My Robot Lover

After half an hour, the throbbing pain in my ankle finally subsided.

As he kneeled on the carpet beside me, 008 gently covered me with a blanket.

I thought he would complete his task and leave, just like before. Yet, this time, he suddenly leaned toward me. He was so close that I could see the peculiar gleam in his eyes. They appeared more vivid than any human's, occasionally tinged with an endearing, childlike innocence.

I wasn't sure what program was running in his system, but 008, who had been smiling the whole time, suddenly showed a rather peculiar expression. It was rare to see such an expression on his face—one caught between confusion and hesitation.

"I detected some hidden emotions in you 30 minutes ago, Ms. Zeller. In addition to sadness, there's a longing that falls outside the scope of my current programming. Do you want me to activate the hidden mode?"

As my in-laws, Frederick Carter and Madeline Lowe, handed me 008, they informed me that he was an advanced prototype, a model that had yet to be introduced to the market.

"At present, there's no other robot on the market like 008. He's more than just a companion robot—he's been implanted with human-like thoughts, specifically Kenneth's memories and way of thinking from when he was alive.

"And the project leader had mentioned that they haven't fully tested out 008's capabilities," Madeline explained, glancing at me meaningfully.

"You see, he's different from the other robots that come with limited functions. He's got a variety of modes, and if you need it, you might even activate his hidden mode. It's mainly to help you cope with your loneliness. If there's ever an issue, you can always give me a call."

Frederick and Madeline were both researchers with demanding schedules. They had once offered to hire someone to help me, or even offered to look after me themselves. Yet, I declined their offers without hesitation.

I didn't want to interfere with their busy schedules, and to be honest, I preferred to be by myself.

And since my in-laws were quite understanding, they didn't force the matter onto me. They instead decided to custom-build 008 for me.

It finally dawned on me what Madeline had been referring to when she mentioned the hidden mode.

I had never truly studied the robotics industry, but I was aware that there were robots on the market crafted specifically for single people. However, these types of robots were typically programmed to be fully immersed in a specific service function, only activating when the owner issued a command.

I didn't expect a robot like 008 to exhibit such human-like emotions, let alone make such a personal request.

I felt strange, yet at the same time, an inexplicable sense of anticipation began to rise within me. I couldn't help but fantasize about it as I imagined myself engaging in such an act with him.

I knew robots would never get tired the way humans would, so I wondered if I could experience an entirely new form of pleasure if I agreed to 008's request.

It felt as though 008 had seen right through me as he spoke in a voice laced with subtle allure, saying, "You've been suppressing your emotions for quite a few months now, Ms. Zeller. It's actually quite detrimental to your mental and physical health. You need to let them out.

"If you activate my third form of service, I will do everything in my power to make it enjoyable for you… And according to my data analysis, occasional indulgence is a proven way to maintain a positive mood. And since you're pregnant, I'll be as gentle as possible."

It was honestly quite tempting, especially considering my current hormonal state due to my pregnancy. And the most crucial thing was that the man before me looked exactly like Kenneth, making it incredibly hard to resist.

I still shook my head in refusal, though, trying to push away the irrational thought. I knew Kenneth was no longer here. I could never betray him by being with 008, a robot made to look like him.

Yet, before I could directly refuse him, 008 suddenly reached out and gently caressed my face. His touch was slightly clumsy yet familiar as he tried to replicate Kenneth's way of touching me.

I was caught off guard by his sudden movement and froze in place.

I then heard his voice, tinged with slight amusement, saying, "It seems like you enjoy what I'm doing right now, Ms. Zeller. Why don't you grant me more access? I think you'll like it even better."