Night Club!

A nagging thought lingered in the back of my mind—maybe they were getting paid for this. That was the only thing that made sense to me.

Still, I hesitated.

"If I take on this quest…?" The idea of using someone I actually knew for a game didn't sit right with me. Guilt twisted in my stomach, but at the same time, there was a strange excitement bubbling up inside me.

I wasn't particularly close to Kelly, but we weren't just classmates either. We had teamed up a few times during school projects, even grabbed a meal together once or twice. Not exactly best friends, but not strangers.

I needed to be sure.

"Alright, let's check it again to make sure…"

Maybe I had imagined it, or maybe it was some weird glitch. Either way, I had to confirm what I saw before making a decision.

I put the VR headset back on and logged in. The game's menu appeared before me, and at the top of the list was the most recently viewed quest—Kelly's quest.

I tapped on it, my heart pounding as I read through the details again. Nothing had changed.

"Should I decide whether to take it based on the level…?" I hesitated, weighing my options. Was this crossing a line? Would she ever know? Would anyone ever know?

No, probably not. So, I pressed the start button.

Paat! A bright flash filled my vision, and the next moment, the scene around me completely shifted.

Swish!

"Huhhh!?" A sudden blast of music slammed into my ears, so loud that it felt like my skull was vibrating. The pulsing bass, the flashing neon lights—it was unmistakable. I was in a club.

My heart raced. Today had been full of firsts. First time experiencing such realistic VR, first time having sex in the game, and now… my first time inside a club.

I glanced around. I was at a tall, round table, and right beside me—Kelly.

She was here.

She wasn't dressed in her usual casual clothes. No, this was different.

Kelly was wearing a tight black dress, the material hugging her figure. Black tights clung to her legs, revealing just a teasing glimpse of her thighs under the short hem. An oversized jacket hung loosely over her shoulders, giving her a stylish, effortless look.

I swallowed hard. "…Wow, this is really, really real." I muttered under my breath, barely able to process how realistic everything felt. 

The bass of the music thumped in my chest, the scent of alcohol and perfume mixed in the air, and the heat from the crowd made the atmosphere thick and alive.

And Kelly… she was dancing right beside me.

Her hair, which she usually kept tied up, now cascaded down in soft waves. Heavy eyeliner accentuated her eyes, making them look deeper, more captivating. Her lips, coated in a vibrant shade of red, stood out even in the dim club lighting.

I found myself staring. She looked stunning.

For a moment, I worried she might recognize me, that maybe this game was more than just an illusion. But there was nothing in her expression that showed recognition.

Instead, she leaned in close, her lips just inches from my ear.

"Oh!" Her voice was lost in the overwhelming music.

"Huh?" I shouted back, but it was no use. She just laughed, her eyes sparkling under the flickering lights.

'She's… pretty.' The thought came out of nowhere, catching me off guard. I had never really seen her like this before—not with this much makeup, not in this kind of setting.

Our eyes met. Her gaze was deep, almost pulling me in, and I felt something tighten in my chest. For the first time, I saw her in a different light.

She leaned in again, this time even closer, her warm breath brushing against my skin.

"The music is so good!" She had to shout just for me to hear her.

I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts.

"Oh." I nodded dumbly, not knowing what else to say.

Kelly grinned before stepping away slightly, her body moving with the rhythm of the music. Her dancing was more energetic now, more fluid, like she had completely let go.

I watched her, unable to look away.

The flashing lights reflected off her smooth skin, her movements almost hypnotic.

Feeling the energy of the moment, I leaned in and shouted into her ear—

"Isn't it too loud?!" I had to practically yell over the pounding music, my voice barely making it through the thick bass that rattled through the club.

Kelly just shrugged and laughed, her expression carefree, as if the deafening noise didn't bother her at all.

I had always thought Kelly was pretty, but tonight—she was breathtaking. The way the dim lights flickered against her skin, the way her hair flowed freely instead of being tied up like usual… it was like seeing her for the first time.

I stood there, caught in a daze, watching as she swayed to the rhythm, her laughter mixing with the music.

Just then, someone came over and leaned into Kelly's ear, shouting something I couldn't quite make out. It was another girl, someone who looked a little like her—probably a friend or a sister.

"So?!" Kelly turned toward the girl for a moment before her eyes flickered back to me, curious and expectant.

And for some reason, in that instant, I felt a sudden urge to say something cool. Something that would make me seem collected, smooth—even though I wasn't.

"Are you okay?" That's what I ended up saying. Not exactly smooth, but at least it wasn't awkward.

Kelly blinked at me before giving a small smile, tilting her head as if trying to figure out why I'd asked. Then, surprisingly, she nodded.

Without much hesitation, she agreed to move somewhere quieter, and I led her toward the exit.

As soon as we stepped outside, the cool air hit me, and I realized something… I was a little too drunk.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but at the same time, I noticed Kelly wasn't exactly stable either.

"Haa… I'm fine… I'm fine." She mumbled, leaning against me as we walked up the stairs leading out of the club. Her weight was warm, and I could feel the heat of her flushed face against my shoulder.

I swallowed, keeping my focus on making sure she didn't trip. When we finally reached the top, I paused for a moment, looking around.

The street outside looked eerily familiar. It was a place I had definitely walked through before in real life. The neon signs, the scattered groups of people laughing, the way the cold night air smelled faintly of alcohol and cigarette smoke—it felt all so real.