I woke up inside my friend's video game

The evening breeze carried the scent of salt and sea, brushing gently against our skin as we lounged on the hotel porch overlooking El Nido's pristine shoreline. The sun dipped low, its golden hues spilling across the waves, turning the ocean into a shimmering canvas of orange and crimson. A tranquil moment, unmarred by time.

Erica nestled closer, resting her head on my shoulder, her long black hair cascading over my arm. The rhythmic melody of waves crashing against the shore provided a soothing backdrop to our quietude. I reached over and carefully took the Matcha latte from her hand, placing it on the porch table. She let out a soft giggle, amused by my subtle concern.

"You're always so careful," she mused, her dark eyes twinkling.

I smiled, running my fingers gently across her cheek. "What can I say? Our company knows how to spoil us after all that hard work. It's nice to slow down and enjoy it."

She lifted her head, her expression turning serious. "They should be thanking you more, Jayson. The projects were a success because of you." She took a sip of her latte, letting the warmth linger.

I chuckled, savoring my café latte. "That's an overstatement, Erica."

She frowned, clearly unconvinced. "Helping everyone finish their projects isn't an overstatement."

Before she could argue further, I pulled her into a tight embrace. "I love you, Erica."

She melted into the hug, her arms wrapping around me. "I love you more, Jayson."

I pressed a kiss to the top of her head before leaning back against the chaise lounge. "Let's just enjoy this, love. No work talk."

For a few moments, we sat there, content in each other's company. The sound of seagulls calling in the distance and the soft chatter of hotel guests further heightened the peacefulness of the evening. The warmth of Erica's body against mine, the scent of her lavender perfume mingling with the salty breeze—this was the kind of moment I wished could last forever.

But then, a sudden movement from the beach caught my attention. A lone figure sprinted across the sand, heading straight for us. Squinting against the sun's glare, I recognized the wild curls bouncing with each hurried step, a laptop clutched in one hand.

"Nikolai?" I muttered, sitting up.

Erica followed my gaze and sighed. "I bet he's here to pitch another game."

I smirked. "He's a game developer. I'm his unwilling alpha tester."

Nikolai skidded to a halt in front of us, panting but grinning ear to ear. "Hey, Jay!" He raised his free hand for a fist bump, which I met without hesitation.

"What's up, Nikolai?"

His excitement was palpable. "Remember the mod I told you about at the airport?"

I sighed dramatically. "The one you've been hyping all week?"

"Yes! It's finally ready." He practically shoved the laptop toward me.

"Dude, you have to try it. This isn't just any mod—it's a total game-changer for Skyrim."

I glanced at Erica, who merely raised an eyebrow. "We were in the middle of something, man."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Nikolai said, waving me off. "But seriously, just give it a shot later. You'll thank me."

I took the laptop with a playful groan. "Fine, but only because I consider video games not part of work."

Nikolai grinned. "See? You get it. We're engineers, not game devs. This is just my hobby."

I shook my head, laughing. "Alright, alright. Now scram, we were having a moment."

"Uh… speaking of interruptions," Nikolai said hesitantly. "Sir Oscar, Ma'am Porcia, and the bosses are looking for you and Erica. Celebration hall. Now."

I exhaled through my nose, exchanging a knowing look with Erica. "Well, duty calls. We'll pick this up later."

In unison, we downed the last of our drinks before standing. I took a moment to stretch, rolling my shoulders as the weight of responsibility settled back in. Before heading off, I ducked into our hotel room, placing Nikolai's laptop on the bedside table. As I set it down, a strange sensation prickled at the back of my neck—an odd feeling of anticipation, as if I were on the verge of something… unexpected.

Brushing off the thought, I turned back to join the others. "Alright, let's go."

Little did I know, this would be the last normal evening I'd ever have.