Transference

Cesar made his way through the maze of bookcases, until he finally reached the one he was looking for. He bent down on the soft, carpeted floor.

Strange. The book wasn’t there.

He connected to the library archives courtesy of the government-mandated chip in the back of his neck, connected to his spinal cord, and realized the book had been checked out.

Well that’s a first.

He sighed.

He checked out some other books and made his way to a table nearby.

***

Aleena was fully immersed in the book she had in her hand, to the point that she didn’t notice someone sit next to her. She was reading a biography written on a relatively-unknown polymath.

The earthy smell that wafted from the pages was mixed in with a faint, fresh smell that reminded her of the forests back in her home country. As she continued to read, she felt the scent grow stronger until she realized it was coming from her left.

The boy that sat next to her was tall and lanky, who had untidy hair, brown eyes that were the same colour as his skin, and a round face. She’d seen him in her philosophy class. He always seemed to be dreaming whenever Aleena had seen him, as if he was looking at something distant.

The boy looked up and she averted her eyes, hoping he’d not caught her looking at him.

“You have good taste,” he said.

She looked up at him. “What?”

He gestured towards the book. “It’s one of my favourites.”

She looked towards the book and nodded “It’s my first time reading it and I’m already loving it.”

“I’ve read it so many times. I find it always inspires me to learn everything that I can,” he said and gestured towards the pile of books he had in front of him.  

Aleena nodded. “I’ve sort of jumped on the polymath train too, I’d love to be one but I’ve realized how futile it is because life’s just too short.”

Cesar nodded and Aleena saw his eyes drift in the distance, his mouth slightly parted as if he was dreaming again.

She was about to return to her book when he spoke, “You don’t have to waste time reading that.”

“What? I thought you said it was good.”

“Oh, it’s brilliant. But that’s not what I mean. Here, I’ll show you.”

Cesar tapped the back of his neck, and his eyes flickered rapidly for a fraction of a second, before she felt a tingle in the back of her neck, in her own chip.

“It’s asking me let you in to my chip,” said Aleena her eyes narrowing. “What are you up to? Are you trying to hack into it?”

“Oh, no,” said Cesar. “Not at all. I’m just saving you time from having to read all that.”

“A memory integrated e-book? No, thanks, I’m not really a fan of those. I’ll stick to this one.”

“It’s not an e-book, I hate those too. Let me in and I’ll show you.”

Aleena was hesitant but she decided to give in to her curiosity. She let him in and a moment later she exclaimed.

“Woah,” she said picking up her book and skimming through to the end. “What the hell? I feel like I just finished reading the book. Like I actually experienced the full reading process.”

Cesar smiled. “See, I told you.”

Aleena couldn’t believe it but then she suddenly realized. “Wait, how did you do that? Isn’t it illegal?”

Cesar shrugged. “So are VPNs. Yet, everyone still uses them.”

Aleena’s eyes fell onto the books that Cesar had in front of him.

“Hey, I’ve read that novel,” she said. “Don’t waste your time with it. It’s disappointing.”

“Hit me with it then,” said Cesar tapping his chip. When Aleena approved of the transfer, Cesar grimaced.

“Wow, that is utter garbage.”

“Told you.”

***

Within a few weeks, they’d become great friends. They would meet as often as they could, in different settings, each time exchanging their reading experiences through their chips.

On this occasion, they sat in Cesar’s studio apartment.

“Hit me,” said Cesar as Aleena came by and sat next to him on the couch.

She punched him as hard as she could.

“Ouch, goddamit,” he exclaimed rubbing his shoulder.

“Never gets old.”

Aleena started laughing when she saw the expression on his face. He looked so cute when he was annoyed. The way he contorted that innocent face of his. He had nice lips.

Cesar looked at her as she laughed and felt a heart string quiver. She really was beautiful. Light, brown skin that glistened in the sunlight just like her eyes did now whenever she laughed. He absolutely loved her crooked smile, which he knew she was conscious about.

There was a sudden tingle in both their chips.  

“What the hell?” said Aleena.

It was as if she’d seen a vision but from a first-person perspective, of someone caressing her cheek in her mind. Cesar had seen a similar one of someone kissing him.

“I thought you said the connection didn’t transmit thoughts,” she said blushing.

“It isn’t supposed to but now that I think about it, I remember the patch notes saying it does glitch if both users experience strong emotion.”

“And you didn’t think to mention it?” she said annoyed, still blushing.

“Hey, it slipped my mind,” he shrugged.

Aleena was looking away, hiding her face. Cesar inched towards her and turned her face towards his. He caressed her cheeks.

Aleena didn’t resist, taking in the forest-scented fragrance he wore.

He smelled like home.

They looked into each other’s eyes before they kissed, letting the connection between their chips overwhelm them.  

“Woah,” said Cesar his eyes going wide. “That was some kinky stuff you were reading last night.”

Aleena smirked. “Shut up. Don’t ruin the mood.”

She took off his shirt.