Zaky lay back on the bed, watching as the glowing mission text floated before his eyes:
[Identify an Opportunity in Your Environment and Make a Trade.]
The soft hum of the hospital room was the only sound, broken occasionally by distant footsteps or the quiet beeping of machines monitoring other patients. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic, and the thin light of early morning filtered through the pale curtains.
He stared at the mission message, letting it sink in. This was only the second mission, yet it already felt more difficult. The first mission had been easy—sell a piece of candy to a kid. But this was different. Now, he needed to think bigger.
"Opportunity," he muttered quietly, as if saying the word aloud would make it appear. Where was the opportunity in a hospital room? He looked around, studying every corner of the sterile space. His notebook was on the nightstand, the wrappers from the candies lay scattered nearby, and a folded hospital gown hung over the back of a chair. Nothing stood out.
Selling candy had been a small success. But that was just a pebble on the path. Zaky knew he had to keep going if he wanted to achieve his dream—to buy the sports car, to show everyone he could make it on his own.
And maybe it wasn't just about proving something to others. He wanted to prove it to himself. For so long, life had felt like a weight pressing down on him—a weight he had no way of lifting. But now, with the system's guidance, he finally had a tool to push back against the world.
The thought made his pulse quicken. He had to figure this out.
Hours passed in slow, agonizing silence. Zaky tapped his fingers against the side of the bed, restless and frustrated. Where was the opportunity? What could he trade? He couldn't sell more candy—he had given the last piece away. And there was nothing valuable in the room that belonged to him.
The system's voice echoed faintly in his mind: "Look beyond the surface. Value isn't always obvious."
He closed his eyes, trying to think. What did people in a hospital need? They didn't just need medicine or treatment—they needed small things. Comfort. Distraction. Kindness.
And suddenly, it clicked.
Maybe what he could offer wasn't an object, but a feeling.
The door to his room creaked open, and a nurse stepped in, her face lined with exhaustion. She looked like she hadn't had a break in hours.
Zaky watched her quietly as she adjusted the IV stand beside his bed. She was humming softly to herself, but her eyes drooped, and she stifled a yawn. She looked like someone who could use a moment of peace.
"Miss," Zaky said, his voice still raspy from the days spent lying in bed.
The nurse blinked, surprised by the sound. "Yes, dear? Do you need something?"
Zaky hesitated for a moment, then forced a small, awkward smile. "You look tired. I... I don't have much, but would you like me to draw something for you?"
The nurse raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Draw something?"
Zaky nodded. "Yeah. Just something simple, like a little sketch. It's not much, but maybe it'll make you smile?"
The nurse chuckled softly, her eyes crinkling with amusement. "Well, aren't you sweet? Sure, why not? I could use a little cheer."
Zaky grabbed the notebook from the nightstand, flipping it open to a blank page. His hands felt clumsy and stiff from days without use, but he started sketching anyway. The pencil scratched lightly against the paper, and soon the rough outline of a simple drawing took shape—a small cartoon figure with wide, silly eyes, wearing a nurse's hat.
It wasn't perfect, but it was playful and lighthearted, something meant to bring a smile. He added a few more details—a tiny stethoscope, an oversized syringe—and then held it up for the nurse to see.
"Here," he said, handing her the notebook. "It's not much, but it's yours."
The nurse glanced at the drawing, and a warm smile spread across her face. "Well, aren't you talented? Thank you, sweetie. This is adorable."
Zaky felt a small swell of pride in his chest. It wasn't a candy sale, but it was something.
The system's soft chime echoed in his mind, and the glowing mission text flickered, updating with a new message:
[Mission Complete: Identify an Opportunity and Make a Trade.]
[Reward: Basic Understanding of Emotional Value]
Zaky's heart skipped a beat as the new knowledge settled into his mind. He suddenly understood something important—value wasn't just about money or objects. It could also be about the emotions people felt. A small moment of joy, a fleeting smile—those things had value too.
It was an unexpected lesson, but it made sense. Selling dreams wasn't just about physical things—it was about moments, feelings, experiences.
The notification shifted again, and a new mission appeared:
[Mission 3: Offer a Service That Creates Value for Someone.]
Zaky leaned back against the pillows, his mind buzzing with the realization. The system wasn't just teaching him how to make money—it was teaching him how to see the world differently.
Everything around him could be an opportunity. Every interaction, no matter how small, could create value. It was all about recognizing the potential in things that others overlooked.
His heart felt lighter than it had in a long time. The future didn't seem so bleak anymore.
For the first time, he could see a path forward—one step at a time.
As the nurse left the room, still smiling at the sketch, Zaky closed his eyes and let out a slow breath. He was beginning to understand. The road ahead would be long, but that was okay. He didn't need to rush.
The system had given him a new way to think about the world—a new way to dream. And with each mission, he would get closer to his goal.
Selling candy had been the first step. Offering a sketch was the second. There would be more steps, more challenges, but Zaky was ready for them.
Because dreams, he realized, weren't sold all at once. They were sold in small pieces, one step at a time.
And with every step, he was getting closer to the life he wanted.
The glowing mission text hovered softly in the corner of his vision:
[Mission 3: Offer a Service That Creates Value for Someone.]
Zaky smiled to himself, feeling a quiet sense of determination settle in his chest. He was going to make it.
It didn't matter how slow the journey was. As long as he kept moving forward, one step at a time, he would get there.
Because now, he wasn't just selling candies or sketches.
He was selling dreams.