Entwined

In 2050 half of the world's population functions by an android interface. ''Good morning Star." I pretend to not hear Griot's mechanical voice and snuggle deeper into my bed. The blinds whirring sound echoes, streams of sunlight illuminate the room. "For Pete's sake."I curse beneath my breath. The problem with robots is that they do not feel human emotions not even hostility or rage, their ignorance only elevates the feeling. This is a familiar scene every morning, it always ends with me getting out of bed. "There you are." Griot says. "What are those?" She pushes out her mechanical arms forward. I got you an apple pie to keep the pounds away, I deduced you might not be keen on the pie so I brought an apple juice with me. "What if I don't want either?" The edges of her lips tug into a smile. "No problem, I can get you a raspberry smoothie or oatmeal to decrease your cramps." "Griot, as much as all of your recommendations are tempting I will just stick with a bowl of good old cereals.'' "You should not miss, cereals are a great source of calories which in the long term when accumulated can cause a range of diseases—" I am beginning to wish I was born in the age robots were allergic to water. I would have dunked you in a pool a long time ago. Griot places her hand on her chest and gasps, her eyes are teary as if a teardrop would really trickle down her face. "Don't be a drama queen, you can't cry yet, there are no codes for your tears yet. ''I fill my bowl with corn pops and grab a carton of milk from the fridge. "Griot run me a tab, I need the list of attendees that will be at the ceremony." Griot sits at the dining table. "How much information should I project?" "Everything you can find, I need to know what sector they are from, their jobs, their families, you can find me the name of their pet dog and cat if it's in the database. " The Techno- Revolution began since to early 20's and we were stuck in the mechanical age for a while after that. The world ridiculed our efforts to join the new age because we had little manpower and no funds, it was my father's father's father that saw to it that we caught up. My family is one that commands respect, the power they hold is something even the presidency would dream of. Every new technological creation begins in the palm of my father. Everyone I know wants to be a version of me badly, the Star that rides a space shuttle of her own, the Star that owns a black card whose limit is infinity, the Star that has a cafeteria meant for her alone in school. I don't want those badges though,I would rather not have any of them. There is a Star 2.0 I would like to meet, the Star that can breath without the weight of her family's name burying her six feet under. The only way that will happen is if I get on the plane to Los Angeles without any mishaps and to do that this graduation ceremony must happen without any incidents. "I got your tab. "A screen pops up between us with a list of names. "Okay, let's begin." I set my empty bowl aside. The first person is André Anderson. The picture of a man with a bald head appears on the screen, a woman stands by his side frowning. "Is she the wife?" A picture of her standing alone appears on the screen. She was Matilda diez now Matilda Anderson. What did she do before becoming a wife Griot? "A plastic surgeon." "She would throw a wine glass at me if she could. My family took her job, we made the machines do all the face reconstruction instead of her." She should be happy though the Anderson's like all the other son's are generational wealth. They are the core of sector one, where the world's elite reside. Sector one is where the shuttles that go to the stars are stationed, it is where the revolution began. "Does baldie have some sort of problem?" She furrows her eyebrows in confusion "Who's baldie?" "For Pete's sake! It's the husband" I huff. Could his portruding belly be a alcohol issue? There's a video of him fighting at a bar, should I play it? Griot asks. "No, I think we are good. Bankruptcy?" "Their finances are not looking very good." "Who's the child?" "Ramirez Anderson" Unto the next it is then. A picture of a family is displayed. The man clad in a black tuxedo holds their daughter in the middle and the wife smiles brightly by their side. "Of course they would all smile," I tap on the man's wrist. "He is wearing a work of art, it's a 1920s Rolex and she is wearing diamonds on her neck and wrists. This is what Koreans call chaebol." "Who's the daughter?" "Jedenna Jefferson" ''Does she not use the hallway? I have never bumped into her anywhere." At the end of my investigation I decided to call social security service for Jenna Ortega whose mother I found out is a resistance leader under the guise of a landlady in sector five. I don't know how Jenna got to stay in school but I definitely wasn't letting her stay for the graduation. If her mother was too busy trying to stop her from being sent to a foster home she would not have time to carry out any sinister plans. You have an hour left to prepare for the ceremony. Griot announces. My heart thuds against its ribcage, I cannot bring myself to stop skimming through the guest list, I am scared someone might just hurl a glassware at someone else because of a family feud or one of the son's mistresses could decide this was her stage to wreck mayhem and I feel like overlooking even the tiniest detail could hinder me from spotting them. There's a mail from your mother. Griot announces. Mother never brings good news, I shoo the tabs away with a flick of my hand. What does she want? She says you had better dazzle the stars or she will lock you away in your room forever. I feel the earth spin beneath my knees. How many hours do I have left Griot? An hour and twenty minutes. You said I had an hour earlier. I lied. It was two hours but now you have an hour eighteen minutes. I glare at her before bolting for the bathroom. °°°°°°°°°°°°° The doors of the grand auditorium became a symbol for success the minute they were built. If one was to walk through these doors, it meant they were born elite like me or they were about to join the rat race of acceptance after suddenly inheriting a fortune or they were elites canvassing to climb up higher in the hierarchy of elites. "Miss—" I whip my head away from the window to respond to Kole. My heart thuds , warmth engulfs me and the knowledge puts a smile on my face. "Did my brother ask you not to get the door immediately we arrive? "I ask the driver. Kole murmurs his reply widening my smile even more. "You don't have to answer that, I am sure he asked you to keep it a secret." The door of the car is opened and in enters the reason for my smile. His eyes are gleaming with what is probably a mixture of excitement and pride. He puts two fingers by the corner of his mouth and whistles.The action causes me to bury my face in my palm to hide the crimson red that has dolled my cheeks. "You look so dashing, I almost thought I was in the wrong car." My brother says. I punch him playfully in the arm with my fists. "Don't you always say in your eyes I outshine the stars so you were not being truthful after all." "In my defence you look like you were plucked from the sky, you look ethereal." "Stop it. " I groan, knowing king he could go on for the whole day. "You shouldn't be here, mum might get a nervous breakdown if we exit the car together. She says—" "It makes me look weak that I show you so much affection. "King rolls his eyes, he grabs my cold hands in his. "You know I couldn't care less, to me the most hurtful thing is that I can't spoil you as I would love to." You can't care less Mr CEO , you are the face of the world of robotics. Let me remind you of your words; graduation has to be picture perfect because it is the dawn of my new beginning. Yet, here you are trying to drown us both in our worries. A sigh escapes my lips." I'll stop, none of them will be here, right?" King tightens his grip on my hand. I am sorry kiddo. He apologizes. "I don't know if this will be enough consolation but mum was in my graduation ceremony for only thirty minutes and I didn't get a single hug or even a pat on the back." "If she gave me half of that I would take it with gratitude but I guess I am not important enough." "Oh honey." King drapes his arm around my shoulder. As always I will try to fill their space even if I have to dance to make you laugh. I chuckle despite the lingering feeling of sadness . "You cannot dance to save your life." "Good. Now that smile is worth getting scolded for." "I might not get the chance to see you after this, so I'll ask now. I know you are a busy bee but still come visit me in los Angeles." " I already made a Los Angeles destination vacation plan, there's the mountains, the beach , the amusement park and a hotel stay. By then, I am hoping I will have a lot of free time because I will be absconding from mums scolding. " "King junior are you planning trouble?" ''Don't be a party pooper.''He extends his arm. "You should take that, they are done fixing the bugs I placed on their system.'' "Trouble maker. "I remark wrapping my hand around his arm. "Oh, I forgot. "He dips his hand in his pocket and brings out a square box. I know you are not a fan of jewelry so I got you this. The Star shaped brooch glimmers in his hand. He pins it on my cloth and grins. "It's beautiful, thanks king." "Do you need anything before we step out into the crowd of flashing camera's?" "Make your Los Angeles destination vacation a promise so you can be sure to keep it." "I promise I'll come visit you no matter what happens even if it's the last thing I do." It's a familiar line that evokes memories of many unfulfilled promises but I nod in believe regardless because I need to believe to king atleast I am not just an individual bearing the family name without being nothing but a stain to the family. I want to believe to king atleast I hold a place in his heart. "I love you the most in the world you know." I say to him. "It's probably a negligible sum compared to how much I love you. You should know the only person present here today is your brother. The CEO of TecnoCo is on leave.'' "Allright.'' I tighten my hold on his arm.'' Let's get this party started."