BOYFRIEND FOR SALE

"Come on, cous. What is there to be shy for?"

The other party insinuated as she took the book from Shantal's hand.

"Fine, you're right."

Shantal relented but not before letting out an exasperated sigh.

Jodi was relatively more liberated than her when it came down to things like that. That was why it was no surprise to them when Jodi turned up to be one of those who gave in to the recent fad of buying robotic boyfriend online.

She named it Arvin, and since then Jodi had been very open with her romantic affair of shacking it up with tin cans.

"For crying out loud, Shantal. We're adults now! This is the perfect time for us to explore new things. You love buying stuff anyway so might as well put it into good use."

Jodi insisted as she deliberately browsed the catalogue beside Shantal.

"And when you said putting it into good use, do you mean buying an Android Partner? Nah... Not my thing."

Shantal was quick to decline but for some reason, her eyes also could not help but roam on the first two pages of the potential robotic boyfriends.

The section provided a detailed description of many possible cute boyfriends available for purchase.

"You're only saying that because you haven't tried one yet. Don't be too old school, Shantal. This is our future."

Jodi declared with conviction on her voice as though she could never be more certain than that.

"Speak for yourself. With the current rate of how these robots were turning up in the market, it is only a matter of time before they enslave us."

"Don't be silly like those old hags on the internet. They were nothing but hype. I've seen a robot in action by myself and I don't think that they are capable of staging their own uprising when they don't know what 'hot' or 'cold' are."

What Jodi said was quite convincing. Shantal had seen it on various commercials and internet ads as well.

The Android Partner could easily tell the temperature of something at one glance. They could easily tell apart which was 'hot' and which was 'cold'.

But when asked to describe how these temperatures felt like, the robot would draw a blank expression; a very handsome blank at that. For their face was shaped like that of a movie star. Yet nonetheless, it was still and mental blank.

"Anyway, if I really wanted a boyfriend. I would actively seek one and not take the punk way out of buying my own."

Shantal said as she was hoping that Jodi would stop nagging at her already.

It was true that she did not have much success in the department of romance with school and work taking up large chunks of her life. But she also knew that there was no reason for her to rush things up.

'Good things come to those who wait.'

That was what her late parents used to tell her.

"Shantal, trust me. I know how lonely it is to be alone, and these---"

Jodi purposely trailed off to allow Shantal to take a closer look at the catalogue while staying clear away from the sexbots.

"One of these things could be a  potential companion for you. I am not telling you to go and fall in love with a robot. But at least have one so Mom and I could rest easy knowing that you are with someone who could look after you."

Jodi added afterward as she put one of her hands over Shantal's shoulder.

Indeed, just like how Jodi put it, the idea of buying Android Partner has a certain appeal. So mostly out of curiosity's sake, Shantal finally opened the catalog on her own and looked through it.

Flipping through the catalog, Shantal saw that Android Partner did not need much to survive. Just basic human interaction, some mental stimulation, and 'love' and they would be good to go.

All of the robots there were also advertised as 'boyfriends'. But Shantal reckoned that if she would go and buy one, she would not have that kind of idea in mind.

She just wanted a companion, a roommate of some sort.

But just as she was busy browsing on the catalog, her mind could not help but linger into a different thought.

She wondered how Jodi did it; kissing a robotic boyfriend.

No matter how 'in love' one was, would it not be just like kissing one's own computer? Or kissing a doll? Or perhaps kissing a doll that had a computer inside of it?

How lifelike could they be?

'Why am I even entertaining the idea of a robotic partner? I cared nothing about these fads so what the hell am I doing with a catalog of potential robotic boyfriends?!'

Shantal thought to herself as she was really torn between buying a robot of her own or dismissing the idea altogether.