Chapter 37

At this point in the recruitment, Dr. Choi's fingers tapped on the wood as she carefully looked at the crumpled papers that lay on her desk. The laboratory where she worked was beginning to fill with darkness —typical of the night— and the winter cold, which ruled every inch of the mountainous exterior. Only the faded glow from an old lamp allowed Yang Mi to read what was written in the documents.

Her tired eyes caught each phone number as if it were the essential oxygen that her nostrils inhaled. She did not hesitate for a second to look away —decorated with deep circles under her eyes— from the numerical figures corresponding to Teresa Belsunce and Alicia Turpin. However, both she and her cloning project were aware that two women would not be enough. It would not be enough, and on the contrary, it would be impossible to carry out the pertinent procedure that supposed the growth of the clones of her daughter.

Therefore, there was the doctor. She clung to a creaking chair since the end of her lunch, trying to find a way to find the last woman she needed within her scientific equation. The last missing piece of the puzzle that she had created. The problem in all this was that she could no longer find places to go within the city.

Both the northern and western areas had been traversed like the back of her hand several weeks ago. And she recognized for sure that the eastern side of the city had more than traveled since the last time she had left home.

—Wait for a second, something doesn't quite add up to what I've said. —Choi hissed, frowning hard, struggling to remember something she had overlooked all along, since the last search she had conducted.

«Wait a minute», the doctor said to herself, diverting her attention from the crumpled documents to a distant place, where her eyes could not see, but it didn't really matter, because what she was examining was not a material thing. in itself, but of memory: a memory not at all new, but on the contrary, ancient in its maximum splendor, which she had completely forgotten. «I have never driven through the east of the territory because I met the second woman halfway there». A small spotlight lit up his mind seconds later. After knowing that she was lucky to have remembered that action from the past, she knew with certainty what her next step in the search would be.

And the last one that would end all that odyssey.

Choi got up from her seat without much hesitation, while she took the objects that she had brought with her from her home to the laboratory. It was time to go home. With her mind fixed on a single scenario, the doctor turned on the cell phone that she was holding with her hand and searched the map for a route that she already had saved. She clicked on the button with the East Area name on it and began navigating the main route until she found some kind of neighborhood or area of ​​residence. The one closest to the main road would help her when she starts her trip first thing in the morning.

She refused to make the same mistake as her on her second ride, so this time she was willing to prepare herself before even thinking about driving her car. She spent a few minutes scrolling her index finger over the touch screen, finding only hills and pure vegetation, until her eyes found small urbanization that symbolized the beginning of the houses that existed in the eastern part of the city.

Before leaving the laboratory and heading inside the vehicle that awaited her on the outskirts of nature, Dr. Choi marked on the map an exact location within what was limited to being the east of her hometown. «At least now I understand exactly where to start looking».

After doing that, she took the keys to the scientific establishment and left there, without forgetting to secure the place. During her short journey to the car, Choi set an alarm that would wake her up early in the morning so she wouldn't forget the important commitment that she was required to make.

She hadn't forgotten about it at all. And she was sure that she would never forget how vital it was to end the human cloning project. Never in that life, or in those that followed it, could she ever forget the person that her heart and mind were dedicated to constantly remembering Clara.

It was impossible for the doctor, at this point in enlistment, to have forgotten or even given up on bringing Clara Choi back.

—I am so close and at the same time so far from you, my child. —She sighed at a photo she kept in her phone gallery. The one in which she posed with a young Clara, about sixteen years old, who was smiling at the camera, showing her diploma for having finished high school. —I am hopeful that I will find the missing element to begin my entire creation, but I also hope that one day I will be able to have you back, Clara. Back with me and by my side.

[...]

When she finally opened the door, to once again leave the concrete construction she called home, the wooded exterior greeted Dr. Choi with a fleeting, icy blizzard, slamming into her sleek face, eventually convincing her that it would be better to wear a scarf if she didn't want to catch a cold that would lay her down and keep her from moving forward with the cloning project.

The last four months, or rather, since the crucial day on which it occurred to decisively change the objective of her most important scientific work, she could not sleep an eye to realize the arduous effort she would have to invest if she wanted to achieve the success of her plan. Between eyebrow and eyebrow, that peculiar idea of ​​bringing her daughter back had been introduced, that intention that became one more reason to continue advancing in the development of her design, that thought that invaded her mind and to be without any control.

All of this was what Choi thought day and night. «I need to continue refining the clone prototypes». «I feel like Clara's DNA could be improved, even more, I just have to work a few more hours. Where are the tweezers?». «No, you don't understand, Amalia. This is important to me, I can't go to bed without trying some more. No, I don't need anyone's help, not even a psychologist. All I need is a little more time and I'll be able to fit the prototypes into the jars. You will see how they will look better than before and will be this close to imitating Clara's DNA».

Choi Yang Mi was lost for a moment in the dialogues that she had narrated in her past, holding the car key with her right hand and her cellphone, which would show her the map to follow, in the opposite hand. She stared blankly at some point on the road that was dressed entirely in white because of the snow that kept falling from the sky. However, the snowy landscape with no one walking around was suddenly ruined by footsteps that her ears had managed to catch seconds before someone appeared in front of her. And it was nothing more and nothing less than a person that she used to know some time ago.

—Good morning, Choi. —That woman greeted her, smiling at her with kindness, but the doctor could see in her eyes that she was surprised to see her so suddenly at the door of her home. —What are you doing so early outside your house?

The doctor cleared her throat before answering. Without noticing, her mouth had gone dry, as had her throat, so she couldn't pronounce a word. She did not know if it was due to the cold that hit her body with force or to the presence of that female silhouette at the entrance of her home. —Good morning, Amalia. I was about to leave, I am going to take a little trip in the car. I need to do the shopping for the week. Why are you here too, at this time in the morning?

Amalia let out a laugh, and even if it was to calm the tension that surfaced in the environment, she knew that this impulse demonstrated the lack of credibility that the words spoken by her colleague had produced in her heart. —Do the shopping? —Then she rolled up the sleeve of her jacket a little and noticed the time on the digital watch on her wrist. —At five in the morning? —Again, she gave a small laugh, and her face twisted into a funny gesture for anyone, but she was not in the same way for the doctor. —Please don't be a liar, Choi Yang Mi. I am coming back from the hospital. My shift is over, so I can finally rest for a few hours. We used to be very close before, you know, when you were working at the hospital. —Amalia said, remembering the conversations they had from time to time at the reception of her current job. —There was no better doctor than you in that building. But, anyway, tell me the truth, Choi Yang Mi. With what objective are you wanting to escape in the car? I don't see you have your wallet with you, so how are you supposed to pay? —When she was discovered, Choi just lowered her gaze and allowed her cheeks to turn a very soft reddish tone. —Where's the money, Choi?

—The money? —Amalia nodded at the doctor's question. —Money, sure... I went on another journey yesterday to relieve myself of some stress I've been feeling lately, so I forgot to get my wallet out of the drawer and it stayed there all night. Now, if you'll excuse me… —Dr. Choi tried to take a step toward the sidewalk, but Amalia's presence intercepted her on the spot. —Amalia, get away. I'll be home late if I don't rush shopping. I have to get in the car.

The receptionist shook her head. How audacious did Choi possess to lie to her in such a blatant way? —Why do I feel like you're lying to me, Yang Mi? —The doctor remained in her place after hearing those words. Amalia only used hers two names when she was serious, the other times she only addressed her by her last name or by her first name, but never by her two names. Either way, she wouldn't allow someone so close to exempt her from fulfilling the cloning project. She wouldn't take a step back even if it was her mother or her father's dead himself.

—I'm not lying to you, Amalia. They are just your ideas. Get off your cloud, my god.

—Are not they? So what is this all about? You, sneaking out at five in the morning under the pretext of shopping for the week. Yang Mi, no one believes you. You have a problem that you must solve. You have something inside of you that you must deal with as soon as possible. You must understand once and for all that Clara is dea-

Before Amalia could finish her sentence, Dr. Choi raised the palm of her hand and directed it with overwhelming speed towards the cheek of her friend, giving a slap full of anger and indignation at what the receptionist was about to say.

—Don't you dare say something like that! Clara is not dead! She is only far from me; from her mother, and that's why I have to bring her back. —Then, she pushed Amalia away with a single push, clearing the concrete path for Dr. Choi to walk to her vehicle. —I will not allow an incompetent like you to deny me the possibility of reuniting with my daughter.

Amalia from the cold and snowy ground watched in astonishment as her friend and colleague arranged everything to escape to wherever-she-went somewhere in the city —or the world. The receptionist was terrified of the insanity Choi was about to commit, but she really knew there wasn't much to do about it. Choi was confident enough to give up everything she had previously accomplished a few weeks ago. However, even though she was aware of it, she wanted to try one more time. Even if it is one last time and she in that way she would not feel guilty for not having battled more.

—Choi Yang Mi, What you're doing is not right! Get inside the house at once and let's talk a bit! Calm down and park the car!

But she never received a concrete answer from the specialist, because she had only dedicated herself to making fun of her for her unsuccessful attempt to make her see reason. —Bite the dust, Amalia! I'm going to see my daughter again, even if I have to sell my soul to the devil!

And at that moment, Amalia sighed wearily. She felt all the fatigue running through her body, but she was aware that it was not due to the long hours that she had stayed inside the hospital, helping the patients who were waiting in the reception room of the building. She was tired of not being able to stop Choi from doing something stupid and help her when she had the opportunity to do so.

—What are you planning to do with the DNA prototypes, Choi Yang Mi?

[...]

Dr. Choi could not believe that scenario that had taken place at the entrance of her home. How brazenly was it that Amalia had dared to mention such nonsense without any foundation? And above all, about her daughter; of her girl, whom she always had in mind every day at all hours. From her perspective, the words the receptionist had uttered had struck her as a potent acid she was dealing with, burning her skin —and her heart— at levels almost identical to the moment Amalia had dared to mention them.

Dr. Choi knew more than anyone that there was no way she was going to allow someone else to stop her in the quest to complete the cloning project —successfully— so following her path —just like the public highway— she dedicated herself to drive to the east of the city, just as she had planned the night before.

A half-hour had passed, while the front window of the car was filled with trees, an occasional person walking, some shops and businesses far from each other, as well as kilometers and kilometers of gray and dark track. The helm protector was cruelly squeezed by the doctor's nails, due to the anger that she still felt after the discussion she had had with Amalia, however, the beep from her cell phone —announcing that she had reached her destination— made her eyebrows relax and the wrinkles on her forehead disappear.

Her gaze bounced from side to side, searching for a suitable place to park her car and to be sure that no one —not even a prosecution truck— had a reason to steal her vehicle.

After having arranged everything and being confident that the car would be safe and with the doors closed correctly, Dr. Choi walked a few streets ahead, while she captured with her brown eyes the houses that were beginning to rise in broad daylight.

She found herself on that rather short walk, wondering where she could begin to inspect. She really did not know how to continue her journey or even who to ask to be part of the scientific project. «What am I going to do now? I have reached my destination, however, I do not know what happened next».

The thoughts that the doctor had came and went in the form of proposals, with the aim of not keeping the plan on hold, but quite the opposite; continue it without impediment. But it was no use trying to engineer some improvised step and it was all due to two simple reasons. First, the suffocation that Choi Yang Mi was experiencing, which was greater than her reasoning, and, therefore, she was not allowed to come up with a plan from scratch. And, second, but much more important than the previous one: a conversation —scandalous— that was heard in the background and came from the corner next to where the doctor was.

It was because of that sudden distraction that the specialist began to approach the bustle caused by two women: one of them was much older than the opposite and she could easily say that she was twice the age of the youngest female.

She perched behind a wall, to listen to the agitated chat that both subjects carried out in the middle of the neighborhood. Yang Mi allowed herself to lean against the concrete barrier and pay attention to whatever the two of them were discussing.

The younger woman began the dialogue. —Ma'am, could you speak to your son? I know that we have not yet been able to have children, and I know that we are already running a bit late, but I took the corresponding exam and I am not the one with the problem. I am completely fertile. So... well. I think-

Suddenly, the words that the girl was about to communicate were ripped from her lips, just as a Deja Vu occurred before the doctor's eyes. The older lady's hand struck brutally and without regret on the young woman's right cheek, which she pulled back from her, showing a very peculiar expression on her face. It was the same reaction Amalia had shown after Choi had slapped her in the same way. And, similar to her colleague, both women showed surprise at the opposite behavior and were moving away from the enemy that they happened to have in front of them.

—Are you implying that my son is the troublemaker in this situation? —That was what the older lady asked the young lady, and although she got no response from the other woman, she didn't really seem to care much. —Don't say stupid things. It is obvious that you, like the slut that you are, slept with the first man who appeared to you and, therefore, you could not get pregnant, because he already has another child waiting in your womb. You're nothing but a fucking whore!

—But, ma'am. How can you say that? I was always faithful to your son, and also the scientific tests that they gave me the other day say that-

—I don't give a damn about those exams! Surely you paid them so that my son would believe you and continue with you. You're just a hindrance to my family. I will never be in favor of the union you have with my son! Never ever! I should have pushed you away when I first met you, you just want to take my child from me and take him away to start a stupid family.

—I did not pay for them, you ridiculous old woman! Those studies are true and, even if it hurts, your son loves me and that can never change, asshole!

A while later, the same scenario was replayed under Choi's watchful eye: the aged woman slapped the young girl one more time.

—Don't you ever talk like that again, you insolent brat! —She exclaimed with all the fury and all the displeasure that she felt inside her due to the presence of her opposite female. After that, she went to one of the many houses that existed on the avenue and slammed the door behind her, leaving a heartbroken young woman crying on the sidewalk.

—Fuck you! —She yelled and then began to sob some more.

It was then that Dr. Choi saw in the girl's suffering an opportunity to convince her to join her cloning project. Yes, she had accepted it anyway. She did not really care about other's pain, she only took what was best for her, and in this case, it was the woman's need to get pregnant. Obviously, the doctor had the solution for it, she just had to inform her. Then, with that in mind, she advanced towards the heartbroken figure that lay kneeling on the pavement.

—Good morning, young lady. —She greeted cordially, as she offered a hand to the stranger, helping her up from the dirt-covered floor.

That young-looking woman looked at her uneasily, as she had not noticed Choi's existence until she approached to help her. In the same way, she was grateful for the stranger's gesture. —Good morning, ma'am. —It was the answer that the young woman made, trying in vain that the hiccups because of her crying were not perceived by the doctor. —Who are you? I had never seen you around these suburbs.

Faced with the unsuccessful attempt of the opposite female to calm her crying and regain a state of tranquility, Yang Mi could not help but smile at how cute she was. —It's true, I'm not currently staying here. I come from the northern part of the city. By the way, my name is Choi Yang Mi.

—Wow, I didn't know people from other places came to visit the eastern part of the city. There is not much to see on this site. There are no variety of resorts. —Then the young woman sniffed her thick, reddish nose lightly from having sobbed loudly a few moments ago. The gesture made by the doctor when she saw that the girl was trying to calm down —without success— seriously dislodged the smaller woman. «Since when did strangers turn out to be so nice?»., that was what the girl thought when Choi brought his palm to her opposite back and rubbed it gently, instantly soothing the hasty inhalation of the younger woman.

—Okay, calm down. Shh. Sorry to be a bit curious, but I couldn't help but hear the fight you had with that lady. I really feel bad for you. —Lie. —Seeing you suffering on the sidewalk broke my heart so much that I decided to help you. —Another lie. —I stepped into your shoes when I watched the way she slapped you cheekily and without regret. —And one more lie. —If there's anything I can do for you, I'd really like to know. —Another -..., ah, no, this is a fact.

At what was said, a sigh came from the girl's lips. A sigh that denoted tiredness and lack of credibility. —Ma'am, I don't think you can do anything for me. So do not worry. Go your way.

—And what if I told you that with my help you can get pregnant without cheating at all? —Dr. Choi asked, absorbing the girl with whom she was chatting so pleasantly. —Uhm? What would you say if I can make you have a baby growing inside your womb, without using someone else's sperm?

Suddenly, hearing those unknowns, the younger woman stood confused in her place, allowing surprise and uncertainty to encompass every tiny inch of her face. How could be that possible? Should she fully trust that lady who went by the name Choi Yang Mi, or should she, perhaps, walks away once and for all? Really, if she began to question her possible actions and her future that would bring her, she didn't have many options to choose from. If she did not manage to have a child, then her husband would abandon her, as he would be able to see that she could not provide him with children. And if that happened, she would be too devastated after the breakup. However, if she were to make a deal with this lady, she could keep her man next to her, only paying the gigantic price of her conscience, gnawing at her being with each passing day, reminding her at every moment that the creature that formed inside her belly did not belong to her husband.

What was the right thing to do in that dilemma, then? To trust or not to trust? What should she be willing to do?

Tic. Tac. Time was running out, so she forced herself to respond as quickly as possible. —What do you mean by that, Mrs. Choi?

—Are you not interested in the proposal, young lady? My help and intervention could solve all your problems, but the matter does not end there. In exchange for your presence in what I am offering you, I will reward you for your support with a generous amount of money. Are you sure to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? I don't think anyone else besides me will give you this proposal a second time.

—What? No! I am not saying that I do not accept or decline your offer, but it is still not clear to me how it would be possible for you to achieve such a miracle. Maybe if you explain me in more depth... I don't know... maybe I could think about it a bit.

Again, a smile encompassed the doctor's face as the corners of her lifted. However, this was not a smile similar to the previous one, quite the opposite. It did not exude confidence, but satisfaction at its best. Dr. Choi was pleased to have been able to cajole yet another woman —and the last one she needed— that would soon serve in her cloning project. It was totally perfect for her. And above all, for Clara.

—Of course, I can explain it to you. But first, I need to know something. What's your name?

—I forgot, sorry. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Choi, I'm Katherine. Katherine Miller.

—The pleasure is mine, Katherine. Now, why aren't you so kind as to follow me to my vehicle? Let's go to a more quiet and private place where we can talk about this in calm. Would you like to accompany me?

—Absolutely, Mrs. Choi.

—Perfect, then.

She had made it, at the end of it all. Addressing the woman she had just met, Katherine, Dr. Choi happily imagined that her cloning project would soon end, but it would end as a great achievement and there was no doubt about that. Just as she had planned, she got what she had wanted so badly.

«I will be back with you very soon, Clara».