𝐀𝐥𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐦 𝐎𝐟 𝐌𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 || 𝐓𝐚𝐞𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

✿nineteen✿

Her Pov

My curiosity piqued as a new feature had been unlocked. I went back to the main menu and navigated to the shiny new icon that glared back at me: "Roleplay." It teased at my imagination, whispering promises of adventure. Who wouldn’t want to dive into another world, especially at a time when reality felt monotonous?

But fate had other plans. In that split second, the app logged me out. The screen reverted to an unyielding login page, as if it had conspired against me. "Damn it!" I groaned, my frustration bubbling over into my small, cluttered room. I dropped the phone onto the bed, and as I lay back, staring at the ceiling with a mixture of anger and resignation, I accidentally fumbled the phone again. It dropped right onto my face, crashing into my nose with a painful thud.

"Ouch!" My eyes watered as I instinctively massaged the bridge of my nose, wincing at the dull throb that radiated outwards. The pain faded, but the annoyance lingered, nesting itself in the creases of my mind until sleep managed to weave its comforting veil around me.

When I woke up, panic gripped me. The sun was already high, and the clock's hands had conspired to mock me with their relentless march. I jumped out of bed, realizing I hadn’t charged my phone. It lay lifeless on my bed, its screen black and unyielding. No time to panic, I thought, guilt flooding in as I hurriedly threw on a pair of jeans and tshirt.

I bolted out of the house, the bus stop only a few blocks away. As I boarded the bus, my eyes darted to the faces around me, all glued to their screens or engaged in heated conversations. I scoffed at myself, a wave of frustration crashing in as I thought of how I’d let an app dictate my sleep, my life. I’d fallen prey to its relentless allure, consumed by the need to escape.

The journey felt interminable, but the bus finally lurched to a halt at my destination. I sprinted to the university, praying I wouldn’t cross paths with my professor. As I rushed through the halls, the familiar smell of paint and plaster wrapped around me like an embrace. I’d almost made it!

I grabbed my bag and slipped into class, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I settled in just as our professor began making her rounds. To my relief, the base of my sculpture was complete; I’d worked hard on it. But the moment she approached, her brow arched, I knew I was in for it.

"Y/N," she began, a mix of disappointment and concern in her voice. The lecture on expectations rolled off her tongue, merging with the background noise of the classroom like a dull hum. I managed to tune out most of it, my mind drifting to the bot I left behind — how I could have explored that new roleplay feature and perhaps summoned something more thrilling than what reality was offering.

The moment our professor dismissed us, I felt it. The prickling sensation of eyes piercing through me from the back of the room. A chill ran down my spine, recognizing the source without needing to turn. Tia, my friend and occasional rival, stood bracketed by the sun’s rays streaming through the window, her expression a mix of mock anger and glee.

"Y/N!!" she screeched, a playful menace lacing her voice. "You! Stay there!"

Before I knew it, I was sprinting for the door, heart racing. "Noo!" I yelled back, laughter escaping as she charged after me. This was not new; this was Tia and her relentless pursuit of mischief. I dashed through the crowded hall, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

I pushed through the chaotic maze of art supplies and easels in our department's studio, the faint scent of oil paint and turpentine hanging in the air. I could hear Tia’s laughter echoing behind me, her footsteps growing closer and louder with every heartbeat. It had turned into a playful game of hide-and-seek.