-chapter one-
Elevio University, Central Metropolis, Earth • 2071 —
HINAWI KO ang palad sa desk at agad na naglaho ang hologram screen sa harap ko. Inayos ko ang mga gamit at naglakad palabas. Rase and Acrasia are standing in the hallway, waiting for me.
"Hey, tapos na class?" Acrasia asked, chewing a lollipop.
"Yeah," tumango ako. "The professor only gave us some readings. Kayo?"
"Same," kumindat siya. "Guess everyone is too excited for the launch."
"Launch?"
Pauwi na kami ngayon kahit na alas tres pa lamang ng hapon. Wala akong kaide-ideya kung bakit ang aga natapos ng mga klase. Naguguluhan ako mula pa kaninang umaga dahil parang aligaga ang mga kaklase ko. Even the professors seemed distracted. They only gave us topics to read in advance or they used the whole period for self-study sessions. At ngayon naman, people are obviously rushing to go home.
"Yeah..." she eyed me. "Ya'know? Today's the launching of Arth. At exactly five in the afternoon. That's why everyone is so eager to go home."
"What's Arth?"
Is it a new network or something? Hindi ko maisip ang dahilan kung bakit ganoon na lang ang interes ng mga tao sa launching.
Acrasia gaped. "Arth. Arth Online." I looked at her blankly. "Oh come on! The so-awaited game since last year?! Haven't you heard of it?!"
Hindi ako umimik kasi hindi ko naman talaga alam 'yon. Pero ngayon natatandaan ko na. Huh. So laro lang pala? They cut off classes just for a game? Seryoso? Ano ba ang kahuma-humaling sa mga larong iyan?
Rase chuckled, wala na sa cellphone ang kaniyang atensiyon. "Reverie's not interested in that, Ace. She hates it, remember?"
"I just don't get the fuss over a simple game." I instantly regretted my comment when Acrasia's face turned furious.
"Simple game?! This is the most awaited game of the century! Hell, this will break Project Z's records for sure! If you saw the trailers and snippets, talagang mabibighani ka sa character designs and the world's overall image! Shit! Those amazing costumes!" she stopped fangirling when she saw my stony face. "Oh come on, Rev. Until when are you going to hate games? They're fun!"
"For you, maybe. For me, I'd rather read." I replied.
"Ugh," she looked disgusted. "Those alien papers again? They looked so ancient and old. Why do you use them anyway? You can read books online. Less hassle."
I pursed my lips. "It's more fun this way. I love the smell of paper."
Acrasia looked at me like I was something foreign - an alien, perhaps. At dahil naiinis ako sa ginagawa niya, kinuha ko ang libro mula sa bag at inihagis sa mukha niya. Napaikot ako ng mata nang sumigaw siya't itinapon ang libro papunta kay Rase na agad itong sinalo.
"Could you two please stop fighting while we're walking?" Rase said while placing her ID card on top of a screen pad. Umilaw agad ang edges ng exit at lumabas na si Rase.
Frowning, we followed her outside. Karga niya pa rin ang libro pero nakatutok na sa phone. Binawi ko iyon sa kaniya at maingat na ibinalik sa bag. Acrasia looked at me with disbelief but offered a grimace-smile when our eyes met. Parang baliw. Akala niya ha.
"Hindi pa ba kayo aalis? Akala ko ba gusto niyo 'yang malaro?" tanong ko nang hindi pa rin kami gumagalaw sa kinatatayuan.
"Yeah. Got my Dad to make me a reservation. Pretty sure everything's already waiting at home." Acrasia replied.
BINABASA MO ANG
Welcome, Player
Adventure[A VIRTUAL REALITY MMORPG STORY] An unsuspecting, online-game-hater finds herself inside the newly-launched Arth Online because of her brother's trickery. Despite her impatience to complete the required log-out level, her perspective on games might...
