It's Not What It Looks Like

After Wes found the message on the watch, he immediately assumed the worst. Rae didn't keep her promise and gabbed to friends how he had an android looking identical to him. He hated gossipy women and he hated fickle women who broke promises even more. His emotions got the better of him, and he didn't even want to see Rae again, that's why he mailed the watch away in a package.

After doing that, his hurt and anger died down. Although he didn't want to speak to Rae, he kind of wished she'd call or text.

Rae did text and call. But Wes didn't know that. Because someone deleted all those messages and call history.

Today, Wes had to be in a series of important meetings to negotiate some deals.

On rare occasions such as today, when Wes Warren had to be in very long meetings, and he was expecting some communication on his personal cell, his assistant Samantha would offer to take over his personal cell and answer for him.

When Wes was done with the meetings, he asked Samantha, if there was any text messages or calls for him on his personal cell phone. Samantha handed his phone back to him and said, "No." None.

Samantha lied, obviously. Because Rae texted and called since that morning.

Wes left work right on the dot at 6PM, which was a rare occurrence. He usually stayed late. But his mind was in chaos. He got home, opened the fridge, ready to microwave one of his pre-made meals, he then remembered how Rae made fun of him. His heart ached a little. He also glanced and saw the dough Rae made. Even before he calmed down, he already couldn't bring himself to throw that out. Or mail that out.

He tried to work out in his person gym and forget. He found himself keep checking the time, specifically wanting to know if it's 9PM yet. Because that was when Rae got off work. After he was done working out, he saw that he missed Rae's call and text messages right at 9. He was very relieved, but he didn't want to call her back.

He decided to drive to Rae's place right away. He got worried because he was there at about 9:10. And after thirty minutes, Rae still hadn't shown. Did he miss her? She came back home before he arrived? He circled around the neighborhood, and there she was, Rae, crying walking home.

"Is she crying? Why is she crying?"

He then guessed it was because he ignored her call and text earlier. He watched her walking upstairs entirely unlike her usual self. He realized he couldn't be this cold-blooded.

He wanted to believe she's not like others. But he hesitated to go up there to see her.

"Maybe I'll talk to her on the phone tonight. Or I'll stop by tomorrow. I should talk. We should talk."

Wes sat in his car for a few more minutes. He finally started the engine, ready to drive away.

"Who is that?" Wes saw a man getting off a sedan, running upstairs.

"Shit. Zach Evans? What the hell is he doing here?" Wes almost wanted to get off the car and followed. But he decided against it. He sat there. "Maybe he'll leave in a minute."

It took about an hour for Zach to open the door again, but he came out to grab the package.

"Rae didn't even see the box when she got home. God, how sad was she?" Wes felt guilty now. He didn't know not answering her message and her call would make her this sad. But Wes wasn't a woman, he didn't know what was going through Rae's head.

14 more minutes have passed.

Still waiting on the streets in his car, Wes is now impatiently tapping his steering wheel. He finally sees Zach leaving. And he thinks Zach has a strange face when Zach gets in his car. Zach even sits there for a minute.

"What is he doing? Just drive away, man!"

After Zach does leave, Wes gets out and quickly goes upstairs. He knocks on Rae's door.

Rae opens the door. She gasps and shuts the door immediately.

"Rae? Hello?"

"Please leave. I don't want to talk to you anymore."

"Why?"

"Why? You honestly are asking why? I'm wrong about you. You are such a cruel man." Rae raises her voice.

"I'm... I'm sorry I sent you the watch in a box like that. I know it was bad now."

"It's more than that," Rae opens the door, "You are just using me. Leave now. Don't make a scene here."

"I don't want to make a scene. That's why, please let me in." Wes keeps his voice low.

"No." Rae throws a hard stare and closes the door.

"Please. Can we please just talk?" Wes leans his head on the door.

Rae opens the door again, and Wes almost falls.

"Don't lean on my door. Get in."

Wes walks in, and Rae closes the door. She crosses her arm, blocking Wes to go inside the apartment any further.

"What else do you need to say for yourself?"

"It pains me to see you cry." Wes's eyebrows are furrowed.

"What?"

"I saw you crying when you came home."

"And do you know why?"

"It was really immature of me to send you the watch back using my own company's service."

"And?"

"And I ignored your call and text."

"And?"

"I don't know what else. Your dough is still with me though."

"OK. First thing first, why did you act so cold-bloodedly, so... inhuman? After we became intimate? Do you know how hurtful that is?"

"I was really upset because you told your friends about the robot. I saw the message on your watch."

"That...?" Rae realizes Wes already saw the message on the watch that says: "ask him about his robot." Rae then is stupefied because she doesn't want to get Z in trouble because Z sent it to her.

"It was not a friend that sent that message. I didn't tell anyone at all. I'm not that kind of person."

"It was not a friend? Who is it then?" Wes seems surprised but is relieved. He should've known she wasn't that kind of woman.

"It's.... it's not what you think. It's not to poke anything. It's...Zach Evans asking to see if you need any further assistance." Rae quickly comes up with an explanation for that message.

"Zach?"

"Yes, he still needs my user feedback and I told him I was with you and needed privacy and time. He asked if I could ask you if you needed anything about your robot. Zach told me that you knew I knew," Rae sticks her tongue out, "Blah. Do you understand? I know you have a robot, and Zach said you found out that I know about it."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. So he was just asking how I like my robot, that kind of thing?"

"Yes, exactly. I swear I have never ever revealed this to anyone. Only Zach, me, and the robot know this. No one else. I guess also the people working in the lab."

"OK." Wes touches his chin, thinking. It seems to make sense to him. And he is eager to believe Rae.

"I'm still very hurt by you. Because I had a great night with you last night and you turned around cutting me off." Rae walks away, trying to not let him see she's about to cry again.

"Rae.... I am so so so sorry," Wes follows her.

"And you are already dating another woman."

Wes's jaw drops. His face seems to say he's caught.

"No... I can explain that."

Rae shakes her head, her tears roll down on her face. "I don't know how you can explain it. If you are just looking to have fun, fooling around, then I'm not the one for you. You go ahead sleep around, I am not going to do that with you."

"It's really not what you think! I swear! It's not!"

"I can walk you out to your car."

"Please," Wes puts his hands on Rae's shoulders, "I know it's hard to believe, and I know it looks like I'm dating someone else."

Wes pauses and he tips his body towards Rae, "But honest to God, I don't want anyone but you."

Rae feels an electricity going through her. She is confused because she suddenly thought this was Z the robot talking to her. But this is Wes.

"It's late though. I've been working all day. Can I please walk you to your car now," Rae twists her body away, and Wes's hands fall off her shoulders.