Test Subject #9536

14 - Realization

While at dinner, I continue to wonder why everyone is told to go, when only the... the... I don't know. Test subjects? That's what that person was talking about. I still don't understand it, but it seems to be what I am.

"What's wrong?" she asks me.

"I never see scientists in here," I say.

"What are you talking about?"

"The announcement says for everyone to go to the Mess Hall. I don't see any scientists," I say.

"What... are you talking about?"

"Huh?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Did I say something wrong?" I ask.

"The announcement doesn't say for everyone to go."

"Yes it does."

"It does?"

"Yes."

"No... I'm pretty sure it says only for test subjects to go."

"It says for everyone."

"Let's see once dinner is over."

"Understood."

"You don't have to say that."

"I don't understand."

"You don't have to respond so formally."

"Where did I respond formally?"

"When you said understood."

"What should I say?"

"Something more casual."

"What is something more casual?"

"Alright is more casual," she says.

"Understood."

"I said you can speak more casually."

"I can?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

"We are friends."

"I know," I say.

"Then speak casually to me."

"Understood."

"I give up."

"What do you give up on?"

"Speak to me formally if you wish to do so."

"I don't understand."

"I would like it if you would speak casually to me though. It makes me more feel like a friend."

"Oh."

"So speak to me casually," she says.

"Understand."

"I give up..."

"What do you give up on?"

"Trying to get you to speak casually."

"Oh."

"So yeah..."

"Ok."

"I think dinner will be done soon. I'm almost finished."

Minutes later I hear an announcement that we all have to go to the lounge.

"See! It only says for test subjects to go!" she says to me.

"No. It says for everyone to go."

"Then why aren't there any scientists in there? She asks me.