six

Minho keeps meeting his mannequin. It only stays alive for a short time. Conversations are also short.

But he is more excited everyday. For that little time. He gets to see the beautiful mannequin in motion. Alive. With its soft skin. Voice. Expressions. It's such an adorable being.

He has adjusted his own days. He tries to sleep in. Start work later. So that he can stay awake longer. But it has been the same. He falls asleep. The mannequin wakes him up.

He continues to write notes saying, 'please wake me up'.

He also makes sure there's plenty of food.

The way the mannequin's eyes shine at food... makes his heart full. So he prepares enough to make its tummy satisfied.

The mannequin remains interesting. It has little talk. It inquires about the different things Minho says or gives it.

It apologizes because it doesn't remember much.

Minho starts to notice, too. That it stays alive longer. He's been timing it. Since the time the mannequin wakes him... to when it moves to its place. To turn frozen again.

Slowly, the mannequin's greetings change.

It has bigger smiles. Less hesitancy. Less fear.

Minho adores every kiss that he receives.

- - -

- - - - - -

"This one is called... an avocado, right?" The mannequin asks.

It pulls out a slice from the sandwich.

"Yes, you're right!" Minho responds enthusiastically.

The mannequin nods, throws the piece on the plate, then makes a face.

"Yes. I remember. I hate it."

"You're quite a picky one, aren't you?"

Minho disappointedly eats it himself.

"I just don't like the texture of it." The mannequin says.

"Alright then, I won't put it in your sandwich next time."

- - -

- - - - - -

He sees the mannequin shiver one day. It takes a seat at the kitchen table. Its cute eyes remain on the food Minho spread out.

"Wait a minute," Minho says. He runs to grab a sweater from his closet.

The mannequin stands when Minho holds out the sweater.

It pushes its head out of the sweater's neckline. It smiles as Minho pulls it down. It wiggles its fingers out of the long sleeves.

"Is it warm?" Minho asks.

"Yes, it is. Thank you."

"You are welcome." Minho gently fixes its ruffled black hair. "You're so cute. Eat everything, okay?"

- - -

- - - - - -

The mannequin comes to him after it's finished eating.

It sits across him on the floor.

Minho has been working on the coffee table.

He doesn't want to disrupt the mannequin's eating. He also finds it too cute when it's munching away.

He gets the urge to pinch its cheeks. Ask questions.

But then the mannequin could be left hungry.

"Minho," the mannequin says softly. "Do you have some of that red fruit? It's sweet and... a little sour? It has small seeds on the outside?"

The mannequin's eyes are so hopeful. It's nearly drooling.

Minho stops drawing.  "You mean strawberries?"

"Yes!" It says loudly. Its eyes shine in anticipation. "I tried all the food in the fridge and none of them tasted like that."

"You tried all the food? How did you try all the food?"

"I took a bite out of... all the food..."

Minho's laughing too much. He puts down his black brush before he makes a mess. "God, you're so funny."

The mannequin sits back. Its cheeks get pink. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay. I guess I need to get strawberries. I'll have to go tomorrow morning. So just wait a little, okay?"

The mannequin nods. "Yes, I remember. I understand. You have to go outside and give... money? Money! To buy things. Is that correct?"

"Yes. You're remembering more and more each day, aren't you?"

"It's because you give me more love." The mannequin smiles and leans forward to kiss Minho. Once. Then twice. "Thank you."

Minho sighs at the feel of those lips. He's gotten so used to them. He likes them too much. He's been tempted more and more to hold the cute mannequin in place. To kiss back.

But it has very little memories and knowledge.

He's not sure if it's okay. It's only been a week.

The mannequin stays around for thirty minutes usually.

Tonight... It's been fifteen minutes so far.

"Do you like it when I kiss you?" The mannequin asks.

Minho blinks out of his thoughts. The beautiful creature's gazing at him. It's head's tilted. He feels his cheeks burn. "U-Um... Yes?"

The mannequin grins. "Okay. You looked just like that girl."

"W-What? What girl?"

The mannequin gets up. Moves gracefully to the huge bookshelf in the living room. Brings back a volume. And Minho inwardly groans.

"This one," it says. It opens the book to a certain page.

Minho now knows what it's talking about—he drew it.

There's a guy giving his girlfriend a kiss.

He's walking away in the next panel.

The girl stares after him with a satisfied expression.

She has blushing cheeks.

Minho takes the book. "Um, how many of these have you read?"

"I didn't have a lot of time before... so I didn't really read. I just looked at the pages. They helped me learn and remember things."

"Right. Of course," Minho says. He quickly gets up. Walks to the shelf. Puts the book back. He brings another one instead.

"Here! This is good for you!" He hands the mannequin a dictionary. It has simple pictures and words.

"Oh," the mannequin says and opens it. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he responds. He sits back down and watches the mannequin go through the pages. Then he is stunned when it closes it.

"This one is boring," it says. "I know these stuff..."

"Oh... uh... no, you don't! T-There's so many things! Look at all the pages! There's so much to learn! It's fun!"

"But," the mannequin says. It pouts. "I need to learn about love. So I can understand and remember."

"T-There's stuff about love!"

He takes the book. Opens it to a page with food.

"Look! Here's all the food you love!

"Hmm," the mannequin hums. It nods. It takes the book and closes it. "And what about love from others?"

"Uh... I can teach you about that!"

"You can?" The mannequin says excitedly. Then it frowns. "But... you have to work. And you will get tired. Those books have a lot about love. I can just learn from them." It moves to stand.

Minho holds its arm. Pulls it down gently. Then laughs nervously.

"No. Sorry. Not now," he says.

"But you said I can help myself to whatever."

"I'm sorry. I meant food."

The mannequin pouts again.

"What if I read them when you're sleeping?"

"But you're supposed to wake me up when you turn human!"

"What will happen if I don't?"

"Then I don't get to spend time with you and give you love."

The mannequin purses its lips.

"Yes... you're right. That will be a problem."

Minho breathes out. He is relieved.

To be continued...