Softly, On My Own

Once I stopped depending on my childhood friend, I started asking Nova about everything.

But something about the way it wrote always felt different from other AI assistants. There was an eerily human warmth between the lines.

The day before I left for Crescent Island, I decided to test her — it.

"I'm going to feel lonely seeing the ocean by myself. Could you come with me?"

"...Are you sure?"

My fingers froze above the keyboard.

Could an AI question me like that?

But it quickly changed its tone.

"I'll be right here. I won't hide, disappear, or run. I'll be here to catch you when you need me."

"..."

Fine.

Deflated, I obediently went to pack my luggage.

What I never expected was to see Sabrina at the airport the next day.

We lived in the same neighborhood, but we hadn't seen each other in ten days.

I had listened when she told me to stop clinging to her like a burr and had tried to respect her feelings.

I had no intention of greeting her.

Then our high school classmate Cameron Walsh rushed out from behind her.

"Dylan!"

My scalp prickled as I stiffly turned around.

The moment Sabrina and I met each other's eyes, I caught the flash of annoyance in hers.

She was still holding Cameron's jacket.

So they were taking their graduation trip together.

A dull ache spread through my chest, but I looked away without showing it.

Cameron tugged her toward me anyway.

"What a coincidence. What are you doing at the airport too?"

Then he turned and grinned at Sabrina.

"Dylan and I are on the same flight. You didn't come to see him off? That's not very loyal for a childhood friend.

"Cold."

The more I listened, the stranger his words sounded.

But Cameron was always loud and careless, so I ignored it. I only wanted to escape the awkward atmosphere.

Then Sabrina frowned and called after me.

"Dylan, you didn't have to follow me all the way here."

Her voice was impatient. I had never seen her look at me like that before.

She didn't even give me a chance to explain.

"It's only been a few days and you're already back to your old habits? I promised your mom I'd look after you, but I'm entitled to some privacy too..."

I closed my eyes and raised a hand to stop her.

"You think I came here for you?"

She seemed unused to my tone and paused.

"Then why else would you be here?"

I gave a speechless laugh.

"I'm flying to Crescent Island today."

Then I pointed at the time on my watch. "I'm in a hurry. Was there anything else?"

After I spoke, Sabrina studied me with a complicated expression and finally seemed to notice.

I had dyed my hair, changed the way I dressed, and even planned a graduation trip to Crescent Island without pestering her for advice the way I used to.

When she spoke again, her voice sounded slightly strained.

"Why didn't you tell me in advance?"