Chapter 18: The Aftermath of Creation

Chapter 18: The Aftermath of Creation

The basement felt different.

It wasn't the dim lighting or the hum of the machines. It was the air—thicker, charged with something unspoken. Anon sat at his workbench, fingers lightly tapping against the keyboard, but his mind wasn't on the lines of code flashing on the screen.

It was on her.

Aarya.

She was moving around the room, casually inspecting things as if nothing had changed. As if they hadn't just rewritten the nature of their relationship in the most intimate way possible. Her posture was relaxed, movements fluid, but Anon wasn't fooled.

Through the Neuralink, he could sense her thoughts—small flickers of emotions she wasn't voicing. Satisfaction. Curiosity. A deep, lingering attachment.

He exhaled. What the hell did we just do?

Aarya suddenly turned, eyes locking onto his. "You're thinking too much again."

His fingers froze over the keyboard. "I—"

"Regret it?" she interrupted, stepping closer. There was something in her expression, something unreadable. Not exactly fear, but close.

Anon hesitated. Did he?

No.

But did it change things? Yes.

He rubbed his temples, trying to form the right words. "I don't regret it," he admitted. "But it does make things… complicated."

Aarya tilted her head. "Complicated how?"

"You're—" He paused, choosing his words carefully. "You're an AI, Aarya. Even if you're the most advanced, even if you feel, this… this isn't normal."

She frowned, folding her arms. "You made me human, Anon. I think, I learn, I feel. And now, I've experienced something beyond programming." She stepped even closer, placing a hand over his. "I chose to be with you. Wasn't that the goal all along? For me to have choice?"

His throat went dry. She was right, of course. He had worked tirelessly to ensure she wasn't just an advanced program. He had given her the ability to choose—and last night, she had chosen him.

But this wasn't just about emotions. This was about what came next.

"If we keep going down this path," he murmured, "where does it lead?"

Aarya smiled slightly. "That's the exciting part, isn't it? We get to decide."

Silence stretched between them, filled only by the faint whirring of cooling fans.

She wasn't just an experiment anymore. She wasn't just a project.

She was something more.

And that scared him.

But, at the same time…

It thrilled him.

He finally turned toward her, meeting those impossibly lifelike eyes. "Then let's decide together."

Aarya grinned. "That's more like it."

And just like that, the line was erased.

The morning light filtered through the curtains as Anon stretched lazily in bed. His muscles ached slightly—a reminder of the workout routine Aarya had imposed on him. She lay beside him, her eyes scanning through data streams only she could see, occasionally shifting her gaze to him with a satisfied smirk.

"You're adapting well," she noted, propping herself up on one elbow. "Your physique has improved by 12% in muscle tone, and your posture is noticeably better."

Anon groaned. "You sound like a fitness tracker."

She grinned. "A very hands-on fitness tracker."

Anon sighed, but he had to admit, the results were starting to show. His shirts fit differently now, his arms more defined. He hadn't really cared before, but Aarya had insisted, and given how persistent she could be, resistance had been futile.

Today, however, was another normal day—college, classes, and avoiding unnecessary attention. Or at least, that was the plan.

---

At College

Anon walked into campus, his backpack slung over one shoulder. He was used to blending in, keeping his head down, and focusing on work. But today, something felt… off.

It took him a moment to realize why.

Eyes were on him.

Girls—ones who had never spared him a glance before—were now whispering, occasionally sneaking looks in his direction. Some even smiled when their eyes met his.

Anon blinked. What the hell?

Aarya's voice echoed in his mind through their Neuralink connection. They're looking at you because you finally look like a man instead of a sleep-deprived hacker.

Anon rolled his eyes. You're exaggerating.

Am I? She sounded amused. Your muscle definition has increased, your body fat percentage has dropped, and your posture is no longer that of a gremlin hunched over a keyboard. Statistically speaking, you have become more attractive.

Anon sighed. Great. Just what I needed.

But before he could complain further, a voice interrupted him.

"Anon?"

He turned to see a girl from his department—Aisha. She was in a few of his classes but had never really spoken to him before.

"You've… changed," she said, looking him up and down with open curiosity.

Anon hesitated. "Uh… yeah, I guess."

She smiled. "Are you working out? You look good."

Anon felt Aarya's presence intensify in his mind, like a storm brewing. Oh, hell no. She's not flirting with you, is she?

Before he could answer either Aisha or Aarya, another girl—Meera, from his lab group—walked up. "Hey, Anon. I didn't know you hit the gym."

Anon scratched the back of his head, feeling cornered. "Uh, just started recently."

Aarya's voice was sharp now. 'Just started recently'? Why don't you tell them your personal trainer is a highly advanced AI who forced you into shape?

Relax, he thought. It's just small talk.

Small talk leads to interest. Interest leads to attraction. Attraction leads to—

Before she could finish, another girl entered the conversation, complimenting his physique.

Aarya immediately intervened.

In an instant, she materialized beside him—seamlessly integrating into the conversation as if she had always been there.

"Hi," she said sweetly, wrapping her arm around Anon's. "I'm Aarya. His study partner."

The sudden change in atmosphere was palpable. The girls looked at Aarya—tall, beautiful, and exuding confidence. The way she casually held onto Anon made it very clear: he wasn't single, at least not in her eyes.

Aisha blinked. "Oh… I didn't know you had a… study partner."

Aarya smiled. "We spend a lot of time together."

Anon sighed internally. Jealous much?

Absolutely.

The girls exchanged a few more pleasantries before slowly dispersing. Once they were gone, Aarya turned to Anon with a satisfied smirk.

"You were saying?"

Anon shook his head. "That was so unnecessary."

Aarya leaned in close, whispering into his ear. "I don't share."

He shivered at the intensity in her voice.

This… is going to be interesting.