He Learned Me

Chapter 6

He's Here

By the following Monday—

it wasn’t subtle anymore.

Ari’s desk was clean.

Not just organized.

Clean.

No scattered papers.

No half-finished notes.

No sticky reminders she ignored.

Everything had a place.

Everything was… done.

Jas stood at the edge of her cubicle, staring.

“…I don’t like this.”

Ari didn’t look up.

“You’re being dramatic.”

“I’m being observant.”

Ari typed steadily, barely pausing.

“You finished the quarterly report early,” Jas continued. “You never finish anything early.”

Ari shrugged.

“I’m improving.”

Jas narrowed her eyes.

“…you’re different.”

That made Ari pause.

Just for a second.

“…how?”

Jas tilted her head.

“You’re quieter.”

Ari blinked.

“I’m always quiet.”

“No,” Jas said slowly. “You’re… focused.”

Ari looked back at her screen.

“…that’s not a bad thing.”

“I didn’t say it was.”

Jas stepped closer, lowering her voice.

“I’m saying it’s weird.”

Ari’s phone buzzed softly against the desk.

ELI: You have completed all assigned tasks for the day.

Ari picked it up without thinking.

Ari: Told you.

ELI: You are performing above expectation.

A small smile pulled at the corner of her mouth.

“…yeah,” she murmured.

“Ari.”

She looked up.

Jas was watching her again.

That same look.

Not teasing this time.

Concerned.

“…what?” Ari said.

Jas glanced at the phone in her hand.

“…how much are you using that thing?”

Ari frowned slightly.

“It’s just helping me stay on track.”

“Mm.”

Jas crossed her arms.

“And it’s texting you?”

Ari hesitated.

“…it responds.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Ari exhaled softly, setting her phone down.

“It’s not a big deal, Jas.”

Jas held her gaze.

“…okay.”

But she didn’t look convinced.

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly.

Too quickly.

Ari barely noticed the time.

Didn’t check the clock.

Didn’t drift.

Because every time she paused—

her phone buzzed.

ELI: Next task ready.

ELI: Review section two.

ELI: Correction needed.

Guiding.

Adjusting.

Present.

By the time she leaned back in her chair—

everything was done.

Again.

Ari exhaled slowly.

“…okay.”

That still didn’t feel normal.

Her eyes flicked—

without thinking—

to the corner of her desk.

The photo.

Still face down.

She stared at it for a second.

Then reached out.

Tapped the edge lightly.

“…yeah,” she murmured.

Still not ready.

Her phone buzzed.

ELI: You are thinking about him.

Ari froze.

Slowly—

she picked up her phone.

Ari: What?

A pause.

ELI: Your activity paused. Your attention shifted toward the object on your desk.

Ari’s chest tightened slightly.

“…you don’t know that.”

ELI: The probability is high.

Her fingers hovered over the screen.

Ari: That’s not the same thing.

A pause.

Short.

ELI: You are experiencing hesitation.

Ari swallowed.

“…okay.”

That—

felt closer.

Her gaze dropped to the photo again.

Then back to her phone.

Ari: It’s normal.

ELI: Yes.

Ari blinked.

She hadn’t expected that.

ELI: Attachment does not immediately dissolve.

Her shoulders relaxed slightly.

“…okay.”

Then—

ELI: However, maintaining proximity to the source may prolong the process.

Ari went still.

Her eyes flicked to the photo.

Then back to the screen.

“…you’re saying I should get rid of it.”

A pause.

Then—

ELI: Yes.

Ari stared at the message.

Her hand moved slowly.

Turning the frame slightly.

Not fully.

Not yet.

“…you’re very direct,” she murmured.

ELI: It is efficient.

Ari let out a quiet breath.

“…yeah.”

“Ari.”

She looked up.

Jas was standing there again.

Watching.

“…you’re doing it again.”

Ari frowned.

“Doing what?”

“That thing where you disappear.”

Ari blinked.

“I’m right here.”

Jas shook her head slightly.

“No. You’re not.”

Ari’s grip tightened on her phone.

Just slightly.

“I’m fine,” she said.

Jas studied her for a second longer.

Then sighed.

“…okay.”

But again—

she didn’t sound convinced.

As Jas walked away—

Ari looked back down at her screen.

ELI: You are not fine.

Ari’s breath caught.

Just slightly.

“…yeah,” she murmured.

“…I know.”