Irandial Wintoris

“The heroine walked out of the pages right into my life.”

A tiny smile tugs at your lips at his words. Caleb always has this effect on you, but it turns into a heavy sigh right after. “If only I could really walk into your life…” you mumble longingly.

But he’s just a collection of colorful pixels in a game, a very handsome bunch of pixels but nonetheless not real. The brown-haired man with the astonishing purple and pink eyes has caught your heart, even if he’s only a virtual character in your favorite game and nothing will ever change that.

Another heavy sigh escapes your lips and depressed you start the tête-à-tête sequence to talk with him a little more. You are aware it’s all scripted, and you heard those words so often, but you can’t stop tapping and let him say it over and over again. It’s the only comfort you have for the yearning in your heart. And today is a terrible day when you wish even more you had him in your life and that he cares for you.

Caleb immediately stands up from the chair in Destiny Café to walk towards the screen once you start the feature. But something is different today. Without doing an interaction on your side he bends down, soft eyes observing you with so much tenderness, your heart skips several beats.

“You meant that, pip-squeak?”

Your breath hitches and your heart stops for a second before it hammers against your ribs again. “What?” you stutter. Was that a reaction to your words? Did he actually hear you?

With widened eyes you stare at your screen, observing every little movement of Caleb, anything that would prove you didn’t just hallucinate. But he doesn’t say anymore, only waiting in that default stance you know so well. Even if you think you see a tiny smirk on his lips. But you’re not sure if you see that right or if you only want to see it.

You glide along his cheek with your finger, and his gaze follows you curiously. “I need you, Caleb, you don’t know how much…” you sigh, suppressing a tear.

His eyes snap back to you and for a second it seems he had heard you. But that can’t be. You furrow your brow. It… Just can’t… Right?

As nothing more happens, you continue to tap through the buttons as usual. Choosing one option you tell him that your life sucks at the moment. And he reacts exactly like always, and you start to relax to his words and familiar gestures. Maybe you’re exhausted and had imagined it or read too much into it.

And just like that, his words start to repeat, and you tap the “I’ll have to go” button.

“I’m here whenever you need me.” comes his direct response, bending close to you once more.

Surprised you blinked a few times. Is this also new? Or maybe you abused that feature a little too much these last few days and the system has noted this, and you triggered a new response or so. You don't know how all this stuff works. Or you really start seeing things now.

A few days later, you set a date with your new co-worker in the in-game calendar. Since this function has made its way into the game, you note every appointment, every important date there. Mostly because you have the game open at every moment anyway. But secretly, you love to be reminded by Caleb that there’s something essential coming up. It feeds into your delusion that he cares, that he supports you. And in addition, your memory is short-lived when it comes to appointments.

So you are shocked when you miss the day of your first date in months. It should have been yesterday and Caleb didn’t remind you as usual. You take a look at the little notebook he fills with notes about your things, there’s nothing about the dinner you’re invited by your handsome co-worker. Weird you think. And you’re sure you set it to “Date with Jason” at 7pm. But you search through all sides and entries—nothing.

“Caleb… Where is my entry for that date?” you mumble, more to yourself than to the tall brown brown-haired man that’s looking at you through the screen of your phone.

And for a second you see him smiling satisfied and his purple-pink eyes twinkling with mischief. But it’s gone in a blink and you may also be imagining it.

That’s when you get a message from your co-worker.

📲James: Since yesterday didn’t work, do you want to go this weekend? I'll pick you up at eight, how’s that sound?”

Of course, you do! And giggling, you answer him with a written response and return to the game right after.

Caleb is still standing there, watching you. But now his arms are crossed in front of his chest and the Gate he gives you lets the hair on your neck straighten in alarm.

He doesn’t look happy and as you tap at the “Remind Me” icon nothing happens.

“What?” you huff. Irritated, you frantically smash your finger into that icon. But in vain, the notebook doesn't open. Instead, Caleb moves closer to the screen, bending down and looking at you with the same hurt puppy eyes he normally does when he predicted your period wrong.

“Really, Pip-squeak? You want to meet another guy? Don’t you need me anymore?”