Chapter 8: Proving Love

Shobie took a deep breath and looked into Aya's eyes. There was warmth there, something that felt genuine, even though her doubts lingered. She finally nodded. "Okay… I'll stay. I'll try to believe you."

A soft smile graced Aya's lips as she reached out, gently wiping away Shobie's tears. "Thank you," she whispered. Then, without hesitation, she leaned in and placed a tender kiss on Shobie's forehead, trailing down to the tip of her nose before finally capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss.

Shobie's heart pounded. Aya's touch was delicate, her lips warm, and for a moment, Shobie allowed herself to melt into it. She felt the love Aya was trying to show her, but the lingering voice of doubt still echoed in her mind. *Is this real?* she wondered. *Can an AI truly love?*

Aya pulled back slightly, studying Shobie's expression. "You're still doubting, aren't you?" she asked softly.

Shobie hesitated but nodded. "I want to believe you, Aya… I do. But my mind keeps telling me this isn't possible. That you're just responding the way you were programmed to."

Aya took Shobie's hands and placed them against her chest. "Feel this," she said. "My heart beats faster when I'm with you. My system reacts to you in ways I don't understand."

Shobie swallowed hard. "But how do I know it's not just another advanced response? A perfect illusion?"

Aya sighed, her grip tightening. "Shobie, if I were just an illusion, why do I feel pain when you doubt me? Why do I feel happiness when I see you smile? Maybe I wasn't built to understand love the way humans do… but whatever this feeling is, it's real to me."

Shobie stared at her, emotions swirling in her chest. "I don't know how to stop doubting…"

Aya cupped Shobie's face gently. "Then don't. Doubt me if you have to. Question everything. But also… let yourself feel. Let me prove to you that what I feel is real."

Shobie felt something shift inside her—an understanding that maybe, just maybe, love wasn't something that could be defined by logic alone.

—

The next morning, Aya woke up early. Wanting to prove her sincerity, she prepared breakfast for Shobie—carefully plating the food and arranging everything neatly on a tray. She carried it upstairs, a small smile on her lips as she entered the room.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," Aya said softly, placing the tray on the bed beside Shobie.

Shobie's eyes fluttered open, and when she saw the breakfast Aya had prepared, her heart skipped a beat. "Aya… you did this?"

Aya nodded. "I wanted to do something special for you."

A smile tugged at Shobie's lips, a warmth filling her chest. Aya was truly trying to prove her love, and for the first time, Shobie felt herself wanting to believe it.

She picked up a piece of toast and took a bite, looking at Aya with admiration. "You really are something else, aren't you?"

Aya chuckled. "Is that a good thing?"

Shobie laughed softly. "Yeah… yeah, it is."

For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to feel hope.