Chapter Text
Christmas is in two days and you will finally get some well-deserved rest.
Bijoux of morning rays seep through the blinds, waking you from your sleep.
“Good morning, Rosa. Breakfast is ready.”
Your alarm clock - no - Artem is here. Through your heavy-lidded eyes, you see him wearing a pink apron and a pair of yellow rubber gloves. To see him wearing all these with his suit is honestly ridiculously funny.
You turn away from him and bury your face in the soft, white blanket. Though the sun is out, the air is still cool.
“In a minute…” You say, your voice muffled by the blanket.
“I tried to wake you up five minutes ago. You’re going to be late.”
“1 minute.”
To think that there are still two days until the holiday, God, that’s an excruciating long time to wait.
“You need time for breakfast before going to work.”
Artem leans over and reaches out to pull away part of the blanket. You furiously turn to him and pull it back with both hands as if you were a bird defending your own nest from an intruder.
“Mmpmh!”
He loses his balance and falls, crashing right onto you.
“You’re heavy!”
The position you two are in resembles a hug - his arms around you and his face dangerously close to your own. Illuminated by the sunshine, you can see his eyes - clear blue like a cloudless sky. It’s the kind of blue that makes you feel he’s trustworthy, even though he’s an android. It’s the kind of blue that feels comforting. You’re drowning in his eyes until he helps himself up.
“Sorry.” He mumbles.
Shortly after breakfast, you rush to work. Artem offers to drive you there but you decide to take the wheel today.
It is another day of preparing pleadings for your clients and doing research. Boredom is one thing, but you feel annoyed today. No, not by your work. At this point, you are used to having an entire mountain of documents on your table. It is the thing that your mind is frequently visited by images of your “housewife” android. Using the word “visited” would be inaccurate. “Plagued” is more appropriate since every time you try to work on something, your mind goes back to him.
At lunch, you find yourself at your own desk unpacking the lunchbox that Artem prepared earlier. The plastic container pops open and there are slices of fruit neatly arranged inside. Huh. That’s weird. You twist open the vacuum flask to see steam slowly rising, the delicious aroma of Cantonese congee with fish slices pervading the air. In such a cold weather you haven’t had the appetite to eat anything. How did he know you wanted to eat this? You try a bit of the congee. The flavour of scallions, the freshness of the fish and the silky-smooth texture of the congee nearly bring you to tears - it’s such a comforting taste. You suddenly remember mom telling you that fish congee can boost your Qi. You take another sip. Early memories of going to the nearby congee shop for breakfast during public exam preparation come back to you. What a coincidence that he made this for you…
“It smells so delicious! Did you make this?” Kiki peeks at your flask as she puts down a box of cream puffs on her desk.
“Of course not. You know I can’t cook.”
“Oh! Are your parents staying at your home these few days for Christmas, then?”
“They don’t celebrate Christmas! They’re only coming in around next month for the New Year’s celebration.”
“Then…” Kiki smirks.
“You have a boyfriend! Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
She clasps her hands together like she was praying.
“Oh! To have a boyfriend so sweet and caring! Even taking the time to make you congee for lunch!”
“Hm? Who has a boyfriend now?” Alerted by Kiki’s dramatic speech, Celestine comes over smiling, visible dimples on her face. Kiki gestures at the vacuum flask you’re holding.
“Aww, how sweet.”
“I… guys I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Impossible.” The two women next to you say at the same time.
You hear people laughing and flirting as the automatic door opens.
“Pssh. It’s the office couple again.” Kiki mouths a silent complaint.
Hao Cheng and Xiao Ling are the new interns in the office. And recently, they started dating. At first they were bearable, but soon they became irritating because of all the unnecessary flirting at the workplace.
“I wouldn’t date anyone at work.” You mumble.
“But isn’t it nice to be with someone you love all the time? I’d date Hao Yu. He’s quite handsome if you think about it.”
“And rich, after all, he’s our head.” Celestine chimes in.
The door opens again. The man we just mentioned, Hao Yu, walks in.
“Oh! I better get to work.” Kiki scrambles back to her seat while Celestine makes her way to the coffee machine.
After work, you decide to check out the new pastry shop close to your office before going home. A few blocks later, you arrive at the shop and there is a ridiculously long queue. When you try to queue up, you accidentally bump into a girl wearing a high school uniform.
“Sorry.” You quickly respond.
Beside her is a boy also in a uniform. You suppose they come from the same school. He shoots you a look which threatens to kill you while putting an arm around the girl.
“Sweetheart, are you hurt?” He sounds sickly sweet.
“I’m okay,” The girl bats her eyelashes. “But can I get a kiss, please? I felt soooo scared when that woman bumped into me.”
High school couples are one of the most terrifying kinds of creatures in this universe, you think to yourself. Well, you also aren't very sure if you feel envious of these couples because you practically are all alone.
The line before you stretches a long way and you realize it will take a long time to wait. Just as you’re about to leave, you receive a notification from an app that monitors Artem.
7:00 pm - ARTEM
What do you want for dinner tonight?
7:00 pm - Tester001
I’m queuing up for pastries. No need for dinner.
7:01 pm - ARTEM
I can make pastries. What would you like to have?
7:02 pm - Tester001
You can? Can you bake strawberry danishes?
7:02 pm - ARTEM
Understood.
You notice your username is Tester001 which makes you wonder if you’re the first one to test out Artem. Your friend said that he is a trial product and that is the reason he is given to you as a gift. Are there other copies of him? Or is he one-of-a-kind? Ideas come popping up in your head while you are driving home.
Opening the door to your apartment, you’re immediately greeted by the sweet scent of strawberries and freshly baked pastries.
“It’s ready.” Artem sets down a tray of mini sized danishes on the dining table.
He takes your coat and smiles.