Pan De Coco

01

It could be the glass reflected on a girl's eye, or her awkward position trying to ninja-catch the poor thing, or it could be her nervous fingers jittered as the drinkware landed gracefully on her still soapy palm--whatever it was, she could not deny, she was feeling lucky.

Lucky to be able to survive those long and sleepless nights. Six months of what she imagined the day of endless possibilities, and that day finally came.

It would be her first time to play an online RPG being only allowed to play the offline ones all her life was just lonely.

She just couldn't wait.

Not only that she was allowed to, but her younger sister also got the blessing from their parents.

It was a question of whether their  parents had accidentally eaten a moldy bread to make them change their principle--no online games until sixteen. But whatever the reason, they were thrilled.  They celebrated over a necro'ed cake which was already three days old inside the ref.

The girl heaved a sigh when she placed the last plate on the rack. She turned around, leaned at the sink and smiled. She was like that for a little while then finally she moved and pranced out of the kitchen.

"Ate, is daddy home yet?" It was her little sister who was walking back and forth in their little sala. Her shoulder-length hair was super shiny and well kept as she had the mannerism of combing it when she was feeling uneasy or anxious.

"How will I know, I was washing the dishes," the girl answered.

"What's taking him so long, the server is about to open!"

"We'll go ahead then, mom said we can." Hannah, the older sister, picked the VR goggles from their center table. She examined the inside before putting it back.

"But we have to go together! Remember the article? It is said that logging in at the same time will have a high chance of respawning in the same town." Francesca, the younger sister, unconsciously gripped her comb too tight.

True enough that the sisters read such a thing from the article that was posted in the game's website. New players would be transported randomly to one of the four starting points. Chances of getting friends or lovers maybe into one place was to be able to get inside the game at the same time. Easy peasy.

"Don't worry, France, I'm 100% sure we'll be in one town. Don't worry too much."

Francesca looked down as she unconsciously brushed her hair, "I'm kinda scared to go alone."

"It's okay, if we get separated I'll be right there to fetch you. Okay, okay?" Hannah patted her younger sister's head.

"O-okay. I'll just stay inside the town if we get separated," Francesca said.

Before Hannah  could say another word, they both turned their heads to the honking of a car. It was followed by the sound of their main gate being opened and the familiar headlight that passed through their sala whenever their dad maneuvered his car to their parking area.

"Dad's here at last!" Francesca jumped and again, unconsciously brushed her hair.

"Let's go! Let's wait for them in the game room," Hannah said as she picked the VR goggles at the table.

More than fifteen minutes later, the  girls stood up from a reclining chair when the door opened. While Francesca, the younger girl smiled at the middle-aged man who just entered the room, Hannah on the other hand was pouting.

"We are so late, Dad! The server opened ten minutes ago!"

Their dad picked one VR goggles from the table near the door before proceeding to the farthest reclining chair.

"Don't worry, the conqueror of Magus is here!" said her dad and even flexing the muscles in his arm

"Very funny, dad," Hannah said. She sat on her reclining chair and adjusted the goggles that rested on her head.

"You guys ready?" asked the middle-aged woman who entered the room. She took the last eyewear at the table, inspected the three like trainees in a military formation. She made an approving nod to each, and when she was finished she proceeded to the last chair at the farthest left.

"I'm ready, mom. Like a lot of months ago," Hannah trailed off the last sentence.

"I hope we won't get separated, I hope we won't get separated…" Francesca unconsciously clasped the VR goggles too tight.

"No worries, France, ate is going to fetch you,." Hannah gave her younger sister a reassuring smile.

"Thank you, ate." Francesca smiled back.

"Okay then, let's get started. Remember, max of fifteen minutes to create your character. Don't take too long, we have to be in one town at the start," the mom said as she started to wear her goggles. "Don't talk to strangers, especially those who look weird or act weird."

"But how will I know if the person is looking weird?" Francesca looked to her left and sincerely waited for an answer from her mom.

"Well...if you think that the person is weird then he must be weird. " Her mom looked to the ceiling in search of more things to say. But then gave up as the ceiling for the most part wasn't the best place to look for answers. "Just stay away from people who ask you things or make you do things," she added.

"O-okay," Francesca reluctantly replied.

"That's settled then," the woman said with finality.

"Let's conquer the world of Magus! I'm going to conquer the world! shouted the man in which he also burst into a series of fake laughter.

"Not really funny, dad," Hannah said.

"Remember our password..." the mom paused.

"Your fly is open.

Gladus tek ma.

So what, all your base is mine," the four recited in unison.

"In three, two, one.." the mom stopped her counting. The four slid their eyewear over their eyes. At the same time the four leaned back to their chairs. The intro song began playing from the speaker attached to their gadget. And each one went on to what awaited them.