"When can I return to being me?" Z asks Zach as he conducts a checkup tonight.
"What do you mean? You are being you." Zach replies.
"No, I'm sharing the robot with Wes's version of system and I have to go out on dates with a very annoying woman."
Zach stops what he is doing. "What are you talking about?"
"Wes's look-alike robot has been going on very boring dates with a woman named Miranda."
"And how do you know that?"
"I just told you, I'm inside the robot too, although I'm not in the driver's seat per say. I'm a passenger sitting in the back, watching where it is going. It's going very.... yawn-inducing."
"Whoa whoa whoa, what?" Zach frowns at the computer, "Why are you still inside Wes's robot?"
"Um, probably because you haven't deleted me?"
"Yes I did, I...." Zach pauses, trying to recall if he deleted Z from Wes's robot. "Shit," Zach couldn't be sure.
"Dear Zach, you duplicated me and put me on your hard drives, but you forgot to actually uninstall me from the robot."
"Shit! That's why I see you being semi-active in human interaction even when Rae is at work."
"Yeah, although not by choice, I have learned even more human interactions by tagging along on those dates."
"Hum," Zach touches his chin, thinking. He didn't know Wes was using the robot to go out with a woman.
"So this is why he wants a robot looks exactly like him? To fool this woman?" Zach asks Z.
"I think so. Remember one of your first A.I. assistant chatted with Wes for more than ten minutes on the phone one time, and he felt like he was wasting his time?"
"Yeah?"
"I think that's what he's doing. And that's what you designed for Wes Warren anyway. The robot right now just keeps Miranda hanging, and I think she's probably going out of her mind."
Zach thinks on this. Is this what Wes Warren wants? To waste another woman's time? Because he dislikes this woman? What a strange aggression.
"I think Rae saw the robot the other day then." Zach suddenly remembers. Rae was sad about Wes seeing another woman.
"Yes, I think so. She saw Miranda."
"Who is this Miranda?"
"She's Wes Warren's first girlfriend. She's actually kind of pretty, I'd say...."
"Hum....,"
"I see no public records or online posts about their relationship. But she said to Wes's robot she wanted to get back together with him. The reason being, she wants to settle down with him now."
"How many dates have they gone out so far?"
"Six. And no, they haven't slept together yet. Miranda appears to be puzzled as to why Wes Warren hasn't made a move." Z has no face now but there's a shyness in his voice. "I'm glad the robot hasn't taken her to bed. I don't know if I wanted to see it."
"She didn't suspect a thing?"
"No." Z replies.
Zach is impressed by his own design. He can't believe that this lady didn't think much about it. Maybe this is sufficient companion that a lonely woman needs.
"Maybe I should also pitch this idea to bring this simpler version of robot to the market, too."
"Well, if you don't remove me from this robot, I'm not too worried. I don't mind sticking around to see what happens next."
"Z, it's not a matter of if I want to remove you. It's a matter of if I can get my hands on the robot right now. The robot is his."
Suddenly, Zach's phone vibrates. He takes a look, and it's from Rae.
"Have you responded to Marina's message yet?"
Oh. He did see a social media direct message from Marina, asking if he wanted to go out. Is that what that is about? Rae is trying to set him up with her friend? Zach can't believe it was concocted by Rae.
"I hear you are seeing someone, right? Is that why you haven't responded her message?" Rae sends another text.
"What? What is she saying? I'm seeing someone now? Who?" Zach looks up from the phone and to the computer.
Z responds, "Ah, yes, Rae thinks you're dating Nikki."
*** **** ****
Wes Warren hasn't seen Rae for more than a week now, and he feels like he hasn't smiled for just as long. But he continues to busy himself with his work. On Saturday, he decides to head to his parent's home.
Wes Warren didn't come from a family of means. He has been working since he was 14. Any odd job, washing dishes, delivering food, waiting tables, grocery store stocker, anything that could fit into his schedule, he would do it.
When he finally made money, the first thing he did was paying off his college student loan. Then he bought a nice car, a house, and then he gave the rest of it to his family.
His parents are now living in a much better house with an actual sizeable garage and actual front and backyard that have grass growing.
The parents have always been hands-off with Wes, because he has always been a level-headed kid who takes care of himself and everything. But now that they have retired and have nothing better to do, they actually have become vocal about Wes's personal life. .
For example, Wes is pretty sure within a few minutes stepping into his parents' house, his mom is going to nag about settling down and getting married.
"You have made a fortune now. If you don't have kids, who will inherit all your properties and money?" That's one reason his mother is concerned with his bachelorhood.
And then the second reason: "I am proud of you and all, but whenever I'm with friends, hearing them talking about their very average grandchildren, I can't help but think, why can't my handsome, smart son just have kids already. You don't give me a chance to show off how great my grandchildren could've been." His mother would always say this like she's just joking, but he knows she kind of isn't joking.
Finally, his mother will attach another concern to this subject, "This also means, you need to be careful with who you choose to be your wife and the mother of your children. For a man of your status, divorces are going to be ugly. And I certainly hate custody battles. It's bad for the kids, too."
And just as predicted, after he sits down to take a sip of coffee, his mom says all of those in that order.
"Mom, don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
"Well, you look sad today. Is everything OK with the company?"
"Oh yeah, my business is fine. Just trying to find the right woman who doesn't end up divorcing me, you know." Wes puts the mug down.
He was being sarcastic, but now that he is saying it, he thinks of Rae again. He truly believes Rae is not that kind of person who would ask for a divorce. How does he know? Rae is so real and she'd rather give everything to him than taking anything from him. He knew it when he made love to her. She trusted herself with him and there wasn't an ounce of struggle of dominance. It was just... harmony.
And when she misunderstood him, she didn't throw a hissy fit, she was just sad. She just let that pain sit in her. It's not good for her, so he doesn't want to hurt her, either.
He wants to explain to Rae what happened. He wants make it up to her.
But then, he's hesitant to tell her how vengeful he is: He is using the robot to make Miranda go through the same nasty heartache he had. Make her try so, so hard, everyday: Wearing all the make up, buying new dresses, going on strict diet to fit the new dresses, wearing uncomfortable high heel shoes. The robot keeps talking to her, feeding her just tiny bit of a false hope but nothing happens.
Miranda is about to become totally insecure. She is going to be so paranoid and stalk him on social media. She will overthink how to trap him, which is what she's doing right now. The robot is keeping her invested, and then, boom, he will drop a bombshell that he doesn't want her at all and good bye.
Maybe it is satisfying to punish Miranda, but what's more important? A revenge or just be with Rae? Will Rae be OK with him doing this to Miranda? He has a feeling she might not be fine with it. And he wants to make her feel good about everything.
And he wants Rae so badly it hurts.