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Rays of sun shone through the window, making their way through the glass and past the curtains to hit the bed like spotlights on a stage. Bathed in the light were two middle-aged adults, male and female, sleeping alongside each other in a gentle embrace. Both were familiar with the bright spotlights, but less so with the bright sunlight.
The male shifts, the sunlight hitting his eyes and awakening him from his slumber. His short, dirty blonde hair was all ruffled, freckles dotted his slightly tanned skin and seem to form a bridge across the arch of his nose, and his body was toned from years of helping out at his family’s farm. In all, he’s quite handsome. But his heart has been captured years ago by the woman still sleeping next to him in a world where they had only their personalities and talent to go off of.
He sighs happily, brushing strands of his long time girlfriend’s dark chestnut hair behind her ear. She was adorable in the digital world they met in, but now that he’s met her in the real world? She’s absolutely radiant. Her soft, milky skin, the way her cheek squishes against the pillow underneath her head, the adorable expression she makes when sleepy, he can’t help but wonder if an angel is laying down right next to him when he sees the early morning sunlight illuminating her from behind.
It only takes a moment for the man’s gaze to fall upon a poster on the wall behind the woman. It looks relatively new, probably bought from a nearby record shop, but the contents of it were dated back to several years ago. Back when the two virtual idols depicted, a petite, cartoonish jester-like woman and an anthropomorphic yellow and green gummy alligator, were active and at the top of their game. Two superstars that the man recognized instantly. He even recognized what the poster was advertising. The first collaboration live between Pomni and…
“Austin?”
The man, Austin, quickly brought his attention from the poster to his girlfriend at the sound of her soft, sleepy voice.
“Pom- Christine.” Austin quickly corrects himself. His embarrassment was more noticeable than he usually lets it. There are still times where they trip up and call each other by their old stage names, they had spent years exclusively using them during their times as idols after all, but it was still embarrassing now that they had been dating each other for nearly two years in the real world now. “Mornin’ sleepyhead.”
“Morning…” Christine yawns as she leans into Austin’s grasp. Her dark brown eyes were still struggling to open fully and her boyfriend’s warm embrace and soothing voice were not helping to wake her up fully. Austin can’t help but chuckle at Christine’s cuteness.
“There there. Ain’t nowhere we need to go today, and no way I’m complaining about having you in my arms, love.”
Christine’s face grew pink at her boyfriend’s words, a smile started tugging at her mouth. Austin’s deep voice and thick accent were so soothing to her. She never wants to leave his arms. But she knows she has to at some point.
“You fly back to Australia tomorrow, right?” Christine questions. “We should spend your last day doing everything you want to… that we haven’t yet, of course.”
“Hmm… nah. I'd rather just stay here with you.” Austin replies, wrapping his arms tighter around her so he could pull Christine’s smaller figure closer to his own. “Not everyday we get to just relax like this. Just the two of us.”
“Mhm…” The rather petite woman is quick to use her boyfriend’s chest as a pillow, making him chuckle as he strokes her head with loving tenderness.
“Wish you could stay longer…” Christine says suddenly, looking up at Austin. “You should come back soon… I’ll miss you.”
“Aye… but I won’t be gone for long, love.” Austin reassures, nuzzling his head against Christine’s as he savors the loving and intimate moment between the two of them. “Say, maybe you should come down to Australia sometime. The boys would love to see you again, and I’ll show you around. You’ll love it, I promise.”
Christine looks up at Austin, her eyes shining with affection.
“Sounds good to me. I’d love to visit at some point. I want to be able to do this more.”
“Then let’s enjoy this while we can. But first…”
Austin pulls away, leaving Christine reaching for his touch again. She’s so shy about showing affection usually, the early morning clinginess was a rare and adorable treat that Austin can't help but smile at the sight.
“No worries, love. I’ll be back. I just need to close the curtains before they blind me.” Austin says with amusement. Christine lets out a huff in reply.
“It’s cold without you…even after I told you I wanted you to stay with me.”
“I told you I would come back, didn’t I?”
“I still want to cuddle with you more…”
Austin can’t hold back his widening smile at Christine’s display of neediness as he closes the curtains, blocking the sunlight from intruding on their tender moment of loving intimacy. As quickly as he left, Austin returned to Christine’s side in bed.
“See? Told you I’d be back, love.” Austin teases, pulling the covers over him and his girlfriend.
“Mhm… good.” Christine replies, struggling to hold back a yawn as she snuggles back up in her boyfriend’s arms.
Tomorrow will be hectic. But for today, a lazy morning is all the two former idols need.