Talking animals

---

Love, I love red burger buns, that's what mama said.

but If love blooms within me, perhaps it could end this dark winter, I'm not sure if I even want to feel warmth and melt the cold walls of my heart.

I often dream about him, and the strange feeling that has long resided in my chest. His pale eyes looking at me, as if calling me with longing.

I want to know what's hidden behind those eyes, but whenever I try to step closer, I no longer know what to feel.

"Who are you?". I asked.

---

"Bridgette, do you know her?"

"Where's our next stop, Clarisse?" That was Bridgette, as if she hadn't heard what that woman said.

School is almost over, but since the first day I return, I've been seeing new faces in the classroom, and I don't see Bridgette either.

She's my friend, yet it seems like we don't even know each other anymore.

I feel the warmth of the sun against my skin as I step off the train heading to VTh.

"Please have a seat."

A lady in her mid-30s called out to me, wearing gloves and glasses. She glanced at the monitor before looking at me.

"Stay calm. Before we equip you with that gear, you can also give me a signal just in case," she instructed.

I've forgotten her name since the first time she introduced herself to me as my doctor, but I don't know her real business inside this VR building.

"I hope you'll get along with other patients, it's not your first time so keep your mind relaxed."

This is my first time to try this, or maybe she mistook me for her another patient.

If my mother hadn't signed the document handed to her by VTh, I probably wouldn't be here.

I'm not like Zac, who enjoys games and would sign a contract right away. It's probably impossible that I would be the first to try their virtual reality game project, but from what Doctor Duck said earlier, I'm sure there are other players beside me. If that's the case, then their VR game is a success.

What does my mom want?

But if I were to ask, I feel like I'm loving this place.

As soon as I entered a large VR capsule, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was like a small room with enough space for one person, with wind entering through small windows around me.

The woman put the headgear on me before the capsule door closed, and now I'm bracing myself for what comes next.

The aura was refreshing.

Just like yesterday, the quiet forest greeted me along with the song of birds.

"So, this is how it feels, Zac," I mumbled.

It's enjoyable to walk here, but it would probably be even happier if the land I'm stepping on were real. It's true that I'm only wearing thin socks and attire like a hospital gown, which is comfortable on my body.

We are free to choose what kind of characters we want in the game, but only animals are available.

Maybe if what the woman said earlier is true, the animals I see here are also people like me.

"What about the butterfly yesterday and the crocodile I saw?" To be honest, it would be funny if I believed that.

I just chuckled.

"You noticed too... fat Raccoon." I was surprised when someone spoke from above me.

Oh... I'm too loud, huh?

He was a bit far away, perched on a branch, really staring at me.

I frowned, waiting for the sloth on the branch to speak again, but it continued to gaze intently at me.

"Is that you?" I asked, realizing they probably wouldn't answer any questions I asked.

"Guess." The sloth replied, still in the same position.

"How did you do that? Teach me." I don't know anything yet about this game. All I know is how to walk and run.

The sloth just laughed at me.

He looked cute; his human voice didn't match his appearance. I almost laughed at his expression.

"It's my ability. It's in the settings icon if you can find it. I think you can do it too." The sloth replied before leaping down from the branch.

What is this person doing in his capsule? Is his imagination so powerful that he can control his movements on a game like this?

"I see."

"Come on, let's explore more." He called out to me. I didn't know what kind of smile I should give anymore. If these are real animals, maybe I'd rather live inside a zoo.

"Let's go somewhere else; the grass here is too tall." Suddenly, my head started to hurt when I heard those words.

I've heard that several times before... — with Bridgette.

("The grass is too tall") That phrase echoed repeatedly in my mind before I woke up inside my room.

I pressed the buzzer after finding out I was disconnected just now. My forehead started sweating, and my pulse was racing, unlike when I first logged in.

"What happened?" the woman asked me.

"I got disconnected. How did that happen?" I asked.

"Only you can answer that. Maybe you were triggered or stressed. Take a rest first; you can't reconnect after what happened," she said, handing me water placed on the sofa's armrest.

Is that a big deal to the player?

"Let me just take off the headgear from you; take a deep breath first," the woman instructed before removing the headgear from my head.

"Can you tell me what happened? It's quite common for patients; they usually just disconnect when they log out," she explained.

"Is there a problem with the Wi-Fi here?" The woman shook her head at me.

I didn't realize they weren't using broadband but the latest Advonc satellite internet.

"Alright, I'll leave you for now. I'll call your parents to pick you up—"

"I can go home by myself," I replied with a frown.

It's true, and I'm already grown up.

What do you want, Bridgette?

And if I also think about the sloth earlier, what could have happened to me when I got disconnected?

The city lights were bright around me; after a few steps, I reached the house but found no one inside.

I just looked at the old shoes still by the door.

It doesn't look old, and it's clean as if it's often wiped.

I can't remember whose they are.

"Zac"

"Charlene!" Mama shouted from behind me, so I turned around, and she came out of the car.

"Why didn't you tell me you were home already?" I said I wouldn't get a ride; my quack doctor really messed up.

I'm feeling a bit awkward around her these days; as if I'm a child who needs her watchful eye.

She's become overly concerned as if every move I make puts me in danger.