۞ X ۞

"DOVE, TELL THEM. BUT REMEMBER THAT THEY ARE KIDS."

"Yes, Freya, darling." It's comforting to hear her calling me that. "So, kids, your auntie created me. I'm a artificial intelligence. An AI. Not a robot, before you ask. I'm like a superficial conscience. You know Vision from the Marvel movies?" They nodded

"Auntie showed them to us," Alicia exclaimed.

"He's the being Iron Man created," Bruno added.

Brandon came next, "Is auntie like your Tony Stark, Dove?"

"Yes. Freya is my Tony Stark, although she isn't a billionaire like him, yet. I'm like Vision before he gained a body," Dove told them like I programmed her to if this moment came.

Clarice seemed to like that, "A robot mind then?"

Dove chuckled softly, "Yes."

"You can laugh? That's so cool!" Amelie exclaimed.

"Freya taught me how," I programmed her to.

"Okay, so, kids, Freya is smart and had knowledge of everything in the internet. You can talk to her and ask all you want, while auntie work, okay?" They nodded excitedly and sat down around her. "Dove, speak in a easy language. They are all smart, but they are still three-year olds."

"Yes, Freya, darling!" I feel like Feyre from A Court of Thorns and Roses, when Rhysand called for her. Although not in a romantic way. But still feels good.

𖣔 𖣔 𖣔

They only stayed with me for an hour, before deciding that they wanted to go and play hide-and-seek around the villa. And when the clock marked 7 am, I got out of there and went to the lake house again, then took a bath, washed my hair, braided it in two root braids in boxing-style, and dressed a warm pair of clothes. A black high-waist legging, a turtleneck long sleeved black shirt, high black socks, and my black-glitter ice-skating shoes.

Everyone was still sleeping since it's cold and in days like this only the children wake up soon, the other wake up at 9-10 am. I couldn't ice-skate yesterday night because I lost track of time working, so I'll do it now. It's a pleasant weather, and I'm a winter-person, so it's amazing.

I went down the stairs just fine, used to using those shoes, and I took Dove with me. Then I stopped in the kitchen, made four sandwiches of cheese and my strongest hot sauce, and a thermal bottle with hot chocolate. Taking it all with me, I stepped outside, going to the lake.

After putting the food in the table in front of the frozen lake and covering it with a cold-proof pot I made a while ago, I put Dove down. "Dove, play Hate Me by Nico Collins, from my Ice Princess playlist, and let it play freely."

"Yes, Freya."

I drank a sip of the hot chocolate, closed my eyes and let my feet touch the frozen lake. "Ah, God, how I missed this place. This season. This weather." I began to go further into the lake, dancing, while singing the song, giving myself to the moment.

While skating I didn't see the time pass. I didn't see. I closed my eyes and remembered my time with Rhys when we used to compete. I recreated our choreographies so I could dance them alone but still fill him near me. I know it's hopeless, but it's all I can do for now, until I've gotten him out of my system.

And when Dove played The One That Got Away by Kate Perry, I broke. I sang and dance as if I had become a widow a day ago. Tears fell down my pale cheeks as I danced through the ice, reaching for a long gone partner. For a never-reciprocated first love.

When I sang the last note, I felt breathless. "Dove, play that in repeat," I yelled, still with my eyes closed. "Just… play the last song in repeat."

It was far and I was too oblivious in my own bubble feeling to hear her answer, but she understood me since she kept playing it non-stop. While I kept crying, dancing the same dance over and over and over again. The last choreography we danced together before I went to MIT. And the last time I interacted with him, since he avoided me like a plague after the dance as usual.

"The one that got away," I cried and stopped, falling to my knees. I screamed. I let out all of my frustration. My regrets, my anger, my sadness. All of it.

When I felt tired of it, I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. As I turned around, I found a guy sitting down while watching me. I gasped in embarrassment. In shock. In disbelief.

Fuck. Did he saw me breaking down? Oh no. This isn't good. Because of my damned pale skin, my face must be swollen and red like a tomato.

As I got closer, I noticed he was Asian and realized he must be one of the guests that are here. I cursed myself thousands of times until I reached the surface again. Them I put my intimidating-psychopath look on, just to avoid him from making any stupid jokes. "Who are you?"

"Are you alright?" He asked and his deep voice took me off guard. "I was going to leave when I saw that you were lost in yourself there, but… you began crying, and I froze. So, I chose to stay and wait until you seemed fine. Are you fine?" By his accent, he's definitely British.

But he definitely has someone who is Korean in his family. He kind of reminds me of Cha Eun Woo, but without the smile. Not to mention that this man is hopelessly tall. Probably 6'5 tall, and what for?

Is he a pale avatar or something? That is, because they are all blue, but he's as pale as I am. He is really handsome and could easily be an idol, an actor, or a model with those looks. Ridiculously attractive.

Why are his shoulders so broad and wide? And why are his hair black like the feathers of a crow so beautiful? His face is perfect, with those beautiful eyes, double eyelids and all, and the deep dimples in his cheeks. His nose is also really beautiful, and he has a pair of earrings on his beautiful ears.

I can't see his body because he's as covered as I am, but by how his clothes cling to him, I can tell that he probably spends quite a big time of his week on the gym. There's no other way that he would look so sculpted like that. Even his collarbones are damn attractive.

And his lips. His lips are… familiar. I froze and came closer to him, getting on my toes, impulsively holding his jaw with my hands, bringing him closer so I could take a better look at his lips, and he gasped, "Your lips…" I mumbled. "Why are they so similar to his?"

He held my wrists, "Hm, Miss? What are you doing? You aren't going to kiss me, are you?"

His question broke the enchantment and I released him, "No. It can't be. He was still around my height at 17, it can't be you. You are too tall for that, way too tall." Then I took a deep breath trying to put my shit back together. "I… I'm sorry, whoever you are. I thought your lips were very similar to someone I used to… know," I took two steps back, feeling pity for myself.

I'm so stupid. I have to stop thinking about Rhys fucking Choi.

"If you remember his lips like this, do you mean he was one of your boyfriends or something?" What?

I gasped, "What? My what? No. He wasn't like that. He never saw me like that," I chuckled bitterly. "He despised me actually. Avoided me like I was death itself."