1 Chapter 1

Amber Green stood at the top of the Statue of Liberty. Glorious fireworks were lighting up the night sky, with mellow soft music playing in the background. She took another step too far and felt her body plunge towards nothingness. Her heart skipped a beat and she closed her eyes. The world around her fell silent.

She would certainly be dead this time, or so she thought, till she opened her eyes and realised that she was still standing at the top of the Statue of Liberty, with the same music and the exact same fireworks replaying themselves.

There must be a bug in the system. She had attempted various acts of suicide, hoping to restart the game so that she could be jerked back into reality. The only thing she had managed to do was to return to the exact moment before she had tried dangerous acts, for the umpteenth time. She was truly doomed, now that she was stuck in this virtual reality game, with practically no idea how to leave the game.

In her frustration, she stomped her feet, screamed at the top of her lungs, and then started swearing and cursing. It was all to nought. She was trapped!

Amber stared hard at her surroundings, seeing if she could make out a pixel from the virtual reality around her, yet everything was so genuine. In fact it was so perfect and that was probably its only flaw. Reality as it had always been, was never perfect. She would unabashedly admit that she had entered this virtual reality game seeking to fulfil what her real life lacked: love.

She might have a doctorate in Psychology, and had written multiple books about relationships, but ever since she broke up with her ex several years back, she had not found any luck in finding her Prince Charming. As she approached thirty-fifth birthday, she started to make contingency plans, in case she was going to be spinster for good. Her dream had been to get married happily, and then have a bunch of kids, but reality was always different. Thus when she heard about Lovebug, the virtual reality game to create your own romance, with the possibility of finding equally desperate people like herself, and the remote chance of meeting true love, she had signed up for the beta version of the virtual game.

Now she felt stupid. Her moment of folly had led to her eternity spent in this virtual space. Perhaps the only consolation was that every corner of this virtual space was picturesque and perfect.

Suddenly, the surroundings froze in time. There was a female voice looming from the background.

"Dear players, there has been a glitch in the system. We, the creators of LuvBug are the most apologetic. We believe that it is a Trojan horse that has hacked into our system and changed the rules of the game. The only way out of the game is to win it; that is to have a successful romance, and to do it twelve consecutive times, in our twelve different storyboards. Meanwhile, we are trying to remedy the error. We beseech your patience and understanding."

Amber Green sighed. Well, at least there was a proposed solution although highly implausible. What would be the chances of winning this game of finding Prince Charming?

"Exasperated?"

Amber looked up and saw a handsome man standing at the edge of the crown.

"Are you a player or are you part of the game?" She asked.

"Erhm, do you ask that to every person you meet in this game? You do know that this is somewhat like a dating game, just that the circumstances and personas are preset by the creators of the game." He folded his arms and tilted his back.

"Well, so you aren't part of the game?"

"Gosh what is wrong with you? Are you Miss Suspicious? Yes, I am a real player. This is my avatar. I am truly a male, and in reality, I do have this physique of brown eyes and brown hair. Keep it real, right?"

Amber Green nodded her head, though in reality, she never had the head of crimson red hair like her avatar.

"'My name is James. I prefer to keep my surname a secrecy."

"I am Amber." She decided to not reveal her surname too. It was difficult to tell if James was his real name, or was it just a name for his avatar.

It was a good looking avatar anyway, though most of them did look good, with their flawless complexion and luxurious crown of hair. James' avatar was the stereotypical tall and handsome, with chiselled features, brown eyes and brown hair.

She wondered if he was just as handsome in real life.

Amber's avatar was a petite girl with crimson red hair and green misty eyes, bursting with spontaneity and character. It was a far cry from her usual boring bookish look, with squarish spectacles and a neat ponytail.

"So James, what do you propose that we do now? Now that we are stuck here until they sort this out."

"I say we play the game, rather have the game play us." His long fingers stroking his chin. "If you are agreeable, I would like to invite you to join me as a team. We can beat the system."

"Why me?" She looked at him in bewilderment. "Don't tell me I am the convenient girl hanging around at the top of the Statue of Liberty, thus you have decided that I should be your partner. What if our team dynamics suck, and playing the game with you is worse than being stuck in the game."

"Gosh, you really have no filter. Well, I have observed you for the last couple of minutes, and you have attempted suicide eleven times, I must say you have the perseverance and the grit." He laughed.

His avatar did a peculiar laugh, arching his back forward and then backward.

"Anyway, I give you my word that I am a true gentleman and my intention is clear, to get out of here."

"My intention would have been to find true love, but I would have to adjust my expectations now, given the current circumstances. I think it would be just to get out of here as well."

He extended his outstretched hand and said, "I guess we have a deal."

"On one condition," Amber. "This deal can be broken at any time, if any party decides that it will not be beneficial to continue this working relationship, at any time."

"Wow, are you a lawyer or something in real life?"

"A contingency plan is always needed," she replied.

"Okay. A deal is a deal. Gentleman's agreement."