Baek

I watched as Siwoo and Dahyun left, my faceplate still detached, lying on the cold metal table. "Auntie, where are they going?" I asked, turning to face the young woman beside me. 

Auntie, though in her late twenties, had a mind that seemed to span generations. She was a woman with a heart as big as the universe and with a dream to match it. Her thick glasses weren't just an accessory, but a symbol of her relentless pursuit of knowledge. She had once told me that she planned to continue her doctorate at Hanyang University, hoping to advance the science of prosthetics for her crippled younger sister. 

"She's returning to the Habitat," Auntie replied, her hands deftly working to reattach my face.

"Isn't it too soon? The smoke..." I started to say, but Auntie cut me off.

"It's already been cleaned up. The Habitat is back to normal." She then moved to reattach my arm, and I watched her closely.

A thought struck me then. "Siwoo gave Dahyun the tablet, didn't he?"

A moment of silence hung between us, and then Auntie nodded. 

"Why?" I asked, struggling to understand.

"He loves his daughter," was all she said. With that, Auntie finished her work, clapping her hands and looking me up and down.

I slid off the stool and stood on a scale, allowing Auntie to check my weight and height. Once that was done, I headed for the door, but Auntie stopped me.

"Oh Baek, go to the mailroom. They need your photo and paperwork," she said, her voice slightly strained.

"Why?" I asked, turning to look at her. Her expression was solemn, and the sadness in her eyes sent a chill down my spine.

"They're shipping you off," she said softly.

"Huh?" I was taken aback. What did she mean?

Auntie squatted beside me, looking up into my eyes. "The mayor of Seoul signed off on Siwoo's bill. An orphanage has shown interest in you."

"Will I see Dahyun again?" I asked, a lump forming in my throat.

"I don't think so, sweetie," Auntie replied, her voice barely a whisper. She pulled me into a hug then, her arms tight around me. "I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do."

She looked deep into my eyes. There was no doubt in my mind that she saw me as more than just an Artificial Intelligence. I was human to her. I was human to Dahyun. And I don’t think I can just say goodbye.