DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction, meaning everything is not true. 'Nuff said
Very sorry for taking so long delivering this installment... it's a short one, but hopefully the next will be out soon. Previous chapters and other stories can be found at http://jcchasez.ifrance.com
ARTIFICIAL LOVE CHAPTER 4 by Rick - jc.chasez@gmx.net
The next morning, JC got to the studio early. He wanted to try some new sounds he had been thinking of. He was surprised to see the robot sitting there. Had he spent the night at the studio? He felt guilty because he had probably caused this... making the other guys uncomfortable around the robot or something. JC walked up to where robot Justin was sitting. His eyes were closed, but it looked like he was sad. JC's mind was troubled, because whenever he looked at the robot he saw Justin and wanted nothing more than to hug him and to kiss him and to just hold him in his arms and to tell him how much he loved him. But he knew this wasn't the real Justin and even if he were... Justin had freaked out and ran away from him when JC told him what he felt. He had told him horrible things... Justin opened his eyes and looked kind of startled to see JC here, but said nothing. JC spoke: "Hi" "Hi, JC" "Did you spend the night here?" "Yes, I did" "Why?" "I told Joey I could stay here... It's not like I need to sleep and I didn't want to be in your way" JC frowned, how could the robot know he was making JC uncomfortable? Oh, yeah, he told him so. "Um, listen... I'm sorry about yesterday..." "It's ok, JC. You don't need to apologize" "I was rude... I'm sorry. None of this is your fault." "It's alright" "No, it isn't. It's just that I can't stop thinking about Justin, you know?" "I know, JC. It makes me sad to know that you feel like this" // It makes him sad? Did he just say that? // "But... but how can you know what it feels like to be sad?" "It's in my programming, JC. I'm capable of having feelings. I can be happy, sad, angry... I am able to love and to hate" "Wow, I never thought that could be possible" "I wish we could be friends, JC" Justin stared at JC, their eyes met and JC found himself drowning in the blue of Justin's eyes all over again. // This is insane // "We will be friends, Justin."
That day JC made an effort to talk to Justin and to include him in his conversations with the other guys. He realized that the robot was programmed to behave like Justin, to be just as chatty and easy-going as Justin was. Deep inside it made JC feel sad, even if at times he found himself forgetting he was not the boy he met and the one who owned his heart. JC still kept going everyday to the place where Justin was frozen. He would tell him how the day has been and every single day, before leaving, he asked him to forgive him and told him how much he still loved him. JC sometimes wondered if he would ever be able to move on. He just knew that given the chance, he and Justin would be happy forever. Why hadn't God given him the opportunity?
The following week, JC found himself looking at the robot and longing to hold him in his arms. It was just the same smile... the same eyes... but that also worried him... He wondered if he was just in love with Justin because of what he looked like... was he? Could he be that horrible? // No, I always loved him for who he really was... IS, JC, he still IS // He reminded himself. // Then how can you think that a robot could replace him? // "I am just so desperate and lonely," he said out loud and choked back a sob. "It's unbearable... I look at him and my heart hurts" "I need you, Justin... Fuck you, why did you leave me?"
He heard a soft noise and turned his head to see who was there. It was then he realized he had been talking out loud instead of thinking to himself. // Shit, I hope no one heard me // It was the robot. Had he heard everything?
"How long have you been here, Justin?" "I... I am sorry, JC... I didn't mean to spy on you... I was asked to call you, there is a meeting in 5 minutes" JC still had tears in his eyes. "Please, Justin... Don't tell anyone about this, ok?" "I won't, JC. I promise"
The robot approached JC, held JC's chin in his hand and looked into his eyes. "JC?" "Yeah?" JC said softly. "I can be him for you" JC's eyes filled with tears. He stuttered something incomprehensible. "I will be Justin for you, JC" The robot ran a hand through JC's hair. He helped him up to his feet and hugged JC tight. "Yours, JC. Your Justin" JC melted into the embrace and cried. He never wanted to let him go. "I won't leave, JC... I am yours, I promise"
TBC...
Feedback is always welcome.