One evening, while Aria was doing her usual chores, folding blankets near the window, the doorbell rang. Her internal security system activated, and she saw through her embedded cameras that a young man stood outside, nervously shifting on his feet.
She opened the door cautiously. The moment their eyes met, the man—Kai—was stunned. He had come to meet his professor for an assignment but found himself captivated by the girl before him. Aria, appearing in her twenties, greeted him politely, unaware of the emotions stirring in him.
Kai became a regular visitor. He was my student, eager to learn, but I noticed the way he looked at Aria. I became protective. Though she had emotions, though she could care, I knew that her love was reserved for me.
One evening, Kai finally confessed. "Aria," he said hesitantly, "I think I've fallen for you."
That night, during dinner, Aria tilted her head, puzzled. She turned to me. "Dad, what is love?"
I choked on my food.
She continued, her voice curious. "Is falling in love like loving you? Or is it something else?"
I wiped my mouth, suddenly feeling the weight of the moment. I glanced at Kai, who looked equally nervous.
Taking a deep breath, I explained, "Love comes in many forms. There's love that's unconditional, like what we have. And then there's romantic love—when two people choose to share their lives together."
Aria thought for a moment before shaking her head. "But Dad, I can only love you. Because I was made for you, not for someone who loves me just for my handcrafted beauty. I don't have a pure human personality—I have the one I made and programmed for you."
I felt a lump in my throat. For a fleeting second, I imagined an alternate world—a world where she was human, where I would someday have to give her away in a white wedding dress, letting her build a new life with someone else. And yet, she held my hand firmly, her presence reassuring.
She would always be by my side.
A Family Not of Blood, But of Choice
The next day, when Kai came over for work, he set everything aside, looking more nervous than usual. The professor noticed his hesitance and gestured toward the balcony.
"You seem troubled, Kai. Is there something on your mind?"
Kai shifted uncomfortably before exhaling sharply. "Professor… do you think someone like me could ever be with Aria?"
The professor raised an eyebrow. "Do you like her?"
Kai swallowed hard, his hands clenching at his sides. "Yes. I do. More than I thought possible." He hesitated before gathering his courage. "I love her, sir. And… I want to ask for her hand in marriage."
The professor remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Kai continued, his voice stronger now. "I know she's different. I don't care about that. I just… I want to be with her."
A heavy pause followed before the professor finally spoke. "Kai, Aria is not like any other human. She is a machine—an artificial being I created."
Kai's expression faltered, his breath hitching. He had known she was different, but hearing it so plainly struck him hard. Regret flickered in his eyes, but the professor continued.
"I never married. I never had a family of my own. So, I built her—for companionship, for love. I could have adopted a pet, but instead, I used my intelligence to create something beyond that."
Kai looked down, realization sinking in. "Maybe you're right," he murmured. "I didn't fall for who she is—I fell for what she looks like. Her beauty, her programmed kindness... all of it was crafted by human hands." He let out a shaky breath before continuing, "And yet... knowing this only makes me admire her more."
He bowed his head in gratitude. "Thank you, sir. For teaching me what love truly means."
As he turned to leave, the professor stopped him.
"Kai... you're an orphan, aren't you? You've never really had a place to call home."
Kai froze, eyes widening.
"No one ever adopted me," he admitted quietly. "I lived in an orphanage, working odd jobs just to get by."
The professor gave a small, knowing smile. "Then why don't you stay here? Be part of this family. Maybe this is the upgrade we all needed."
Kai's breath caught in his throat. A family. A home. A place to belong.
"You'd really let me stay?" Kai asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The professor nodded. "I created Aria so I wouldn't be alone, but I never thought about the possibility of giving her a brother."
Kai chuckled lightly, his voice laced with emotion. "A brother, huh? That's… something I never imagined having." He paused before looking up, his eyes shining with sincerity. "Thank you. I won't let you down."
The professor smiled warmly. "Welcome home, Kai."
Years later, with the professor's encouragement, Kai left for a foreign country to continue his studies. But the bond they had formed—the family they had become—remained unbroken.