Title: 100% MATCH

Status: Completed

Genre: Sci-fi Romance

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The sound of the engine revving wakes me up from my slumber sleep. For the umpteenth time, I complain inwardly to myself for choosing to live here. How tiring it is to live in such a crowded city. I wish I could have moved to the countryside where the cacophony of the hullabaloo is less severed to the eardrums. However, reality doesn't always go with what people want. And that is me included.

Reasons? Let me be brief.

First, a late-night owl like me value sleeping until the sun can illuminate more than ninety percent of the Earth.

Second, I am a racer. A professional motor racer. My agency is located in this district. Not letting my sleeping habit hinder the time used for practice, living nearby is the best option.

The End.

The uproarious cheer is getting louder and noisier than before, which makes me wonder what holiday it is again.

"Sam, what day is today?" I let out a question as I stare at the ceiling above me.

"Today is February 29, 3988, sir." A voice reverberates back an answer.

Right, it's that day of the year, I groan. No wonder why it's so noisy.

Zanie's residents take today seriously. The extra one day for February.

There's always a parade and festivals held by the government to celebrate this day without fail. I don't really understand what so special about it. It'll come back every four years anyway. Why bother with it?

"What time is it?" I ask Sam again.

"Eighty-thirty a.m. Way too late to start the day, sir."

I roll my eyes at his words. I have no idea why he never loses his sense of humor, even for a day. He seems to find amusement in teasing me every time, despite knowing I have never been a morning person.

"It's not the first time I wake up at this hour," I complain.

"Sir, you usually wake up at eleven a.m when there is no practice. Ten a.m when you have your monthly family gathering. Nine-twenty a.m on the days you have practice," recited Sam in one flow as if he is reading off a note. Well, I guess he has a record somewhere in that system's memory. He's a voice command, after all.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"Clearly, that isn't my intention, sir. However, you may think as you see fit."

His joke makes my lips curl up into a smile. Though I live by myself, Sam has never made me feel lonely.

"A big congratulations. You just break a new record for waking up at this hour, although it's your day off. Would you like me to keep this record in the system, sir?"

I chuckle to myself, wondering if a real person can be as playful as this Sam of mine. He is the best companion I can ever ask for.

"No need," I reply.

"Okay, noted. What would you like to do today, sir?"

Honestly, I want nothing more than to savor my day off with more sleep. But given the noise outside, I know that thought is totally off the table. Dragging myself from the bed, I kick my blanket off and roll out of bed.

"I think I'll spend time with my motor."

"Still going to practice on your day off, sir?"

"No. Just a casual ride," I say, heading toward the bathroom. "Sam, give me a 30-degree water temperature. I want a shower."

"Right away, sir."

Droplets of water start showering on my naked body from head to toe, soaking my hair in the process. I close my eyes and throw my head back to let the warmth flow on my face and seeps into every inch of my skin. The warmth makes me lose track of time with the comfort I feel, for it is really soothing to the mind.

Maybe I should take a warm bath? A thought pops up in my head to which I hurriedly brush it away.

If I were to do it, I would waste the entire morning being lazy. I rarely get up early, especially not on the day that my schedule is clear. Not only should I enjoy it, but I also need to spend it productively.

Once I am done, I step out of the glass cubicle shower room and grab a towel to dry myself before enjoining, "Sam, I'm done."

The water stops flowing, bringing silence back to the room. Wrapping the towel around my lower waist, I step out and head back to my bedroom to see my bed is perfectly made. The blanket that I have kicked off and let half of it fall to the floor is now neatly folded and placed at the end of the bed. I am starting to like this robotic bed of mine as well.

Taking several steps to the right, I make way to the adjourning room. My walk-in closet's sensor door slides open automatically when I approach it, followed by the automatic light that switches on when I step in.

"Do you need my help in picking the outfit for today, sir?" Sam asks.

"No, thanks. I'm capable of doing it myself, Sam."

"As you wish, sir."

After a quick look at all the rows, I decide on a light green T-shirt and ripped black pants. With a black leather jacket as the final touch, I take a look at the mirror.

"I kinda look handsome," I utter to the person inside the mirror who seems to be giving me a crooked grin.

"Indeed, sir. You are."

Sam's voice jolts me awake. I hope he does not think that I'm a narcissist. Running a hand over my hair and taking a glance at my figure one last time, I turn on my heel toward the door.

"Arh!"

Suddenly, a sharp pain shoots through my left arm and lands on my heart, making my knees buckle. I find myself kneeling all on the cold, marble floor with my hand clutching the painful area tightly as if I want to claw my organ out.