“Just one more tweak and I’m done,” said James. The twenty-one-year-old inventor, who was using the screwdriver to twist the small screw into the synthetic made plate that connected to the left side of the left foot.

“And done,” He smiled as he placed the screwdriver on the table. James moved a few metres back and examined the pair of white bionic legs.

I hope she likes it.

A round of applause caught his attention. He moved towards his phone and stopped the video. The video was about his friend, Claire dancing on a stage at their university.

He used her dance movement as the based for the feet’s movement. Hopefully, it will work. James sighed as he lowered his head. Well, it depends on her if it works.

A small piece of a cut newspaper that was hang on a board. It read;

“Nasty Incident Involving A Student.”

James walked towards it and pulled out the pin. He threw the news paper to the trash can. I don’t need it anymore.

He turned around, scanned his surrounding before letting out a sigh. Well, I guess it’s clean up time.

A broken motherboard, a shirt with coffee stain, screwdriver, test pen, soldering iron, several synthetic plate, broken screws, several long and shorts wires that had been cut, three biology books about human body, a book about robot, two books about Linux programming language, a laptop, and a picture of Claire.

James grabbed the picture. Claire was twelve-year-old in the picture, she had a short hair, blue eyes and white skin. Her smile captivated him as his heart began beating faster.

Next to her was him, he had black hair, black eyes and white pupil. On her left was Elia, their friend, she had a long pink hair and purple eyes and white pupil.

James smiled. He placed the picture on the table and began cleaning up the room.

He let out a sigh of relief as he swiped his forehead. James had finished cleaning up the room, he looked at the clock on the wall.

“Shit!” James blurted out. The time on the clock was three in the afternoon. I’m going to be late for the train.

James went upstairs and headed to the shower. After he finished, he dressed up in a black jacket with a white t-shirt underneath. And a pair of grey pants.

He went downstair and put the legs inside a box. Then, he closed it with duct tape.

James checked his watch and it showed there was ten minutes left before the train leave. He opened his garage door, exited the garage, and closed it before rushing towards the station.

He reached the train station and managed to get into the train. James let out a heavy sigh before sitting on the coach. He put the box on top of his legs.

James pulled out his phone and called Elia. The phone began ringing before being accepted.

“Hello?”

“Oh! Yes, sorry for calling you, Elia.” James apologized.

“N-No problem, but where were you in the last three months?” She asked with a demanding tone.

“I was building something.” James replied nervously, “Is Claire there?”

“Where did you get that information?” Her tone changed into a more menacing one.

“Erm… ahh… I followed yours and Claire’s Instagram account in a different account.”

“You’re stalking us?”

“No! I-I didn’t mean too,” James told her. His stomach growled. Damn, I need to get myself a cup of noodle before going to her place.

“Hmm…” There was a pause on her end, “What do you want?”

“Uhh… I need your help.”

“What kind of help?”

“I have a present for her and I want some alone time with her.”

“Tell me what kind of present you’re giving to her.”

“Alright, but don’t tell her, okay?”

“It depends.”

He sighed. “It’s a pair of new legs for her.”

Elia paused before responding, “L-legs?”

“Yeah.” He said nervously.

“So, the last three months you were busy building that?”

“Y-yeah.”

“And you want to give that to Claire?”

“Yes.”

Elia paused again.

“W-will it work?”

“Yes, but I don’t know about the dance movement.”

“Hopefully it will.” She told him, “You know how devastated she was when she lost her legs, right?”

“I know and that’s why I build them.”

She sighed. “Alright, I will not tell her because I don’t want to get her hopes up.”

“Thank you.” I thanked her before speaking again, “Thank you for taking care of her when I’m not around like everybody else.”

“Don’t worry about it.” She told me.

“Meet you later.”

“You too.”

He hanged up. After sometimes, James arrived at the station. He went to a convenience store and buy a cup of noddle; he ate it before going to Claire’s house.

James arrived at her house and push the doorbell. The bell rang and the door opened. Her mother appeared and James greeted her.

“Hello, auntie.”

“James? Why are you here?” She asked in a harsh tone.

“Erm… I have something to give to her.” He told her and lowered his head, “And I’m sorry for not visiting her and you for the past three months.”

She crossed her arms and looked at the box he carried. “What’s inside the box?”

“It’s…”

“Speak louder.”

“I- It’s a pair of new legs!” He tightened his grip on the box.

“Huh?” She raised an eyebrow, “Are you crazy? Do you think I believe that?”

“It’s the truth!” James raised his head,” I-I know you think of me just like the others, but this past three months… I never left her! This pair of legs is the proof of that.”

Claire’s mother narrowed her eyebrows. James greeted his teeth before opening his mouth to speak, “Please let me apologize to her and see her dance one more time!”

Before she could speak, Elia appeared behind her and placed her hand on her left shoulder.

“Aunty, let Claire decide if she accept his apology or not.” Elia reasoned with her.

Claire’s mother paused a but before turning her attention to James. “Alright, you can come in. But I still not accepting your apology.”

“Thank you.” James bowed his head.

The gate opened and James walked towards the house. He headed towards her room along with Elia.

James stopped in front of Claire’s room. This is it, it’s life or death from here and onwards. The future of our relationship is depending on these legs, my apology and….

Elia snapped James out from his thoughts. “Why are you standing there?”

“Erm… I….”

“You’re nervous, right? Don’t worry, I’ll help you.” She told him as he knocked the door.

“W-wait.”

“Hey Claire, I have a present for you.”

“W-what? What is it?”

“Come open the door for me.”

“Oi, I don’t have a leg remember?”

“Oh, silly me.” Elia giggled, “Then, I’ll come inside. Make sure you wear something that cover your skin.”

“W-what? Idiot! Of course, I’m wearing something that cover my skin. Hmph.”

“What a tsundere.” Elia smiled before turning his attention to James, “Alright, go in.”

“Wa-.” Before James could speak, Elia opened the door and pushed James inside the room before closing it.

“Oi!” He shouted.

“I’ll leave you two alone, bye bye.” Her footsteps echoed behind the door and vanished after a few distance.

“James?” Claire called his name.

“Eh!” James who forgot that he was inside Claire’s room, turned his head to face her.

Claire wore a tight t-shirt and a pair of short pants that exposed her thighs and. Other than that, was her missing limbs.

“H-hey, Claire.” He raised his hand.

Claire narrowed her eyebrows and asked him in an annoyed tone. “Why are you here in my house and in my room?”

It’s better to take things slowly. He took a deep breath before exhaling it.

“I-I want to apologize.” James lowered his head, “I know for the last three months, I completely ignore you, and I’m sorry for that and being such a bastard. I knew you were sad and devastated. You wanted comfort, but I was not there for you. I’m sorry Claire, from the depth from my heart, I’m sorry.”

“What were you doing in the past three months?”

James raised his head. Claire had crossed her arms and her left eyebrow raised.

James held his breath before exhaling. He positioned the box between them.

“T-This is what I was working.”

“What is it?”

“Something I made for you.” He looked at her missing limbs before redirecting his eyes to her face.

Claire mouth was slightly opened. She grabbed a cutter from her desk and cut the tape. Her hands opened the box and she gasped.

She raised her head to face James before looking back at the pair of legs inside the box.

“Is this?”

“Y-yes.”

Claire slowly raised the left foot and inspected it. Her hands turned the leg around before turning her attention to James.

“I-I don’t know what to say.”

“Do you want to try them?” He asked her.

“Y-yes.” She responded as her face turned red.

James moved towards the box, grabbed the right leg and got closer to Claire. He kneeled before her and positioned the leg on her right side. The other leg was placed on her left side.

“Do you have a sock?”

“Yeah, It’s in that drawer.” She pointed to a pink drawer.

“Isn’t that… where you put your… underwear?”

“Ahh! You’re right… I’m sorry… I will get that for you!” Claire told him as she panicked.

James moved the legs away and Claire moved her wheelchair towards her drawer.

Moment later, she returned with a pair of black socks. “Found it.”

“Good.” James praised her.

He positioned the legs in front of her while she was putting the black socks.

James connected the legs to her missing limbs. The legs began blinking red and green before turning to green.

“What’s the meaning of the colour?”

“It meant the connection is successful.”

“But I didn’t feel a thing?”

“Eh?” James staggered before keeping his calm, “I will work on that after this.”

“Can it walk?”

“Let’s found out that together,” He told her as a drop of sweat ran through his cheek, “I’ll hold you.”

James extended his hands to her. She looked at it for a while before holding them.

Claire slowly raised from her wheelchair and began walking as James supported her.

“Claire, I’m going to release my hands.” He told her.

“Eh! W-wait! I’ll fall.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to let you fall.”

“You mean it?”

“Yes.”

She nodded and James slowly released his hands from her. Claire closed her eyes, but she didn’t fall to the floor. She opened her eyes and turned.

Claire couldn’t believe that she was standing up. She moved her feet back and forth before facing James.

“Am I standing? Or is this just a dream?” She asked in a surprise tone.

“Yes, you are standing.” James told her.

It works! It actually works! He laughed internally.

Claire rushed to him and hugged him. She was crying and her tears dropped to James’s jacket.

Loud footsteps outside the room. The door opened, Claire’s mother and Elia looked at her then to James.

James and Claire moved apart from each other and blushed. James’s heartbeats began beating faster.

“Claire!” They shouted as they realised, she was standing.

Both of them rushed towards Claire and hugged her. They were crying, all of three of them were crying.

James smiled. What a wonderful sight.

Claire released them from her hug and turned towards James.

“Thank you.” She beamed.

She finally let me see that smile again. James formed a smile on his face, “Don’t thank me, yet.”

“There’s one more thing to try.” He extended his right hand at her and his left hand behind his back, “My lady, may I have the pleasure of the first dance.”

“W-wait? I c-can… dance?” She asked.

“Always have been.” He told her. Please let it work!

“Yes,” She bowed like a princess. Claire took his hand and they headed to the dance room.

“So, what’s song are we going to play?”

“Perfect by Ed Sheeran.”

“That song?”

“Yeah, for old times sake.” He reasoned to her.

Claire’s mother played the song on their Samsung speaker. James guided Claire to the dance floor and began dancing.

Their movement were slowed as they got swayed by the song.

“You know, this song reminds me of you.”

“Huh?”

“I remember when you were a kid, you were so cute when you stumble your step.”

She stepped his foot.

“Owh!”

“Sorry, I still not used to these legs. Maybe you should be kinder to me, if not, these legs might hit your head because of ‘technical difficulties.’”

“You didn’t let me finish.”

“Okay. Okay.” She told him.

“As I was saying, after you stumble, you stood up and begin to dance again.”

“That is when I….” He paused as he turned his attention to Claire’s mother and Elia that were crying. Maybe after this.

“That is?”

“Oh yeah, that is when I find you a lot cuter.”

“That’s it?”

“No, but there’s more.” He told her.

After the song finish, Claire’s mother and Elia ran up to her. Her mother hugged her.

“You can finally dance, my little angle.” Her mother told her.

“Thank you, mom.”

Claire turned towards Elia. “Thank you for being there with me.”

Elia broke into tears and hugged her. After sometimes, they pulled themselves away from Claire.

James stepped forward and they turned towards him.

“Thank you,” Claire expressed her gratitude.

“You’re welcome.” James turned to Claire’s mother and Elia. “I have something to tell her, can I have permission to take her to the park?”

Claire’s mother stepped forward and opened her mouth. “Alright, you can take her, but don’t be late.”

She continued. “And James, Thank you.”

James staggered. “This is all I could do to her.”

“Elia, help me get dressed up!” Claire told her.

“Eh? No way. Do it on your own, you have a new pair of legs right?”

“Elia!” She shouted.

“Fine! Let’s go.” They went upstairs.

After sometimes, Elia and Claire appeared. Claire wore a thick white jacket and a pair of black pants.

Claire put on her grey shoes and held James’s right hand. They exited the house and walked towards the park. It was beginning to snow.

“So, why do you want to go to the park?”

“Isn’t that the place we met a long time ago?”

“Yeah, but why?”

“For the mood.”

“Huh?”

“Just take this as a little exercise for you.”

“Alright.” Claire sighed.

At six in the evening, they arrived at the park. They walked towards a bench and sat on it.

“Remember this place?”

“Yeah, this is the place we met.”

“Yeah…. Claire… I…” James paused as Claire turned to face him. Beautiful. He opened his mouth, “I love you!”

Silent fell on them. Claire made her eyes wide. She opened her mouth.

“It-It will be hard for me to accept your feeling after you abandoned me. I know it was for this pair of legs, but at that time… all I want is you and only you. So, when you disappeared like that, like the rest of them, I began hating you.”

James lowered his head, “I-I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry, James, but I already have someone I like.”

James raised his head. Her heart began breaking into pieces like a glass. I didn’t expect this.

“Oh… I didn’t know.”

“Sorry.”

“No. No. No. I’m the one that was supposed to be sorry for all this time.” He told her, “Is it Elia?”

“How did you know?”

“A guess…”

I’m such a simp. James lowered his head.

She smiled. “I plan to tell her eventually.”

“I think she felt the same way too, I’m routing for you.”

“Pfft…” She began laughing.

Eh? James faced her.

“Oh, you should’ve seen your face,” She tried to conceal her laugh.

“Wait? So?”

“No, I like her, but not that type of like, she’s like a sister to me.”

“Eh!”

“How’s that for a twist.”

“You’re so mean.”

She giggled before speaking, “I accept your feeling, but if you do that again, I will leave you. Do you understand?”

“Yes! I’ll not let disappoint you!”

“Good.” She got closer to her, and his heart began beating faster than ever before. Is this it?

Then, she slapped his face.

Eh?

“That’s for leaving me.” He put her hand on his cheek, “And this is for the start of our relationship.”

Claire kissed his forehead. She pulled her face away. Her face was red like a tomato.

I’m so happy! He celebrated internally.