Chapter 64: Didi’s Lonely Wait

“Welcome home, Didi.”

“I’m home.”

Today, I returned home alone. 

As soon as I stepped through the front door, Sophia greeted me as if she had been waiting.

I exchanged greetings with her as usual and was about to go inside, but it was strangely quiet behind me. 

Feeling puzzled, I turned my head, and Sophia stood motionless by the front door.

Seeing that she wasn’t leaving her spot, it seemed like she was waiting for my master. 

Come to think of it…

“Sophia, I came back first today. My master seems busy and will be late.”

“Yes. I will note that.”

“Eve will also be unable to return for three days.”

Of course, I relayed all the information about Eve as well. 

Since Sophia managed the entire house, the news that Eve, who was in charge of cleaning the first floor, would be absent was important information for her.

After confirming that Sophia was walking into the house behind me, I went up to my room.

‘My master seemed very busy. To send me away first…’

I thought, recalling my master’s appearance when I last looked back before leaving the company.

Knowing it was a hectic time with the new product launch, I returned home without disturbing my master. 

However, I kept feeling uneasy, as my master’s expression, which I had briefly caught a glimpse of, seemed dark.

After showering, I sat on the first-floor sofa, waiting for my master to return.

With Eve, who usually played with me, gone, the spacious living room felt strangely empty.

In the kitchen, Sophia was preparing dinner.

I spent the time bored, listening to the clattering sounds.

How much time had passed?

Sophia came out of the kitchen and spoke to me.

“Didi. Dinner preparation is complete.”

“I’ll eat when my master returns.”

“William is not scheduled to return home today.”

“What?”

My eyes widened, and I quickly turned my head.

Sophia was standing behind me in a straight posture.

“My master… isn’t coming back today?”

“No.”

“When did he say that?”

“I just received a call from William.”

When I asked her, flustered, an unwavering voice responded.

‘He didn’t say anything to me…’

I quietly mulled over my monologue.

If my master had told me in advance that he wouldn’t be coming home today, I wouldn’t have left the company, somehow getting his permission.

But now, it was too late to go back to the company.

“Then I’ll eat alone.”

Resigned to the fact that I would have to guard the house quietly today, I slowly got up from the sofa.

As I followed Sophia to the kitchen, a neatly set table with dinner for just one person came into view.

Food prepared only for my portion.

Only then did the reality that my master truly wouldn’t be returning sink in.

Perhaps because my master wasn’t here, I felt like I didn’t have much of an appetite today…

I sat down and quietly began eating, but Sophia watched me intently from the side.

She hadn’t done this before, so her gaze was a little burdensome.

I cautiously asked, wondering if I had done something wrong.

“Sophia, do you have something to tell me…?”

“William gave instructions to report whether Didi finished dinner properly.”

“Ah… so that’s what it was.”

If it was my master’s command, I couldn’t help it.

Sophia’s gaze was a bit uncomfortable, but she would also be scolded by my master if she didn’t carry out his instructions properly.

Still, a small question remained in my mind.

Why didn’t my master tell me directly, and instead specifically command Sophia?

He could have just called me and told me to make sure I ate dinner…

I only found out he wasn’t coming home today through Sophia.

My mind was a little complex, but I finished my meal.

And after finishing the cleanup with Sophia, I bid her goodnight.

“Sophia, good night.”

“Have a comfortable night, Didi.”

After exchanging goodnight greetings with Sophia, I went upstairs to the second floor and, as if it were natural, headed to my master’s room.

Today, I intended to sleep in my master’s room without telling him and as I pleased.

Since my master hadn’t contacted me, I thought it would be okay to be this mischievous.

Click.

I carefully opened the door and stepped into the dark room.

With my master away, going in without permission with such a cheeky intention made my heart pound, as if I were doing something wrong.

I covered myself with the blanket on my master’s bed and quietly closed my eyes.

It felt a little lonely sleeping alone after a long time.

Since there was no one to chat with all night, I thought I’d fall asleep quickly, but instead, my eyes were wide open.

After tossing and turning for a long time, I finally picked up my smartphone.

“No calls…”

I looked down at the empty missed calls list, then opened my photo album.

Only one photo was saved inside.

It was a screenshot of an article.

I gazed intently at the two figures in the photo.

My lips slowly curled upwards.

The scene of my master and I kissing under the dazzling streetlights.

Just as my master had said that day, a scandal truly broke out.

People’s reactions were half shock at the fact that I was a robot, and half disbelief, claiming it was a staged situation.

The world was quite abuzz, but I didn’t care what others said.

What was important was that the kiss I shared with my master was not a lie.

And that the robot in that photo was me.

Now, I could openly take my master’s side in front of people.

Just looking at the photo for a while, my agitated heart gradually calmed down.

Relief replaced anxiety, and drowsiness slowly overcame me.

I turned off the screen and closed my eyes.

Even after my vision went dark, the scene of me kissing my master on the brightly lit street lingered before my eyes.

The fluffy bed was permeated with my master’s scent.

When I wrapped the blanket tightly around me, it felt just like being held in my master’s arms.

I felt like I was going to have a good dream today.

I took a small breath and quietly buried myself under the covers.

And then, I slowly fell asleep.

“Mm… Master…?”

As soon as my consciousness faintly returned, I immediately looked for my master.

I clumsily moved towards where my master would be, without even fully opening my eyes, but after moving sideways for a long time, I didn’t feel my master’s embrace or warm presence.

That’s strange… Why isn’t Master here…?

Feeling puzzled, I slowly opened my eyes.

My master’s room was bright with the morning sun seeping in.

Then I saw the empty space beside me.

“Oh?”

Only then did I realize something was wrong.

I sat up and looked around.

However, there was no trace of my master anywhere in the room.

I hastily checked the time.

It was already time for my master to have gone to work.

My eyes snapped open, and my sleepiness vanished instantly.

I had been looking at the article photo all night and forgotten to set my alarm.

I hurried downstairs, but indeed, my master was nowhere to be seen.

Could he have come and gone while I was asleep?

I might have been sleeping too soundly for him to take me with him.

I desperately searched for any trace my master might have left, and then, finding Sophia passing through the living room just in time, I asked.

“Sophia, where’s Master?”

“William has not returned yet.”

“That’s a relief…”

So he didn’t visit while I was asleep.

In that case, my master would return home soon.

Relieved by Sophia’s answer, I went up to my room to get ready to go out.

So that I could follow him anytime my master returned and asked to go to the company.

But my master still hadn’t returned even as lunchtime approached.

After waiting for a while, I asked Sophia.

“Sophia, did you get any calls from Master?”

“No.”

“Hmm…”

Did he work all night and fall asleep at the office?

My master sometimes can’t wake up from sleep, so it was entirely possible.

There was nothing for it.

I had no choice but to wake him up.

Ahem, ahem, I cleared my throat, then dialed my master’s number and called.

Ring…

The signal continued for a long time.

“- Didi?”

“Ah, Master!”

My master answered the phone.

But unlike my expectation that he would be sleeping, there was no trace of sleepiness in his voice.

My plan to call and wake my master was thwarted.

I was momentarily flustered, but then I calmly composed myself and asked.

“Master, when are you coming back?”

“- I’m planning to stay at a hotel for a while, so don’t wait for me.”

However, the answer that came back was unexpected.

I was speechless for a while, then finally managed to speak.

“Then… are you at the company now?”

“- That’s right.”

“Is that all you have to say?”

When a brief silence fell, my master asked.

It seemed like he was about to hang up, so I urgently called out.

“No! That is…”

“- I’m going into a meeting soon, so speak quickly.”

“Can’t you take me to the company too…?”

“- No.”

I asked bravely, but what returned was a harsh refusal.

My master even hung up immediately, saying he was busy.

I stared blankly at the disconnected phone screen, then my shoulders slumped.

It seemed my master was truly very busy with the new product launch.

So much so that he was living at a hotel, without even time to briefly return home.

Perhaps he was being considerate of me.

Maybe he sent me home early because he was too busy to properly take care of me.

But there was one thing my master didn’t know.

I was okay with being tired from being busy.

I could endure any physical hardship.

However, the time my master wasn’t by my side was simply much lonelier and harder to bear.

I tried to ignore the anxiety welling up in my chest and slowly put down my smartphone.