Iruna | The Virtual Escape

Chapter 3: Gruesome Life

    I stood on a pedestal and stared toward the horizon of fans and people who are waiting to meet me. Lights shined upon me stage center. There were thousands of people yelling, screaming, and fighting to meet me. Many were eager to fight their way to the front. I never felt such a feeling before being wanted by so many people. Of all people they wanted to meet, it was me, the person who is standing on this podium. I heard footsteps behind me and it seemed to be a formal lady. The footsteps of her high heels felt really intimidating as she patted my back. Her hat had covered her face so that I couldn't really get a good look at her. She took out a medal out of a small bag she had with her. Not only to give to me as a reward but when I turned to her to say thank you then I saw her face, it was all blurred out and I couldn't see anything but static.

I had woken up from the dream due to the pestering doorbell. I was shivering from the taunting stare of that blurred face. It felt a bit traumatizing but I thought to myself, why did I dream of that? What did it represent? How does it relate to me? As I was asking myself these questions, I got up off of my bed and went downstairs to open the door not only to feel the freezing air from the outside. There was my best friend, Blaire.

"Morning, sleepyhead." as she said charmingly.

"Hey, what are you doing here Blaire?"

"Um, obviously for shopping!" Blaire said excitedly. I put my palm onto my face.

"Damn, I have forgotten all about that. Here come inside, I'll change my clothes right now."

Blaire came inside and I closed the door right behind her. Blaire had this fitting aroma that felt like it was dosed on her but it seems just right. Even though I hated strong perfume it honestly gives me headaches. Blaire sat down on the couch and looked around to find the remote to watch a television show that was on. I left her be as I went back upstairs to my room. I quickly picked up the most random clothes in my closet. I put them on and looked at myself.

"Better than nothing I suppose."

I went downstairs to the room Blaire was in and saw her just glued to the television show. I was observing her then I slowly looked at the screen and it was just some children's show. I chuckled at how Blaire was such a kid even though we're heading into our last year of high school.

"Hey Blaire, I'm all ready to go."

"Oh, okay," she said disappointedly. "I was almost at the good part though!"

Blaire and I went out of the house finally. It was still misty outside like yesterday. Although it was still visible to see what was in front of us.

"Looks like this mist isn't going anywhere anytime soon." Blaire said.

Then we were making our way to the shopping district. As we're walking, both of us were just reminiscing about our past and all the things we have done together.

"Remember when we were kids and we just climbs trees in the park?" as Blaire brought up.

"Yup, honestly it was the good times." as I replied.

"You still holding off well? I don't really wanted to talk about this but ever since your Dad left you haven't been really yourself lately."

"I'm fine, it's just I am really exhausted at the moment." as I ended quietly.

The thing is, I haven't really told Blaire about Irusen Online, the online game I played which is making stay up at night. Usually, we both tell each other about everything we do. However, my lips didn't bother moving to bring up any topic since she brought up my father. My father was a great man. He was such a great model working at his job at this company. Also it seemed like he loved our family but then one day he suddenly just stopped coming home and came home really late at night. My parents were just arguing every night he came home. My Mom was worried if he had some sort of mistress on the side. Although my father was a very faithful man, but then he couldn't put up with my Mom anymore. He decided to pack up and leave and he left me a note saying he loved me and my mom but he wanted to go follow his dream. I didn't know what dream he had but was very curious to what was it. But I knew he loved games as I adapted playing video games with him and I loved playing it ever since it reminded me of my father. We shortly arrived at the mall until then.