Waking Up
Green eyes.
That's what Vik saw when he first opened his eyes.
Opening his own eyes had been a struggle, as if he had been confined within an overstuffed trunk of unfamiliar belongings.
Fragments of a conversation with an all-encompassing entity lingered in Vik's memory, creating a distorted perception of time. It felt both distant and recent, an experience that had left him disoriented.
Gradually, clarity returned, accompanied by control over his body. Vik pondered his situation, wondering if he had managed to log out of Oasis and whether his companion, Tory, had survived the dangers they faced.
Driven by survival instinct, Vik's eyes snapped open. Green eyes met him with surprise and a hint of embarrassment, too close for him to discern anything else. Suddenly, his lips were captured by a soft, luscious seal. The proximity of this unknown person, coupled with the lingering danger, triggered fear within him.
Instinctively, Vik pushed the girl away, a resounding slap punctuating the quiet room. In his awakening state, he regarded her as a potential threat, his reflexes taking over.
Reece Green, pushed back by the slap, landed on the ground near Vik's bed, her expression shifting from shock to embarrassment. Tears welled up in her eyes as she assumed the worst, silently crying without making a sound, feeling more emotionally wounded than physically hurt.
Amidst the swirling questions in Vik's mind about his unfamiliar surroundings, he confirmed his wakefulness by pinching himself hard. This place was new to him, and the girl who had seemingly attacked him was also unfamiliar.
Setting aside thoughts of the perplexing dream, Vik's mind turned to Tory's whereabouts and the need for answers. He realized the girl he had just slapped held potential answers.
'Now where the fuck… THERE SHE IS! And here I was wondering how she pulled a Houdini on me.'
Vik shifted his body onto the unfamiliar bed, leaning forward to observe the girl who had momentarily vanished from his vision. Reece Green, with her light orange hair and sparkling green eyes, possessed a youthful beauty. Her rosy skin, delicate nose, and the lips that had just kissed Vik intrigued him. With her apparent youthfulness, she displayed an energetic aura that matched her name.
"Errr... I... I'm sorry."
Witnessing Reece's tearful state and realizing his role in it, Vik managed to stutter an apology. However, he noted that the girl seemed unaffected by his words.
Surveying his surroundings once more, Vik found himself in a less precarious situation than he had initially assumed, bringing a sigh of relief. Rebooting himself, he shook his arms and head, fully awakening.
Rising from his bed, Vik approached the girl, who sat with crossed legs, displaying her own awkwardness. Overwhelmed with questions, Vik chose to offer comfort to this endearing girl for the time being.
As he stood up, Vik noticed a subtle change in his physicality, feeling slightly different with a lower vantage point. Dismissing it as a potential side effect of prolonged Oasis usage, he attributed it to harmless disorientation.
Taking a seat beside the girl, Vik locked eyes with her vivacious green gaze brimming with life and energy.
"I sincerely apologize. It was an accident," Vik spoke softly, using his palms to wipe away her tears. The girl's blank expression transformed into a sad pout, as she recognized the genuine care he exhibited, a side of him she had not seen before. She pursed her lips, conveying a mix of emotions that silently questioned his actions.
Vik sighed and embraced her, adjusting his posture to accommodate her legs, ensuring a comforting hold. He knew he had hurt her and felt compelled to offer solace, unaffected by the deepening crimson hue on her face.