Vincent shivered as consciousness slowly returned to him. He burrowed deeper into his blanket, seeking warmth, but the thin fabric provided little comfort from the damp chill in the air.
As he blinked open his eyes, he could see his breath in small white puffs - the room was freezing. The pitter-patter of rain on the roof filled his ears.
Suddenly, his eyes widened and his back shot up.
"Right!" He exclaimed.
Yesterday's plan was hatched perfectly. His suicidal attempt was perfect to a fault and by now he was sure that he was dead… should be dead.
Vincent looked around.
Is this heaven?
'No, it's my room'
He sighed and slumped back to the bed. Looks like his perfect plan wasn't so perfect after all.
A second later, he drew a disturbed frown and shot up again, muttering:
"But how did I get home?"
He was sure that he died… since he was still alive, perhaps he should stop using the word… at the very least he lost consciousness yesterday. Then shouldn't he be waking up on the sand of the restricted site.
But he was in his room.
Vincent laughed unbelievably at himself.
"I can't believe I actually sleepwalked."
He shook his head in utter disappointment.
'Is that what you do now Vincent. You walk around while being asleep, as if being this lame was not enough for you. You just have to go ahead and make yourself the lamest person to ever exist.'
He raised his head to look at the framed picture of his mother opposite his bed, then that of his grandmother, next to it.
"I tried to die guys… I told you right… about the bullying. I know if grandma was alive she would have gone on my behalf to the school. But what can I do…"
He lowered his gaze as he continued:
"The only thing I could think of was dying… very cowardly of me right…"
Tiny drops of tears fell from his face. He wiped them off with the back of his hand then raised his head with a forced wide smile.
"But don't worry, okay? That will be the first and last time something like that will happen! I will find a solution, maybe I'll just give up on school and give up on becoming a successful lawyer… that will fight for the right of the villagers…"
His tone went low and his eyes became sorrowful.
'That seems lame… I don't think I want to give up on my dream of becoming a lawyer…'
His head went back up again, with another wide smile, only this time, it seemed genuine.
"Well, guess what? I'm the world lamest guy!"
With that he removed the blanket and stood up. It was until then he noticed how ruined his school uniforms were. They were practically burnt rags on him, displaying his frail frame, skinny bones.
"Oh hell no! This is the only one I've got!"
He said in a fit of frustration, frowning tensely and looking at the rags again. He removed them and slipped it all into the dust bin.
Vincent's room was cramped but tidy. As he glanced around the room from his vantage point, he could see the entirety of the living space in one sweep.
The kitchen consisted only of a mini-fridge, a portable burner, and a narrow counter that served as both food preparation space and dining nook.
His school books and school sports wear were neatly stacked on a small table that doubled as a makeshift desk. In the corner adjacent to the kitchen, a worn curtain served as a partition, covering the toilet and shower stall.
There was no room for extraneous furniture.
An overfilled backpack dampened by the rain, leaned against the wall, contents spilling out.
A few photos and drawings, mementos from friends back from the countryside, were taped up around the room.
These splashes of color brightened the otherwise concrete gray walls. Next to Vincent's bed was a crate where he kept his modest clothing along with the few other possessions he had brought with him.
While listless and bare, the room held an air of diligence. This was all Vincent had managed to put together with a few savings from the yearly money he got from the house rent.
He decided not to leave in the building itself, one because he felt it was going to be bad business, the neighbor could decide to take him for granted when they discover he is their landlord.
Two, the place was quite far from school.
So yes. He had rented this place and was staying alone. Thankfully, no bully was interested in knowing where he stays so someway, he at least has peaceful days when he comes back home.
Grumble¡
Vincent glanced down at his crying belly. Now that he remembered it well, it wasn't like he had eaten anything since yesterday morning.
Normally, he would have packed lunch but he didn't want to eat it from his fat friend's butt.
'Friend my foot. I'm better off alone'
Thinking about it displeases Vincent a lot. Was it not the same guy he was trying to help the first day he got to school.
The guy was now a leech, thinks they are friends and annoyingly follows him around without listening to BACK OFF!
"Frustration. Frustration. Frustration… everybody loves frustration"
Then suddenly, an electronic beep entered his ears and something appeared in front of his eyes.
Vincent shouted, skedaddling away from what appeared out of nothing. But the blue panel was still hanging in front of his eyes.
Strangely, it seemed familiar. Vincentfrowned slightly, trying to remember. His eyes shot open a second or two later.
"Right! This! This!"
He was sure he saw it before dying… sleeping? So it was real?!
He inspected the floating rectangular thing with a strange inquisitiveness. Checking the borders, and touching it with his hand.
'My hand can pass through?'
The holographic screen glitched a little as his hand went through but maintained peace thereafter.
"This is strange…" Vincent muttered, before paying attention to the words it said.
[You have received a new quest]
Quest title: Food Is Important
Quest description: [Food is very important for the body. A strong mind starts with a strong body and a strong body starts with good food. Your body has been lacking quality dishes for the past few years and now the poor guy is complaining. Spend a fortune on a very nice dish, don't try to be smart about it or you'll fail this Quest.]
Quest reward: [+1 normal card]
Quest failure: [Death from severe and strange hunger.]
Vincent sat on his bed and was silent for a few minutes, looking at the blue panel in front of his eyes.
Then a wild unbelieving laugh escaped his lips.