Seven years, Seven words

'Love you to the moon and back'. Those words. They were what he had told her two years ago when he was first leaving for A country. Now, she was sending him those same words, urging him silently across seven seas to tell her that she was overthinking about his uneasiness from last night, and reaffirm her of his feelings which they had harboured since the began their relationship seven years ago.

As Love Marie's nervous fingers traced these seven words over the phone screen in her hand, she had a small epiphany. Seven Words, Seven Years. This phrase actually suits them. Maybe, it's really just meant for them. 'Haha! I'll tell Song Song this, I'm sure he'll find it amusing too.'

Suddenly, the distress she had felt for over the day now ebbed away as the sweetness of those words and memories warmed her heart. The day didn't seem as hopeless as it was before and the trust she had in the man she loved started to grow again.

'Maybe, he has been really stressed out because of his new job. It hasn't been long since he finished his management programme and over the months he's only gotten busier. He even plans on coming back to meet our parents in the fall regarding our future. I guess he needs more time. Maybe that's what's it about. Well it might be embarrassing for him to postpone our plans considering that he promised my parents to be responsible for me once he came back after finishing his advanced studies. But he shouldn't worry. I must tell him I'll stand by whatever decision he takes. It's us who get to decide our future, not our parents', Love Marie thought to herself.

Be positive, Love Marie, Be positive!

After calming down considerably, Love Marie decided to go online on Heart2Heart to continue with completing her tasks so she could collect considerable heart currency that the game developers had been giving for free this week in celebration of May, 20th. Love was all around, and so the game developers wanted to commemorate this Chinese day of love since their game was meant for individuals and couples who wanted that 'extra special' something that they could do together as to strengthen their relationship bonds while gradually increasing the time they spent together.

Previously, Heart2Heart's launch had coincided with Jay song's departure to A country. Since the distance created too much pressure on their relationship after just over a few months, Love Marie had forced, begged and emotionally blackmailed Jay Song to sign up on the game.

While communication through voice and video chat had lessened over time for multiple reasons, Love Marie had felt that a life/love simulation game such as Heart2Heart would let them have fun together and increase their spending time. Even though Song Song seemed reluctant in the beginning, the increasing number of advertisements of the game on social platforms and his girlfriend's persistence had made him sign up with her.

In comparison to other life or social simulation games in the market, the ultimate selling point of Heart2Heart was its concept, visual appeal and presentation. A market which had seen the release of fun simulation games such as New York Nights: Success in the city, Shenmue, True Love, Real Lives and Tomodachi Life previously, did not anticipate the release of a high quality online multiplayer simulation game such as Heart2Heart.

Heart2Heart was a game in which players could sign up individually or as a couple and simulate real world activities as in-game characters who could explore and interact with other people while pursuing individual, couple or guild goals.

However, what made the game really special was thousands of players could log in at the same time on a particular region server and complete tasks that were divided over a series of virtual days which were to be accomplished consecutively over a 3 month time span that represented each season. The games virtual ecosystem also changed according to these seasons such a spring, summer, fall and winter.

Each morning players were given certain tasks that needed to be accomplished throughout the day to earn heart currency or chests or other rewards, while on weekends special events were held for players to win special edition merchandises to complete life levels faster.

Love Marie especially loved the weekends for this reason and felt that she had finally been lucky enough to be able to unlock the summer special edition couple outift last night without spending any real money.

As Love Marie sat facing the beautiful background of the Heart2Heart log-in page with her hand ready to type in her username and password, her phone finally pinged loudly with a slight vibration breaking the silence that shrouded the room.

It was the text she had been waiting for, and the calmness she had felt a moment ago left her body as she opened her WeChat.

Under the name she was so familiar with, it read, "Read your messages. If you're free right now, I'll call you in a moment. I think we should talk."