02ㅣUnfamiliar Voice
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“Get up.”
I awoke to the sound of an unfamiliar man's voice. A low, yet clear voice, it tickled my ears. Slowly, I opened my eyes, and the AI I'd seen yesterday was staring down at me. Things I hadn't seen clearly yesterday because it was dark now came into view.
Soft hair, large, doe-like eyes, a sharp nose, thick lips, and a sharp jawline. A perfect appearance. A synchronization that would pass for human, and an appearance that defies belief. Finally, a voice so rich in emotion that it's hard to believe it's artificial intelligence. The speech may be awkward, but the voice is human.
“It’s 6:33 now. You should get up and get ready now so you don’t get late.”
The soft voice added to the stiff tone, creating a sense of alienation. A familiar voice cut through the gap. My father smiled happily at me, his expression unfamiliar with my burning emotions.
“What do you think, Yu-eun? Should I kill you?”
“…I told you I didn’t like it.”
“How convenient is it with AI, huh?”
“I would have clearly said that if I depend on AI for everything, I will be nothing.”
“You can let go of the heavy responsibility and leave it to others.”
““You think too much of yourself. If you do that, you’ll only end up suffering.”
“As my father always says, when you say things like that, it’s not altruistic, it’s selfish.”
“You shouldn’t live so independently, but sometimes you have to rely on others.”
““Life is meant to be lived for oneself, not for others.”
“It’s your life. You don’t have time to waste on others, you have time to spend on yourself.”
Hearing my father's worried, bitter words from the morning left me speechless. I simply glanced back and forth between my father and the AI, who was silently watching me, and sighed. For some reason, I always felt unnecessarily proud in front of him.
“…Okay, I’ll get ready for school.”
“Yeah… Ah,“For your information, this AI’s name is Kim Seok-jin.”
“Treat him well from now on. His attitude will change depending on how you treat him.“He may not have any emotions, but he has outstanding intelligence.”
““I don’t ask AI to do anything.”
“Just know that I will act as if nothing happened and go on as usual.”
/
That alien voice kept flashing through my mind. Because of it, I couldn't concentrate in class, and I couldn't even make the most of my breaks. Normally, I would focus on class, take notes, and then review during breaks. But today, I couldn't stick to a single plan.
That unfamiliar yet gentle voice. Like a drug, I was lost in it for a while, unable to escape. Today, I was so dazed that I couldn't even remember how I spent the day. For some reason, I felt a sudden urge to get home, so I skipped the study room and headed home.