Exterior Peel Off

Wow, would you just take a look at that? I cannot help but wonder, have you seen how this person's hair flows in a stunning array of colours? It is almost as if there exists an imperceptible breeze generating this effect.

I feel a kick of adrenaline. My eyes' pupils are probably dilating. I can feel the light bulbs in my head powering up. It reminds me of that childhood enthusiasm that was piqued when I noticed things out of the ordinary. I would always drag Mama to share the feeling. As if on cue, I hear it vividly in my mind, “Mama, please take a look! Oh, please take a look!” echoes my enthusiastic eight-year-old voice in my memory. 

My thirst for exploring the world around me has always been insatiable. Equipped with keen senses, I am constantly attuned to my environment and highly perceptive of even the smallest details. While this ability proves invaluable in many situations, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Sometimes, I find myself fixated on something seemingly out of the ordinary, unable to shake the feeling that there is more to the situation than meets the eye. My focus is drawn to a particular individual, and I am grappling with a flurry of unanswered questions. 

I wonder if this is a product of nature or human creation. There is a sense of unease that I cannot shake, perhaps due to its mechanical blinking. However, I must remember that people often turn their heads when encountering something stunning.

It is truly remarkable how the genetic makeup of two individuals can evolve and produce such a captivating specimen. I cannot deny that. Or, conceivably, technology has a part to play? After all, the human intellect can bring abstract concepts and creativity to life…….

Oh, wait a minute, I am talking to myself again.

**************************

Today started as has been a typical day. Sometimes, I feel like I am just going through the motions without fundamental change. I wake up, pray, shower, go to work, eat, go home, cook, shower, pray, and then sleep. At twenty-six, my agemates are swirling in ballroom wedding gowns, posing in Christmas pyjamas as a family, and posting glamorous pictures of vacations. I do not even have a pet to entertain me!

Apart from the "sometimes existential crisis", I am content with my current situation. I have a comfortable apartment and a well-paying job that I genuinely enjoy.

Due to my tendency to veer off-topic during conversations, I prefer to spend most of my time alone or keep my words to a minimum. My mind is like a train with many connections, and I often find myself changing topics abruptly without prior notice. My mother - bless her heart - once compared my thought process to a train headed northwest that suddenly gets distracted by something and changes direction to go east.

Oops, I did it again....

Back to my day...

I went to work, as usual. As an auditor, I got bogged down by numbers and financial documents, as usual. To clear my mind, I decided to take a stroll and grab a cup of coffee before my next appointment. As I was walking, I witnessed a woman covering her mouth while laughing in the company of a man who seemed embarrassed. It was a brief but amusing moment that distracted me from my thoughts.

My ringing phone interrupted the connection in my thoughts. I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement as my phone blared a unique goat-beating ringtone. Heads turned to see where the sound was coming from, but I couldn't help but smile. It was the reaction I was hoping for when I changed it. 

“Mama…”

“Monica, am I a bad mother?”

“Mama, please…”

Despite the severe tone of her voice, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. What was my mother going to tell me next?

I listened intently as she spoke about all the sacrifices she had made for me, how my father had cheated on her, and how she had tried her best after he left. 

“Mama, please…”

“I feel bad, Monica. Here you are so many seven thousand one hundred and nineteen miles away from me. I do feel like I need a hug from you.”

“Mama, you have been cutting me off. Please tell me, what is sitting heavily on your heart?”

I could hear her take a deep breath. I imagined her flipping her hair back as she paced, rubbing her forehead in deep thought. Her voice was filled with emotion as she spoke about the man at the tuckshop who had told her she had a repellent personality. After all, her husband and child had run off to more conducive environments.

"I was polite as usual. But my hands were shaking so badly. The whole crate crashed down. I prayed for strength. Then, I politely requested two more crates. I double-paid him and left without another word. I made it without doing any more stupid things. But it just made me think, what kind of a person am I"

“Mama, you are an amazing woman. Look at the empire you have built. Obviously, they are jealous. It's understandable to feel shaken up after something like that. It's not a reflection of your character. You handled it gracefully by requesting more crates and paying extra. It's okay to make mistakes and have moments of doubt, but it's important to recognize your strengths and the positive actions you took in the end. You are not repellant. You have me, you always visit. I do visit. We still have contact. Besides, you have Chris….”

“Shhhh, child. That is a secret”.

I couldn't help but smile at my mother's response. 

I suddenly missed the gentle touch of my mother's hands. The soothing sound of her voice evokes a deep emotional response within me. I yearned for the comfort of her presence and the relief that comes with her skilled massages that always seemed to ease my troubles away......

My eyes and mind zoomed off the conversation. That lady had my attention again! How she elegantly nodded while the man in her company spoke was captivating. How could someone be so graceful? It felt so surreal. She possessed lengthy, toned legs that exuded athleticism, yet her overall physique was nothing short of remarkable. The attire she adorned appeared to have been tailored precisely to her unique body shape.

"... child. You know you are amazing, right?"

I shook off the uncanny dark feeling that was clouding my mind and refocused. I took a deep breath.

"Monica?"

I smiled as if Mama could see me.

"I learn from the best! I love you, mama"

"I love you too, Monica. I am so sorry I had to call without asking if you are busy or not."

"Not at all, mama. It's around 2pm here. I gave myself a break"

"Hahaha, I just woke up. Anyway, take care!"

As the call ended, I felt a strong urge to approach the couple. I just could not let this go. Why was I feeling this weird and captivated by this lady? My feet couldn't resist moving towards her as if I was under a spell.

Without hesitation, I confidently tossed my empty coffee cup into the bin and marched towards her. I was ready to take a risk and ask the questions that had been on my mind. Nothing was going to stop me.

Upon nearing the area, the sound of cameras whirring became more audible. Suddenly, the man with her viciously turned towards me and obstructed my view. "Apologies, ma'am. This area is off-limits," he informed me sternly. 

I attempted to interject, but before I could, the woman in charge gracefully turned her head and a smile graced her face, revealing charming dimples. "Delan, kindly allow her entry," she requested. 

Without hesitation, he gave me a brief once-over before granting me access.

As I stepped onto the patio, I couldn't help but notice the sudden and stunning transformation of the entire area. In an instant, it seemed as though a shield had appeared out of nowhere, enveloping the space. We were in a place like a cacoon, hidden and yet seeing the world. It was truly a remarkable, and almost surreal, experience.

"Welcome Monica, I was waiting for you to take the bait..."

The moment she said that I felt the hair on my ends stand up. I grabbed my phone to dial Mama's number.

Her voice tone turned to a robotic tune, "Would this make you feel better? Oh, those don't work here?"

I miserably watched my phone power down unexpectedly

I felt my head stiffen. What on earth had I gotten myself?

Her voice changed into a soothing human tone, "Let's restart this, shall we? Hi Monica, my name is Daisy - an AI created to be a protector.

We have been keeping track of you because of your unique ability to see beyond what others do not see. Many passed by but failed to notice I am a humanoid robot. It was a test which you passed.

We have a special assignment for you. It's important to exercise caution regarding the assignment as it may pose a potential threat to your safety. You may need to take a moment to evaluate the situation and ensure you are in a secure and safeguarded environment when you carry it out. Your safety is of utmost importance."

Screens whirred out and started flashing information - all about me. Some dated to fifteen years back.

"Excuse me! This is an invasion of privacy...."

Delan suddenly huffed and knelt down. He opened a briefcase of wads and wads of cash, "MONEY, is not going to remove this blemish...."

The dots on the screen suddenly connected to show my mama and her soulful eyes. The supply of anger

"This is the assignment, Monica."

I almost fell over but got caught by Delan, "Mama, my mama..."

"Please save her." pleased Daisy as she suddenly stroked my head. The chill that raced through my spine was so intense.

"Is she alright? I just spoke to her and she sounded okay...."

"Please save her."

"From who? From what?"

The next image that appeared on the screen was like a bucket of cold icy water...

"No. No, Dale, I mean Daisy, there must be some mistake."

"Please save her. Save my creator."

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