Second came back to reality and sat down. Fourth sat on the floor, looking anxious. She didn't know how to approach her because they were all in the same state. Aeizen was calm and expressionless. Aeith bit her fingernails on her right thumb. Sixzen walked back and forth, looking uneasy. Sectwen stood glaring into nothingness. She stood looking around—taking advantage of this opportunity because it could be her last day on the nth planet. All the girls remained, so all the boys were the controllers. They had made the same decision as hers.
It appeared all pairs had made the same choice. These tri-games were draining all of them, not just physically but mentally and emotionally. The truth was, she didn't want to play anymore. She didn't want to fight anyone anymore, especially since her friends had a high chance of being their opponents this time. It was exhausting. But what could she do? What should they do?
"As for our players..." Author was already there. "Kindly sit down."
They followed the command. No one dared to ask questions because they all looked stupefied. She sat down on the chair, which transformed again as before. Something hit her face like a helmet. The backrest moved backward, so she was barely lying down. Her hands and feet were tied. Once again, she felt nervous.
"Teleportation process... 25%... 46%... 58%..." The robot voice spoke again.
Second saw images move spontaneously in holograms even though no one touched them. She saw an image of a place. She didn't quite know what it was because it wasn't fully colored. She just stared at it.
W-Wait, did the robot mention 'teleportation'? How?! They were going somewhere, but no one knew where, how, or why.
"67%... 84%... 91%... 100% complete."
After a few countdowns, this was the last thing the robot voiced. "Game release!"
The inside of the glass tube released white smoke again. She tried to calm herself. She needed to be firm. She didn't know what would happen, but she knew for herself that she and First could do this. They all could do this!
"I shouldn't have considered talking to you when in the very moment I opened my mouth, I didn't catch your slightest attention."
NINEZEN'S / TRAKE LO VEGA'S POV
Level 2 Stage 1. Virtual game. Give me a break! It turns out that we have been controlled for a long time by that creepy hologram. We have been fooled for a long period, but you know what's worse? There's nothing that can be done about it. Since we entered this glass, my neck was tied and ached. For some inexplicable reason... my memories came back.
The name's Trake Lo Vega. I attend the private school of Galliot International School. Not to brag, but aside from being quite famous and rich, I have looks and talent—if you'll believe me, that is haha! I have a lot of friends because I get along with almost everyone with my extroverted and loud attitude. I have two siblings. A sister and a brother. I am the second in the order. Others think I have it all. That's all they know about me. They don't know that I'm also lacking—lacking the love and attention of my parents.
Do you know how lonesome it is to have no one to talk with? The pain that you only talk to yourself. The pain of no one listening to you. The loneliness that only you are your ally.
My parents were not always at home, and my siblings were abroad. I only sympathize with maids and gadgets. When they come home, which is thrice a year, they are tired and don't listen to a single thing I say. I became a stubborn brat just to get their attention. I've been called out by our principal more times than I can count on my hands, but I still fail to get what I want. I always get myself in trouble, but those troublesome moments have become my company instead of my family.
My big sis is being trained abroad and pursuing business studies to handle our family's fortune soon. My lil bro is a spectacular prodigy for his age, and my parents decided that he will leave soon for abroad too. I always get compared to the two of them. I can't even be a role model to my lil bro. I can't even surpass him, not even to his level. What a joke my mother bore being her second child. No wonder I'm a big disappointment to my family's name. I can't even carry and represent it well.
I rethink my choices and become an honor student. That time, I was too confident that they would finally recognize me for the first time. Another failed operation, hahaha! No one attended the honor ceremony for me. I shouldn't have considered talking to you when the very moment I opened my mouth; I didn't catch your slightest attention. I was very angry, so I threw my medal from my bedroom window. That effort might be worthless to some, but I earned it well.
Yes, I have a lot of friends, but I cannot open up my personal problems to them because I am what you call the class clown. I make people happy, but no one keeps me happy. They only accompany me to make them laugh or for my money or both.
Let's just say my problem is very common. I ridicule those characters in shows and books that he/she lacks familial love. I never thought I would be the heroine of my own story about a young man who thirsts for his family. I am distant from my parents, and the same with my siblings.
The creepy hologram says this is a game of public schools vs. private schools. And because of level 1, only public schools won. Maybe it measures which is more stable— the so-called unfortunates of wealth or the fortunately rich. This has become one of my reasons to fight. I used to think money would give me everything, yet I can't even have the simplest things others may think. I smile and laugh to hide my real feelings. And it's ridiculously effective! One should try it from time to time. I will prove that the Lo Vega does not lose. That's the only thing I learned from our family: being competent at business when it comes to money. And that's also the thing I'll hold on to until death.
The game is divided into three: wealth, health, stealth, and the infamous tri-prize—the money, life, and time. If I win the game, we will be even richer. My parents don't have to work their asses off because we will be wealthier. They can have their early retirement and will have time to take care of us. If my parents are sick, they will be cured right away with the life prize. They will have a long, healthy life to look out for us. If we lack time, I could simply turn back time to whatever time I wanted, to the time when I can finally spend time with my whole family. If I win this, they can now turn their complete attention to me.
My longing for the warm love of a complete family will be fulfilled… if I win this game.