The Daily Routine Switch

Sunlight kissed my bare skin. My over-excitement and jumbled emotions from the encounter with SugarRush made me forget to close my curtains before I fell asleep earlier.

I check my Discord first thing to see if SugarRush is online.

Woah, why would I do that first thing?

The first thing that I would usually do is rave on my Spotify playlist, write a couple lines, and prep some food for the day before I go to work. This time, it's SugarRush running on and on in my head.

Instead, a community announcement in our channel warns players of multiplayer quest abuse to get more rewards. I quickly hopped to SugarRush's conversation and pinged him about the community announcement. He appears online but responds eleven minutes later.

SugarRush: Hey, I did see the announcement too! Well, we both know we completed the missions fair and square. Don't worry about it.

Me: Yeah, I just panicked for a bit most especially because it was our first quest together.

SugarRush: What about it? 

Me: I don't know. Nothing, maybe they were sus about it.

SugarRush: Don't overthink it, we won the quest without any bug abuse, chill out will you? Let me treat you later with character items to cool your overthinking mind.

Me: Hey, you don't have to, but, thanks!

I smile at this. He is sweet and thoughtful. Why would those things matter to me? I barely know him and he could be way older than I am. He could be with someone or he could just not be interested in the mess that I really am.

SugarRush: What time will you be in-game so I can transfer you the items?

Me: Past midnight, still have to work the full shift before I can play.

SugarRush: That sucks! Anyway, see you later!

Me: Yeah, the bills don't pile and pay itself. TTYL!

A smirk spread and I started wishing that I could just not work and log in-game to play and see him virtually. This foolish, aching heart is yearning to play with this online boy I don't even know entirely.

I start my Spotify playlist and get up to get the day really started. I don't find myself wanting to wander around the hallways and write lines. Instead, I take a cold shower right away. I want to just prep some arugula, olives, greek cheese, olive oil, and cold cuts for my meal and be on my computer screen. I punch into work earlier to accomplish more hoping I don't have to work overtime and just play.

SugarRush is typing...

How the hell am I having our conversation open on my phone? The whole time I worked, my Discord kept the screen busy as I checked. My heart raced seeing that he was typing a message for me. I hope he doesn't delete it and cancel the message he was supposed to send me.

SugarRush: BTW, since I am giving you items, you should give me a car in-game, too!

The pounding goes a long way. To my fingertips as I feel my heartbeat all over my body. Blushing, he really does affect me. He affects me in a very different way compared to the others that I interact with. Mysterious SugarRush, why?

Me: You're practically richer than I am in-game! You get to spend more time grinding than I can.

My work day ends just like that. A couple more chats with each other and our conversations reach wherever they can. We shared so much in common that it hurts to not know him behind the game and the Discord identities that we share. I quickly logged into the game as soon as I punched time out from work.

"Hey there," a quiet soothing voice welcomes me in-game. SugarRush makes his character wave at me and I couldn't describe the smile and excitement that took over my body.

"How did you know I would spawn here?" I blurt out those words carelessly and he laughs, "Hey, this is where we logged out last night, remember?" He remembers despite grinding throughout the day in-game. I flushed redder and couldn't muster the words to say anything at all.

"Anyway, here are the items I promised," SugarRush hands them over in-game and they were more than I imagined. There were a lot of rare items that could get me by and literally some are even impossible to get for a mediocre like me.

Shocked, I ask, "Hey, isn't this too much? Thank you so much! There are too many rare items that I could never cross by with the limited time that I could grind."

"Hey, don't sweat it! It should help you! Come on, let's have all your daily quests done before proceeding on other quests. What do you have up?" I am just in awe of how everything is going by too fast. I only asked for his help with one quest, but now, he is willing to help me with the rest.

"Are you not busy?" I ask.

He laughs, "No, I have finished my dailies and am here to help you out. I will be accompanying you from this day onwards to help you out! Come on!"

I don't know what to do or say. I scroll through my dailies and let him know right away. There was less talking along the way, but our Discord conversation was all about sharing different things from movies, songs, pictures, and video links for things that we have in common that could entertain us.

Unknowingly, it was almost the break of dawn but we were just having a good time completely. For the first time ever, I finished more quests than I should have and completed my dailies and multiplayer quests.

"I think that's it," I say sadly. The sadness was not evident but I didn't want to go offline and sleep. It felt like I wanted more time with him despite being with him literally from the moment I woke up.

He chuckles, "I think accomplishing that much is a first for you, eh?"

"Yes, thank you so much for your help! I really, really appreciate it."

"Well, I should be logging out now." There you go. I didn't him to go but of course, he should. Who am I to say otherwise?

"The same goes for me!" I say and before I can log out he asks, "How about let's try this FPS game together? You mentioned you are streaming a couple times."

Woah! And my heart pounds loud and proud again. Silly me, but of course, I would want as much time as I can with him. "Sure, just know I am quite casual and play for fun."

He laughs at this and says, "Hey, stop overthinking! I haven't played the game in months, let's go for it!"

After one whole game, we won the game and he was the top player of all. He is pretty hardcore and it would be dumb to not be impressed at all with his gaming skills.

"Hey, you're good and you say you haven't played in months!" I say over the in-game call.

He laughs, "It's true! That was just pure luck!"

The conversation went on and on until we decided to log out and continue the conversation over at Discord. It was around six in the morning. I used to sleep at this time, but my bones and soul are completely awake. Our conversation is far from over and there is just so much going on.

It's a 360 switch.

SugarRush when I wake. SugarRush throughout the day. SugarRush before I sleep.

It's all SugarRush along the way.