Of love and online relationships

I saw an online friend of mine on msn, Zoozee, whom I met from cybertown. I havent met her for a while, so I decided to say hello. It turns out that she was just accepted a proposal from Lion (whom was also from cybertown) and I was really glad for her. I wasnt surprised though, because they were one of the most closely knit couples in cybertown that I’ve ever seen before. However the news was still a wonderfully pleasant news to me and I was really happy for the couple.

As the furthest as I could remember, online relationships has always been around ever since the ability to communicate with other people was possible. From the days of the BBS bulletin board, moving to the heydays of irc and perhaps to 3d communities.

I was just looking at my backup cd’s and saw an old email that an online boyfriend gave me (if anyone would think that – I really dont know how to categorize it, but anyways) My first online relationship would be somewhere in late 1996. Mirc was really popular then. I would log on and spend time with the people there. The wierd, the interesting, the crazies, the funnies .. there were many different types of characters there. I didnt even needed to watch television anymore since mirc was entertaining enough for me with all the antics there.

Anyhow as how human nature grows there are a group of people that you’d feel connected to and I felt a close bond to a group of menageries and we hang around more. They were a really close bunch of rl friends and went for frequent outings and thus online friends became rl friends in just a few moments. I wasnt able to go to these outings since I was in Jurong Institute then and didnt have that much free time. Anyway, I got to know this guy and we easily became friends. I dont know how we suddenly became closer and I find myself chatting with him till the next morning. His comment of “Hey, its time for me to wake up now!” in particular made me chuckle. We then proceeded to talk on the phone for a few days and I liked his voice and looked forward to talking to him.

Online, he was always sweet, funny and protective which was very endearing qualities that I liked. Reading that email, I forgotten the nickname he used to call me “wify” I think I’d turn to mush if anyone calls me that again.

He tried to meet up with me but since I was busy with school I had to decline many times, till then, out of perhaps guilt (?) or a sense of curiosity, I agreed to go to a channel gathering. There I was, an awkward 18 year old, straight from school, in my grey school uniform surrounded by these rambuctious and boistorous hip and funny people. I then saw him and I smiled at the chinese guy with the long floppy hair and he smiled back at me. At the end of the gathering, he took my hand and we walked hand in hand and had our first kiss. I couldnt help but taste the strong chilli sauce on his tongue. And that really put me off.

We met again for a couple of times more, and he was even more sweeter on mirc to me. And it was obvious that the channel regarded us as “the couple” That was when he started calling me “wify” and became even more protective towards me.

Unfortunately, there was a problem. I didnt feel the overwhelming and breathtaking feeling that I was supposed to have. I then realised that I didnt feel anything more towards him than a friend. So I told him … and he didnt take it well it seemed. Called me names and since he was a mod in that room, banned me. So, thats the end of even glimmer of friendship I suppose.

Anyways, I think I’ll stop here for the moment. There are still other things that I’d like to say about this topic, but that would have to wait till another day.