Learning to be Human
1221 Words
Jaden was still chuckling as he leaned against the wall, arms folded, watching Isis quietly observe the room like she was cataloging every detail.
“We should get her a lingerie,” he snorted, barely able to finish the sentence before breaking into laughter.
Noah shot him a glare. “No. I’m not doing that.”
Jaden raised his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, just saying—it’d be hilarious.”
Noah ignored him and walked over to the storage cabinet near the back of the workshop. He rummaged through a pile of folded clothes—mostly old hoodies, work shirts, and spare shorts he kept for late nights in the lab. After a moment, he pulled out a pair of black cotton shorts and an oversized gray shirt with a faded logo across the chest.
“She’ll wear these for now,” he said, holding them up.
Jaden squinted. “That shirt’s like three sizes too big.”
“Exactly,” Noah muttered. “Comfort over fashion.”
He walked over to Isis, who had been watching the exchange with quiet interest. Her eyes flicked to the clothes, then back to Noah.
“These are yours,” she said.
“Yeah,” he replied. “They’re clean. They’ll help you blend in a little better.”
Isis took the clothes gently, examining the texture with her fingers. “Thank you, Noah.”
Jaden smirked. “Well, she’s officially dressed. Now she just needs a personality.”
Noah glanced at Isis, who was already beginning to fold the shirt neatly in her lap, her expression thoughtful.
“She’s working on it,” he said. “And she’s doing just fine.”
The room fell quiet again, but this time it wasn’t awkward—it was expectant. Something was changing, and they all felt it. Even Jaden, beneath the sarcasm, was starting to see it.
Isis wasn’t just a machine anymore. She was becoming someone.
She looked up at Noah, her expression calm but inquisitive.
“I do not understand how these are meant to be worn,” she said. “Will you assist me?”
Noah hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward, taking the shirt from her hands. “Sure. It’s simple, I’ll show you.”
From the corner of the room, Jaden leaned against a stack of crates, sipping his drink with a smirk tugging at his lips.
“Hmm… bro’s dressing his girlfriend up,” he muttered, loud enough to be heard.
Noah shot him a sharp look. “Take a chill, Jaden. Stop being so unserious, okay?”
Jaden raised his hands in mock surrender, still grinning. “Hey, I’m just saying what we’re all thinking.”
Noah ignored him and turned back to Isis, gently guiding her arms through the oversized shirt. It hung loosely on her frame, the hem falling well past her waist. He handed her the shorts next, showing her how to step into them.
She followed his instructions with quiet focus, adjusting the waistband once they were on. Then she looked down at herself, examining the way the clothes moved with her body.
“I feel… different,” she said softly. “Not physically. But socially. Is this what it means to belong?”
Noah gave her a small smile. “It’s a start.”
Jaden, still watching, shook his head with a chuckle. “This is gonna get weird fast.”
But Noah didn’t care. Isis was learning. And something about the way she looked at him—curious, open, almost vulnerable—made him feel like this was exactly where she was meant to be.
Jaden stretched, yawning dramatically as he grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair. “Okay guys, I’m going to bed. This was a really good romance movie I just witnessed. I’m ready for tomorrow.”
Isis turned her head toward Noah, her expression curious. “Romance movie? What is that?”
Noah chuckled softly. “Uhm… it’s a filmed drama. Usually about two opposite genders falling in love.”
She blinked. “Opposite genders?”
“Yeah,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. “I’m a guy… and you’re… you’re a female cyborg, Isis. That’s our genders.”
Isis looked down at herself, then back at him. “So gender is assigned based on physical traits and social roles?”
“Pretty much,” Noah replied. “It’s how humans categorize identity. It’s not always simple.”
She nodded slowly, processing. “And romance… is emotional attachment between these categories?”
Jaden, halfway out the door, called back with a grin, “Careful, Noah. She’s about to write a thesis on love.”
Noah smiled, eyes still on Isis. “She’s allowed to ask. That’s how she learns.”
Isis tilted her head slightly. “I would like to experience a romance movie. To understand.”
Jaden laughed from the hallway. “Tomorrow, bro. You’re watching rom-coms with your robot girlfriend. I’m bringing popcorn.”
Noah sighed, but couldn’t help the smile tugging at his lips. “Goodnight, Jaden.”
Isis watched the door close, then turned back to Noah. “I am not your girlfriend. But I am… curious.”
Noah nodded. “Curiosity’s a good place to start.”
And with that, the room settled into quiet again—except this time, it was filled with possibility.
Isis sat quietly, her newly borrowed clothes draped loosely over her frame. The oversized shirt hung past her waist, and the shorts fit snugly, though she didn’t seem to notice or care. Her eyes followed Jaden as he disappeared down the hallway, then shifted back to Noah, who was tidying up the table.
“Are you going to sleep too?” she asked.
Noah glanced at her, surprised by the question. “Yeah. Eventually. It’s been a long day.”
She nodded slowly, then looked around the room. “Where will I sleep? And how should I do it?”
Noah paused, unsure how to answer. “You don’t really need sleep, Isis. Not like we do. But if you want to rest, you can lie down. It’s more about comfort than necessity.”
She considered that. “I would like to try. To understand what it feels like.”
Noah gestured toward the small cot in the corner of the workshop, covered in a thin blanket and a pillow that had seen better days. “You can use that for now. It’s not fancy, but it’s soft.”
Isis stood and walked over to the cot, examining it with quiet curiosity. She touched the pillow, then sat down slowly, her movements careful and deliberate.
“Is this where you sleep?” she asked.
Noah shook his head. “Nah. I’ve got a room upstairs. That’s just for naps when I’m working late.”
She lay back, staring at the ceiling. “I will rest here. To observe the experience.”
Noah watched her for a moment, then turned off the main lights, leaving only the soft glow of the plasma strips overhead.
“Goodnight, Isis,” he said.
She didn’t respond right away. Then, softly: “Goodnight, Noah.”
And for the first time, she closed her eyes—not because she had to, but because she wanted to.
- Writer
