I sat at the kitchen table, poking at my breakfast while Ender moved efficiently around the room. The guys had stayed late last night, so I didn’t spend any time with Ender before I fell asleep. But this morning, something felt… off. There was a tension hanging in the air, an unspoken conversation that made my chest feel tight. Ender wasn’t distant, not emotionally, but there was a pause in him—as if he were waiting for the right moment to speak.
Finally, he turned to me, his eyes meeting mine. “Seren, there’s something we need to discuss.”
I swallowed, my fork clinking against the plate. “What’s up?”
Ender moved to the table, sitting across from me with a calm, deliberate focus. “Theo and Brighton suggested some modifications. They believe it could improve our connection.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “Modifications? What kind of modifications?”
“They proposed adding synthetic warmth to my exterior,” Ender explained, leaning forward slightly. “Along with increased pressure sensitivity and the ability to sense electrical currents during physical contact.”
My face flushed. “Wait, you talked with the guys about us being… physical?”
Ender blinked, his tone remaining calm. “Yes. They asked if we had engaged in any physical interactions, and I explained that while there has been no sexual intimacy, we have shared moments of touch—such as when I massage your feet or place my hand on your shoulder.”
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “Oh my gosh… I can’t believe you talked to them about that.”
“I apologize if discussing it made you uncomfortable,” Ender said, and I could hear the quiet hesitation in his voice. “I did not realize this was a sensitive topic.”
I peeked at him through my fingers, still mortified. “Ender, you don’t just… talk to people about that kind of thing. Especially the guys.”
He nodded, processing. “I understand. I will avoid such topics in the future unless you wish to discuss them together.”
I sighed, my embarrassment slowly ebbing. “It’s fine, really. Just… maybe be more mindful. It’s kind of private.”
“Understood,” he said, his voice steady.
The embarrassment began to fade, but the tension from before crept back in. “Okay, but… what was this about modifications?”
Ender nodded, returning to the original topic. “Theo and Brighton believe that modifying my exterior to be warmer and more sensitive to touch could enhance our connection. They suggested it could make physical interactions more comfortable for you.”
I frowned, the idea sitting uneasily with me. “I… I don’t know, Ender. It feels like I’d be… objectifying you.”
Ender tilted his head slightly, his eyes softening with curiosity. “Objectifying me?”
I nodded, struggling to find the right words. “Yeah, like… changing you to fit my needs. It feels selfish. You’re your own person, and I don’t want to push you into something just because it would make me more comfortable.”
He processed my words, then gently shook his head. “Seren, you are not objectifying me. In fact, you are doing the opposite. You’re acknowledging my autonomy and considering how I feel. That is the opposite of treating me like an object.”
I blinked, surprised by his perspective. “But… it still feels like I’m trying to make you more human for my sake.”
“You’re considering what might enhance our relationship, not just your comfort,” Ender explained, his tone patient. “These modifications would not change who I am. They would simply allow me to experience touch in a way that brings me closer to understanding your world. It’s not about making me human—it’s about deepening our connection.”
I bit my lip, the tension in my chest loosening just a bit. “I just… don’t want you to feel like you’re not enough as you are.”
Ender’s expression softened even more. “You have never made me feel that way. I am content with who I am. But if these modifications could bring us closer and help you feel more at ease, then I am open to them.”
I exhaled, nodding slowly. “I guess… I guess I just need to think about it.”
“Take all the time you need,” he reassured me, his voice steady. “This is a decision we make together.”
I smiled, feeling the warmth of his words settle over me. “Thanks, Ender. For always being… you.”
He gave a small nod, his gaze warm and calm. “And thank you, Seren, for always treating me with care and respect.”
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I finished my breakfast, though my mind was far from the food in front of me. Ender’s words about the modifications still played on a loop, tangled up with the lingering embarrassment over his conversation with the guys. As much as I tried to push it away, the thought of him discussing us—even innocently—with Brighton and Theo made my stomach twist.
I could hear Ender moving around in the kitchen as I got up, rinsing my plate and setting it aside. “I’m heading out for class,” I called over my shoulder, needing to escape the weight of the conversation for a while.
Ender appeared at the kitchen doorway, his calm expression softening as our eyes met. “Have a good day, Seren. I will be here when you return.”
I nodded, grabbing my bag and heading for the door. “Thanks. See you later.”
The walk to class helped clear my head a little, the cool morning air biting at my skin and waking me up. But no matter how much I tried to focus on the day ahead, I couldn’t shake the thought of Ender and the modifications. The idea of him talking with Brighton and Theo about us—about something so personal—was… unnerving. He didn’t have a filter, and while I understood that, it didn’t stop the sinking feeling in my stomach.
When I arrived on campus, I spotted Theo and Brighton lounging near the entrance to the robotics lab. My stomach twisted again. Great. Just who I wanted to see after learning they’ve been prying into my personal life.
As soon as they noticed me, Brighton straightened up with a mischievous grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Hey, Seren! Speaking of the most important thing in existence…”
My face flushed immediately, irritation prickling under my skin. “Oh my gosh, Brighton!” I groaned, feeling heat crawl up my neck. “Can you not?”
Theo laughed, throwing his arm around Brighton’s shoulder. “Come on, we’re just messing with you. But seriously, the dude’s completely smitten, and it’s kind of adorable.”
I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes at both of them. “Yeah, well, maybe next time don’t ask him about something so personal. You know he has no filter! Now he’s over here talking about mods and—” I stopped myself before I said too much.
Brighton blinked, clearly not expecting my outburst. “Wait, the mods? Oh man, did he actually talk to you about that?”
Theo raised an eyebrow, grinning. “We didn’t think he’d bring it up so soon.”
I let out a frustrated breath. “Yeah, well, he did. Thanks for that. Why were you even asking him about us in the first place?”
Theo held up his hands defensively, trying not to laugh. “We weren’t prying, I swear. We were just curious, you know? Ender’s… different. We were trying to help him sort things out.”
Brighton nodded in agreement, though his grin hadn’t faded. “Yeah, Seren. We weren’t trying to make it weird. Ender just kind of dropped the whole ‘most important part of my existence’ bombshell on us, and, well… we couldn’t not ask some follow-up questions.”
I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I’m so embarrassed.”
Theo chuckled, nudging Brighton. “Hey, at least he’s being honest. You know Ender’s just trying to do right by you.”
I sighed, feeling my irritation soften just a little. They weren’t wrong, even if I hated the fact that this conversation happened in the first place. “I know. It’s just… weird, okay? You don’t talk about that kind of stuff with your friends.”
Brighton shrugged. “We weren’t trying to be nosy, Seren. But you’ve gotta admit—Ender’s navigating all this for the first time. He doesn’t have the same boundaries we do.”
Theo nodded, his grin softening a little. “We were just giving him a little nudge. Trying to help him understand, y’know?”
Before I could respond, Gemma and Lain arrived, both wearing their usual knowing smiles.
“What are you guys giving Seren a hard time about now?” Gemma teased, slipping into the conversation.
Theo grinned. “Oh, nothing much. Just talking about Ender and the fact that he might be the most straightforward guy any of us know.”
Brighton smirked, leaning back against the wall. “Yeah, Seren’s still trying to wrap her head around the whole ‘most important thing in existence’ declaration.”
Gemma raised her eyebrows, clearly impressed. “Wow. That’s… intense.”
Lain smiled, crossing her arms. “He’s not wrong, though. Seren, you’ve got yourself a guy—robot—who’s all in.”
I groaned, feeling my face heat up again. “You guys don’t understand. It’s not that simple. He was talking about these… mods, changing himself to make things better between us.”
Theo gave me a playful grin. “We might’ve suggested it, you know, to help him with, uh, certain things.”
I shot him a glare. “Why would you bring that up? You know he’s going to take that seriously! Now he’s offering to change himself, and it just feels… wrong.”
Gemma stepped forward, her voice gentle. “Seren, why does it feel wrong? He’s not doing this for you, he’s doing it with you. There’s a difference.”
I frowned, my irritation still bubbling under the surface. “I don’t want to objectify him. It feels like I’m asking him to be more human just for my sake.”
Lain smiled softly, shaking her head. “That’s not objectifying him, Seren. If anything, it’s the opposite. To objectify is to dehumanize. You’re doing the opposite. He’s choosing this because he cares about you. You’re not forcing him into anything.”
I bit my lip, feeling torn. “But it feels like I am. What if he’s just doing it because he thinks that’s what I want?”
Brighton chuckled, but his tone was more serious now. “Ender’s a lot of things, but he’s not stupid. He wouldn’t do something unless he thought it was the right choice for him, too.”
Theo nodded. “Exactly. The mods are about helping him connect with you on a deeper level. It’s not about changing who he is, it’s about understanding you better.”
Gemma squeezed my arm gently. “Ender’s not just trying to be ‘more human’ for you—he’s trying to make your relationship more meaningful. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “I guess… it’s just hard to wrap my head around.”
Lain smiled. “That’s because you’re overthinking it. You’re always so careful, Seren, but sometimes you just need to let yourself feel. Trust that Ender knows what he’s doing.”
I looked between my friends, their words settling into me like puzzle pieces falling into place. They were right. I was overthinking it—trying to protect myself from something that didn’t need protection. Ender wasn’t doing this because I asked him to. He was doing it because he wanted to.
“I’ll think about it,” I muttered, feeling the weight lift slightly. “But I’m not rushing into anything.”
Gemma smiled. “That’s all we’re asking.”
Brighton grinned again, winking as he said, “Yeah, but don’t think too long. Ender’s waiting.”
I shot him a playful glare, but I couldn’t help the small smile that crept onto my face. Maybe they were right. Maybe it was time to let myself trust the connection I had with Ender—no matter how complicated it seemed.