Choices

⏸aftermath 2.5

We got our flimsy homework sheets and a random book to rest them on out of our bags. As we sat on my black and white blanket draped bed, I anticipated what would happen in a few seconds.

I won't be able to do this homework, will I?

The game's stopped me.

I thought you could only pause games- and music, but that's irrelevant right now.

...How can a game pause someone's life?

How is it possible?

Why is it possible?

Fingers were snapped repeatedly in my face, causing me to release myself from my daze. "Come on," Adiel chuckled. "Let's start."
"Right..."

I'll tell him, see what he says.

He'll think I'm insane.

Then again, he'll think I'm insane until tomorrow. Manil won't be in.

"Adiel, can I ask you something?"
"Yeah, what's wrong?" He asked me.
"Do you believe a game can take control of human lives?" Adiel's reply was simply a sudden burst of laughter. It took a while for him to calm down, and I felt quite silly. What did I really expect from him? He's the logical thinker of our group.
"Why would you ask that?" The tanned boy asked as he wiped tears from his eyes.
"Given by your response, clearly you won't believe me if I told you." I snapped back, picking up my pen and giving a swift glance at the questions.
"Ok I'm sorry." When I looked back up, the latter's expression hinted regret. "Tell me why you asked that."

"I started playing a game a few days ago and everything, mostly the choices I make, happens in real life after I finish playing for the day."
Adiel pondered for a moment before responding. "I'm sure it's coincidental." Are you serious?
Slightly angered, I prepared to count all of my evidence against this statement on my fingers. "I'm sure it's not. My character's friend got run over- so did June." Thumb. "Another friend didn't turn up to school in the game, neither will Manil... and apparently I will call him afterschool and he won't pick up." Index. "I made my character not call the police when someone was stealing- guess what? I didn't-"
"Why did you not call the police?" When the latter interrupted my rant, only then I noticed his wide eyes of surprise. My right hand with 2 fingers poking out hung in midair. I guess I'm getting ahead of myself, but I'm having a very minor panic attack because of this game.

Why did I have to open it in the first place?

"My plan was to, but I got scared last minute." Finally lowering my hand, I admitted. Once again, Adiel seemed to be in deep thought for a split second.
"So whatever outcome you make in the game is always going to be made in real life. I guess this is some parallel universe shit."
"I asked myself that earlier and denied it!" I gasped, half frustrated with myself.
"But it is scary to think about, which is why you denied it. I'm scared too." The latter averted his gaze to his homework sheet, but not reading it. Hey! I thought, feeling offended by his statement.
"...You don't trust me to make good decisions." I chuckled. Adiel returned my smile.
"That's half of the reason, I'm slightly mad at you for opening a sketchy game. The other half is that this is simply not normal."
"It looked professional!"

A few moments later, I had jumped up on my bed and had my forefinger aimed specifically at the other's nose.
"I told you!" I exclaimed, cackling madly and carelessly stepping on my homework.

We couldn't do it; the wifi was down.

It was nice when I proved Adiel wrong sometimes; it made you feel smart.

Then I lowered my finger and I started to cry.

If I make a mistap, or don't think thoroughly, things could go terribly wrong for me.

══════ ? ══════

Since we had a valid(ish) excuse, our maths teacher didn't give us a detention. Even better, June was back in school.

However, Manil wasn't. Where is this kid?

"It feels like forever with out him." June complained as she hopped beside us with a crutch for both skinny arms. When I was with her in the ambulance, her leg looked fine- from the outside.
"It's 10 past 3. Should we call?" Adiel questioned. I instantly nodded whilst unpocketing my phone, not even giving June a second to protest if she was going to. After swiftly scanning for the friend's contact, I tapped the call icon, put the call on speaker, and waited.

"As you can see- well, hear, I'm either not with my phone right now, or it's on silent. Mum, please don't kill me. If you seriously need to, leave a message."

Right...

"What's that?" June asked. The thought of me keeping a secret from a friend right next to me made me intimidated. Especially since the one to my right knew. We were both keeping a secret.
"It's just a game notification." As I watched the seconds countdown, I tucked my phone back in my blazer pocket and gave Adiel a quick glance.