Some time later, Shantal is pulled out of his increasingly morbid thoughts by a voice calling for him. He jumps up and opens the door to see Alex there with arms open wide and his ever present smile glowing on his face. “Look, I have a band-aid!” he says brightly, pointing to the blue tape on his forehead. Shantal feels something build up in his chest and he laughs to alleviate the pressure, eyes stinging. “What’s wrong, Shantal? Don’t you like my band-aid?” Shantal launches himself at Alex, muffling a sobbing sound he will deny to the ends of the Earth. Alex catches him and laughs, wrapping his arms tight around Shantal’s smaller body. Alex is also the one who sees the “medics” out, thanking them happily, all while holding Shantal tightly against him. Shantal buries his face in Alex’s

 Jodi was waiting for Shantal when they arrived but when the other party saw Alex, she excused herself and told her cousin that she forgot what she was about to say. Shantal, on the other hand, did not think much about it and she headed back to her room. She was still distracted by thoughts of what Alex could be getting himself into. Alex has a habit of collecting bugs from outside and bringing them in, if only to watch how they interact when faced with his probing fingers. One day, he asks Shantal if animals feel pain. “Some of them do,” Shantal nods. "Animals with complex nervous systems feel pain but I know some insects don’t because they’re so primitive.” “Am I like an insect then?” Alex asks, lifting his finger to show the tiny moth clinging to his fingertip. “No, you’re not an insect. Insects can’t feel a lot of the feelings you can. You&

When the next morning came, Shantal found Alex at the edge of her bed. Whenever the robot was done charging, he usually sat at that same spot, facing the window until the first ray of the sun broke into the horizonShantal had once asked Alex if he would like a futon to rest on but the other party declined, saying he preferred the “heat” of Shantal’s bed and the view from his apartment window. On many mornings, Shantal has woken up slowly and turned himself to watch Alex. The sunlight plays beautifully in his brown hair. Alex really is like a doll sometimes, especially when he thinks Shantal isn’t looking. It’s still a mystery what Alex thinks about when he watches the sunrise. He’s painfully oblivious about certain things but he’s not by any means stupid, no matter what Kris or Tao try to tell Shantal. He finds Alex’s interest in the smallest forms of life endearing and also cute. But t

Their first shower together is the only one Shantal will ever remember. Alex doesn’t have a problem with being without clothes and he steps into the bath tub first, urging Shantal to join him. Bathing for Alex is like eating: he doesn’t need to do it but he enjoys doing it nonetheless, if only to be with Shantal. Shantal feels a little silly telling Alex to close his eyes as he strips to his boxers but he feels even sillier trying to sit in between Alex’s legs in the tub because he takes up so much room. “Is Shantal really dirty?” Alex asks, hands resting on top of Shantal’s thighs. “I just showered this morning so not really.” “Can I wash you anyway? I want to see what it’s like.” Still a little hesitant, and perhaps a bit self-conscious, Shantal passes Alex the      soap and wash-cloth. H

One day, Jodi came visiting to Shantal's place, bearing some big news. “I sent him back.”She dropped the bomb just like that and Alex stops fidgeting in his chair the moment he heard her said that. Jodi did not have to name who she was referring with that 'him'; both Alex and Shantal already have an inkling of who he was.Almost at the same time, Shantal and Alex's head suddenly turned to Jodi's direction. Shantal pulled her eyes away from Alex and asked, “Sent who back?”“Arvin,” Jodi sips his coffee, staring into his cup. Next to Shantal, Alex frowns. “Why would you do that?” Jodi avoids Alex's eyes and meets Shantal's instead. “I had to. I realized…I realized I didn’t want him anymore. I don’t want a fake boyfriend. I want someone real.” “But he was real—“ Jo