Alex stepped out of the casino, feeling lighter with his debt now settled. His aPhone buzzed with a notification: 2x flight mile rewards for clearing your balance! He grinned. Free flights? The world's about to open up.
Before Alex could start planning his next destination, Kofi's voice interrupted.
"Hey, Alex! Don't forget to buy a new headphone. You can't keep me stuck in this ancient thing forever."
Alex chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. Let's go fix that."
They walked into a high-end tech store, the walls adorned with the latest and greatest gadgets. The headphone section drew them in like a magnet, a sleek display of cutting-edge audio tech arranged by brand and model. Kofi wasted no time phasing in and out of various headphones, testing each one with relentless scrutiny.
Alex watched as Kofi hopped into the first pair, only to quickly retreat. "Nope, sound's too muddy. How do people even buy this stuff?"
He zipped into the next set and winced. "Ugh, too much bass. My voice would sound like I'm yelling into a tin can."
A third pair caught Kofi's attention with its minimalist design. He phased into them, but after a few moments, his digital face scrunched up in disapproval. "Seriously? Overpriced trash. These should be illegal!"
Alex laughed. "Picky much?"
"This is serious business, Alex!" Kofi shot back.
"I'm going to be stuck in these things for who knows how long. I need perfection."
Kofi paused in front of a sleek, shiny pair of AeroPods—the latest model from the same company that manufactured aPhones. The design was sleek and elegant, with a premium matte finish and a light that pulsed gently on the side. Kofi hovered closer, intrigued.
"These are AeroPods. Same brand as your aPhone. They've got some serious tech inside," Kofi muttered thoughtfully.
He fused into the AeroPods, and for the first time, Kofi remained silent—longer than usual. Alex raised an eyebrow, waiting for the inevitable complaint. But then, Kofi's voice emerged, calmer and impressed.
"Well, well… crystal clear highs, balanced mids, and the bass is deep but not overwhelming. Not to mention, the noise cancellation is on point. Oh, and get this—they sync with your aPhone seamlessly. No latency issues either. It's like they're made to keep up with my genius."
Alex crossed his arms, amused. "Finally satisfied?"
Kofi phased out of the AeroPods and floated before him, arms crossed in digital approval. "I think we've found the one. These AeroPods are perfection…by human standards that is. Anything less would be an insult to my digital existence."
Alex smirked. "Good. Let's grab them before you change your mind."
He picked up the AeroPods, the lightweight box feeling like an investment in both clarity and companionship. As they made their way to the counter, Alex pulled out his aPhone, turning to Kofi with a grin.
"Let's commemorate the moment with a selfie."
Kofi rolled his eyes. "What, with that brick? Seriously?"
"Maybe I'll use my aPhone this time," Alex replied, grinning.
He opened the camera app, his eyes glowing softly as the digital screen materialized in front of him. He swiped through the settings and accidentally switched to the slow-motion mode. Suddenly, the world slowed down around him—every subtle movement magnified, every sound stretched out.
That's when the idea hit him, and his grin widened.
"Kofi, do you realize what this means?"
Kofi's digital face blinked in curiosity. "That you messed up again?"
"No, think about it—I could use this slow-motion feature in the casino. I'd be able to see everything before it happens. The roulette wheel, the dealer's hand… I could predict the outcomes and make perfect bets."
Kofi's expression lit up in realization. "You're right! Slow down time just enough, and you'll always know what's coming. You could make a killing without anyone noticing."
Alex chuckled, already picturing the potential. "Exactly. I could turn this slow-mo feature into a money-making machine."
With the AeroPods in hand and a brilliant new plan in mind, Alex felt a surge of excitement. He wasn't just playing the game anymore—he was about to change the rules.
—---
With the AeroPods snugly in his ears and a newfound sense of confidence, Alex returned to the casino, his mind racing with possibilities. His eyes scanned the room, already calculating where he could test his slow-motion trick.
He started with roulette.
Standing at the edge of the table, Alex watched as the croupier spun the wheel, sending the ball whirling in the opposite direction. He activated the slow-motion feature, his eyes glowing as everything around him slowed to a crawl. The ball's movements were now crystal clear, bouncing between the numbered slots like a feather drifting in the wind.
Alex's mind worked overtime. If I can predict where the ball will land, I can make a killing here. The moment the ball started to slow, the croupier announced the closing of bets, leaving Alex no time to place his wager.
He frowned, deactivating the slow-motion feature. Damn. It's useless if I can't bet at the right time. There's no way to manipulate the timing here.
Shaking off the disappointment, Alex moved to his next target: a poker table.
He slipped into the shadows, observing the game with intent. Players held their cards close, their expressions masked in concentration. The dealer shuffled the deck with precision, and Alex's slow-motion vision kicked in once again. The cards seemed to float in the air, flipping lazily from the dealer's hands into a perfect stack.
As the shuffle dragged on in slow motion, Alex studied each card. He could see every single one of them as they were dealt, but no matter how many times he watched, one glaring problem remained: the randomness of the shuffle. His excitement faltered. I can see all the cards, but I can't control where they land.
He disabled the feature, sighing. No use here either.
Determined, Alex turned his attention to the flashing rows of slot machines. This was his last shot. He approached one of the quieter machines, a vintage-looking model with big spinning reels and a satisfying lever to pull. Slot machines had always seemed like a mindless game of luck, but now, Alex saw potential.
He slid a few bills into the machine, his heart beating faster as he settled into the seat. The bright 7-7-7 symbols on the reels caught his attention. This has to work.
Activating slow-motion once again, Alex pulled the lever. The reels started to spin—slowly at first, and then slower still. Each reel crept forward in painstaking detail, and to his surprise, he could see every single symbol as it rotated into view. The 7s were there, clear as day, moving at a crawl.
His heart pounded as the first 7 lined up. Then the second. Then the third, inching toward perfect alignment. He could see it—the jackpot, right in front of him.
This is it. This is the moment!
But just as the third 7 neared its perfect spot, Alex reached for the stop button. His fingers, sluggish in slow motion, failed to react with the speed he needed. He pressed the button, but the reels kept spinning, slipping past the 7s before the machine stopped entirely.
The jackpot slipped away.
Alex stared at the machine, frustration bubbling up. He could see everything in slow motion—the perfect combination, the win right in front of him—but his timing was off. The slow-motion feature worked too well. His reaction time couldn't match the slowness of the machine.
Kofi, sensing his disappointment, piped up in his ear. "Let me guess, you couldn't hit the button fast enough?"
Alex gritted his teeth. "I could see the 7s perfectly, Kofi. I had it lined up. But I couldn't react fast enough to stop it in time."
Kofi chuckled. "Well, you're not a superhero, Alex. Your eyes might be in slow-mo, but your reflexes are still human."
Alex ran a hand through his hair, thinking. There's got to be a way to make this work.
He watched the slot machine, the reels mocking him with their steady rhythm. It wasn't a matter of seeing the right moment—it was about timing his physical actions with what he saw. But how could he match the timing with his reaction lagging behind?
As he mulled over his next move, Kofi's voice cut through his thoughts. "You know, there are ways to work around this. You're merged with that fancy aPhone of yours. There's gotta be something in there that can give you a boost."
Alex's eyes widened. A boost... maybe I don't need my hands to stop the reels. Maybe...