Jade's POV
That same day, Rui and I talked a lot but not about anything that really mattered. Just random things: builds, updates, stupid jokes. I kept waiting for the conversation to turn, for him to bring up what was happening between us. But every time I got close, he changed the subject.
It was frustrating like chasing a glitch that kept disappearing just when I thought I'd caught it.
The next morning, I decided to be brave.
Me: Hey, good morning! I was thinking… maybe we should form an affinity in the game.
His reply was fast. Too fast.
Rui: That's a nice suggestion. What affinity do you want?
I hesitated, chewing my lip. What I wanted was obvious but saying it out loud felt risky.
Me: Confident.
He didn't ask why. He didn't need to.
Rui: What happened to your partnership space?
I smiled to myself, heart fluttering.
Me: Nothing.
Then his message came, quiet but sharp:
Rui: I want your partnership space in the game.
That was it. No drama, no buildup just that. And suddenly, we were partners. Officially. The words hadn't been said out loud, but everything about it felt… real.
We gamed together the entire day. We laughed. Explored. Teamed up in quests and dungeons and even in a weird minigame where our avatars had to cook. It felt effortless. Fun. Like before, but better.
Later, Lidox joined us. Rui's best friend. I'd known him for a while too he was funny, protective, kind. Since Rui accepted me, Lidox had welcomed me, too. Playing with the two of them felt like being part of something. Like I belonged.
But then Rui said something small, sarcastic. I don't even remember what it was. Just enough to sting.
Instead of arguing, I logged off.
Me: I'm just tired of gaming.
Rui: I'll talk to you later.
But when the text came, his tone was different. Colder.
Rui: Why did you really leave the lobby? Mood swings again?
I tried to keep it light.
Me: Nothing. Just tired. Need to rest.
Rui: Okay. I'll be in the game then.
Me: Okay, later.
But inside, I wasn't okay. I felt brushed aside. Unimportant. I knew it was childish, but I wanted him to fight for me ask if I was okay, not just move on.
When I checked the game, he and Lidox were still playing.
Without me.
I stared at their usernames on the screen, their voices in the background chat, and something in me cracked.
What are they talking about? Am I missing something? Am I just… not needed?
I messaged Deja Vu.
He wasn't part of our usual team, but he was always there for me steady, kind. Like an older brother who actually listened.
I vented everything: the tension with Rui, the way he pulled close then pushed me away, how he made me feel like I mattered one minute and invisible the next.
Deja Vu didn't try to fix it. He just let me talk.
Then he said, "Wanna game?"
I nodded.
For a while, I forgot everything. We played. We laughed. We talked over the mic like nothing else mattered.
He made a joke before logging off:
Deja Vu: I'll stone you.
Me: Goodbye. We'll play later.
Deja Vu: I was about to tell you that.
It made me smile for a second.
But hours passed, and still nothing from Rui. No check-in. No apology.
So I messaged him.
Me: Wassup? You didn't text me after your game.
His reply came fast.
Rui: You said you were tired. That's why you left the lobby.
Me: Yeah, so?
That's when it shifted. Again.
Rui: You left to play with Deja Vu, didn't you?
I blinked at the screen.
Where was this coming from?
Me: I just needed space. You didn't even ask if I was okay.
Rui: Because you lied. You always say "nothing," then run off.
The words hit harder than I expected. Before I could stop it, we were arguing. Again.
By the time I tossed my phone on the bed, my chest hurt. Tears blurred my vision.
What did I do wrong?
I barely knew Rui in real life, and yet… he mattered. Too much.
And now he was cold. Distant. Unreachable.
The next few days passed in silence. No texts. No invites. Nothing.
Rui went back to gaming with Lidox. Like I'd never existed.
I kept replaying our conversations, looking for the moment everything cracked.
And each time I thought I'd found it, it slipped through my fingers like smoke.
The pain didn't fade it built. Quietly. Like a background soundtrack I couldn't mute.
Eventually, I couldn't take it.
That morning, I forced myself to type something anything to reopen the door between us.
Me: Can you please get Dias for me? By the way, good morning.