The blare of sirens jolts Hana awake from her drunken slumber. She groggily moves her puffy eyes around, taking in the chaotic scene of emergency vehicles and frantic neighbors. As she stands up, her joints crack and she notices the empty bottle of wine next to her on the ground. "Well, that explains a lot," she mutters as she stumbles towards the bathroom, trying to piece together the events of her wild night.
With a grunt, Hana pries open the creaky door with her foot and steps inside. She catches her reflection in the bathroom mirror and jumps back, startled by what she sees. The mirror's surface is illuminated with a bright green glow, displaying a message that looks like it belongs on a computer screen. Hana rubs her eyes and blinks a few times, hoping it's just a trick of the light, but the message remains: "Welcome Hana to Love Quest!" She stares at it in confusion before finally shaking her head and pinching herself to make sure she isn't dreaming. This can't be real.
However, when the message doesn't disappear and she doesn't wake up from this supposed dream, panic starts to creep in. She grabs the edge of the sink for support as she reads on.
"Your wish has been granted," the message continues. "Welcome to your chance at true love!"
Hana loses her balance and lands on the ground, staring up at the message. Did she drink that much last night? Or is she still feeling the effects of being drunk?
Hana emerges from the bathroom, struggling to stand on her shaking legs. She snatches her phone and hurls it in frustration. "What is happening?!" she screams out loud, her voice echoing off the walls. Another message pops up on her phone, identical to the one she saw in the bathroom. With a growing sense of horror, Hana looks up and sees the same message now looming right in front of her outside the bathroom door.
In an instant, the glowing message on her screen disappeared and a holographic man materialized in its place. He towered over Hana, with sharp features and piercing eyes. His dark hair was tousled in a way that made her heart race.
"Hello, Hana," he greeted with a charming smile, revealing perfect teeth. "I am Ethan, your Love Quest guide."
Hana's jaw dropped as she stumbled backward. She grabbed onto a nearby umbrella stand for support, her heart racing in disbelief.
Ethan extended his hand towards her, still smiling. "I know this may seem overwhelming, but don't worry. We'll navigate this together."
Without thinking, Hana swung the umbrella at him but it passed right through his holographic form.
"Whoa!" Ethan exclaimed, but he remained unfazed as his image flickered briefly before stabilizing again. "No need for violence, Hana. Remember, I'm here to help."
Hana's eyes widened in suspicion and fear as she lowered the umbrella slightly. She clutched onto it tightly as if it were her only protection.
"You're not real," she stammered.
Ethan chuckled softly. "That's one way of putting it," he said nonchalantly. "But I am real enough to help you find true love."
Hana couldn't hold back her laughter any longer. It bubbled out of her in uncontrollable fits as she doubled over in amusement.
Ethan watched her curiously, tilting his head to one side. "I fail to see what is so humorous?"
Hana finally managed to catch her breath and wiped away tears of mirth from her eyes. "This is just too insane! A holographic man named Ethan sent to help me find love?"
Ethan shrugged and replied, "It may seem strange now, but this is all thanks to your wish for that shooting star."
Reality hit Hana like a ton of bricks as she realized that this could all be real. She sank onto the couch, feeling a wave of unease wash over her.
Ethan's expression turned serious as he explained, "Your wish has been granted, Hana. And now it's time to embark on your Love Quest."
Still clutching the umbrella tightly, Hana stared at Ethan, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Love Quest?" she echoed.
Ethan nodded, explaining, "It's similar to an MMORPG you'd play on a computer, but it's real life. The goal is to find your soulmate by going through various events and interactions set up like a game. Your choices and reactions determine the progress of the game. You can earn rewards, skill points, and level up as you go," Ethan said, his holographic figure glowing with an otherworldly aura.
"A game?" Hana repeated, aghast. "You turned my life into a game?" she asked, feeling a strange mix of apprehension and curiosity.
Ethan only smiled at her response. "Think of it as an adventure, Hana. You've been given a unique chance to find your true love," he said, stretching out his hand towards her in a gesture of friendship.
Hana's head shakes as she processes the situation. "How can this be real? Is anyone else playing? Who created this game? And why me?"
"It is real, Hana. You were chosen for this unique opportunity. As for the creators of the game, that information cannot be revealed. And no, there are no other players. You are the only one in this game."
Ethan adds, "This game was made specifically for you, Hana. Your wish upon a shooting star caught the attention of those with the power to make it come true. They decided to give you the chance you desired."
Staring at Ethan, Hana still can't believe this is real. Her life had been stuck in a rut for so long that the idea of some grand adventure seemed inviting despite its bizarre nature.
Her mind began to whir as she considered the implications. "So, what happens if I don't participate? Or if I lose?" she asked, her voice shaky.
Ethan's smile shifted slightly, "Your participation is mandatory from now on, as for losing...let's just say it doesn't end the game but can make things more challenging or different. But remember, Hana, every experience is a chance to learn and grow."
Hana thinks about this for a moment and decides to play along, dream or not, this seems interesting to Hana. "What would be my first quest or challenge?"
"Ah, eager to start, are we?" Ethan's holographic figure beamed. "Your first quest is simple. We want to ease you into the game."
"And what would that be?" Hana asked, her skepticism drifting away now with a simmering interest.
Ethan held up a holographic panel in front of him. With a few gestural taps, a small transparent envelope materialized in his hands. He handed it over to Hana, who reached out hesitantly and found to her surprise that she could indeed touch it.
"Open it," Ethan encouraged.
Hana unfolded the envelope and removed a shiny sheet of paper. As she perused the message written in graceful handwriting, her brow creased: "
"Your first quest: At sunset, venture to the heart of the city. There, in the park filled with age-old trees and forgotten tales, a mystery awaits to be unveiled. The answer lies with the one who speaks without words but sings with colors visible to the eyes of those who truly see. Look, listen and learn. Good luck, Hana."
Hana frowned in confusion at Ethan, "What does that even mean?"
Ethan chuckled, "A quest isn't a quest if it's straightforward. Decoding what it means is part of the challenge."
Despite her scowl, he reassured her. "You don't have to face this alone," he said. "I'll be by your side every step of the way. You can communicate with me through the app on your phone that was installed, or call me to come out in person."
"Okay, this is... weird," Hana admitted, clutching the holographic letter in her hand. "But I suppose there's no harm in trying it out."
Ethan's smile was encouraging. "That's the spirit, Hana. Remember, the adventure has only just begun."
With a final glance at Ethan's holographic figure, she tucked the letter into her pocket and got up from the couch. "Well then, I'll play along for now."
As Ethan began to fade away, his voice echoed in her small living room. "Good luck, Hana, and remember, trust your instincts. The path to true love may not always be clear."
Then he was gone, leaving Hana alone with her thoughts.