One more month passed since the reunion in Love and Deep Space, but Sylus didn't come back. The days had slipped by in a blur of frustration and longing. The game had relit the spark of her hope, only for it to be crushed once more. Yet, despite the ache of waiting, Sylus was everywhere. People, all around her city, were drawn to the game—specifically, teenage girls who seemed utterly consumed by it. Everywhere Rose went, the game was there, a reminder of how much had changed.
In cafés, on trains, in parks—Love and Deep Space was a part of the landscape now. Every young face was glued to their screens, talking about Sylus, sharing tips on how to win his favor, comparing their progress through the game. They weren't just playing; they were obsessed. The way they spoke about him, the affection they felt for his character, made Rose feel as though the man she had shared a moment with was slipping further away from her grasp.
Sylus had become the most popular character in the game, not just for his smoldering good looks, but for the depth of his complexity. His mysterious persona, his dangerous allure, and the way he stirred emotions within the players had captured their hearts. Sylus wasn't just a character—they worshipped him, idolized him, and made him into a fantasy figure that everyone could love. It hurt Rose more than she could put into words.
In the game, Sylus was a man full of contradictions: a criminal mastermind with a soft spot for the protagonist, loyal and fierce in his devotion. His dark, intense storyline was one that players couldn't get enough of. It was a perfect mix of danger, mystery, and romance—just the kind of character who would become an icon. To the players, he wasn't real, but to Rose, he had been. He had meant something to her beyond the game.
Every day, she saw him talked about, analyzed, dissected. She overheard conversations where young girls spoke of him with the same reverence they would a celebrity. His fans didn't just love him—they adored him. They couldn't get enough of his charm, his complexity, and the mystery of his character. It was as if he belonged to them now, and that was something Rose couldn't bear.
The more she saw, the more her emotions churned. The hurt, the anger, the jealousy—it all boiled inside her. She had been hoping, waiting for Sylus to return, to show up again in her life as he had promised. But he hadn't. Instead, he had become something more, something that didn't belong to her anymore. He was part of the game now, part of the fantasy world that millions were lost in. And she was left on the outside, unable to be a part of that world.
It was the final straw. Rose could no longer pretend that she didn't care. The hurt had become too much to bear, and curiosity—though painful—gnawed at her until she couldn't resist. She had promised herself that she would never return to the game, that it would only bring more pain. But that promise was shattered now.
She couldn't stop herself. She found herself standing before her phone, fingers trembling as she searched for the app. The icon seemed to stare back at her, beckoning her with an irresistible force. Her heart pounded as she pressed the download button. She hesitated only for a moment before the app began to install. She wasn't sure what she was looking for, but she knew she needed to see it for herself. She needed to know what had become of him in the game, to see with her own eyes the version of Sylus that had captivated everyone else.
The game loaded, the familiar opening screen flashing before her eyes. Rose's breath caught in her throat as she saw the title screen again, a reminder of everything she had been through, of everything that had happened between them. Her fingers hovered over the "Start" button, but it felt heavier than ever before. Finally, with a deep breath, she pressed it, plunging herself back into the world she had once escaped.