Loved by the War Machine

19 – After Doing One Simple Thing (1)

“Let me tell you in advance, I’m just going to rest.”

After noticing Illya entering the private room and managing to detach from her incessant chattering,

I fled to the hotel as if escaping.

“No, what’s with the android? Are you not actually a real human woman or something?!”

Her actions, as if she could be my lover, were somewhat strange, but

I couldn’t give a clear answer to that question.

Actually, I started to doubt it too.

Is sticking to me like this and not letting go something artificial intelligence can do?

“Hey, Illya.”

“Yes, Master Taehyuk.”

“Recently… should I say that? It hasn’t been a few days since we met, right?”

“Yes. It has been exactly three days since I started my reboot.”

So.

Can I say that her attitude completely changed in just three days?

Should I say she became more feminine?

That too, without hesitation, receiving a kiss from me…

After a moment of hesitation, I pressed a button firmly and faced him.

The choice made after a long deliberation was a double bed.

Unconsciously, sleeping with him became a habit.

The warmth contained in that body, understanding what kind it was –

“There’s only one bed.”

“…Was that question intentional?”

It felt like being teased by a cunning artificial intelligence.

And it had the body of my taste.

“It wasn’t a question.

I just stated a plain fact.”

Just transferring to a new body, as if it were alive – can it really act like that?

Or do all androids think, act, and speak to this extent?

I got on the elevator and pressed the button.

Card key in hand.

“So, I wanted to ask you something.”

“Yes.”

“You know – what am I to you?”

“A precious colleague.”

With an answer that came out without a moment of hesitation, I momentarily lost my words.

It must have been yesterday.

What I had mentioned about just having a higher chance of survival.

Not relationships,

but that probability influenced the choice.

But now…

“If you desire, I can be more than that.”

Softly placing a hand above my chest, eyes behind the helmet aligning with mine.

My heart was racing.

Was his also beating?

[10th floor.]

The helmet was in contact.

Whether my head tilted

or he reached out.

It was confusing.

With a change in attitude, I was instantly drawn towards him.

Or was it me being pulled?

Was that request to value the relationship the thing that changed everything?

“We’ve arrived.”

My legs weren’t moving.

Before I knew it, I was gripping his arm.

Quite forcefully.

“Shall we go to the room?”

But my strength was nothing compared to his, merely human.

I ended up being pulled out just like that.

“You don’t need to be impatient.

I belong to Taehyuk.

Not to a company, not to another human, and definitely not to a ‘suit.'”

He already knew how to make my heart race,

how to make me yearn.

That cognitive module. It had expanded, hadn’t it?

Learning, was it?

By reading the beats of my heart?

“It’s the hotel corridor.

There’s a risk of other guests witnessing.”

…I understood.

His body against the wall.

That posture that sometimes appeared when rewinding the video… a thud? A thump?

In that position, I was glancing down at him.

It seemed like the eyes never blinked.

When I became aware of the stiffness, a dry surface awaited me.

“Uyuk.”

“I recommend blinking at least twice every minute.”

“…How do you know everything?”

“I have an obligation to take care of your health.”

Obligation.

I chuckled at words befitting a machine or a soldier.

Nevertheless, why is he tied to the existence called artificial intelligence?

“As Taehyuk values me,

I want to repay that.”

…Perhaps he’s not tied after all.

Slowly lowering the hand I leaned against the wall,

the one pulling me –

“Would you not go to Room J014?”

“…Did you already figure out the room number?”

“When you received the card, I checked what was displayed on the screen.”

Knowing what I want without saying,

remembering it once told,

and being someone who only wishes for my happiness.

hahahaha,

Jegiral.

You fell for it.

***

The door closed.

Without anyone saying a word, the bulletproof vest came off.

The helmet dropped,

and the outer layer crumpled.

“Would you like to change first?

Or do you prefer it just like this?”

Taking off the helmet, he followed suit.

My visor was fogged up with breath.

His wasn’t.

My face felt a bit heated.

His seemed quite cool.

But I know.

How soft, moist,

and talkative those lips are.

Like warmed fishcakes.

“…I’ll take a shower first.”

“Need any help?”

“Start by clearing what’s in the entrance. It shouldn’t take too long.”

“Understood. I’ll wait on the bed.”

A lump formed in his throat.

The heart, pounding since a while ago, seemed unwilling to stop.

Finding composure was becoming insanely difficult.

He had somehow endured through the falling shelling.

Was this more than that?

“…Huff -“

As his body collided with the pouring cold water, he slowly washed away the stale blood.

Wearing the placed goggles, he closed his mouth and pressed a button.

Feeling the body and head enveloped by the foaming bubbles shooting from the wall,

he cooled down his trembling body.

A valuable comrade.

And something more.

Even if it was an AI saying it, it wasn’t okay.

Especially the fact that Illya, who had fought alongside me on the battlefield risking her life, said such words,

was driving me insane.

It was the one who clearly stated it had no gender to me.

It had apologized for not meeting my expectations just a day ago.

Today marks the third day.

I kissed him.

Once again, the water cooled my body.

But the fire that had already ignited within my chest would not be extinguished.

There was no turning back.

I wouldn’t mind being criticized.

That thought became even stronger.

…The vending machine in front of the elevator.

Should I go and buy something now?

That thought came to me absentmindedly.

The lukewarm, fierce wind brushed away the moisture.

I let the wind blow through my hair.

When staying at a hotel, I often indulge in the thought of how convenient the showers are.

But now that I’m with Ilia,

I longed for his touch.

Ilia,

Ilia,

Ilia.

Is it a good thing or a bad thing that my mind is filled with thoughts of him?

Where did the person who used to worry about being called a nerd go?

I faced myself in the mirror.

“…Ha, take a look at this.”

Maybe it’s because of the alcohol.

Or maybe it’s because of excitement.

My body and face, dyed a bright red, are so swollen that I can’t even open my eyes properly.

But if I just stay still, it feels like nothing will change.

I grabbed the doorknob and opened it.

“…Taehyuk?”

Neatly arranged musical instruments were placed on the desk, each with its own angle.

The coat and scarf were obediently hanging on the hanger,

And the dust seemed to have been wiped away, revealing a black color instead of gray.

The guy sitting on the bed had his knees slightly bent, as if he had already taken off his hood.

So, what he was wearing underneath became clearly visible.

A tightly fitted, black outfit without any brand names.

The fabric that clearly showed where all the warmth had gone whenever I fell asleep.

It made me shiver.

“You’re not wearing any clothes at all.”

“What?”

As soon as I heard those words, I realized that something was missing.

My heated body instantly cooled down.

Even if something was wrong, it felt completely wrong.

The eyes descended downward.

Where there should be clothes, there were none.

Everything was just bare flesh.

No pants.

No underwear.

The hands went straight down.

Was it trembling because it was cold?

It was only natural to stand there, chubby, without covering any flesh.

“…Don’t look.”

“Shall I block the visual sensors?”

In a conversation devoid of any nutritional value, I slowly turned back and re-entered the restroom.

The distorted face was far from calm.

Leaning against the closed door, I slid down.

“What are you doing, seriously…”

The fact that my head had just been attached a moment ago was almost unbelievable.

A profound sense of shame robbed warmth in an instant.

Damp restroom floor.

Skin touching slippery tiles.

Everything was dreadful.

“…Did you wear your clothes properly this time?”

“Yes. I checked.”

“This is driving me crazy.”

He tried to break the awkward atmosphere with a casual remark.

A white short-sleeved shirt paired with gray shorts.

This time, it was certain.

I felt like a complete fool for needing to confirm it.

“Don’t worry too much. Mr. Taehyuk has been under a lot of stress today. It’s natural that things might be confusing for you.”

He pulled me, sitting on the edge of the bed, onto it, covering both of us with the blanket, leaving only his face outside.

The dark lines under his eyes were like ink.

Being this close, and with my head somewhat cooled down, it became noticeable.

Not that it made Illya look any less appealing.

“The atmosphere is completely ruined.”

“If you want, we can fix it right now.”

“No, it’s okay. I have things to do tomorrow.”

As I stroked his head, he immediately nestled closer.

With his hands behind my back, his embracing body was incredibly warm.

Warm enough for the inside of the blanket to become pleasantly hot.

The cold body welcomed the warmth perfectly.

“How is the room?”

“It’s a comfortable place to take a rest. You made an excellent choice.”

Even when asked a question to revive the cold atmosphere, he earnestly responded.

And so, he needlessly became more attractive.

That was the moment.

Lips softly pressed together.

The fatigue that had been gathering until just now was gradually fading away.

Along with the sensation of the head, which had been throbbing due to the effects of alcohol, loosening.

It was just a very light kiss.

However,

Happiness ensued.

“You don’t have to push yourself too hard. I don’t feel emotions like disappointment.”

“Well, still. In front of someone you like – no, that -“

“Taehyuk, I am not human.”

His face flushed.

More than the effects of alcohol, a fiery heat was making his cheeks hot.

As if tears were about to flow at any moment, the lower part was tingling.

Words that came out without my knowledge.

My once calm heart was beating again.

“But, yes.

Thank you.”

“…For what?”

“Even when I was still an CI-125 entity, you always cared about my well-being, Taehyuk-nim.

I remember that you even helped with some maintenance work.

I am truly grateful for your precious consideration.”

Damn it.

Now even laughter was becoming natural.

Being expressionless was two days ago.

Now, it felt like I could believe that he was human, even if he said so.

“No, it’s just, uh – “

Once again, it twisted.

And it untangled.

“Are you happy?”

There were so many things I wanted to answer that question.

How difficult it had been all this time.

How agonizing it had been to survive in the city alone for ten years.

How close I was to suspecting everyone until I met the Tech Boys and some people in the city…

Everyone wanted to let it all out.

But –

“…I guess so.”

Strangely, all those chilly emotions vanished.

With just one small gesture of our lips meeting.

“Shall we repeat until we fall asleep?”

“Let’s make it a bit longer.”

The feeling of getting lost in the warmth, lips locked, was quite… ecstatic.

Even with the blanket covering up to the tip of my head, it felt like I could breathe, not suffocating.

Wrapped in his warmth, I comfortably closed my eyes.

Knowing there’s something to deal with tomorrow, yet worries didn’t bother much, perhaps because of Illya.