My Virtual Lover

Live 23: The Null Wishes

“Can we talk about something aside from work?” Anthony taps his fingers on the desk of a coffee shop he visits as he looks at the w******p number he exchanges with Jury. He’s too lonely now that he just moved from his city Bali to Jogja, he needs a friend to talk to. After everyone graduated, his friends disappear quietly away from his life.

The moment he opens his eyes, he’s alone by himself with no one ever contacting him. Perhaps, his family from Bali were the only ones who contacts him and asks how is he doing. Loneliness occupies the young man’s heart, he wants to find someone who connects deeply and resonates with him badly.

He feels that Jury is somewhat cold but rational, thus making him quite scared to ask something personal in her life. His hand moves to his blonde hair, scratching the skin of his skull. He wants to get closer to her since he’s lonely, it’s inexcusable reasoning but it’s been a while since he talks to someone around his peers.

His mind is brainstorming for any ideas, but nothing comes to his mind. Perhaps, he needs to ask his Holorealm friends how to make more friends. The cafe is oddly quiet in the morning, as if’s an indication of an upcoming storm. Supposedly, it’s Christmas eve; hence the perfect time for couples to hang out in the cafe.

Birds chirping outside the wooden-themed cafe, a couple of birds standing side by side on the cable lines. Anthony’s loneliness inside his chest becomes turbulent the more he thinks of the kind of mysterious graphic designer he contacted. He knows that she’s kind because of her professionality, but he can’t help but be intrigued by her firmness and decisive personality of hers.

The blonde-haired young man grins when he thinks of Jury Crawford, but he can’t help but feel rather meek about introducing himself. Not long after, the cafe is full of couples and family gatherings for the Christmas Eve celebration. Something within his husky heart wonders whether he can find someone he loves.

Wandering the impossible after he just broke up with his girlfriend, it’s rather hard to return to his past energetic self. He needs to haste his works so that he can contact Jury later, he had a feeling he will be meeting her sooner or later. Couples smiling and giggling everywhere, it’s that time of year.

“Merry Christmas Eve!” the man hears the laughter coming from the people who just came into the cafe. “How are you doing sweetie?”.

It seems that there is a family who decided to gather in the cafe, hugging each other as they meet up. Anthony’s family is in Bali, he never asks how are they doing since he’s doing fine on his own on Jogja. Despite the constant, flirting gaze from Jogja’s woman, he can’t wait to hang out in Holorealm tonight with his friends.

* * *

“Thank you for today!” his aunt waves her hand to Anthony as she closes the store. “Get a rest dear, it’s Christmas Eve! Don’t you have a girlfriend to spend your time with?”.

“No, I don’t have any auntie” he chuckles nervously. “But don’t worry, I’ll find someone someday”.

Anthony waves back and hops on the bike seat with his might, cycling his way toward his dormitory. His luck might be worst but at least he had online friends to talk with in the middle of the pandemic. Ever since he moved out from his homeland, his friends barely contact him anymore.

It’s rather a lonely life for Anthony Sloan the Balinese on Christmas Eve, he wishes that he can spend his time hugging and cuddling someone. However, fate says otherwise after his bad breakup with his ex-girlfriend. It was disheartening but nothing could be done after that. Anthony login to Holorealm, still in the same butler avatar.

He finds himself land in the city square, his friend welcomes him in open arms. Anthony hugs his friends as soon as he lands on the spot, the man gives plenty of hugs to his online friends. Everyone misses him since it’s been a while since he’s online.

“Big bro! Null!” a young avatar girl comes and hugs him out of nowhere. “I miss you a lot! You haven’t been online for days! I hope you’re doing fine!”.

“I’m doing fine! How about you guys!?” Anthony hugs them individually.

As he chats with his online friends, that’s when he sees the petite girl walk from behind. The girl who is involved in a nasty drama of Holorealm stands tall as her sharp eyes gaze sharply at the people around her. Her reputations skyrocketed due to her bluntness and straightforwardness despite her low followers.

Her originality in her character is the reason she’s popular among men but not for women. The woman thinks that she’s too rude and insensitive when it comes to feelings, her mockery and sarcasm are uncontrollable at times that it might make someone upset. She was called the Yankee of Holorealm.

Interested in her cold characteristics, Anthony wants to reach for her shoulder but is afraid of doing so after witnessing the horror of being verbally trampled by Tempesta. Anthony pulls her hand from reaching, hesitating whether he should approach the unique girl from before. Her firm and cold voice pull her in, the mystery that clouds her character is what captivating about her.

Anthony’s friends realize his gazes on Tempesta’s back, they’re exchanging glances as if they’re planning something for Anthony.

“Why don’t we visit that troublesome girl’s house, after we heard the rumors now we’re kind of interested” one of them hit Anthony’s back playfully. “Aren’t you interested in knowing her?”.

“Huh? You’re joking, she’s bad news” Anthony shakes his head in denial. “There’s no way I would do that! She’s too famous and I don’t want to get dragged into the drama she’s in, I’m just a nobody with four hundred followers so-”.

Even with his protest, his male friends grab his arm to meet the Cold Yankee, Tempesta.