Pixels And Pistols (HBC) ∆13. Spiders and Claws

Chapter 13: Spiders and Claws

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

Alpha!! Here!!! *waves her hand and walks towards him*

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

*as he looks at her, he smiles softly, glad to have met her and heard her voice today. She looked even prettier*

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

*comes closer* Hey! Glad I found you!

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

*snaps out of his trance* Ah- Me too!! Besides, I told you I'd meet you right?

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

Of course~ Seems like you are a man of your words~

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

*chuckles awkwardly* That I am. But how did you find me?

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

Oh-- *looks around, thinking of a reason* I was just passing by the hall and saw you

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

Ah Right... Well...

They both wanted to meet each other but no one knew what to say. And hence they were now stuck in awkward silence

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

*fumbles around with his headphone wires* W-well... T-the w-weather is nice haha

Author

And this My friends, is a classic introvert reaction to wanting to talk but not knowing what to say

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

Well... Since the weather is nice, do you wanna roam around the office campus?? Avian Technologies is known for its beautiful campus.

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

Uhh Yeah Sure!!! But how will we get access to the places? I'm just a visitor and you are--

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

*interrupts* I am an employee!!! I just need to scan my identity card, and we'll be allowed everywhere

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

O-oh... You work in Avian?

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

*lying* Yep! Now less talking and more walking, let's goooo

With that, Rithika grabs Alpha's hand and drags him with her. They soon reach the first exhibit, the VR game booth

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

Ohhh~~ that looks interesting!!! Let's check it out!!! *clicks on the start option*

The screen lights up and a mechanical voice activates.

VR Assistant

Welcome to Jungle Maze: A Virtual Reality Game. Please take your seat and put on the headset. Get ready to begin your fantasy adventure!

Rithika looks excited and immediately sits, putting on the headset.

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

You don't wanna play??

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

Nah I'd rather watch, I've played tons of these already

Soon the game activates and the screen shows the animation that Rithika currently sees in the virtual screen. She giggles and laughs as her character runs through the jungle and she runs around the maze

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

Woohoo this is funnn

There was something about her childish innocence that made Alpha adore her more

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

*smiles seeing her excited like a child* *seems like she likes VR huh?*

Suddenly a giant spider appears in the holographic VR game and Rithika shrieks

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

AHHHH---- *waving hands around frantically, removes the headset and jumps* S-Spider!!!

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

Because of Rithika's sudden movement, Her character fell down in the game and the screen displayed a "Game Over" message. Alpha who saw her fumbling around burst out laughing

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

Pfft----- Hahahahaha *bends over laughing, tears welling up in his eyes*

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

*glares at him* Hey!!! That wasn't funny!!

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

*chuckling* I'm Sorry-- *laughs* The way you thrashed your hands around made it look as if you were fighting a giant cotton ball *chuckles*

Rithika hits him on his arm lightly, and smiles a little herself, glad that Alpha was enjoying the time with her.

They spend the whole day going to exhibits and trying out new things, having fun and eating good things. Soon it was evening and time to bid farewell. Rithika saw a claw machine and ran towards it.

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

That panda is so cute!!!

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

You like it?

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

Yepp don't you think it's cute?

Alpha lets put a small laugh at her excitement and goes towards the machine. Pushing in a coin, he gets ready to take out the panda. He carefully maneuvers the claw, grabs hold of the panda and at the last second, the claw drops it

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

*laughs* Seems like you aren't good at this huh?

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

*flustered* w-what? No. T-that was ahhh well... That was just an accident. I'll totally get it this time.

And so Alpha tries several more times until he finally gives up in defeat. Now it was Rithika's turn to laugh

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

Hahahaha Looks like you should stick to computers *giggles*

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

*looks away, grumbles* That was just the machine malfunctioning, I'd totally get it otherwise

Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩

Sure Sure Mr. Claw Expert whatever you say *looks at him fondly and let's out another giggle* It's getting late. You should get going I guess. I had fun today!

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

Me too. I really enjoyed the day. Thank you so much for the tour around Avian

As they bid each other goodbye, Alpha smiles softly looking at her and leaves. Rithika hopes she managed to make Alpha like her a little

Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩

*talking to himself* God She's so innocently charming

His mind thinks of the Song that he had heard a couple of days ago which explained his feelings

Kaise Tu Gungunaaye Muskuraye, Chhoti-Moti Baaton Pe Munh Fulaaye, Ye Nazakat Meri Aadat Paas Mujhe Laaye, Naadaniyan Naadaniyan, Kheenche Mujhe Naadaniyan, Naadaniyan Naadaniyan, Paagal Kare Teri Har Ada,

The melody of your hum and the curve of your smile, Inflating your cheeks over small matters, This enchantment lures me into my fondness for you. The innocence and childish ways, Your innocence attracts me. Childish, innocent behaviors, Every movement of yours drives me crazy.

"nadaaniyan" by Akshath

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To Be Continued...