It was yet another day for Mattias. He started his day when he was woken up by his sister looking at him worriedly.
"You can sleep on the sofa."
"What time is it?"
"8AM."
"Nah, I have to go."
"If you are dropping by mom's workplace, it's better if you visit them on their lunch break."
"Will do that. I'm going to look for a new job. I'll ask my co-workers if they know some jobs that accept people like me."
"What's wrong with you? Those who didn't even give you a chance because of your educational background were a bunch of idiots."
"I know, I know. You don't have to get angry every time. They're just telling the truth."
"Truth my ass. You are better than those people who only know how to kiss people's asses."
"Did mom wake up when I left?"
"Not yet. She might later."
"Okay, call me if she wakes up."
"Alright. Go. Don't mind me. I have eaten mom's breakfast."
"Okay, I'll go now."
Mattias left the hospital and went home. When he got home, he first checked if Carmen and Marco ate something, and when he saw the dirty dishes he felt relieved.
He went upstairs to check if they went to school, and when he didn't see them, he went back to the sink to wash their dishes. After washing the dishes, he patted dry his wet hands on a rag and went to check the refrigerator. There were enough supplies, but it was not healthy. So, he decided to buy vegetables and fruits before his mom got released from the hospital.
With that in mind, Mattias closed the refrigerator and grabbed his phone which was in his pockets.
[Hey, do you know a job that pays well as our bar?]
Mattias sent this message to all of his co-workers at the bar and in the restaurant. Although he had quit his job in the restaurant, he didn't have any back up plans. Right now, he wasn't sure if his mother would really recover after three days of rest, if not, he'll have to at least find three jobs or another job that was as high paying as working at the bar.
He didn't receive good news for those who replied to him. He suddenly felt dejected. Educational background was really important. He knew that he could not work in a high paying job without a diploma, but it didn't mean that he was not upset.
Mattias stopped reading the replies because it might dampen his mood. So, he went upstairs to take a bath.
After taking a bath and preparing his clothes for a stay in the hospital, it was only 10AM. He still had a lot of time. He never thought that he would have some rest time, and yet he didn't feel comfortable. Instead, he felt that he was wasting his time.
So, he busied himself looking for a job on the computer. It was an old computer, Mattias could even play at it, but he decided to indulge himself. He opened the browser and searched for an opening job, filtering it by including his qualifications.
Mattias worked at every physical job he could think of. Because of that, his body became strong and developed muscles intensifying his aura which was already unapproachable. If before he started working, he was like a sunshine boy, giving warmth even if he was just existing, now he looked like a youth that was full of scars that experienced wars.
He radiates both warm and cold aura depending on the people he was dealing with. When in the bar, he was like an unmovable wall cold when touched, but warm from afar.
Harsh life made Mattias who he was. After their father left him, he was the only person that could help lessen his mother's burden, and he did. He didn't even hesitate. He seemed like a hero even for their youngest. Children's heroes were their parents but in the case of Marco, his hero was his brother.
Although no one knew better than Mattias how hard it was for him. He would sometimes be belittled by his co-workers. The jealousies and blatant stares he would get from time to time made him on edge. It even came to the point that he almost gave up. But, whenever he went home and saw how good his family was living compared to the time their father left them with nothing, he felt accomplished.
If Mattias was his family anchor, then for Mattias, it was his family that kept him firm. And yet, a new storm was brewing.
Mattias unconsciously searched 'Tadhana Online' and saw the official forum. Before he could wake up from it, he had already visited their homepage.
What welcomed him was the preview of the updates. Like what Celine said, the Guild Territory had opened. Unlike before, the Territory War was significant.
It has a new meaning at the Virtual remade. The new nobility status was introduced. Gaining territories meant greater power and title, not only that but they could even create their own kingdoms.
Mattias watched the video preview with rapt attention. Even his hands started to shake because of mixed emotions he felt. It was only a thirty second video, and yet he felt his blood boiling.
So, Mattias watched all the previews of the past updates, from the release date to the present. Every video he watched he became more excited. The walls he had built were slowly crumbling away. He knew that he was done for. And the finishing blow came faster than he could imagine.
Before he could lose all reasons, Mattias closed the official website of Tadhana Online. He comforted himself that it would be fine. The game before it closed was still running despite 10 years of running. Coming back in the game wasn't late even if it would take him at least 3 years.
He already knew how much the cheapest capsule cost. He had worked at the appliance store before, and even the headgears and capsules were sold there.
Not all people wanted to play VR games, it was too expensive, not only that, but they might hallucinate between the virtual and the reality. There were some cases already, and yet it didn't stop those people who called themselves true gamers.
Mattias wasn't one of them. He first played the PC version of the Tadhana Online because his girlfriend was playing that. He became interested sooner. He became one of the strongest and he joined a guild. He was at the same guild as his girlfriend. But, due to their breakup, he left the guild and divorced her. He went to his new guild which was managed by his female friend in the game.
It was also the very same guild that he went to when they had their online meetup. Now that he thought of it, it seemed that his life started to spiral out of his control when he met Celine. It didn't even take 24 hours for his resolve to shake greatly. It was to the point that if his mother didn't collapse, he might have tried his best to play in the VR Rent Stores.
'What a blunder.' Mattias sighed, and yet his lips were forming a smile.
He, who had forgotten how to enjoy himself, felt content just watching the game he learned how to love because of his ex-girlfriend's insistence.
When he saw the time, Mattias closed the browser and turned off the computer. Mattias also checked the messages about his inquiry but all they sent was bad news.
Thus, Mattias let it go for now, and checked everything around the house that could cause spark. After checking the house, he locked the front door and gate before leaving with an ease of mind.
When Mattias set off, he would never have imagined that his mood would be in a roller coaster-like ride.
Mattias saw the impressive building of the company his mother was working at. It was one of the largest and biggest companies owned by a single person or family.
Mattias never imagined that he would come here once again. He felt intimidated by the building and he felt that he didn't belong.
Unfortunately, he had business to attend to. He had to file a leave for his sick mother. It was allowed for a family member to file a leave if the family member working at their company was unable to do so.
Thus, Mattias entered the building with a heavy heart. When he successfully entered the building, he went towards the front desk.
"Hello, good day, ma'am."
Mattias greeted the receptionist respectfully who was behind the front desk. In turn, the woman smiled at the polite young man.
"Yes, what can I help you with?"
"I am here to file a leave for my sick mother who is currently at the hospital."
"Oh, what floor does your mom works at?"
"I actually don't know which floor, but she is working as a secretary for Mr. Jason of the women's footwear Maria."
"Oh, give me a second, dear. Let me set you an appointment."
Mattias saw the receptionist pick the phone up, so he didn't talk anymore. He looked around the ground floor, and finally realized how big the lobby was. Due to the ground floor being encased in transparent glasses, the ground floor was brightly lit and it felt warm and at the same time cool.
Mattias looked towards the entrance of the employees. He could see the waves of employees in and out of the turnstile gate. It was like a security gate which could only be accessed with the right key card.
Mattias knew that a lot of companies had been using it for a long time, but it was his first time seeing one in person.
"Young man, can I have your name?"
"Ah, sorry, my name is Mattias son of Marissa Oliverson Arellano."
"Alright, give me a second."
After a few seconds, the receptionist guided him towards the security guard which was guarding the turnstile gate.
The guard gave him a visitor's ID card and let him input his information on the computer. But, he didn't know who he was meeting or which floor he was going, so he couldn't help but ask the guard.
"Excuse me, the receptionist didn't tell me who I am meeting and which floor."
The guard gave him a hard gaze before telling him the answer.
"Mr. Jason, 16th floor."
"Oh."
Mattias quickly filled out the last information. After the procedure was done, Mattias entered the turnstile gate using his visitor's ID card.
When he successfully entered the gate, he went towards the elevator and waited for an elevator to arrive at the ground floor.
Fortunately he didn't have to wait long before the elevator arrived. He went inside the elevator and pushed 16th floor. The elevator ride was quite long. Every floor the elevator would stop. It made Mattias dizzy.
When he finally arrived at the 16th floor, another receptionist greeted him, before he was escorted into a waiting room. He arrived in the middle of lunch time. So, he had to wait before he could meet his mom's superior. Marissa was working in a women's footwear brand, the brand's name was Maria. It was one of the brands of one of the largest companies in the Philippines. Not only that, but their brands had reached overseas.
Thus, the salary of his mother was good even though she was only a secretary. Secretarial jobs were not as good paying as the other jobs, and yet no one could not function properly without it. Mattias supported his mother even though he didn't want his mother to be treated like those he had watched on the television.
"Mr. Arellano?"
When Mattias heard his surname being called he stood up and looked towards the one who called him. It was a woman who wasn't short, she reached Mattias' nose. The woman was wearing a formal outfit like what his mother wears.
Mattias surmised that it was a secretary. Normally, in a big company, having more than one secretary was normal, but the gaze of the woman seemed to be criticizing him. He dismissed the thought and answered the waiting woman.
"Here!"
"Please follow me."
Mattias followed the woman. He was guided into an office. It was a big office, before the office of his mom's superior, he saw where his mother was working, because he saw their family portrait, excluding his father.
"Mr. Arellano?"
"Yes, sir."
The voice that called him belonged to a man. He was a middle-aged man, and looked quite good despite his age, but the mocking expression on his face while looking at Mattias made his first impression reach to the bottom.
"You haven't heard anything?"
"About what, sir?"
Despite the mocking tone, Mattias was still calm. He had many experiences with people like him. If he was still that naive twenty years old before, then he would be agitated. Now, nothing could faze him even if the president himself mocked him or belittled him.
"Psh, I guess you got your mother's thick face. You have the guts to show your face, huh. Mr. Arellano, I fired your mother yesterday, because I caught your mom red handed stealing my things."
Mattias didn't seem fazed, but deep inside his beating heart quickened. He felt his hands start to sweat. He didn't believe it. How could his mother steal something? No matter what his superior said, his mother would never steal anything.
Even if she stole something, it had to be when they had nothing to eat. And yet, her superior was accusing her of stealing? Craps!
It has been almost five years since their father left them. They had worked hard. Both his mother and him worked so hard to reach their current condition.
"Are you sure?"
"Am I sure? Of course! I was the one who caught her. Are you telling me that I'm a liar?"
"Yes."
The man laughed instead of being insulted. He would never have thought that a commoner would insult him. He found it funny. He didn't want to waste any of his precious time dealing with a nobody like Mattias, so he wanted it to be done once and for all.
"I have forgiven, Mrs. Arellano for stealing something from me. I have given her the money she deserves after working for our company. While you're here, please do pack her belonging and tell her not to come back. If you have any problems with it, you can talk to my lawyer. I wouldn't mind taking it to the court."
Mattias felt angry. How could they accuse his mother of a crime she didn't commit? And not only that, but the man in front of him made it look like they were beggars that needed money!
Although they needed money, Mattias was sure that it was all clean money!
Mattias clenched his fist so hard. He wanted to punch the man for insulting his mother for her great service. Mattias went out of the office and didn't close the door. He saw that on his mother's desk, there was a box that he could use to pack his mom's belongings.
While he was packing, Mattias didn't know, but his eyes which had stopped shedding tears for a long time, started shedding hot tears. Deep inside his heart, he would remember all the people that hurt his mother, he promised and promised, that someday, he'll make them pay.