Bahyun’s life took on a different rhythm ever since he welcomed his new pet into his home.

Suddenly, everything seemed to double - from groceries to the time needed to take a bath. He never imagined that he would find himself waiting for his turn to shower in his own single apartment. Extra pairs of shoes cluttered the racks, none of which belonged to him. Each morning, he would wake up to find a pair of eyes, once sharp and alert, now blurry with sleep.

Concerned that Almandine might inadvertently cause a mishap due to her lack of common sense – like starving herself or accidentally causing a kitchen disaster – Bahyun informed his boss that he needed to train his newly adopted “pet”. He was granted permission to work from home for almost two months. One of the perks of being a programmer was the ability to work from anywhere in the world, as long as he had his computer and an internet connection. Reflecting on his colleagues who rarely visited the office, Bahyun contemplated following suit.

Each day, he patiently taught Almandine the basic of human life - from brushing teeth and selecting clothes to do laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, and even using the television and computer. He guided her on how to interact with neighbors and navigate the intricacies of daily life. Over time, he noticed her bluntness and alertness gradually fade, replaced by a demeanor more akin to that og an ordinary girl one might encounter on the street.

Felling a sense of accomplishment, Bahyun began to consider whether he had a knack for counseling. He contemplated paying a visit to the community center to explore the possibility of volunteering his time and skills.

Both Bahyun and Almandine seemed to settle into their daily routine quite well. However, Almandine, who was entirely unfamiliar with the human world, wasn’t particularly eager to learn beyond what Bahyun deemed necessary. She adsorbed information passively, relying on Bahyun’s guidance to navigate the complexities of daily life.

One day, Bahyun handed her a stack of papers, nothing that they were notes written by his grandfather, a college lecturer, and asked her to type the contents into the computer. From that day on, Almandine’s life took on a new sense of purpose. Bahyun’s sudden request stemmed from a day when he was occupied with a full-day corporate meeting and decided to check the surveillance cameras installed in his home.

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Initially installed to ensure Almandine’s safety when he wasn’t around, Bahyun planned to remove the surveillance once he felt confident in Almandine’s ability to manage on her own. However, what he saw on the footage surprised him.

Almandine woke up promptly, adhered to her morning routine, and cooked a substantial amount of food, which was a surprise to Bahyun on the second day they knew each other. She then spent hours staring blankly in the living room until lunch time, during which she consumed the same large portions of food. Evenings were similarly spent in idle contemplation until dinner, after which they took turns showering, bid each other goodnight, and retired to their respective rooms.

As Bahyun watched the surveillance footage, he realized that despite Almandine appearing outwardly normal, she was, in fact, leading a purposeless existence, devoid of any sense of direction or ambition. She seemed akin to a stagnant pond, merely reacting to external stimuli without any intrinsic motivation. Much like the pond stirred briefly when disturbed by a stone, only to return to its inert state once the disturbance ceased, and passively waiting for the next stir.

I need to find something for her to focus on. Bahyun mused as he observed her. However, he was at a loss as to how to ignite her interest in life. Almandine showed no inclination towards hobbies or activities, and she seemed disinterested even in TV dramas.

In an attempt to provide her with a sense of purpose, Bahyun had tasked her with typing his grandfather’s notes. Yet, despite her diligent effort, he couldn’t shake off his unease.

As the end of month approached and it was time to settle the bills, Bahyun was taken aback by the significant increase in expenses, particularly in the food consumption category. While he had anticipated some rise in costs due to having another person in the house, he hadn’t expected the bill to triple. Despite the increased food intake, Almandine still appeared as she had on the day they first met.

Concern crept into Bahyun’s mind. He began to wonder if Almandine might be facing other issues, perhaps related to the fact that she had lost half of the FayOra stone. Though uncertain of the severity of the situation, he resolved to take action.

Maybe I should arrange for her to have a thorough body check-up. He contemplated.