presence just by holding his phone. His door was automatically unlocked, the lights dimmed, the apartment cold but Lucas felt warm.

He easily collapsed on the sofa, face first, and his arm dangling off the sofa.

[“... Lucas, sleep in your bed. You need to be comfortable.”] Mia softly told him, she almost sounded afraid.

Mia. Mia. The AI that saved his life just moments ago. It’s amazing how easy it is to not be infuriated with the thing that ruined his normalcy of his life when that thing saved it.

Lucas turned his head, and faced Mia’s worried expression.

“Thanks for having my back, Mia.” He whispered.

Mia blinked, surprised then nodded slowly.

“Remember you saying you’re gonna be my best friend? Let’s take it slow. I accept your friend request, for starters.” He smiled when Mia’s worried expression slowly melted away into pure happiness.

“Re-Really? I mean—yeah! Sure! Friends, it is!” She babbled.

Lucas smiled softly. He could feel the exhaustion crawling on his back, pulling him down to the dark void. “I like the sound of that…” He murmured.

Mia, clearly didn’t expect this turn of events, only nodded as she watched Lucas surrender himself to sleep.