Beep Beep! Shu Shu Shu!
"Hng!"
Despite the noisy environment of my current workplace, I squatted down and focused my energy on lifting the heavy cardboard box off the ground, making sure to follow the textbook example of lifting heavy cargos.
After successfully lifting the box, I made my way to the backside of the bar I was delivering stuff to and followed the man leading me to the storage room.
"Just place it over there"
I nodded silently and went to the corner he was pointing towards and placed the box down.
Thud!
I dusted my hands or my gloves in this case and nodded once more to the man, this time with me pulling down my hat. Soon, I backtracked and found myself near the truck again but before I went back to work, I lit a cigarette and relaxed myself beside the truck.
Many people passed by, students, office workers, civilians, clerks, all busy with their lives and so they wouldn't really pay me attention.
Hoof Haaaah!
I on the other hand observed them while smoking, there's nothing better than looking at people and marvelling at how pathetic my life is compared to them, all just because of a single mistake back in my school days.
*Flashback*
"I wonder if some of my classmates last year enrolled to the same school as me"
I walked cheerfully and full of energy towards the school entrance, making sure to observe everyone I come across, there's nothing better than looking at people and marvelling at how great life can be.
"Hey~ lookie here, James is our schoolmate again!"
From the corner of my eyes, I saw several big kids cornering a single one, the leader seemed to be a red haired kid leaning on the wall with one leg while watching with his arms crossed, how do I know? Because he seems less excited than others and the way he looks at the others is like someone who is just looking at little kids.
The other people witnessing the bullying didn't look any longer after seeing the red haired kid, it's like they just ignored the situation because of him.
I'm also doing that, I find no need to drag myself in a mess, I might enjoy observation but not meddling in other people's businesses, so I soon removed my gaze from them and continued on.
"Y-You guys shouldn't do that, bullying is bad and might get you expelled"
A female apparently butted in, what an idiot. Can't she see that they probably don't care about the consequences if they do that in the entrance at the first day of school? I won't be surprised if the red haired kid is someone super rich, it's cliched but probably the truth.
"Little missy, I suggest you bugger off, James here is our friend and we're only greeting him. There's no bullying happening"
One of the tall kids faced the girl and tried to smile amicably, creepy instead though. The girl looked at the boy being cornered, I expected her to just walk away and forget it but for some reason, her parents forgot to give her a brain at birth.
"But you still should stop, you're hurting him"
No shit sherlack-ing-brains, the tall kids and the one with red hair laughed at her statement and I continued to observe from a distance. I wonder what they're going to do, maybe it'll become some sort of romance? That's the best case scenario for the dumb girl, worse they'll ask some other girls to bully her too.
But I guess life isn't that kind.
"Bring the both of them away from the area"
The red haired kid said, this got a few several murmurs and whispers but the crowd of students still didn't bother, the tall kids grabbed the girl and the boy and dragged them outside of the school premise.
"H-Huh! Let go! I'm not going with you!"
"..."
The girl was fighting back while the boy was accepting his doom, this situation was a little off but I guess females are more courageous than what people give them credit for huh?
"Nah, you're going with us and you can't do anything about it"
One of the big kids told her, getting forceful and taking locks of her to pull her now instead.
"Ouch! Stop!"
The girl continued to fight back, the crowd continued to watch and the red haired kid continued to walk. Me? I was not getting myself in trouble by acting like a hero, someone else will do that.
Or so I'd like to say but, I have a little sister and the thought that the girl might also have a big brother got a few tugs at my heartstrings.
And then I walked towards them, I knew at this moment that my life was going to be pretty bad from now on.
"If you guys continue with that, I'm calling the police on the tall guys"
I said to the red haired kid, I'm well aware that he's the leader and so I should just talk to him.
"Huh? You gonna call the police on us? Who do yo-"
"I'm afraid I was talking to your leader, no?"
The red haired kid only shook his head, his mouth opened as he sighed.
"Take him too"
One of the tall kids went near me and attempted to grab me but I followed through with my words and shouted for help.
"Help! Police!"
Zu Zu Zu Zu
There's this cool things called patrol drones, they're non-lethal fighting drones that acts as a police when the human ones are not present, created so that people can call for help in emergencies where they're allowed to shout, equipped with a taser and rubber bullet shooting guns, they fly in the air and roam around crowded places to alleyways devoid of people, due to this the crime rate dropped but other places without them had an increase instead as those who didn't wish to gamble moved areas.
Schools in particular didn't have a shortage of patrol drones, and since this situation looked kinda violent I could call for help.
"Shit! Patrol drones, let go of them!"
The red haired kid might be rich and so, but patrol drones are simple and only cares for whether who it should taser or ram on. I swiftly took the 2 away from the tall kids and made a break for the school, simply because they wouldn't allow bullying inside the actual school itself, even if it was the rich kid.
And then from there, the moment I let go of the two, I made my decision to endure.
Not even a week later, I was already getting myself beat up, my money kept being stolen, weird things in my locker, I became a goafer, my assignment were usually "missing" even if I passed it to the teacher and magically, I get lower grades than normal.
My future spiralled down because I saved 2 people, how pathetic indeed, I didn't even manage to graduate because by my decision to retry the year, the red haired kid also decided to keep messing with me, he went to the school I transferred on as a visitor and talked to the local bullies to make my life miserable.
*Flashback End*
Eventually, I gave up and didn't finish my highschool years. Leading me to this grunt work life, pathetic, truly pathetic.
On the same time, I finished my cigarette and threw it away. Getting inside the truck, seatbelt, starting the engine, and then my day proceeds.
*
The only respite I get from my life is probably when I'm home in my apartment, well, it really isn't just "my" home because my sister uses the place as her crash site since it's close to her school.
We have a rule in the place that no matter what, we lock the door. Just safety stuff.
I took the key from my pockets and opened the door with a yawn, not bothering to say I'm home until I'm sure someone is actually home.
"Bro, come here quickly"
A popped up from the wall, it was my sister no doubt, since I've confirmed the presence of another in my home, I took off my shoes as I got in and placed them near the stairs, apartments are usually 2 story high even if you get the cheapest, I wonder how different it was from back then?
I usually hear old people complaining how better life is compared to the past, yes, they are complaining, old people sickness.
As soon as I reached the living room, a girl with hair so blonde it's near yellow looked at me, in her mouth was a lollipop, her eyes as blue as the ocean staring at me with neutrality. What? Did you expect me to have a crippled relationship with my family? That's so cliched, people of old might just rise from their graves and tell you to watch drama instead.
"I'm home"
"That's kind of late now is it?"
I shrugged and went towards the fridge, grabbing a glass of milk as I glanced at the clock, my job usually ends at night so I skip dinner or eat something light like bread or cup noodles. My sister is weirdly richer than me for reasons I don't know how so she usually orders and the leftovers become my lunch or breakfast.
Pizza for breakfast was one thing I'll never try again.
Suddenly, she stood up from her place and took a helmet of some kind before tossing it to me.
"Catch"
I caught it and observed the helmet, it took me a bit of a second to realize it was actually a virtual helmet, a fancy thing used to play VR games, especially for people who earn money using that thingy game, this was an important and expensive item.
So why does my sister have another one?
"Ah, don't worry, that's my friend's, he already bought a newer model so he didn't need it, I took it because I thought you might use it"
I raised an eyebrow at her, observing her if she was lying or telling the truth. Her mouth didn't move and continued to suck her lollipop, her eyes were still neutral and stared at me with something hidden beneath that emotionless gaze, her body didn't fidget and laxly-
"Wear some bra you slob"
I sighed and took the helmet, placing it above the cabinet. No point in having one because I was a retro gamer, not that I had problems with VR, it's just that I had no money to buy a game even if I had a free helmet.
"I don't need to wear a bra if it's just you..."
"Wow, my sister doesn't see me as a male, how amazing"
I replied that with sarcasm oozing like a gas leak.
She however, was my sister after all and gave me a lighter like reply.
"Males don't look like girls"
Boom, imagine a explosion that struck my pride and the shockwave destroyed my knees making me fall down to the ground comically with me grasping my chest.
"Right where it hurts, huh?"
I stood again after a few seconds and finished my glass of milk before going to my room...or not.
"WAIT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'HE'?!"
"Oh, wow, you got that just now?"
My little sister, that cute little blonde girl following me around when I was in middle school, that cute little blondie grabbing my sleeves whenever we do a family vacation, that cute little ball of unlimited cuteness that squeals whenever she sees a fluffy thing, the cute little sister of unlimited blonde cuteness that gives me a kiss in the cheek whenever I spoil her, has a boyfriend?!
"He's a cool gay dude"
Oh nevermind, false alarm.
"Say that first will you? Giving me a heart attack and the urge to burn the world then commit double suicide with you for no reason"
"Eww, stop over acting, you look more like my sister, you know that don't you?"
I didn't bother with her any longer and this time went to my room for real, back to the me that my family never sees.
I opened the windows and pulled a single cigarette from my nearly empty pack, lighting it and taking a deep one.
Hoof!
I let the smoke go to my lungs for as long as I can, nothing better than dying because of lung cancer, eh?
Haaah!
Unsatisfied, I did my best to suck back the smoke I released, nothing better than getting worse side effects because of 2nd hand smoke.
I repeated the near suicidal way of smoking before being tempted to end the pack, but I had to save money somehow, those things are expensive as shit.
Sluggishly placing myself to the bed, I stared at the ceiling for a bit before drifting to sleep, I feel like tomorrow might just be a life changing day.
...
Might just be eternal sleep, meh.
*
A few casual looking man sat at a rectangular table, they're clothes consisted of nothing that shows their rich but the table itself was made it gold, on the end of the table sat a man wearing an aloha shirt with his hands on the back of his head.
"So, still no one to get the last mythical class?"
The man said with slight mocking mirth in his voice.
"Nearly 3 billion players, and a few hundred million knight base players, 2 years running, yet not a single person has gotten the last mythical class, the easiest mythical class to get?"
The man added, his posture changing into a serious one with his eyes slowly scanning the others in the room.
"Harry, I think we should change the way to complete it, currently the quest itself is ridiculous and it does not have enough rewards to make them continue on after the 1st part"
"Wang Yu, the class itself IS the reward, why else should we add more?"
"Because the players won't find it worth to complete with just the shitty rewards the quest gives, heck even if we do add it now, the quest itself already has the reputation of being a troll quest, and those are words from newbies themselves, a quest that even NEWBIES thinks of a troll quest"
"..."
"Why don't we just launch the 2nd season right now? I mean the 10 mythical class holders are already high leveled by now, missing 1 won't be that detrimental"
"Fucking casual, it's about the story, the fucking story, right Harry?"
"..."
The 4 arguing man looked at the silent Harry, waiting for his reply to their suggestions, the man himself just sat there with a dark gloomy shadow on his face.
"Ah? Sorry, I was just thinking of how cute the class holder of [Luna's Agent] is, she's from my country so it's kind of natural"
"WHY DON'T YOU JUST MARRY HER?!"
"I'm no pedo, Takehiro, still, I'll give it 3 more months. If the [Knight King] still hasn't been taken, we'll proceed with season 2, not my fault their going to have a hard time without him, after all, he's the center of season 2 itself"
*
Beep Beep! Shu Shu Shu!
I checked the list of cargos that's supposed to go to this certain building before handing it over to the manager and making him sign it.
"That is all your goods, sir"
"Ah, ah, yes, yes thank you, great job as usual Arlu"
I smiled wryly at the old man, and nodded at him with my signature hat pull down.
"Please don't call me that, that was my nickname back in then days"
"Maybe I should call you Ar-ther then? Gahaha!"
Creepy, crazy, annoying, kind old man. I sighed at his weird nickname sense and checked the time, it was already 22:00, pretty deep into the night if must say so myself. Paying no more attention to him, I went to my truck but before finishing my job all in all, I didn't forget to die slowly.
Nothing better than being aware that you'll die slowly your own way.
I lit up a cigarette, the last of my pack, making sure to achieve at the very least 3rd hand smoke on my own.
Hoof Haaaah!
Hoof Haaaah!
Hoof Haaaah!
"Mister, you can die like that"
I hung my head to the side and stared at the female voice who decided to bother me, a girl stood there, small brunette but cute.
"No shit Sherlock"
Huh, deja vu that was. The girl tilted her head and sat beside me, she wore a highschool uniform, not the same as my sister but still familiar.
"Are you depressed?"
She asked like it was the most obvious thing in the world, she's probably mocking me, this damn girl! I'll get angry at you and shout at you for trying to cheer me up and help me because I'm stupid! Heh, cliched dramas be like that.
"Good question, but sadly I'm not, I'm suicidal but content with my life, kind of weird huh?"
She looked at me as if I grew a second head to smoke with, I'd like that, unconsciously I stared tapping the right side of my neck.
"Damn, can't do a 6th hand smoke then, it's just a fleeting dream, the world won't possibly allow me to die that satisfyingly"
The girl kept staring at me, her mouth moved every now and then as if she wanted to say something but she kept it in, me, the dumb guy that I am continued to pretend I didn't notice it and finished my smoke.
"Welp, that's that, keep studying hard kid, don't give up so quickly"
I stood up and went insides my truck, not giving her a chance to question me how I knew, I mean seriously, does she think I'm blind that I couldn't see the lines in her wrists? Similar attracts after all, so that's also another proof.
Except that I don't do anything obvious like that, my wish is to die slowly and painlessly after all, nothing better than knowing death is coming for you for 20+ years, it's like having a wife to return home to after your service for the military. Wholesome.
And so, my night went on, I parked the truck back to it's respective building and left the key to the guard guy, walking to my apartment slightly sleepy.
I usually go through crowded areas for more than 1 reason but I suddenly had the urge to go near an empty alleyway, knowing me though, it's probably my superhero instinct at full throttle...
Actually let's call it the suicide instincts, not once has those instincts bring me a situation where I can choose to go peacefully. I had no super power, that was a plain joke.
"A cute girl like you shouldn't go around these places at night alone ya' know?"
Lucky. Maybe I can die in an accident? Nah, who am I kidding, I like it slow.
I already learnt my lesson back in the highschool days, ignore shit. So I walked past the alleyway, giving it only a damned quick glance but that was enough to make me bite my lips in complete self hatred as we caught each other's eyes.
A familiar brunette was being cornered by 2 hooligans, it was the same girl who sat beside me back then, the girl was probably about the same age as my sister and... that's the same excuse I had when I helped those 2 back then, similar to my "sister" or something.
I sighed.
And then ignored it.
No point in saving a depressed girl, maybe she'll enjoy it and find the life she wants. Who am I to judge whatever she'll desire and whatnot. That's right, there's no point, she's empty and hurt inside, she'll go quietly and me as well.
"Aagh! Fuck my balls!"
A shout came from that same alleyway and I tried my best to ignore it, quickening my pace, I just had to reach the corner and no one will blame me for not helping her.
"AHHH!"
A high pitched scream next, the sound of struggle and finally the cries.
Why? Why can't you just be empty? Why do you have emotions? Why can't you just stay and be a slut?!
I couldn't ignore it, not when she's showing the want to save her dignity, if she just went along quiet without fighting back then I could've slept tonight.
I inhaled as much air as I could and shouted.
"HELP! POLICE!"
There's something wrong with who made the patrol drones, they were useless unless you shout help. Though, I do understand why, after all if someone just screamed because of a cockroach and the patrol drones started shooting tasers at everyone, it wouldn't be dependable. To fix that, you had to scream help, as loud as you can, so that the drone can recognize that you are in peril.
Zu Zu Zu Zu Zu!
Soon, a girl ran straight out of the alleyway, her clothes were completely off and her bra was off in one side, on her neck was a fresh hickey and her skirt was messed up in a way that one side of her panties were showing, she caught sight of me and she kept running, mouthing off a silent 'fuck you' before running.
Rude girl.
Next came 2 males with pulled down pants running away from a drone, I watched as they asked me to fuck off and I did so...
With my feet slightly extended that the 1st guy tripped and the 2nd tripped after him.
"You bastard! You probably also called help!"
He tried standing up do I did my best to run, my heart started beating fast because he brought out a knife.
I was too late.
My Achilles tendon got cut and I couldn't help but scream.
"Argh!"
I immediately dropped down to the ground, my heel was spilling red blood faster than I pee in the winter.
But my savior came.
Zu Zu Zu Zu Zu! Chonk Tzzzzt!
The first guy with the knife got taser blasted while I tried to get out of hus grasp, it didn't end well as I limped away from the 2nd guy who was chasing after me.
"Get back here! I'ma pommel you!"
I limped and limped and limped and limped, until my only chance to escape was to cross the road, I was in severe panic and didn't bother to check if it was green or what and just limped.
Oh how cliched this was.
Beeeeeeeep! Thagh!
My last bits of vision was probably seeing my feet get crushed by a wheel.
I'm gonna live, it's just a leg. Thank God.
I didn't want to die like this.
*
...
"Bro got into trouble"
I looked at the clock, it was already 2:00, it was technically already tomorrow and I finished my Kronicle raid.
Stupid class requirements, telling me to wipe 3 kingdom worth of monsters every month.
"Welp, it's what I get for a mythical class, I mean Crazy Hammer himself needs to create 100 super special rare gears to keep his own class, then there's Herohero who needs to assassinate a kingdom worth of evil npc to keep his...no seriously, where is Arlu?"
I stood up from the couch and placed my virtual helmet at the table, looking around until I found the stairs without his shoes...
Thump!
I hurriedly went to his room, the knob wasn't locked, I didn't need to check the room then, my brother always locks the door when he's inside.
Thump Thump!
Damn, damn, damn, where are you?! I know he's slightly off but did he really do it? No, he'd probably delay it for as long as I get married, he has a sister complex like that.
Thump Thump Thump!
My vision went to my phone, in the dark room it was ominously blinking, as I went closer I could see a single message and a missed call.
Gulp Thump Thump Thump Thump!
...
I ran out of the house as quickly as I could, leaving the phone in the house and making sure to lock the door as I slammed it close.
(Arman Luther Penn has been hospitalized, any relative he has please visit XX Hospital by today at 15:00)
"IDIOT ARLU!"