Rahan sat at his desk, scrolling through emails and checking off tasks for the day. His job as an HR manager at Line Cross Ltd. kept him busy, but he still found time for his favorite escape: the virtual game world where he could unwind after work. The game had brought him friends from across the globe, and, most unexpectedly, it had brought him Saher.
Saher, a first-year postgraduate student, had stumbled into the game during a stressful study break. Little did she know that a chance encounter in a digital battlefield would lead to a deep connection with Rahan. While they had started as just teammates, something about Rahan's easygoing, extroverted nature had drawn Saher in. She, on the other hand, had her own quirks—being more reserved and a bit possessive when it came to the relationships she valued.
They both had found a comfortable rhythm within the game. Late-night sessions turned into long conversations about life, work, and studies. Rahan, always the one to break the ice, had asked Saher out inside the game one evening. "What do you think? Should we give this a try?" he typed, knowing he was taking a risk by bringing their friendship to a new level.
Saher, hesitant but intrigued, had responded with, "Let's give it a try." From that moment, their connection deepened as they shared more of their real lives and feelings, even though the virtual world remained their main meeting point. Their friends, a mixed group of singles and couples from the game, cheered them on, celebrating their new relationship.
But the game world had its limits. Their chats became more about when they would finally meet in person, instead of just exchanging virtual smiles. Rahan, busy with his work, always found reasons to delay, but Saher was eager. The idea of meeting in real life filled her with excitement, yet it also brought out her insecurities. She wanted Rahan to herself, to see if their connection in the game could stand the test of reality.
One evening, the group decided to organize a meet-up. "Let's all meet this weekend!" one of their mutual friends typed in the group chat. Saher immediately agreed, her heart racing at the thought of finally seeing Rahan in person. The others were excited, and the plans came together quickly. But when Rahan saw the message, he hesitated. His workload was piling up, and the pressure of the upcoming projects weighed heavily on him. He didn't want to disappoint Saher, but the thought of taking time off felt overwhelming.
"I'll see if I can make it," he texted, keeping his response vague.
Saher felt a twinge of disappointment but brushed it aside, hopeful that he would find a way to be there. She had invested so much in their connection, and this meet-up felt like a turning point. She wondered if meeting in person would change things between them, for better or worse. Her excitement warred with her growing possessiveness, as doubts crept into her mind.
Would Rahan truly make the effort to meet her? And if he did, would their relationship survive outside the game, where things weren't so controlled and perfect?
With the weekend approaching, Saher's anticipation grew. All she wanted was to meet her best friend in person. Would Rahan show up and take that step into the real world with her? Only time would tell.
End of Chapter 1