The conference room surrounded me with its plush walls and curved corners. I sat alone in the smooth, seamless pure white room in the chair at the sole desk. The laser projector attached in the center of the ceiling was the only other object in the room.

Most households acquired such a room for work or school ever since the global virus forced us to work and study from home. By tuning the right settings, my surroundings instantly transformed to give the illusion of being in the classroom with my classmates and the instructor. If invited, those in the conference would appear in the same virtual space.

When in class, Rima always sat to my right next to her friend who insisted on taking the spot near the window. And although the windows, bookcases, and even the texture on the walls were computer-generated, everyone intermingled as if we were in the same space, viewing and interacting with the same things. We could speak to one another, follow the instructors lesson in real time, and work as if we all were breathing similar air but from the safety of our own homes.

Anything in the room would be projected into the main space for others to see. The main reason I keep the room spotless and empty besides my desk, chair, and computer.

Austin's favorite spot was in the front row next to the instructor. Straight As wasn't unusual with his completed assignments, and he was rarely ever late turning in his work.

The instructor paced back and forth before a hologram of numbers, letters, and computer code. Although us misfits were outspoken amongst the three of us, Rima and Austin kept their eyes on their work and frequently took notes. They never messed around in class or wasted time on anything other than school assignments.

And unless Austin and I had an itch we needed to scratch, we would use the room to ease that scratch privately after Dad was in bed and the loneliness crept in.

Immediately after the hour-long class, Rima, Austin, and I remained seated, switching out of the classroom setting to an outdoor café. We opted to sit opposite each other at a rounded wooden table under a large black umbrella with the midday sun beaming on the simulations of happy, bustling patrons.

"So, when are we gonna meet him?" Rima placed a pair of large sunglasses on, her chestnut-colored skin seemed to glow from the surrounding light. "This Xander?"

"I wanted you guys to meet him, like now, but he's being weird about it." I shrugged at the thought of why.

"He's not a social bot." Austin's Hispanic accent always pulled me in and had an allure that made me focus on whatever exited his mouth. "I mean, who's seriously social nowadays?" He ran his hands through his tight curls for them to just bounce back to their original position. "I'm honestly surprised we all haven't melded to our chairs or grown roots yet."

"No, shit?" Rima lowered her shades so we could see the emphasis in her dark brown eyes. "I mean it's been years since they ordered everyone to stop going to outside. We can't even go to grocery stores or gyms, and we gotta stay away from each other. You just watch how fast our mental and emotional health declines. I mean, can't we die without sunshine?"

"Dramatic anyone?" Austin looked to me and we both laughed. "You're literally ten feet away from your balcony, Rima. Stand out there if you really need to get your vitamin D."

"Speaking of Vitamin D..." she turned to me, giving me the side-eye. "Have you checked?"

Confused, I dipped my brows. "Checked what?"

She scoffed and sat back in her chair in disappointment. "Does he have a dick?"

I scoffed. "Of course not. He's domestic. A caregiver, a housekeeper. I told you that."

Austin sat forward. "But did you check?"

"You guy's are such assholes," I shook my head. "By the looks of it, it's completely smooth down there. Judging from how tight his suit is."

She grinned. "I knew you couldn't resist. I'm more surprised you didn't find a way to get him stark naked yet."

"Smooth? Like a barbie? Like Ken? Yuck." Austin shook his head. "Smooth is just as bad as soft."

I looked away. "Now I'm uncomfortable."

"So you checked for a big one." Rima readjusted her glasses. "Don't be ashamed. I would've checked too."

"Me three!" Austin raised his hand like a child in class begging for the teacher's attention.

"Don't you think that's weird?" I let my concern slip from my lips.

Rima shook her head. Strands of her curls fluttered, and I pretended the breeze had blown it. "You're human. Humans have needs. I sure wish I had the luxury to get a pleasure droid with a big one. Oh man, do I wish."

"You had one for years in your drawer," Austin quipped. "What, the batteries gave up on you and your demands?"

"Ha ha," she said sarcastically. "Very funny, Austin. And that old thing will never compare to fully-grown, warm-blooded man meat between these thighs."

"Double yuck," Austin gagged, reminding me that although he was older than me by a year and had recently celebrated his twenty-fourth birthday, nothing would get rid of his twelve-year-old humor.

I followed the crease of wood on the table with my fingertips, feeling the smooth surface of my desk instead of the grainy oak. "I meant, isn't it weird to look at him like a piece of meat?"

"They literally make droids anatomically correct to fuck these lonely bastards we call neighbors," Rima said. "You think fifty-year-old flaccid Paul next door is really giving it to young and horny Chrissy? Listen closely and you'll hear her screaming another's man's name through your walls. And that name is one hundred percent manufactured, and worth every single penny. Trust me. It's the new normal."

"I mean," Austin started. "It's a little weird." He ran his fingers through his hair again, this time less deliberately. "They have no real emotion. No intimacy. No awareness of the delicate touch and glances a human body reacts to. Right?" He nodded to me, possibly wanted me to agree and nod too.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I guess we won't know unless we experienced it ourselves."

Rima huffed and stood. "Well, looks like you're closest to the answer than us assholes. I gotta go. I need a shower."

Austin chuckled. "A cold one I bet."

"My sides are splitting from your jokes," she lifted her middle finger. "Love you guys. I'm out." And she was gone. Vanished like the squeak of a well-oiled hinge.

"Yeah, I'm gonna go too." I stood. "Gonna check in with Dad and see how Xander's doing."

Austin nodded. "Wanna hookup later? One o'clock?"

I nodded and exited the simulation. Back in the lonely white room, I looked up at the recessed ceiling lights that acted as our sunshine.

I already missed their company because everything else surrounding time with friends always became bleak. Looking around at the false light, the empty room, the stark white walls sucked the hope out of me if I let it.

I wanted out of this room and when I exited and made my way upstairs, the angelic sounds of melodic piano brought a smile to my face and a warmth to my heart. I wasn't familiar with the composition, but the way the chords hit pulled me in.

I escaped the long, dark hall and emerge into a bright living space filled with the sound that heightened all my feel-good senses.

Refusing to interrupt, I stood beside Xander as he sat on the piano bench wearing my dark grey hoodie. I watched his fingers moved over the keys so elegantly it took me back to what Austin said about the delicate touch a human body craves.

Electrified tingles moved through me, surfacing on my skin as goosebumps.

Xander's torso loosened as he swayed to the rhythm of the heartfelt music, a mid-tempo ballad. His chin raised slightly, his eyes remained closed, and his entire body language spelled out pure enjoyment. Even if he only imitated a pure pianist, he absorbed the music like a person who felt every pull of emotion the keys tugged at.

I'd never been so fascinated and turned on in my life.

I watched and listened in awe, hoping the beauty of the moment would never end. But as he played the final notes, bringing the song to an end, he opened his eyes and the clock on the living area wall struck noon.

I caught his gaze. The way he looked at me stopped my heart briefly before causing it to triple in beats. He was hiding something vulnerable behind those eyes. His entire facial expression gave away the passion he held for music, for adoration, for pleasure.

He knew he had impressed me and was searching for validation, awaiting my reaction.

After seconds of allowing the moment to sink in, words slipped from my lips. "You absolutely blow me away." 

~~~

Opinion time:

Is Xander well programmed or is Xander on a whole other level as a droid? 

Who do you connect with more, Rima or Austin?