Trevor was released from the hospital the day after. Although his body was still weak, he preferred to rest at home.
By this morning, the elderly man he helped came to visit again. He even brought some food for Trevor.
"You should have stayed longer. You still look weak and pale," said the man who prefers to be called Bill. He refused to reveal his identity. He only admitted that he was homeless and had no family.
"I am fine now," Trevor said while munching the bread Bill gave him.
"Really? Your shoulder must still hurt a lot. I still remember when the knife stuck in there," he said again.
If Trevor was being honest, there was another reason he wanted to go home faster. He was curious about those three years that were erased from his mind. Apart from that, he can't wait to start the BE KIND TO GET RICH system so he can live a better life through it.
There were many things he wanted to do. One of them was to find the whereabouts of Anne, his ex-fiance. Even though he was disappointed that she left him, Trevor never hated her. He understood her choice. He hoped that Anne would return to him when his life got better.
'But for now I must fix my terrible appearance first. I need to take a shower, shave, and get better clothes.'
"I have to go now." Trevor finished his quick breakfast. He then stood up from the park bench in front of the hospital where he and Bill rested for a while. "I'll take a taxi in front."
"Do you remember where you live? You looked really confused yesterday?" Bill asked, still unsure.
"I'll take care of it."
Of course, Trevor had no recollection of it at all. He even doubted if he still had a home given the state he was in. But based on AI T, he had been living in a cheap apartment here in the city. He just needed to follow the robot to find it out.
"I would like to reward you for your help, but I don't have anything." Bill was a little sad as he checked himself. "I think I have $20 here. Take it--"
"No, no. You can save it." Trevor immediately rejected it. "I have quite a bit of money in my pocket. Like I said, you don't need to thank me for yesterday. I myself decided to help you without expecting anything. So you stop feeling bad for me."
Bill looked a little touched as he said, "Thank you, young man. You are a good person."
[$100 HAS BEEN ADDED TO YOUR BALANCE.]
Trevor smiled a little when he heard the notification in his head.
To be honest, ever since Bill came, he had intended to start practicing the game based on the instructions by AI T yesterday. As expected, he could get his first reward through this man.
But is this the right way to do it? When you expect a reward for every good deed you do, doesn't that mean you are no longer sincere? Trevor didn't really get it.
"You don't need to thank me." Trevor glanced again at the bench they had been sitting on. Some leftover food packages are still there. "Let me clean all this up."
"No need, let me--"
"No. Let me do it. It's not a big deal."
Even though he was still a little difficult to move, Trevor was able to do that. He even took time to pick up some of the scattered trash around there before throwing it into the trash can.
[$100 HAS BEEN ADDED TO YOUR BALANCE.]
Don't you think $200 is more than enough for a taxi fare to get home?
'But how do I take the rewards I've earned?' Trevor again asked the virtual assistant who had merged with him.
'Your game account has been directly linked to your Bank, sir. You can use the black card in your wallet to withdraw it.'
Wow, everything was getting more interesting.
***
It only took about 10 minutes from the hospital to his apartment building. Again, he felt strange about everything he saw. He stared blankly at the old building for a few moments.
"Hey, buddy. I haven't seen you for a week. I thought you ran away because you couldn't pay the rent." A fat man greeted him at the front door.
'Who is he?' Trevor asked AI T in his mind.
'The security guard for this building, sir,' it answered.
"The landlady keeps asking me about you every day. I suggest you pay your debt ASAP, bro. Don't you sick hearing her annoying voice?'
'How long have I been in arrears?' Trevor asked AI T again.
'About $1,800 for two months, Sir. She threatens to kick you out if you still don't pay it by the end of the month.'
He still has enough time. He believed he could collect the money before the deadline.
Leaving the security post, Trevor entered the building. He was told that he lived on the third floor of the building.
'There's not even an elevator here?' He groaned as he saw the leader in front of him.
'Unfortunately not, sir.'
Trevor turned on the game indicator through his watch. He checked the energy indicator. It showed 64%. Not too bad, but certainly not a good thing.
Trevor climbed the ladder even though he was still in pain. Luckily he has AI T who kept cheering him up.
Finally, they arrived at the door that was said to be his place. Using the key that was in his clothes pocket, Trevor opened it. He couldn't wait to see the inside.
'I warned you to cover your nose because the smell is really horrible in there, sir,' AI T reminded him as his hand reached for the doorknob.
At first, Trevor ignored it because he thought the robot was exaggerating. But as soon as the door opened and he took his first step, he finally understood.
"What the fuck! Do I keep a corpse in here?"
Trevor screamed out loud as he tried to find the window. The problem was not only that the smell was terrible, but that the whole place was a mess with things scattered everywhere. He almost fell when he accidentally stepped on leftover stale food on the floor.
"This is the worst!"
It wasn't until Trevor could breathe again that the fresh air came in through the window. The whole room looked like a disaster. In that cramped room, all kinds of objects were piled haphazardly. Some yucky odors lingered. No wonder he saw rats and cockroaches live peacefully there.
"I'm even surprised because I am still alive while living here. This is worser than when I was beaten up in prison," he groaned in disgust.
During these three years, he must have lived like a madman. He lost his mind in the truest sense of the word.
"Hard to believe I lost almost 20% of the time from the lobby getting here. My energy is drained even more seeing all this mess," he said after checking the navigator watch again.
'It's not just physical activity that affects your energy, sir. Things like stress are also very compelling. That's why sometimes you also need some entertaiment to boast it,' AI T quickly explained again.
Trevor smiled sadly at that. "Some entertaiment, huh? I doubt I can get it in a place like that." Trevor quickly shook his head. "I can't do this. I have to clean it up. I'll suffocate if I live in a place like this too long."
'But you are still sick, sir. Are you sure you're all right?'
"Living in a place like this won't make me feel any better either. I still have about 50% of my energy. I think I can do this."
***
A few hours later.
'I can't believe I got nothing for working so hard. Not even $10," Trevor grumbled as he tossed the trash bags in his hand into several different types of trash bins at the back of the building.
'That's because all of this is your belongings, Sir. You are so lazy to clean. So it counts as a responsibility and not a kindness.' AI T's explanation made him snort.
Shortly after, he heard footsteps approaching. He saw a girl in a tank top and hot pants coming while carrying garbage bags.
Trevor didn't mind her at first. He is still busy with his own.
"I see you're finally cleaning out your apartment. Did you get any kind of grace or anything?"
A little unsure Trevor glanced at her. "Sorry?" he said.
The girl glared at him slightly, "Thanks to you I have to live like in hell. The disgusting smells from your room fills my place. Not to mention the rats and cockroaches that kept visiting me like regulars," grumbled the woman who looked quite young to him.
'Her name is Amanda Claire. She is the college girl who lives next door to your room,' AI T explained to him. 'All this time she has been complaining to you about that but you don't even listen. She often said she wanted to move out because of you but it never happened until now. I guess because this apartment offers the cheapest cost around here.'
Trevor laughed awkwardly at that.
"I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable. But I promise it won't happen again. I'll keep my room clean from now on," he said to the girl.
The girl didn't even expect to hear that. "You're finally talking? Oh gosh, did something big really happen? But, never mind. It's a good thing because I can't take it anymore. I'm going to kick your ass if another cockroach or rat comes into my room again!"
The girl named Amanda Claire left immediately after putting the trash bag in. Trevor was quite amazed at her attitude.
'I heard she is an athlete. I suggest you be careful around her in the future, sir,' his virtual assistant spoke again.
***