The Legendary Programming Mage

"Close the door behind you when you enter."

"You know I could have done that either way, right?"

Sylvia let out a playful huff.

Somehow, she seemed overly eager that I was coming over to her room today.

Or maybe it was the alcohol.

'She did love her alcohol.'

Brushing my leg on the doormat, I stepped into the spacious room, and God, did it smell good.

A large portrait bigger than the one I had, sky-blue sheets, a panda doll, and plenty of, well, girly things.

If my memory served me right, this was supposed to be the first time I'd been in a girl's room, besides my boss, Noona, and Taylor, of course.

But they weren't exactly girls, more like... females.

Sylvia immediately collapsed onto the floor the moment she entered. "I'm so tired."

I set the bag down, took off my blazer, and sat. "I'm pretty sure you haven't done anything since morning."

She squinted at me like she needed glasses. "Guess whose fault it is that I'm tired without doing anything?"

I shrugged. "The emperor maybe?"

She shook her head, gazing out the window like a poet. "It's because of a man I loved who betrayed me."

She pressed her eyes shut dramatically. "I, Sylvia, 18F, liked Allen, 18M. But he cheated on me with his friend Quincy, 18F, and now he wants me back."

"What the hell are you saying, you lunatic?"

She smirked. "Wouldn't that make a nice title for a story?"

I couldn't help but smile, leaning back on my hands. "I guess it could, as long as I'm not in the story."

She giggled softly. "Why can't you think the same?"

"Yes, I might die at that rate."

She slid closer and rested her head on my lap. "Then why did you cheat on me?"

Technically, I didn't, but I'd rather not say that.

Since I had no answer, I stayed silent.

She puffed out her cheeks. "Kiss me."

"No, you're drunk."

She squinted again. "I haven't even touched alcohol."

She stretched out her hand and popped up like a child. "Let's drink then."

Her quick glance darted toward the bottles she had bought.

Different flavors, types, and colors too.

"Want to mix it?"

I shook my head instantly.

I'd had some of the best mixing skills back in the day, and Sylvia—or rather Kim Jin-ah—had tasted them.

That meant if I mixed it...

Bam!

Yeah, a lot would happen.

Sylvia uncapped all the bottles and began mixing them in the small cups we bought.

[This is not water or juice. Do not drink if you aren't eighteen years old.]

That's what was written on the side of one of the drinks.

It weirdly made me want to break it, but I couldn't, since I was already eighteen.

'This is why I never watched anything 18+.'

If I had, stealing and hacking wouldn't be what could put me in jail.

"What are you thinking about so hard?" Sylvia asked, glancing back at me.

"Nothing."

She nodded, hiding the concoctions she'd mixed. "Want to see my masterpiece?"

I hesitated for a moment.

Well...

'I'm not particularly curious.'

Still, I nodded.

Sylvia grinned. "Presenting, dun dun dun!"

She turned around with two plastic cups of something that looked like concentrated urine.

I knew they all looked like that, but this was especially...

I forced a smile. "Awesome, I've tasted nothing like that."

She set one down and nudged my shoulder with a punch. "You haven't even tasted it, liar. Now try it."

"Nah, I'll pass. I've already tasted it spiritually."

Bam!

I felt my back hit the ground as Sylvia pinned me down, trying to force my mouth open. "Just one sip. Why must you act like that bastard?"

'Don't call me a bastard while trying to pour poison in my mouth.'

Seeing me unmoved, she played her last card.

"So you won't drink it? Even after I made it especially for you?"

I nodded, giving her my best puppy eyes. "It looks like urine."

"But it would be my urine, wouldn't it?"

"I don't think that makes a difference."

She tapped my chest lightly three times. "Yes, it does, you dummy. I'm me, not just anyone."

Wait...

Is she upset that I wouldn't drink her urine or that I wouldn't drink the alcohol?

She buried her face in my chest, then started blowing against it with her lips.

"Just one drink, so I can tell you about me."

Cute.

This time I didn't deny it.

She really was cute.

"Okay, I'll drink with you. But you have to change the way you mix the next one."

She giggled, then finally raised her flushed face. "I'm on top of you, Allen."

I glanced down a bit, only then realizing she was lying on me.

"So tell me," she leaned in and whispered. "Are you... well you know??"

Damn... some girls really are made to ruin men.

My ears burned, and I could feel the heat spreading across my skin. "Yeah, I am."

"Hehehe, I'm happy."

She suddenly cupped my cheeks. "Now look at me."

I stared into her crystalline blue eyes that had seemed so distant this morning; now, they were warm.

Ice being warm... what irony.

"What's your weird obsession with me looking at you?"

She lowered her head slightly. "Well, the other Allen never really looked at me."

But I did.

"He might have been facing my way, but somehow his gaze was always on what should happen next or some new code or tech, as if he had disconnected from reality."

Was I really like that?

She smiled softly, lifting her face to mine. "But I'm glad you aren't like that."

Her flushed cheeks softened with her smile. "I'm glad you look at me."

She slid off my body and started mumbling something, though I wasn't paying attention.

'Was I really like that?'

Not looking at those in front of me, but always somewhere else?

I won't lie—the Boss complained about that before, which was why she confiscated my tech that day.

Even I knew I'd changed a lot since coming into this world.

I had patience now with people, and actually valued them more than technology.

'Well, it's not like this world has any to begin with.'

But looking at those around me...

A small smile tugged at my lips as I muttered, "Doesn't sound too bad."

"Allen."

When I raised my gaze to meet Sylvia's, her eyes widened before her face lit up with a smile.

"What happened?"

She shrugged. "Oh, nothing. I was just thinking how you aren't as attractive as people say."

That was definitely a lie.

Both the attempt and the lie itself.

"If I'm not attractive, then every male species is a beast."

She laughed.

"Okay, now."

She shifted so we were facing each other. "It's time for the charades game to begin."