I went straight to the lobby, and couldn't still believe that the lobby of the hotel is still alive. I don't know exactly what the time it is, but it felt like it was around night. Drake now plays around the room even though I do not see any speakers around. It still confuses me or rather how these spirits staying here are able to enjoy this hotel. Do they not know that they died or that their body may still be alive in The Reality? I don't know. I absolutely have no clue at all.
I lean against the front desk wherein Jawaria met me with a smile. "Hi, Mr. Karleil! I hope that you liked the room we prepared for you. How may I help you today?"
"Uh, I would like to inquire about The Game the hotel offers? The one that-who's that-ah yes, Madam Anabelle." I asked Jawaria.
"I understand." She took something under the table and offered me a brochure that provides more details about The Game. I said thank you to Jawaria, and I plan to read it inside my room.
"Wait, Mr. Karleil! I like to stop you for a second." I stopped going and turned back to Jawaria.
"I'm sorry. What do you need?" I said.
"We actually have an awards night event at The Theatre today. We encourage you to attend our event." Jawaria said.
I couldn't care less about the awards night. You can ask Karlos because he anticipates The Oscars since then even though he has not watched most of the movies being nominated.
"Thank you for the invitation, Jawaria. But I rather stay in my room." I do not wait for her reply and boost myself back to my room wherein I could know the details about joining The Game.
I am in the middle of the stairs when I felt that someone is beside me, imitating the footsteps I give. I look at the person and see that he's the same size. Thin, with a long face and nicer haircut than mine. I also think that he looks Korean. I continue going upstairs while he tries to talk to me.
"I suggest that you should go to the Awards Night. You would love to know what the prizes won by the best contestants are." He said.
We stop at the top of the staircase, my patience wearing thinly because all I want is to stay and read, which back in The Reality, I do not do often. Or maybe, I should use my computer set and play the games I have downloaded, to which I hope are still there.
"Thank you, Uhm..."
"Jimmy. Well, my name is really Song Gim Jae, but in The Excelsior, I need to adjust. So I called myself Jimmy." He said.
"Jimmy, thank you so much again for the invitation, but I would love time for myself in my room, reading the brochure about The Game this hotel offers," I said and passes him by.
"But I thought that you want to get back to The Reality sooner?" Jimmy said to me at my back.
There is something with people that just know what you want to do next. I am not that creeped out but more appreciative if they already knew something that I want, even though I haven't told them about it.
I hear loud joys downstairs while looking back at Jimmy, who is leaning on the railing of the stairs. I thought to myself that if he was a mind reader, then thank God. I felt so alone while I was in The Darkness.
"No, I did not read your thoughts. I am not a mind reader. Although, I have met a lot of people that are desperate for The Reality." Jimmy said.
"And I am one of them," I said, then I walk near him. "If this brochure would say a lot, how does the Awards Night would?"
Jimmy gives me a smile, which kind of terrifies me because a smile so simple can mean anything. But what could possibly go wrong talking to this person?
"In one hour, you need to prepare for the event. You must take a shower while the room service will go to your room. I promise you that your time at the event will be worth it." Once he finishes, he passes me by.
I know the feeling sometimes of being left around to wonder how things are going to happen. Unluckily for Karlos, he only knows how to be left around, but is unable to know what to do next.
I return to my room.
-
I followed Jimmy's advice by taking a shower first. In there, hot water rushes on my skin, almost like a wake-up call that this is my current reality. I was in The Darkness. The Grim Reaper offered me two doors, then I am in a hotel full of spirits that are strangers. A guy named Jimmy advised me to get a shower and attend The Awards Night, and I will attend it later.
Like everyone else, or just me, I do not know what to expect from this event. I haven't been into one, quite frankly, even though I was doing good enough when I was still in school. How I wish I could ask advice from Karlos right now about what to wear.
Oh my God. I don't know what to wear. I finish the shower, got my towel to dry myself, and went to the phone to call the front desk. Jawaria answers dutifully.
"Front Desk," Jawaria says.
"Hi. I am about to go to the Awards Night, and I do not have anything to wear. Do you have a dress shop where I can loan a suit?" I said to Jawaria.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Karleil, but we do not have a dress shop. However, you have a cabinet in your room wherein you can see choices of clothes you like to wear."
After hearing this, I went straight to my closet with the phone on. I opened the door and inside it is what I was not expecting. My cabinet is not just small like I used to have. But it's a room full of nice clothes.
"Thank you, Jawaria. That would be all." I said and I turn off the call.
I got into the walk-in closet and see different choices of clothes. There are casual, smart, business attire and the ones you wear for a gala. As a fashion aficionado, it is a dream come true for someone like me to have choices of clothes based on an event.
This is what I basically do back in The Reality. I dress to impress, to the point that my brother and sister are asking me if their life choices are good enough to be out in the world. How I wish I was back there with them to drag them for filth in their life choices. Those siblings of mine. I cannot believe that I miss them.
I would need to focus right now because I have an Awards Night to attend. Those bitch of my siblings would be crying right now out of jealousy if they learned that I have designer clothes to wear.
-
I am starting to think that The Excelsior is a weird place. Once, the lobby was full of people who parties and drank a lot, then the next, it became a red carpet full of people acting like they were celebrities, and photographers are taking pictures of them. I also see so many beautiful people that wear beautiful designer clothes, attending some interviews while I watch them from the view of the second floor.
"Well, hello there, handsome." Someone puts a hand to hold my arm, and I see Eli beside me.
"Hi. It's a surprise seeing you here." I said to Eli.
"Well, I love this kind of event. I wouldn't miss it for the world." She said.
We walk down the stairs until we step on the red carpet that is stretched from the roof to ceiling doors of the lobby. I was in total shock when I got into the hotel, and haven't noticed that it was that huge.
"Focus, dear. We need to look good on the cameras." Eli said to me and pose elegantly at the photographers who are mesmerized by her. I knew how to pose once, but my mind is out of place lately.
"Smile for the cameras, dear. I don't want a partner on the red carpet who looks gloomy." Eli said.
I try to put at least even a smirk. It is my first time attending a red carpet. I could not explain how it is because this is not the reality. I think that I just want to get through this event and read that brochure on how to join the game.
After countless interviews that Eli attended, we arrived inside a theatre that is claimed to be bigger than what California has. People are chattering about whatever, which I could care less. Thank God though that I am a newcomer in this hotel so that I would not mingle with anyone that I do not know.
Eli and I sat at the front of the seats, and I help her first. Once again, I have noticed so much about the hotel and its people that I didn't see that she is wearing a white dress with her silky hair falling down to her shoulders.
"Stop staring at me, dear. Or I will melt. How do you like my sequin dress?" Eli said.
I don't know much about clothes for women, but she really looks nice in them. "It's beautiful. So does your hair."
"Thank you. Now sit down before the show starts." I sat beside her. I look around the room just to see what kind of people are in, and in just another aisle, I see Jimmy and The Grim Reaper waving at us. Jimmy greeted me with a smile while The Grim Reapers send a salute.
A moment later, an orchestra appears and plays entrance music when the curtains were pulled to the side. The people start clapping then when a woman host moves to the front of the stage with a big smile on her face.
"Welcome to The Excelsior's Game Awards!" Another applause came from the audience."
"Thank you for watching our show, and especially to the managers of The Excelsior Hotel, and The Afterlife that gave us the opportunity to celebrate our contestants that made victory during the last Excelsior Game. It will be always a joy for us if the time comes that they will join The Reality again."
The host continues, "For now, we will begin our how by showing respect to our dear friends that stayed here, and that lost our game and have joined our Creator. Your spirits will be always celebrated and we adore your heroism. Here they are." The orchestra played solemn music, and a big screen flashes photos of the people that joined the game.
Lost the game? I have to repeat myself once the host is saying that. You can die while you're in the game? How is it that The Grim Reaper never told me this? I chose the door, entering here with the hope that I could go back to my family. Now, I am going to really die?
I boost myself from the seat and went out of the room. I cannot believe that I made the wrong choice. Or what choice do I have? I don't even have the option when I was in The Darkness. I could not reach anyone to talk to or to give a sign at that time.
Getting outside that room after what I heard was a relief. I don't have to know the details of the game. I don't know what to do now. The fact that losing the game would be a possibility that I am unable to go back is unbearable. My mind is racing and I do not know what to do.
"Going somewhere?" The Grim Reaper says in her black flowy dress and walks to me.
"I think I made a wrong decision," I said.
"Well, I am sorry to say but the decisions you make while you are here are irreversible." She said.
"Oh, so this is how it is? I will join the game just to die?"
"No, silly! You won't immediately die if you win the game."
I put my hands at my mouth, trying to contain my shock. Why did I not anticipate this? As a gamer myself, I should know how the games are played at stakes like this. I should be smarter and thought this through. Now, I am trapped in this Goddamn hotel. I then fall to my knees on the floor and started crying.
I saw once Karlos, breaking down, whenever he would have anxiety attacks. It was so hard to console him because most of the time he wants to stay like that. The first time it happened, we tried to put him to bed for him to rest and recover the next day. The next time it happened, I stopped consoling him, thinking that he may have done this for attention.
Me breaking down all of a sudden is not for gaining attention, but for losing hope that I may never see my family again.
Jimmy goes to his knees and touches my shaking shoulder. "Dude, I don't think that you should be in this condition. I'll bring you back to your room." I hear him snap his fingers then I realize that we're back in my room, the two of us sitting on my bed. He boosts himself from the bed and goes in front of the big screen. He touches it, then alight appears on the screen, and my room went dark.
"Let me show you something," Jimmy said and swipes the screen.
He goes to his watch, and a hologram appears. Observing what he's doing, he looks like he was purchasing something. "I will buy this subscription for you that will only work for an hour. The next time you like to purchase, you need to earn some Happiness." Jimmy said and the hologram says that the purchase is approved.
The touch screen hanging shows a confirmation notification that the payment has been received and said that we could use this to enjoy.
"Thank you for purchasing The View. You can now enjoy ten minutes of view from The Reality." The voice from the screen says.
After the notification, letters appear on the screen that says LOADING, then a screen of my family and me on the bed appears.
I got from the bed and wanted to touch them, but the screen is the only way that I can reach them. I see my mom making a video call with Karlos and Kassie. It looks like they were in tears for a long time, and I started crying also.
Although I see my family waiting for me, I do not hear what they wear saying.
"I couldn't hear them," I said to Jimmy.
Jimmy was getting a Coke from the small fridge I didn't know I had and turns to me, "Ah, yes! You need to get a premium of The View for you to get full access."
What the hell? Even in this hotel, I need to subscribe to something? What the hell is this place?
"I'm sorry that is the way in this hotel. Like what The Grim Reaper said, this place adapts from The Reality. Subscriptions, credit cards, the red carpet, you name it? This place has it." Jimmy explains and sips his drink.
I continued watching the screen where I'm seeing my family. I cannot believe that I'm saying this but regardless of all your petty fights with your siblings or your disagreements with your parents, even at the bad times, you would miss them. How I wish that I could do something to hold them again. Or at least provide a sign.
A sign.
"Is the ten minutes subscription provides giving a sign from The Reality?" I asked Jimmy.
"Yes. But you can only choose limited movements. Press the option on the screen," Jimmy said.
I followed what he said and when I did, I saw the options.
Provide Movement Signs
Provide Noise Signs
Eyes Open
The words "Provide Noise Signs" and "Eyes Open" are highlighted as grey, meaning that I could not choose from any of them. I only have the "Provide Movement Signs" and pressed it. Another option from this appeared.
Move your mouth
Move your finger
Move your leg
Provide a breathing sign
The words "Move your finger", "Move your leg" and "Provide a breathing sign" are also highlighted as grey.
"So with this ten-minute subscription, I only get one option?" I said to Jimmy.
"Hey, it's not my fault that The Excelsior is expensive. I mean come to think of it. You get free drinks, food, no room rates, a full walk-in closet with designer clothes, real-life amenities offered by the hotel and you can gamble your Happiness Credit all you want," He then shows his hologram again to reveal his Happiness Credits.
15,035,773 Happiness Credits available.
"How the hell did you get so many credits?" I ask.
"Let's talk later. Your 10 minutes is almost up. Touch the only option you have before you ran out of time," Jimmy advises me. I look back at the only option and press it.
Something is happening on the screen where I could see my family. It looked like they were happy with the sign I chose to give to them. I think that the small amount of signs that my body could give means a lot to my family.
The screen goes black. The room list up again, and I am back at it alone. I sat back on my bed and thinking again what to do next. Time passes by and a lot has been happening. All my focus now is to play The Game for me to win some Happiness Credits.
"So, where do I sign up for The Game?"