Five romantic scenes, placed beside their AI-mediated re-simulations.

Min — Hey… what are you doing on the first snow day…?

Seoyeon — The first snow? When’s that supposed to happen?

Min — Not sure… usually sometime in winter when it’s time…

Seoyeon — Wanna meet that day?

Min — … !

Seoyeon — Sounds fun. Then when the first snow comes, you know that empty house in your neighborhood? Let’s meet there.

Min — Sure, why not.

Seoyeon — Promise!

Zura — You know, Khatuna, I’m not like this with anyone else the way I am with you. When we finish, let’s go to Moscow and study there.

Khatuna — And what should I tell my father?

Zura — Your father? Come on, Khatuna, it can’t be like this. Give your father a space. It’s always ‘Dad, Dad.’ You’re not a little girl anymore.

Khatuna — Okay, fine, say we left everything and went. What do you think Lexo would say?

Barakah — I found the solution, I'll take your hand. Bibi, you hear me?

Bibi — You see that blend? It's already ground. It's not a pain to make like that other kind.

Barakah — Bibi, I said I want to come take your hand.

Bibi — You can take my hand, but it's a little sweaty.

Barakah — I mean propose to you.

Bibi — I know. I'm not hearing this.

Barakah — Only for formalities.

Bibi — Could I get a quarter kilo, please?

Barakah — We can go out stress-free, while we get to know each other. Trick this stupid society.

Bibi — You like this? Being random? I'm disgusted by the hypocrisy I'm living. You think I need more fakeness?

Barakah — I'm trying to suggest a practical solution.

Daughter — Mom, no, it's not like that. We're just friends, that's all.

Mom — Friends? No, men are not people, and they don't do friendship with women. At best, they're good for work.

Daughter — He knows my full name, my address.

Mom — Is that so?

Daughter — He lives right nearby.

Mom — Too close. Not sure that guy is even worth it.

Daughter — Well mom, according to you, which man is worth it?

Mom — Which one? I'll give you a list. First, he's got to be responsible. Good-natured, charming, and handsome. Well, the looks part is fine, but that's not really the point. Responsible, steady, walking the straight and narrow, not smiling over a miniskirt.

Daughter — You're joking, right?

Mom — What?

Daughter — Mom, that's insane. I don't know. Finding a man like that is just… complicated.

Mom — Complicated? No, not complicated. Complicated is not the word. Impossible for women. There's no such thing.

Liam — Actually, he is my boyfriend. He said that ever since he was little he was afraid of bitter melon, so when he was in the army I ate it for him. But after he got married, his wife kept hoping to change him, so bitter melon would often show up at the table. He didn’t want his children to think their father was a picky eater, so he would often pretend to eat a few bites. He always told me I was the only person in the world willing to swallow bitterness for him. But the truth is, we were both making ourselves suffer.

Liam — Hey.

Xu Qiang — Chen Zhongliang, my family is right next to me. What do you want, Chen Zhongliang?

Liam — All these years, thank you for taking care of me.

Xu Qiang — Why?

Liam — Because I looked into a mirror and realized I had become someone who belonged nowhere, neither inside nor outside.

Xu Qiang — (silence)

Liam — Go home.