Saeyoung could feel it. The universe shifting around him as the heroine for the cycle chose her ending and hugged Yoosung tightly with an ecstatic look. Her face froze in that happy-go-lucky expression as he backed off and walked out of the party hall. He glanced around at the selection of party guests that the young lady, her name was Vienna this time round, had selected, frozen in motion as they mingled. The silence was almost deafening as he strolled out onto the street with a melancholic look. It would be too troublesome to drive back home, with the cars being stuck in motion on the road and all.
Saeyoung looked up at the buildings, glancing around at paused adverts and wondering if Vienna would have been successful enough to have her own video games being advertised so much. Yes, another woman with an aspiration for game design had been sent this time around. Saeyoung admitted it, he was attracted to her but she just wasn't…quite what he wanted.
It is impossible to measure how long it took for him to finally get home. But when he did, he noticed his computer screens were flashing white. Loosening his tie, he made his way to sit in front of them and languidly tapped the spacebar on his keyboard. The image of an irritated looking young lady appeared on the screens.
"What was wrong with this one?" she asked in a clipped tone.
Saeyoung didn't speak, just took in her face that looked exhausted, as if she hadn't had any sleep. She was healthy, he knew that, but she looked anything but.
"Luciel, I've stopped trying a long time ago because it's always the same result no matter what the route. Hasn't this game gone on long enough?"
"I've told you before what you can do," Saeyoung muttered bitterly with a bored sigh.
"And I've told you before what the result will be."
The young lady yawned, leaning back in the large leather chair and rubbing the back of her neck.
"And I won't yield no matter how long it takes."
"Well neither will I."
"And that's how we've ended up stuck in this stalemate."
Saeyoung made a soft noise of displeasure and the young lady sighed.
"I thought you liked the girls I send to you, Seven?" she taunted "Every single one. You especially took a shine to that girl who was learning coding so she could design games. There was that biology student but she went for Yoosung. Then there was that adorable girl who wanted to be a baker but we all remember how she decided to be with Jaehee in that business instead. You were smitten with that actress who, surprise, surprise, went for Zen. Of course, who could forget that naughty, naughty psychology student who ran off with your darling brother? Of course, my favourite was the aspiring writer who fell into Jumin's arms. Oh, that was romantic. And you were on the sidelines watching, pining, wishing for another girl to fill that empty heart of yours. I only create the girls, Saeyoung. They make their own decisions. You should do more to attract them."
"Just…" Saeyoung muttered "send yourself."
"We both know I won't go for you now, don't we?"
Saeyoung sighed shortly, giving her a pleading look.
"You can't hold up for much longer," he said.
"I know the systems in place, Luciel, I know my body is fine."
She then smirked.
"Of course, you're talking about my mental condition. Tsk, tsk, you should never underestimate a young lady's resolve."
Saeyoung avoided her gaze as she stretched her arms out with another yawn.
"I remember all their names. Do you?"
"I can't remember how many you've sent."
"Well to name a few, there's Hea, Soo-Yun, Hayley, Kyung-Mi, Florence…and Anne."
Saeyoung flinched slightly from that name and she smirked wider.
"The most accurate depiction of me and you still didn't accept it."
Saeyoung avoided her look and she sighed.
"I must have gone like through every nationality…"
"You haven't used Russian or Japanese characters," he muttered, remembering through the background checks of all the girls that had been sent.
The girl tapped her fingers on the keys before actually beginning to type out code for the next character.
"I can…"
"Save it, I'm done with your pleading. I'm going to just go ahead with the next cycle."
"Just hear me out, we can reach a compromise!"
"Genius at work here, do not disturb."
Saeyoung's lips twitched as he watched her look at screens around her, the clik-clakking of the keyboard echoing in his silent world.
"Gah, my fingers hurt…"
Saeyoung stayed quiet as she complained under her breath, pausing to reach out from behind her and produce a large plastic cup which held her favourite drink: passion fruit bubble tea with extra tapioca. He watched the small black balls shoot up the straw as her hand worked furiously with the keyboard, remembering the pictures she had on her social media pages. She was just as addicted to the stuff as Yoosung was to LOLOL.
"Done~!"
She took another long sip, chewing up the tapioca as Saeyoung didn't bother to comment on how little time she had used for this character.
"Let's play."
The universe shifted again and Saeyoung sat up to meet her gaze seriously.
"You're just damaging yourself."
The girl gave a confident smirk.
Saeyoung's face disappeared from her communication screen and she sighed.
"Sheesh, he's no fun when he's depressed."
She took another sip from her bubble tea then glanced at the figure that was hovering behind the mass of screens, keyboards and other complicated looking technology.
"But it doesn't matter because this will be the last cycle. I'm sure he'll like you."
The figure didn't move.
"Have fun~!"
She disappeared, leaving the girl to lean back again, bouncing and spinning on her chair.