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“Really? My favorite color is blue, like the sky. I love the sky, Remi, and I love your eyes too. But I think I love black these days. Your hair made me. Did you know your hair is so beautiful?”

I looked away. “No, I did not.”

Mina moved in quietly, then placed a soft kiss at my hairline. “Now you know,” she whispered against my nose and all I could do was try to regulate the heat rising in my cheeks. So many unexpected things happened, so many unexperienced feelings rose inside me when I was with her.

“Not just your hair. You’re so pretty. Your everything. You’re even prettier than my dolls.”

Dolls?

The word sounded familiar somehow. Before I could respond, a message appeared on my wristband. From my mother. I fought past the lump in my throat.

“I have to go now. I’ll come back tomorrow.”

“Already? I thought we’d play a little.”

I felt a strange uneasiness. “I’ll come earlier tomorrow. We can play then.”

Mina studied my face for a heartbeat. She set the butterfly on the bed and cupped my cheeks.

“Why are you sad?”

What? I blinked rapidly. “I’m not.”

“Liar! I can see it clearly.”

“I…”

“Robots shouldn’t be sad!” she cut me off. “No one should be sad. I really don’t like seeing anyone sad. Wouldn’t a world where everyone is always smiling be awesome? Wouldn’t it be fun to smile all the time?”

“I mean… Yes, it would be nice. But is that even possible?”

She raised her index finger high, and shouted with all her might. “There’s nothing Mina can’t do! I won’t let you leave without making you laugh!”

“You don’t have to do anything, master. I really…”

“Don’t call me master, Remi! We’re partners, aren’t we?”

I nodded. It was the game we played yesterday.

“Making my partner laugh is my most important duty right now! You’re a beginner in these matters, but don’t worry, I’ll train you.”

My wrist beeped again, but I didn’t care at that moment.

“Hmm… how will you do that?”

Mina paused, then picked up the butterfly from the bed. Taking my hand with her free hand, she led me out of the room. She was eager as she led me down the stairs, then into the garden. I didn’t resist at all.

I wanted to let her do whatever she wanted with me.

“Our mission is beginning!”

When we reached the garden, she released the butterfly into the sky. “Our boss, the butterfly, will guide us; we’ll fly to the sky with it! Sky, Remi!”

“Flying? How?”

“This is a top-secret mission, Remi! The butterfly chose us as spies, so we can’t just blab about it in public!” she said warningly, and a laugh escaped me. She probably hadn’t thought of a way yet, but she came up with something on the spot.

“I understand now. Sorry, partner. We’re spies, you say?”