I froze in disbelief. There, on my bed, lay a stunningly beautiful girl.
She rested peacefully, her ethereal face flushed with a rosy glow. Long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and her porcelain neck peeked out above the covers. The hem of her pink dress rode up, revealing smooth, fair legs.
My throat went dry as I took in her angelic features. She was truly a vision of beauty.
"Miss? Are you awake?" I gently shook her arm, but got no response. Sighing, I turned to leave when suddenly she stirred. In a flash, she threw her arms around my neck and began to sob.
"Why? Why did this happen to me?" she cried, her tears quickly soaking through my shirt. Awkwardly, I found myself embracing her, overwhelmed by her delicate fragrance and the warmth of her body against mine.
As she continued to cry softly, her petite shoulders shaking, I couldn't help but feel a mix of elation and disbelief. Was this a dream come true? After 24 years of hoping for a chance encounter with a beautiful woman, had the universe finally answered my prayers?
But reality had other plans. Just as I was about to make my move, she suddenly pushed me away and whimpered, "I'm so hungry..."
Speechless, I wondered if hunger was the real cause of her tears. As I stood up, so did she, finally getting a clear look at me. Her piercing scream was followed by my cheap keyboard flying at my forehead.
Before I knew it, I was shoved out of the room. The door slammed shut and locked with a resounding click.
"Wait a minute... isn't this my apartment?" I muttered, dumbfounded.
Standing in the living room, I knocked on the door. "Miss, please let me in! You can't do this!"
Silence. I rushed to the balcony and peered through the window. She was already fast asleep, wrapped in my blanket, her face even more breathtaking in peaceful slumber.
Slumping to the floor, I wondered what on earth was happening. That's when I noticed her belongings in the living room: a half-empty bottle of wine and a mysterious round object in a bag.
Curiosity got the better of me. I picked up the bag and was shocked to discover a gaming headset inside. Even more surprising were the words emblazoned on it: "Ethereal Surge."
My heart raced. This was the headset for "Ethereal Surge," the most anticipated virtual reality game of the decade!
For the past six months, the gaming world had been abuzz with excitement. Lunar Eternity, the industry giant behind the legendary MMORPG "Lunar Odyssey," had spent ten years developing a revolutionary new game. "Ethereal Surge" promised an unprecedented 100% immersion rate using cutting-edge brain-wave technology.
Rumors swirled about its unparalleled storylines, addictive gear progression, and even lifelike NPCs that players could romance. With the previous game's popularity waning, gamers worldwide were eagerly awaiting the launch of "Ethereal Surge." Professional gaming teams had already begun selling their old equipment in preparation for this new virtual frontier.
Today was the eve of the game's release – a monumental day for gamers around the globe. But who was this mysterious girl in my room, and how did she come to possess this coveted headset?
Oh, I almost forgot to explain how she ended up here in the first place. It all started just a few minutes ago...
A gleaming white BMW had parked outside the building, catching my eye. I didn't think much of it at first, but soon I heard crude laughter drifting up from below. Peering out the window, I spotted a group of local troublemakers surrounding the car.
"Look at that, it's a chick!" one of them jeered. "Let's take the car and the girl. She's a looker!"
My heart sank. Weren't these guys supposed to be in jail after their last run-in with the cops? What were they doing back in the neighborhood?
If there really was a girl in that car, she could be in serious trouble. I hesitated, weighing my options. If I went down there, things could get ugly. But I couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
Taking a deep breath, I rushed downstairs and approached the BMW.
"Well, well," one of the thugs sneered. "What do you want, pretty boy?"
Ignoring the taunt, I pushed past them and yanked on the car door. To my surprise, it opened with a soft click.
The smell of expensive liquor hit me first, followed by a subtle floral scent. I peered inside and my jaw dropped. There, sprawled across the driver's seat, was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. Her porcelain skin seemed to glow in the dim light, and her graceful neck curved elegantly as she lay unconscious.
She looked to be about twenty, clutching an empty bottle of top-shelf vodka in one hand and a small bag in the other. Whatever was inside the bag looked round and bulky.
The thugs crowded around, their eyes widening as they caught sight of the girl. "Back off, kid," one of them growled. "We saw her first!"
I spun around, mustering all the confidence I could. "Get lost. She's my girlfriend."
They burst into laughter. "Yeah, right! If you had a girl like that, you wouldn't be living in this dump. Step aside, or we're calling the cops!"
I couldn't help but smirk. "The cops? Great idea. Go ahead and call them. Or should I do it myself?"
I reached into the car and grabbed a pink smartphone from the center console, likely belonging to the girl.
The thugs hesitated, clearly unsure of how to proceed. Finally, one of them sneered, "Fine. If she's really your girlfriend, prove it. Take her upstairs!"
I froze. This was not how I expected things to go. But backing down now wasn't an option.
Gritting my teeth, I slipped an arm around the girl's waist and carefully lifted her out of the car. She mumbled incoherently and nestled against my shoulder, reeking of alcohol.
I managed to fish the car keys from her pocket and lock the BMW with the remote. Then, supporting her weight as best I could, I began the arduous task of getting her up to my apartment.
Behind me, I heard the thugs muttering in disbelief. "No way... is she actually his girlfriend?"
Stumbling and swearing under my breath, I finally made it to my door. Once inside, I gently laid the mysterious girl on my bed.
And just like that, my ordinary life had been turned upside down by the arrival of this beautiful stranger.