We stood in front of the bank entrance, the cold glass doors with 2 inverted triangles making a big star surrounded by small stars looming over me. My heart raced as the realization that Aaron was going to abandon me to deal with the bank sank deeper into my psyche. "Aaron, I... I don't think I can do this alone," I confessed, my voice shaking slightly.
"Come on, Eli, you've got to start doing things on your own. It's just setting up a bank account." Aaron smirked, his prosthetic arm casually resting on his hip.
I stammered, feeling like a child lost in an unfamiliar world. "B-b-b-b-but I've never done anything like this."
His face remained unchanged, that irritating smirk still plastered across it. He refused to answer anything and just stared at me.
"I know I need to learn, but this is all so new to me," I pleaded, "Couldn't you just... stay close by? Just in case?"
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, weighing my words. "Eli, you're not going to learn if I'm always there to hold your hand." I ran out of arguments and just stared at him with pleading eyes, feeling like I was on the verge of tears. His gaze softened. "Alright, how about this: I'll come in with you and explain what you need, but you handle the rest of the talking."
My relief was immediate. I nodded, grateful for his compromise. He pulled the door open and held it waiting for me to walk through. I didn't feel like I could walk in first. He motioned for me to walk forward, stubbornly not leading the way.
I relented and forced my feet to shuffle forward into the bank office.
"Remember, you've got this," Aaron encouraged with a pat on my back as I walked past him.
The sterile atmosphere of the bank, with its polished floors and neatly arranged counters, made me feel uneasy. There were a few different station, and a few counter places, one of which had a lady standing looking at us with expectation.
I remembered accompanying Dad to our village bank a few times; it was just old man Hank with a computer and a few dozen filing cabinets. This place looked more like our hospital with how clean and organized it looked.
We approached the help desk, the young lady greeted us with a professional smile. "How can I assist you today?" she asked. I blinked and was surprise to realize that she wasn't wearing AR glasses. I glanced at Aaron, and his glasses were completely off and clear for once.
Aaron took charge. "He needs to set up a private account. He's new here, an Oldworlder who just moved into the area. Started working and has a government account." Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "I know I'm not allowed to do the talking," and stepped back, leaving me exposed and alone. I swirled and watched him back up to the chair, my jaw slack. He winked at me and nodded. I slowly turned to the clerk, feeling betrayed and vulnerable under her scrutinizing gaze.
"Let's get your account set up," the clerk said softly, offering me a gentle, understanding smile. Her tone was reassuring, and as she led me through the process, her demeanor remained kind and patient.
"I, uh, appreciate your help," I mumbled, trying to relax.
To my surprise, she said, "I, too, was from an Oldworlder village and had moved here a few years ago."
I blinked. "Oh. Okay. Why did you move from the village here to the city?"
She gave me a sad look not breaking her professional smile. Looking at her screen and clicking on the keyboard she explained "I had to escape an arranged marriage; my father wanted me to marry the blacksmith's son. I didn't love him, he didn't love me. I didn't want to live like that."
"Ah I understand. Thank you for telling me that," I said. I felt uncomfortable recognizing a common story in my own village. "I'm sorry for your circumstance, but it helps to know I'm not alone in...leaving my home village."
"Of course," she replied, glancing at me, her smile warm and genuine. "We all have to start somewhere, right? But I'm sure your reason for leaving is different than love troubles."
I thought I noticed her blush a bit. I was confused but didn't respond, waiting for her to ask me questions to set up my account.
"May I see your ID, please?" the clerk asked, clearing her through, her voice as soft and patient as before. My fingers trembled slightly as I handed it over to her. She nodded, scanning it with the computer.
"Thank you," she said. "And your government bank information?" I fumbled through my documents, showing her paper after paper that she rejected, finally locating the necessary details and giving them to her. She typed away at her computer, as I worked on battling my own unease.
"Perfect," she said, smiling reassuringly. "Now, how about your employment information and personal contact details?"
I took a deep breath and thumbed through the paper, looking for the right document again.
"Alright," she said after a few moments, hitting a button, and I heard a strange noise coming from under the counter. After a few seconds, she picked up a stack of paper, a sheet of plastic, and a folder, organized everything, and handed me the packet. "Here's your new bank card, instructions for setting up a digital wallet, and all the information you need. Everything was also delivered to your email. You're all set." She smiled, and I again thought she blushed as I met her eyes.
"Thank you," I managed, my voice barely audible. The relief in my chest was palpable as I felt grateful for her kindness and understanding.
As we turned the counter, Aaron looked at me with a proud smirk. "See, that wasn't so hard, chick magnet," he said, his voice carrying a light tease.
I stumbled and glanced over my shoulder, where the lady refused to look at us, the blushing now obvious.
Before I could counter or respond, "Now, let's throw you onto a bus and teach you how to use public transit."
The clerk giggled behind us as we walked through the doors. I stammered, my nerves returning full force, "Maybe that's enough new things for one day?"
Aaron shook his head. "Nah, man. We need to get you the basic tools so you can start fending for yourself. Especially when our schedules don't match up."
Reluctantly, I conceded, "Fine."
We stepped out into the bustling city street, and the sounds of laughter and conversation filled the air. My heart pounded as I followed Aaron toward the edge of the sidewalk, trying to keep up with his confident strides.
"Besides, we're all out of leftovers from my mom's kitchen. We need to get ingredients, and the local convenience store doesn't have everything I like," he said, glancing at me.
The thought of navigating the crowded streets and confusing public transit made my stomach churn.
"Okay," I squeaked, my voice betraying my nerves.
Aaron laughed, a lighthearted sound that only made my face grow hotter. "It's hilarious seeing such a big guy be so timid. Pull your phone out."
I did as instructed, staring down at the device in my hand as if it held the key to my survival. Aaron pointed at the screen. "Click here...See this icon, which is the public transit app for the city. Type in where you need to go, and it will tell you which buses to get on or if it's better to order a self-driving car."
I looked up at him, my confusion clear on my face. He sighed and took my phone, quickly typing in our destination before handing it back. "Remind me to save all our normal locations for you."
"Okay, Thanks," I muttered, feeling like a child learning to tie their shoes.
Aaron pointed at my phone "See this icon," I nodded as he pointed to a sign on a pole "Those are the geo-tagged bus stops. Sometimes they have seats, most of the time they don't." pointing back to the map "If you are wondering where the bus stops are you can look at your icon in the middle and the nearest stations like it's labeled here."
As we waited for the bus, I felt a mix of excitement and fear. This was another new experience for me. I knew I needed to face them head-on, but it wasn't easy.
The bus approached, and Aaron gestured for me to follow him. "The next one's in 20 minutes, and I'd rather not wait." He tapped his watch against the panel next to the door, selecting tickets for two. "I'll cover this trip. You can get the fare next time."
The screen's frame turned green, and the door swung open. I hesitated for a moment before stepping onto the bus behind Aaron. To my shock, there was no driver – only a few other passengers chatting and staring at something in their AR glasses.
The cityscape rushed past me as the bus glided smoothly through the streets. I pressed my face against the cool glass, drinking in every detail of the world. The towering buildings and unfamiliar signs were even bigger than I've seen so far in the industrial and residential areas Aaron has taken me to.
"Having fun there?" Aaron's teasing voice snapped me back to reality. I turned toward him with a sheepish grin.
"Sorry, it's just... so different," I admitted, gesturing at the scenery outside.
Aaron chuckled. "You'll get used to it. Hey, speaking of different..." He pointed at the empty driver's seat. "What do you think about our invisible chauffeur?"
I shivered involuntarily. "It's unnerving. Who's controlling this thing?"
"AI, my friend," Aaron responded, tapping his temple. "Artificial intelligence. This isn't a full AGI, like the ones you've heard of, but it's a very sophisticated driving AI. The city grid is so well-maintained that drivers aren't necessary. Makes the rides cheaper and faster...and safer." he rubbed his prosthetic leg.
"AI?" I frowned, trying to wrap my head around the concept.
"Advanced computer programs with very specific functions and controls," he explained. "Don't worry, they're safe. The seat's there just in case or if the bus needs to get maneuvered off the grid."
I nodded, pretending I understood while making a mental note to research AI later.
"We're heading to the central warehouse stores," Aaron informed me, interrupting my thoughts. "They have a wider variety of ingredients than the local convenience stores. It's not necessarily cheaper, but the quality and flavors are much better. But that's more of a consideration because I'm spoiled by my mom's cooking."
My stomach growled in agreement, reminding me of the delicious meals Aaron's mom had prepared. "Sounds good," I replied, my mouth watering at the memory.
The streets grew increasingly congested as we neared our destination. Buildings loomed overhead, casting cold shadows that swallowed the sun and sky. I involuntarily compared this scene to the festive crowds back home, and my anxiety spiked at the thought of losing Aaron in this sea of strangers.
"Wow, it's packed here," I muttered, gripping my bag tightly.
"Welcome to the heart of the city," Aaron replied, peering through his AR glasses. "It's always like this."
As the bus glided seamlessly through each intersection, always catching green lights, I marveled at the efficiency of the traffic system. The bus periodically stopped to let someone on or off.
"Next stop, Market Street at Central Lane," announced the automated voice over the speaker. Aaron looked up from his AR glasses.
"Alright, Eli, time to get off."
My heart raced as we followed the flow of passengers disembarking. The sidewalk was a cacophony of footsteps, laughter, and snippets of conversation from people absorbed in their own worlds.
"Take out your phone and enter 'return trip' in the app," Aaron instructed. "It'll use the location data to find our next bus."
Following his instructions, I entered the information and saw that our next bus would leave in 35 minutes. Aaron glanced at my screen and nodded approvingly.
"Perfect. That's our shopping window. Your daily pay should be in your bank account now; you can use it whenever you want to go places. Don't worry about the groceries today; I've got it covered."
"Thanks, Aaron," I said, feeling a mix of gratitude and discomfort at his generosity.
"Hey, no problem. One day, you'll get me, right?" he replied with a grin.
I smiled back, nodding my agreement. "Thanks, Aaron," I said, my voice tight with the conflicting emotions of gratitude and discomfort.
As we walked toward the entrance of the store, I felt my eyes go wide in astonishment at the sheer number of people streaming in and out. The building, like all others in this part of the city, was boxy, tall, and grey, indistinguishable from its neighbors except for the signage. All had this torrent of people going in and out, mingling, but no one really interfered or interacted with anyone else.
"Whoa," I muttered, taking in the overwhelming scene. "I've never seen so many people in one place."
I looked around and suddenly felt a brief wave of panic that Aaron had disappeared. My heart raced, and I whipped my head around, searching for him in the sea of people.
"Hey, over here!" Aaron called out, just a few steps ahead. Relief washed over me as I caught up to him, resolving to stay close. He was my only guarantee of finding anything in this huge city.
"Man, you gotta relax," Aaron teased, noticing the tension in my posture.
"Sorry," I mumbled, trying to force my body to loosen up. "This is all just so...busy, big and loud."
Aaron clapped me on the back, his expression sympathetic. "You'll get used to it, I promise. Now, let's do some shopping before the bus arrives."