Was a tie even possible?

Ilaria laid on her back on the floor of the training room, looking at the blue sky, trying to make sense of what had just happened. She had shot while tumbling down. Nevertheless, her Fireball had surely impacted Johnny–it had been what ended the combat. At that time, she had barely a sliver remaining of her combat points bar–tanking a Spear thrust was hard on a mage. Maybe the damage from her own fireball–sandwiched between their two bodies as they fell–had been enough to kill her too.

Johnny, who had been laying next to her, finally stopped laughing. He crouched and extended his arm, casting a shadow over her.

“Don't wanna go up?”

Ilaria turned her head–facing the warrior–belatedly noticing his open hand. She took it, letting him help her stand up.

“What will we do now?” asked Ilaria, looking around–they were still alone. “I mean, about the bet.”

“Nothing.” Johnny walked towards the door, unclasping his bracelet. “Nobody won; nobody lost.”

“We could do another round.” Ilaria regretted saying it before ending the sentence. She had been lucky her last-ditch attempt landed. It wouldn't happen a second time.

“Feeling confident? Won't be today, regardless. Edu and Flo should be coming back soon.”

Johnny hadn't given her any time for answering. And he had been right. Before he even finished putting on the red bracelet, his friends were already back from their Dungeon Date.

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“Don't mind it.” Flo smiled while laying on the floor. “I know I'm lacking. I'll practice more!”

The new match hadn't ended much different from the one before the interlude. Johnny and Edu were evenly matched–Ilaria could tell they were used to train together. Flo, on the other hand, had tried to copy some of Ilaria's movements–like zigzagging instead of approaching in a straight line–yet, she still had a long way to go.

Ilaria bent down, taking Flo's hand and pulling her up.

“Though, I don't think I'll log in tomorrow. It's summer after all,” added Flo, smiling sheepishly.

“Don't worry too much,” said Ilaria. “Go at your own pace. There will be other tournaments.”

Being already past noon for Ilaria–which was two hours later for the Argentines–Edu and Flo excused themselves. She waited until the last glimmer of light had snuffed out before turning towards Johnny. It was the time, at last.

“I guess this is it for this week,” said Johnny, storing his weapons in his brown shoulder-bag.

Was he leaving?

“Hey, you still owe me...” Ilaria wouldn't let him flee so easily. Training with him wasn't such a pain lately–and she had genuinely learned from it. That being said, her main motivation still was to uncover who was behind the Johnny character.

“Really?” Johnny turned towards her and smirked.

“Yeah. The deal was three questions.”

“What do you want to ask anyway?”

Ilaria took a couple of steps towards Johnny. With his athletic but also slight frame–and the golden highlights of his hair–he embodied the boy group popstar image.

“Well, I already know you aren't Johnny in real life.” She made a pause, trying to read the warriors reaction. “Who are you in reality?”

“The deal was in exchange of the guild party and the Valentine's Tournament.” said Johnny, turning towards the door. “I'll answer your last question at Valentines.”

“That's not fair.” The words came out without thinking. Why would he even ask if he wasn't going to answer.

“I think it's more than fair.” said Johnny, hanging his bracelet. “You could disappear on me at anytime.”

Johnny opened the door, taking Ilaria out of her trance. She aligned besides him with a few quick steps. The red dot was blinking again–she didn't have time for it.

“How little trust you have on me,” added Ilaria. “I already know you are lying. What change could it make?”

“It's a matter of principle,” answered Johnny, walking into the hallway a half-step ahead of her.

Actually, her question was a bit lacking–it was the final one and all that. Johnny being a fraud was the important part, who he was in reality was of lesser concern. Though, his reluctance to talk prompted her to insist.

“If I knew more, I might be better able to help you,” added Ilaria, following the warrior. If he really wanted to cut her off, he could have logged out from the Training Room.

“It's enough as it is.” He replied without stopping–going around an eight people party–banishing for a second.

She muttered an apology as she bumped a leather-clad rogue, quickening her pace, trying to not lose Johnny.

As the hallway opened behind the crowd, she had to stop on her tracks to not collide with Johnny–who was suddenly standing still.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“What?” She raised her head and looked ahead.

And crossed sights with Mina.

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Why?

It was Friday, his sister should have been training at the gym. Maybe he could pretend he didn't know Johnny. No, too late for that. Her stare said everything.

“Hello Johnny, I haven't seen you in a while,” said Mina, shortening the distance a step at a time. “You already met my sister.”

Mina's eyes–currently directed at Johnny–froze Ilaria in place. Although his sister needed to know about the plan at some point, this was the worst of the scenarios by far. To be honest, he was hoping to convince Johnny to out himself and save him the conversation.

“Anything to say?”

Mina's question floated in the open space, until a male laughter filled the silence.

“Now all makes sense,” said Johnny, between chuckles. “I have been played like a fool.”

Ilaria looked at Johnny from the corner of his eye. He couldn't see his face, just his hair swaying, reflecting the ceiling's lights.

“Congratulations, Ricardo,” added Johnny, looking over his shoulder. His right eye twitched as he spoke. “You have wrecked my story, almost a year in the making.”

Johnny knew who he was? How?

“Don't look so surprised,” said Mina, focusing on Ilaria for the first time. “I shared everything with him while we were together. Too late I realized he never did.”

Johnny didn't argue–just bowed slightly, like in silent admission.

“That being said, what are you doing here with him, dear brother?”

“I...”

The first syllable–said automatically, as filler–hung in the air. Ilaria couldn't answer. How could he? He had yet to even consider telling his sister anything. Mina didn't press him either, her gaze returning to her ex.

“Mina, lets log out and talk.” Amy's high pitched voice broke the standstill. He hadn't noticed her presence until now.

“Why? We're all here now,” said Mina in a monotone, still facing Johnny.

“I'll come to your house, we'll explain it.” Amy insisted, approaching Mina.

“You knew.” Mina's voice trembled as she turned towards the blond elf.

“Listen to me, please.” Amy attempted to hold Mina's arm, making her step back instead.

“You traitor!” Mina raised her right hand, fury in her eyes.

Time slowed to a crawl. Ilaria knew what would happen, yet he had been turned into a bystander. Amy closed her eyes.

Nothing.

Mina did try to slap Amy, the scene didn't leave any doubt about that. Her hand remained suspended in the air–a breath's distance from the elf, like stopped by a forcefield–no noticeable signal of impact. It didn't make sense–since Christmas Day, Amy and Mina had been as close as best friends could ever be. Yet, something was definitely up between the girls.

“I'm sorry,” said Amy, like she hadn't been the one on the receiving end.

“I don't want to hear from you anymore.” Mina's visage blinked out.

Amy turned around, bowing and logging out too.

Diana and Kyle were standing just behind. And they certainly had listened to everything. Diana didn't even acknowledge Ilaria prior to leaving. Kyle remained a second longer–giving him what could have been a pity glance–before disappearing.

Once the other party was out of the way, the people around had started to move–or maybe they always had, him having blocked them from his perception. Johnny was still standing in front, like he had been during all the confrontation. At no point Ilaria had even tried to leave the warrior's shadow.

“We don't need to wait until Valentines, I'll quit VC right now,” said Johnny, without facing him. “Deal's broken.”

I never told anything.

It was pointless to argue. He kept Johnny's answers to himself almost by accident–he would have told Amy for sure if they didn't have that quarrel.

“Since this is the last time we'll see each other, I guess I could tell you,” continued Johnny. “You'll figure it out soon either way.”

Was he going to answer the last question? Should I say something?

Ilaria pondered for several seconds, other players going around him. His mouth remained open in the middle of a sentence–his thoughts never catching up with the scene in front of him.

Finally, Johnny said his last words before blinking out.

“I'm a girl.”

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Ricardo exited the VR machine in a daze.

What had just happened?

From the point he realized Minerva had uncovered him, things had gone increasingly awry–him unable to roleplay Ilaria anymore. He was taken completely unaware, voiceless, motionless, just an spectator as the main characters took center stage, the unfolding of a story he had barely glimpsed.

And so, Johnny was a girl. How ironic.

It would have been a big revelation if he had uncovered it earlier. Now, it was a speck within the pile of unknowns. And that tower had just tumbled down and burned. Ever since he joined Virtual Connection, he had been fumbling around, like a blindfolded kid in a piñata party.

The plan, in theory, would have helped to bridge the distance between Minerva and him, and maybe even help his sister get back to the game. Who was he trying to fool? It had been nothing more than a desperation move. Something to fill the void of their aborted family vacations. Going through it, he thought he would see the light.

And it had almost worked.

Minerva had returned to the game, Johnny had been opening up to him. If he could get Johnny to out himself, then Mina might had been able to return to her guild. Now Johnny was definitely gone, and Mina most probably too. The only thing that he had gotten out of it was ruining her friendship with Amy.

He glanced at his cellphone, laying on his desk. It was 1 pm, an hour before mom would call them for lunch. And then it dawned to him. As things were now, he couldn't bear to see Minerva. If he saw the disappointment in his sister's eyes, he might break right there.

He made an urgent call.

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Ricardo was picked up a quarter of hour later. Sandro had only morning classes on Fridays, driving to Clara's family's beach house in the afternoon, and returning to Lima Sunday evening.

“We'll stop for a sandwich on the way, is that alright?” asked Sandro, as he started his white sedan.

“Okay.”

Ricardo couldn't afford to be picky. It was already a huge imposition on his friends, joining them for the weekend on such a short notice. As long as he got out of his house, anything would do. Besides, he wasn't hungry. There was a lot he wasn't, empty like the remains of a hollowed piñata, after all the candy has poured out. Disappearing was his only wish. He would even join a dance contest, if that meant not facing his sister for a few extra days.

The plan had been a terrible mistake, coming from a terrible brother. Why was he so useless? Amelia, a younger girl who had only met Minerva a few years ago, was so much better at dealing with his sister than he would ever be.

He had betrayed Minerva's trust, once more.

Like four years ago.