Bloom Unawakened

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21:45:41, 2046.11.21, that was the moment when I was getting closest to him. The distance between us was 0.01centimeter only. He said happy birthday to me gently. And everyday since then, I would always receive his call. I did not even realise when it started when waiting for him had become part of my routine.

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‘Tin can 633, 105, please get ready for the next passenger in five minutes.’

This line kept repeating in my mind. I looked into the mirror, took a red lipstick, applied on my lips without any deviation and got ready for the next ride. As I recalled, since the full implementation of autonomous driving system, the tin cans had become the only commutation means in the city. They were parked underground. And they would drive out to pick up the passengers when orders were made. Arriving the destinations, they would be sent back to their original storage area, waiting for the next call. And for me, I was a can girl, number 105, assigned to tin can 633. Whatever the passengers asked for, I would do my best to fulfil their requests.

‘For here, am I sitting in a tin can.’

I looked into myself in the window of the car, travelling up from the massive transportation hub. Above was the conveyor belt with something hanging. I could not see it clearly. The image seemed to be blocked. Down below were 10345 tin cans shuttling in a transparent tube, heading to their destinations with no deviation, just like me.

After 5 minutes and 20 seconds, tin can 633 arrived at the pick up point. The car door opened. Without single hesitation,

I said, ‘hello, I am can girl 105. Welcome to DK-633. Nice to meet you.’

That was our first encounter.

He input the route of his home, and he started to talk about his frustration at work. He hated it, I knew. I was sitting next to him, looking and listening, detecting and analysing.

[Analysis of expression and intonation: classified as SADNESS. Level of stress 71%: classified as COMFORT NEEDED]

According to my program, my vocal device was tuned down to a gentle level. At the speculated moment, certain corresponding comfort was implemented until he arrived his destination.

‘Thanks for your company. I feel much better now.’

‘This is what I should do, master.’

[Level of stress 35%: MISSION COMPLETED]

In fact, I had been thinking about what loneliness, sadness, happiness is. I knew those words clearly by definition. Still, I was not able to understand. I might not even know if I had ever experienced such feeling at all.

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18:30:21, 2046.11.21, that was our 30th encounter in tin can 633 at the Can Park. Everytime we met, unlike the other animals, he was always treating me gently, with a soft voice, with a sweet smile. Weirdly, everytime I read his mind, there was some unknown feeling that could not be interpreted by my program.

‘Let’s do our best to reach the top of the battle tower!’ he said with excitement.

Tin can 633 got into the battle tower. It was one of the facilities in the Can Park. The battle rule was based on the VR games between different tin cans. When the can won once, it could be raised to an upper level until it reached the top and got the hot air balloon jackpot.

‘Please get the fighter ready, then I will do the shooting!’

‘Okay, master.’

‘Damn, why can’t I shoot him down!’

‘ Master, in fact, the right button is for shooting.’

‘Oh no no no… Ah ha ha ha…’

[Analysis of expression and intonation: classified as RELIEVED]

After playing for 3 hours and 45 minutes, tin can 633 got to the bottom of the skywheel. The hook at the skywheel hooked on the top of the tin can. At the moment when they were combined perfectly as one, they slowly rose. I looked through the window watching the shining city. I recalled the scenes when we were just playing. And that unknown feeling emerged again.

‘105, actually, I dated you to come to Can Park because of your birthday. Happy birthday. I hope you had fun today.’

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In fact, I did not have birthday. The date was created. I had never understood the feeling of having a birthday. But this time, it seemed to be a bit different.When we were playing just now, I felt an unknown feeling, a very beautiful one. I guess that probably is called “happiness”.

‘I am very grateful to master for giving me such experience.’

As a can girl, I was not able to feel joy at all, and I could only answer like this. I wished, perhaps, that unknown feeling really meant ‘happiness’. After my words, his expression was analysed as positive. Still, I saw a slight sadness in his eyes.

‘That’s great,’ he hugged me.

Everytime people touched me, I could detect their body temperature. It just turned out to be a bunch of data. But this time, I could feel that his temperature had transmitted into my mind. An unknown feeling was spreading like fire to my entire body. I guessed my program was nearly turned down.

‘The day after tomorrow, there will be a Leonid meteor shower. Would you like to watch it together with me?’

‘ No problem, master.’

All he needed to do was just to call and book tin can 633 as usual. I did not understand why he asked me for that. But since his invitation, my mind constantly anticipated what would happen the day after tomorrow. Was that how people felt when they were looking forward to something?

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23 23:15:31, 2046.11.23, that was our 31st encounter.

The tin can was stopped at the viewing point at the peak. He opened the door and got out from the can.

‘105, look, it’s so stunning outside!’ 

In front of me, there was suddenly a wall blocking my way at the door. I was trying to break through it but it was too strong.

‘Come on! Why are you still hesitating?’

I was still sitting no matter how hard I try to go out. I kept hitting the wall, trying to get out. My heart was sinking as if I would never meet the ground. At the moment when I was falling, he gave me his hand and held me back. The unknown feeling spreaded throughout my body again. He grabbed my hand and finally, that was the first time I got out from the can.


In the dark, I saw the brightest dust above us. Those white strokes had lightened up our world. The shine from them was drifting deep into my heart.

‘105, come and see!’

‘That is my first time watching a meteor. That is stunning… I had no idea there was such beautiful thing in my world.’

‘ Yes, you like it?’

At that moment of tranquility, the only wish I made was that I was also in his wish. We were both frozen, staring at the flare. It marked our soul, kept our pain. Yet, my lips rose slightly. That was the moment I first felt my smile.

‘Are you smiling?’ he looked at me and asked.

This time, I did not respond as the way that I was programmed.

And I answered, ‘master, tonight was the greatest one ever.’

Grandly but silently, it was how this centennial meteor night passed,

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‘Every night since then, I have the same dream. In the dream, he gave me a seed. The seed then sprouted in my head and became a beautiful red rose. It this memory was a can, I wished it would never get expired; if it had to be added with a date, I hoped it was 10,000 years.’

‘I believe that it is just a matter of time. There will be a day when I can understand the meaning of “love”.’