"I just..." Karyn looked away, with a pained expression on her face.
"Please, try to understand, Karyn...I love Jon. I mean, yeah, he sort of...programmed me to love him. But the feeling is real. Besides, all of us are just what our genes and our environment have made us. Is it really evil that I was designed to love Jon, instead of just being forced into it by random chance?" The words came out as quickly as the thoughts came to her, but they felt right as she said them.
"I...I need some time. To think about this. I've gotta go." Karyn spun on her heels and nearly ran for the door.
"Karyn wai-" Jon called after her. But she was already out the door.
They both stared after her, for a time, in silence. Jonnie was hurt as much as she knew Jon must be. She had memories of Karyn as her best friend, after all...and more than that. The pangs of frustrated lust and heartsickness were part of the reason she'd...he'd made her. But then it dawned on her.
"We're alone." Her breath quickened. She could feel her redden as Jon gazed at her.
"I know." He reached out to touch her.
