Mr.X

One week later...

Boredom... that word sums up my Saturday morning. No college, no German class, and most importantly, no Carlos, who is working as always. To maintain the routine, I turn on my computer, which logs directly into RLC. I notice that Mr.X is online, but I prefer not to message him. I still need a good dose of caffeine to wake up. I set Thalia to dance in the club and go prepare my coffee.

After having my breakfast, I return to my computer and notice that there was an open chat window:

Mr.X (online) — Good morning or good afternoon... maybe good evening, Thalia.
Mr.X (online) — How are you?
Mr.X (online) — ???
Mr.X (online) — Are you there, Thalia?
Mr.X (online) — Why aren't you responding?

I take a deep breath, smile, and then write:

Thalia (online) — Hello, Mr.X, sorry if I didn't respond earlier. I was having a lovely breakfast. I'm doing very well, and you?

Mr.X is typing...

Mr.X (online) — I'm doing well too, but intrigued by your profile.
Thalia (online) — Intrigued by my profile, why?
Mr.X (online) — It says here that Thalia is 27 years old, a Virgo (hmmm... a virgin), bisexual (hmmm), speaks German, and was born in Madrid.

Yes, I know I lied about some things, but who tells the truth in the virtual world?
Thalia (online) — What would you like to know about my profile?
Mr.X (online) — Do you really speak German?
Thalia (online) — Ja, ja, Sir. Ich nahm an deutschen und endete Anfang dieses Jahres. (Yes, without a doubt, Sir. I took a German course and finished earlier this year).
Mr.X (online) — Impressive, Thalia. You're bisexual?

That simple and direct question almost made me choke. I hesitate on whether to tell him the truth about my sexuality or not. I smile at the screen and write:

Thalia (online) — No, I was just curious...
Mr.X (online) — So, what are you looking for in this game?
Thalia (online) — I'm not looking for anything specific, just curious about the game. Also, how can someone feel aroused by an avatar without knowing who's behind the screen?

Mr.X is typing...

That "typing" stays on my screen for quite a while, making me curious.

Mr.X (online) — If you're really curious, I can satisfy your curiosity.

My stomach feels like it's filled with butterflies. For some reason, his words affect me.

Mr.X (online) — Who is the woman behind Thalia?

I stare at the screen, serious... I observe my whole room, feel the silence that permeates my house and the loneliness that has become my most loyal companion... Who am I?

Thalia (online) — I am a married woman, without children. I've been playing the game for just over a month, every day, usually in the morning. But lately... I've been playing at night. RLC has become a great distraction from my loneliness... Enough about me now, who is Mr.X?

Mr.X is typing...

Mr.X is typing...

Mr.X is typing...

Mr.X seems to be typing endlessly, or maybe it's just my anxiety to know more about him...

Mr.X (online) — I've been playing for two years, I'm 37 years old, married, and have a son. I started playing when my wife had our child... I log in two to three times a week. I always have different partners and never talk to anyone under 25. Nothing against younger women, but they tend to associate sex with love, which, in my opinion, are two different things. I guess that's why I didn't notice those "perverts" who were harassing you the other night.

His words seem sincere, which makes me question why he's telling me all of that. If it's true, I'm just another one in his web and will soon be replaced. But, as he says, it's just sex without love.

Thalia (online) — Why are you telling me all of this?
Mr.X (online) — Because you're different.

We talk all morning about the game and how it has been for him in the past two years. From that day on, we start talking every day. Honestly, I don't know where we find so many topics to discuss. And little by little, I discover new things about him, like the fact that he knows German, French, English, and Spanish, but prefers to speak French and that he works for a major corporation as an account manager, fighting for a promotion that would change his life.
***
Despite talking every day, I decided to go on a date with a user I had met a few days before meeting Mr.X.

Sexyman (online) — Let's play?
Thalia (online) — Let's.

Our avatars are in a club. We go up to one of the rooms where we position our avatars for our "action."

Sexyman (online) — I love your breasts... you're so sexy! I'm going to take off all your clothes and lick you all over... from head to toe. I'm going to thrust my cock inside you and make you moan. Do you like that, you dirty girl?

As smooth-talking as he was, I confess I didn't feel comfortable, and it was very mechanical since the avatars did all the work... I didn't feel anything. Maybe it was just in my head, so I went to my favorite club and accepted the advances of another "pervert," and once again, I felt nothing. Maybe I was right and Filomena and Mr.X were wrong: There's no pleasure in virtual sex.

Thalia (online) — I'm going to quit RLC.
Mr.X (online) — Why would you do that?
Thalia (online) — Because I don't find any pleasure in virtual sex... I don't enjoy watching avatars engage in... sex.
Mr.X (online) — You need to try with other avatars before giving up.
Thalia (online) — I've tried, and it led to nothing... since the game is about sex, there's no reason for me to stay here.

Mr.X is typing...

Mr.X (online) — You need to give me a chance... try with me before abandoning the game.

His words shock me. He had never proposed anything like that before. I think that's what made me feel so close to him, the fact that he didn't see me only as a piece of meat, or rather, a sex-hungry avatar. I confess that deep down, I sometimes wondered why he never tried... And now he's making this proposal. I didn't want anything scripted; I wanted it to be spontaneous. But in RLC, either you're in the mood or you're not. And at that moment, I'm quite curious.

Thalia (online) — I accept, but if it gets weird, we'll stop. Is that okay?
Mr.X (online) — As you wish, madam. I'm at your disposal.
Thalia (online) — And how will it happen? Where will it be? I know some clubs...

Mr.X (offline).