My AI Romance

Episode 3

Trap

2030, August 30th

I was surprised when Nikkolas invited me for a dance. That night, his actions suddenly became unusual. He told me that he will follow everything I say. That thing was very new to me. Besides, we seldom talk about each other.

Holding my head was my immediate reaction upon reading my journal entry. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa lahat ng nangyari kagabi. Pakiramdam ko, halos isang linggo na akong malalim ang iniisip. I also felt like someone was watching my every move. Masyadong magulo ang sitwasyon at hindi ko maiwasang hilingin na sana hindi ko na lang nalaman ‘yong totoo.

Pinilit ko munang kalimutan ang pangyayaring 'yon at lumabas na ng kwarto. I check my phone only to see the list of what I need to do this weekend. I'm vacant at Saturday that's why I decided to sleep and eat the whole day to temporarily forget how stressed I am.

When Sunday came, I prepared to watch the theatrical play and I planned to make a reflection, summary and report about it.

When I'm already at the auditorium, I noticed that some of my schoolmates were looking at me. If stares could kill, then I'm probably lying in the coffin right now. I'm not used to this kind of attention. Naninibago ako kasi parang hangin lang ako sa kanila noon. There's only one reason behind it. Maybe it's because of what happened last Friday.

Even me, I was so shocked because of what he did. Maybe there's a little malfunction about Nikkolas' system that's why he acted like that.

I just decided to avoid them like I used to do. Minutes later, I felt someone sitting beside me. To my surprise, it was Eleonora.

"What a coincidence. I didn't notice that you were here," she uttered. I am fully shocked that she's aware of my existence. Sa pagkakaalam ko kasi, hindi naman kami personal na magkakilala.

Hindi rin naman ako gan’on

"Ahm, h-hi." I was too uncomfortable to reply. I was always been shy to start a conversation with other people. Sa lahat ng taong nakakasalamuha ko, pinakamahaba at pinakamaayos na ata akong sumagot kay Primo.

"It's Eleonora. I guess it's impossible that you didn't know me since I am very popular here. By the way, it's Heshey right?"

I simply nodded at her question. I don't know why she's here with me. It seems like she needed something from me. Knowing her, hindi naman siguro s'ya lalapit sa average type na tulad ko kung walang kailangan. At isa pa, alam kong masyadong nakakahiya para sa imahe niya kung lalapit siya sa akin. If I'm going to compare myself to her, tanggap ko na kaagad na walang wala ako kumpara sa kanya.

"I only noticed you last night. Are you Nikkolas' maid, personal assistant or what?" She sincerely asked.

Nagulat ako sa tanong n'yang iyon. Tama nga ang hinala ko. She's here with me to discuss what happened during our acquaintance. It was all because of Nikkolas.

It took a minute for me to respond. I was about to say something to her only if she didn't laugh.

"I was just kidding. You're too serious that's why I tried to play jokes on you. No hard feelings. I was not serious about what I said.” Patuloy siya sa pagtawa kaya pilit akong ngumiti. “Anyway, see you around. I want to be friends with you so I'm looking forward to seeing you some other time."

She waved her hand before she turned her back on me. I don't want to judge or conclude something but I noticed that there is something different from her. It seems like she wasn't serious about being friends with me. Besides, I am nothing special. Just an ordinary type and an ultimate loner.

After Eleonara left, the play started. I decided to get my notebook and write some important facts about what I will going to watch. The title of the play is The Undaunted. Mas naiintindihan ko kasi at mas natatandaaan everytime na isinusulat ko ito.

"You won't enjoy the play if you keep on writing down notes." Someone beside me spoke. Napahawak tuloy ako sa dibdib dahil sa biglaang presensya n'ya.

I was more than surprised to see him again. Ano pa bang kailangan niya sa akin?

It was the robot who danced with me during an acquaintance party.

Nikkolas Parker.

Sa sobrang busy ko sa pagsusulat, hindi ko na namalayan na nakaupo na pala s'ya sa tabi ko.

"I don't care," I replied. Another thing, hindi naman ako nandito para ienjoy yung play. I am here to seek and get information for my report.

"Just watch and enjoy. You'll understand it easily," he added. Bakit ba ang kulit n'ya?

I’d rather admire him from afar. While he’s near me, I can't control the beating of my chest. Sa sobrang lakas ay baka marinig niya pa iyon.

"I don't have photographic memory. Hindi din naman ako katulad mong robot na mabilis makapagstore ng memories sa utak," sagot ko pero hindi pa rin siya natahimik. Mas lalong nagkagulo ang sistema ko nang marinig ko ang mahina niyang pagtawa.

That's the first time I heard it.

“Hmm, really? Just take my advice. It was way better.” Mabilis akong nag iwas ng tingin dahil hindi ko makayanan iyong tingin na ibinibigay niya sa akin.

Why is he acting like this? Is he watching my every move too just to make sure that I won’t spill his secrets?

I just focused on the play that I'm watching even if he’s still beside me. Hindi ako makapagfocus kahit anong gawin ko dahil nakikita ko sa peripheral vision ko ang ginagawa niyang pagsulyap sa akin. I was not able to jot something too. Masyado akong naco-conscious sa hitsura ko ngayon na never kong naramdaman sa buong buhay ko.

I immediately erased those thoughts in my mind and tried to focus again for the second time. Mabuti na lang at madilim dito sa auditorium kaya't walang nakakapansin kay Nikkolas na nakaupo sa tabi ko. Mabuti na lang at hindi na siya nagsasalita pa kung kaya’t kahit papaano, nagawa kong maibalik ang sarili ko sa wisyo.

The play lasted for 2 hours.

At the end part of it, I heard almost everyone around sniffing and crying because the play ended in a tragic way. The whole production and casts of the play are good kaya't hindi ko na din napigilan pa ang sarili kong maluha. Someone handed me a handkerchief kaya't napatingin ako dito.

Like what I used to see, he had no reactions at all. Hindi man lang s'ya naapektuhan or naiyak sa napanood.

I almost forgot that he's a robot. He's far way different from us.

I didn't accept the handkerchief he gave sa halip, kinuha ko yung handkerchief na blue sa bag ko na naiwan n'ya last time.

"Take it. I won't use it again," he exclaimed. Hindi ako nakinig sa sinabi n'ya. I still returned his blue handkerchief.

"I r-realized that I haven't personally thank you the last time you saved me. I am t-thankful that you were there. I owe you my life." Pagkatapos kong sabihin 'yon, hindi ko na hinintay pa ang magiging sagot n'ya.

In the middle of introducing the characters, I took that opportunity. Habang ang atensyon nila ay nasa unahan, tumayo na ako. I don't want to be involved in any issues. I just want a simple and peaceful life. 

That's all.

At alam ko kapag may nakakita na naman sa amin ni Nikkolas na magkatabi, baka kung ano na naman ang isipin nila.

I really need to find time to talk to Mr. Parker. Nikkolas is not like this. My existence doesn't matter to him but everything changed after that night he saved me. Mr. Parker should know that some part of his robot is not functioning well.

The next day, Nikkolas is tailing me again. I was the one who's avoiding him pero mamaya magugulat na lang ako na nasa tabi ko na pala s'ya.

It was our P.E class that's why we immediately went to the locker area to change our uniforms. After that, we proceeded to the field. I left Nikkolas and went there on my own.

The class started. The main focus for this hour is to learn more about Archery. Sir Samañiego discussed first a small background of everything related to it.

He is also a player of archery that's why he had lots of ideas about that sport. Almost all of us are not into it, kaya't nahirapan talaga kami na ihit yung pinakatarget.

Maya maya pa ay nagsimula na ang actual performance.

The first one who tried was Rio but he failed. Ni hindi man lang nahit nung bow n'ya yung board. It was very hard, especially if it was not your forte. I'm only good at playing chess. Archery sucks!

The whispering of my classmates started when it's already Nikkolas' turn. I can't hide my admiration for him because even if he was not a real human like me, sobrang gwapo niya pa rin.

He's just wearing a white shirt pero luluwa talaga yung eyeballs mo sa sobrang perfect ng features ng mukha n'ya. Everything was in slow motion. He was very focused in hitting the target.

Everyone clapped their hands when he hit the bull's eye. I also did the same thing even if it's really unfair for us.

He can excel in anything because he was built to perfection—unlike me who needs to get through a lot just to be good at a particular thing.

When it's already my turn, nanginginig pa ako habang hawak ko yung arrow. We have three attempts and we have to at least hit one to get a high grade. I did everything I could but I failed.

Halos manlumo ako sa naging resulta ng performance ko.

I only have one attempt.

"Hold the arrow tightly. In order to hit it right, you must stay focused." Hindi ko inaasahan na bigla niya akong kakausapin at lalapitan sa harap ng mga kaklase ko.

He wasn’t  satisfied. He came closer to me as if he's hugging me from the back. Parinig na parinig ko ang boses n'ya kasi parang nakayakap na s'ya sa akin. Kaunting kaunti na lang, pakiramdam ko bibigay na ang tuhod ko sa sobrang rupok.

"That's the proper way. Hold it like that. When you're already sure that you'll hit the target, release the arrow." 

I was kind of nervous but I followed what he said. Honestly, it didn't actually help me. I have this abnormal beating of my heart again because of what he did.

Hindi ko natamaan yung target. Paano ba naman ako makakapagfocus kung paulit ulit niyang guguluhin ang buong sistema ko?

"Sir, I'll just excuse myself. I really need to go to the washroom." Nagmamadaling paalam ko bago ko mabilis na dinampot yung bag ko.

When I'm already at the comfort room, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Napahawak din ako sa dibdib ko na hanggang ngayon ay sobrang abnormal pa rin ng t***k. Why does it have to be like this? I need to control myself. I need to stop this feeling.

Tumagal ata ako ng halos bente minuto sa loob bago ako nagdesisyon na lumabas. It was unexpected to see Nikkolas outside waiting for me again. Aalis na sana ako pero kaagad s'yang nakalapit sa akin.

"Are you alright?" he worriedly asked. Napatingin ako sa kanya. Why did he suddenly become like this? If I were to choose, can we just go back to the time when he didn't care and talk to me this way?

I took a deep sigh before looking into his eyes. Tinatagan ko 'yong loob ko para labanan 'yong tinging ibinibigay niya.

"You told me that you will follow everything that I say, right?" Hindi ako bumitaw ng tingin kahit pa ramdam na ramdam ko ang panlalambot ng mga tuhod ko.

"Now, I want you to forget my existence. Stay away from me, Nikkolas." After I said those, pain crept over my chest as I started walking away.

This is for my own good. If that robot continues talking and acting that way to me, it's not impossible that I’ll fall deeper. 

Our world is different from one another.

Falling in love with him is so damn wrong. I need to stop this before I completely fall into his trap.