It had taken us nearly thirty minutes, but the booklet in the Virtuo package with tutorials on how to wear the bodysuit and connect it to the glasses and other devices proved useful. Eventually, everything was ready.

"Okay," I took a deep breath as I placed the Speck Virtuo Glasses over my head. "Here goes nothing."

   I was met with utter darkness for the first few minutes until a burst of white light made me gasp in surprise.

"Tali? Are you seeing this?"

"I am now!" I heard her chuckle next to me. "Bright and clear on my laptop as promised. Eureka, bitch!"

  Two words I never thought I'd hear together.

   After the scanning that was described in the booklet occurred, I found myself in Zavlon's downstairs gym. Well, the model version of it anyway. The spatial audio effect of the upbeat music sounded incredible and I couldn't take my eyes off the countless glows in the dark butterflies that were fixed against the wall in multiple spotlight shapes that moved at intervals. There were students spread across the room. The ones that weren't on the dance floor had confined themselves to the bleachers, punch bowl areas, three socially distanced photo booths among other complimentary accessories added to the gym.

"This is unbelievable," Tali's whisper through the noise voiced my thoughts accurately.

"Beth!" A voice called out from the end of the simulated gym. I followed the yell of my name to face Minji and her date.

"You look great," she said, catching me in a warm embrace.

   No, really. Literal warmth. I could feel the mild heat from her spread through me. This was insane. Her comment made me suddenly aware of myself and look downwards to an amazing lifelike version of me.

   I'd always known it before, but still...Speck Tech is incredible.

   Putting away my fascination, I yelled back over the music, "So do you."

   Her equally realistic frame was draped in a cherry-red spaghetti strapped top with matching cropped pants. I liked how her usually messy blue hair had been styled into short curls. I also noticed Naru's bracelet was among her accessories for tonight.

"I've mentioned Naru." She gestured to her date. "Naru, Beth. Beth, Naru."

   We exchanged polite smiles and hellos.

"Damn, is this really how the boys in your school look? I think I'm into nerds now," Tali's voice merged with the sounds from the dance's venue.

   I tried to kick the enthusiasm out of Tali without losing my footing.

   Taking a look around the gym again, it was actually pretty weird seeing students I would never have imagined being so loose. Even Viola didn't look so terrible on the dance floor.

   I could do better though. 

   But seriously, Zavlon Academia was at a level of normal  I never thought I'd see. I was going to hold onto this one time.

"Hey Beth." I didn't have to turn around to know it was Camila who called my name.

"Hi." I pursed my lips into a tight smile.

"You look great." Her lifelike avatar made awkward strides toward us.

   I shot a suspicious glance back to the dance floor. Viola was still with her date, but I still wasn't going to stick around for some sort of trap.

   It was in these rare complimentary moments that I saw a bit of Minji in Camila. For some reason, it was only unveiled in Viola's absence. It took me weeks to let it sink in that she and Minji were cousins.

   Still, I wasn't going to fall prey to whatever trauma she and her psychotic best friend had in store. Realising Minji was preoccupied with Naru, I turned away from Camila and began brisk walking from where I was standing—

"Whoa, relax."

—and into the arms of Dorian Mathers

"Y-You're here," I could only sputter.

   I immediately retracted from the hold he had on my hips to prevent our almost unpleasant collision. The feel of his palms still lingered though.

   The sensory tech on this virtual machine was no joke.

"Yeah. Rav has practically glued this thing to my head. He's actually interested in the dance...just not as a participant. So I'm his bitch for tonight," He replied with a shrug.

   I laughed at the playfulness laced with that statement. "I don't see it that way. There's nothing wrong with humouring your best friend."

"DON'T BLOW THIS BETH OR SO HELP ME I'LL TAKE OVER! DO YOU HEAR ME?" I winced from Tali's yells in my ear.

   I didn't blame Dorian for the weird look he gave me for how I was failing in my subtle attempt to mutter a 'shut up'. I sighed in relief but flinching again when Talise announced a little too loudly that she was going to get a snack.

"...Anyway, I'll be leaving soon."

"Oh. Okay then." Not knowing what else to say I blurted, "If you're looking for Minji she's not here. I mean she's over there."

"Yeah I saw her," Dorian replied, his stare never leaving mine.

   Thank God Tali wasn't here to beat me up. Her previous scream was a lingering nuisance though.

"This—"

"You—"

"Sorry," I frowned, hiding my burning face by suddenly finding the floor interesting. "You go first."

"You look nice."

"Oh." I fiddled with the sides of my outfit. "The dress's my mum's."

   Why did I say that? Now I  wanted to beat myself up.

   Before I could bask in my embarrassment, I noticed that this was the first time Dorian was making eye contact with me. And smiling.

   Despite what I just said.

   I wasn't one to question the quality of high-profile tech like that of Speck Technologies, but this was turning out to be a weird night. I just needed some kind of reassurance that his avatar wasn't glitching.

"I was going to say that this is the longest conversation we've ever had without you getting mad at me." My gaze shifted to the floor once more.

"Hmm. Those drinks must definitely be kicking in then." Dorian grinned.

   I looked up. His first joke to me. Ever.

   Kind of mean, but still.

   That, though, was almost enough to convince me that maybe he was telling the truth after all. There was something in the punch bowls that were posted at the corners of the gym.

   Probably by virtue of an alcohol spiking feature in the manual I overlooked.

"Sorry," he said with a thin smile, probably misreading my subsequent silence.

"Dorian!" Viola's shock was indisputable as she approached us.

"Hi, Viola." I realised his reversion to his usual expressionless tone and stance while he greeted her.

   Despite her obvious display of shock, Anyone who knew Dorian was sensible enough to not ask the reason behind him changing his mind and coming to the dance. Even Viola.

"Camila and Minji are over there." She pointed to one of the crowded photo booths posted . "Why don't you join us?"

"Sure." My brows elevated when he turned to me and asked. "Shall we?"

"Um," I glanced towards the amazement on Viola's face as it altered to irritation. "I really don't think she meant me as well."

"Yeah, I really didn't." She replied, keeping her eyes on Dorian the whole time. "She came alone, didn't she?"

   He had the strangest expression before saying, "Well, that's a shame. I would love to, honestly, but I don't want to be where my date is not welcome."

"Your what?!"

   I would have snorted at the strain in her voice if I wasn't on the verge of giving myself a whiplash from being so visibly taken aback.

"My date." His emphasis just fueled the nervous breakdown she seemed to be experiencing.

"Dorian..." I could only mutter his name. My thoughts were still too dishevelled to formulate a proper sentence.

"Very well." Viola said. It didn't take much to tell how physically draining it was for her avatar to crack that collected smile. "You two have fun."

   When she virtually sprinted back to her group was when I lost it. I burst into hysterics, unable to hold back as each laughter got louder and crazier. I only calmed down when I realised my laughter was not occurring solo.

   I looked at Dorian for the first time as he did the same. I mean, really looked at him. The few strands of his hair that had strayed from the lot rested above his squinted, humour-filled green eyes. I liked how he was pulling off his tux and his shoe game was pretty fire.

"Why did you do that?" I asked, a smile engraved on my face as I shook my head.

"Well, why did she call you out for not having a date that other time?" He shrugged. "That was really shallow of her."

"Oh, I'm definitely over it now."

"Glad to help." He replied and shifted his weight from one one foot to the other before continuing, "And... consider this to be the beginning of a do over between you and me for getting off on the wrong foot. You know... since you arrived to Zavlon."

   I wasn't sure what to make out of Dorian's extraordinary behaviour, but so far, he acted more open and friendly than I had ever seen him with anyone who wasn't Aarav. He was currently the reason I was having a good time. I didn't want this version of him to go away.

   Even if it was just for tonight.

   So I nodded with a smile, "I like the sound of that."

   And that was that. Well, it should've been anyway. But I wasn't ready to break my trance in his suddenly interesting eyes just yet.

   And neither was he in mine.

   The sensors this time had nothing on the inexplicable emotion of its own accord stirring up in me.

"HELLO STUDENTS!!!" Mr. Speck appeared on the stage set up to face the crowd.

   Loud cheers erupted all around us in response. When Dorian and I finally broke our gazes to turn to Speck, I realised the excitement I usually experienced upon seeing our principal was not as fiery.

"I just came in to say how proud I am that each and every one of you are making this program a huge success." He gave a short laugh. "I hope you're all prepared for many events such as these in the near future! Keep having fun and relax! I'm not going to ruin your night by hanging around."

   The angle from where I was gave a full view of Mr Speck as he stood backstage after walking through the curtain. I continued to stare at his still frame, thinking of how cool it'll be to witness his avatar disappear.

   Then I choked.

"Beth? Is there something wrong?" Dorian queried.

   His worried tone revealed he had heard the shriek I struggled to oppress when my eyes fell on the familiar yellow eyes that had hunted me in the tunnel.

   Right behind  Mr. Speck.

"Beth," Dorian didn't try to downplay the alarm in his voice this time. "Seriously, are you okay?"

   Virtual reality all of a sudden seemed like the real thing. The air in my lungs had gone rogue, escaping in uncontrollable paces, each breath heavier than the last. My heart wasn't giving itself a break either. My head moved around frantically, hoping I wasn't the only one seeing this.

   But the music was still playing at loud volumes. No one had broken character. My hesitant eyes drifted to the shadowy area once more but was met with an empty space this time.

   Mr. Speck and Yellow Eyes were not in sight.

   I had really lost it there for a second.

"Beth." Dorian's hand whirled me to face him.

"I'm sorry." I forced the calmest expression I could as he stared down at me. "There was a minor issue with my connection back home but it's all good now. Everything's—"

   I could barely finish that sentence with the sudden agony that seized my head out of nowhere. Its excruciating nature made it impossible to withhold the piercing scream that rippled from my throat. My knees didn't have to completely buckle for me to the ground in the school gym—or garage? I couldn't tell—with a vigorous thud, the pain still engulfing me in full force and extending to other parts of my body.

   My head was jerked a couple of times before its torturer was eliminated. The previous images brought up by the Virtuo glasses disappeared as a blurry, frenzied figure came into view.

"Beth! BETH!" Despite the proximity between us, Tali's panicked tone sounded miles away. "Beth, please, PLEASE SAY SOMETH—"

A/N: What was that all about🤔😳?

Thank you all so much for your support 🎉❤️!

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Marvel or DC?

At the risk of starting a war, Marvel🤭

Published 19th September, 2021.

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