'Burnt toast. Again.' I thought as I took out a burnt toast yet again.
The smell hung in the air of my tiny apartment as I stared at the blackened slice in disappointment. I'd meant to keep an eye on it this time, I really had, but somewhere between the loading screen of my game, I'd forgotten.
With a sigh, I tossed the ruined toast onto the counter and reached for another slice of bread. Maybe I wasn't cut out for the whole "living alone" thing.
Eighteen and independent sounded great in theory and in just thinking, but in reality? It mostly looked like eating toast three times a day and wondering if I should finally vacuum the floor. Spoiler: I never vacuumed.
But that is just me, for like everyone is different and I'm no different from that term.
While the new slice was toasted, I leaned against the counter and read some novels online. It was about a man who finds a magical sword and is suddenly thrust into a war to save a kingdom. Classic stuff.
But I loved it.
There was something comforting about these stories, about seeing someone so ordinary become the hero.
I guess it's what I wanted for myself, something bigger than this small apartment, my part-time job, and simply spent night gaming.
No. I take that back. I love playing games. It could be the only thing that makes most people live their life.
The toaster dinged, snapping me out of my thoughts. This time, the toast came out edible.
Progress. I slathered some jam on it and carried the plate over to the couch, setting it down next to my controller.
The game loaded up, and I picked up where I'd left off. My rogue character crouched low, twin daggers glinting as he snuck through a dragon's lair.
It was the kind of mission that got my heart racing, high stakes, no room for mistakes. I played him carefully past traps and patrolling enemies, my fingers flying over the controller like some god damn pro.
When I finally reached the dragon's treasure hoard, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
Gold coins sparkled on the screen, a tempting reward just within reach. But as soon as I moved forward, the dragon woke.
Its roar shook the virtual ground, and I barely dodged its first blast of fire. My heart pounded as I weaved around its attacks, striking at its weak points whenever I could.
After what felt like an hour, the dragon collapsed, its massive body crumpling in defeat. Victory music played, and a victory grin spread across my face. Moments like these made all the grinding and frustration worth it.
I got experience points, gold coins, items and some other extra items.
Money? Huh! If it was just real that is.
I tossed the controller onto the couch and leaned back, letting out a satisfied sigh. Outside, the sun was starting to set, the light filtering through my curtains in warm, golden beams.
"Not bad, Alex," I said to myself. Talking to myself has become a habit lately. It made the apartment feel less empty.
The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. Too much time, maybe. As I sat there, nibbling on my toast, my mind wandered.
What if I wasn't just in a normal world, the eighteen-year-old who worked at an electronics store and barely remembered to pay his bills on time?
What if I were Alex, the rogue? Or Alex, the chosen one with a magical weapon, saving the world from evil?
I shook my head, laughing softly. Daydreams like that were fine for books and games, but they didn't happen in real life. Real life was rent, burnt toast, and hoping the next shift at work wasn't too busy.
Still, I couldn't help but wonder.
The sky outside had turned a deep shade of orange like by the time I powered off the game.
My stomach growled, and I realized I'd forgotten to eat anything other than toast and some noodles all day. Again.
I made a mental note to actually go grocery shopping tomorrow. Maybe buy something healthy for a change. Not that I'd cook it, but the thought counted, right?
I wandered over to the window, looking out at the sky, birds chirping in the evening. Cars honked faintly in the distance, and somewhere, a siren wailed. It wasn't much, but it was my world. Small, messy, and painfully ordinary.
But standing there, watching the lights twinkle like stars, I felt it again, that quiet ache for something more. Something bigger than this apartment, bigger than the routine I'd fallen into.
Maybe one day.
….
First thing first, I don't just play games all day, today was sunday. So, I had time to play in the morning and just relax.
The city lights glimmered faintly outside my apartment window, casting soft reflections on the glass as I sat in the dim glow of my computer screen.
Night time was my favorite part of the day, I'm a very big fan of adult games. For single people like myself, playing 18+ games is plenty fulfilling and to fantasise about it.
I mean there are maybe some people or most who don't play adult games. For me I have play many games, fantasy one, otome type setting game, straight to point one, and stories one too.
Though you can't stream adult games online because of apps policy otherwise, adult games would have taken some top spots in game, and maybe some game company would make a better game and not just a clichè type one.
These adult, 18+ games weren't something I talked about with anyone. They were personal, a quiet indulgence for nights when I just wanted to let my mind wander into something more… intimate.
I leaned back in my chair, stretching my arms over my head as the game loaded. The room was silent except for the soft hum of the computer and keyboards clicking sounds.
Today I was downloading another new game after researching for some time. Yes, you need to research a bit and read some reviews before wasting some internet and game space for the game.
And here I saw an 'Ad' of a new VR, but what was surprising wasn't a VR but the price that it was on, for just a second I thought of it as a click bait for something else.
But I clicked on it by mistake as it opened on a very trusted online store. Now that was what caught my attention.
~NextGen NeuroLink VR HoloGear 4 - Limited Sale!~ (1/1 left!)
He squinted at the description.
~Immerse Yourself in a New Reality - Only $99.99! With a coupon code (Normal Price: $999.99)~
Hundred bucks for a state-of-the-art VR headset? Alex shook his head, laughing to himself.
"Yeah, right. What's the catch?" I muttered, scrolling down.
The product description boasted cutting-edge wireless tech, advanced immersion, and compatibility with both entertainment and gaming systems. It sounded legit, almost too legit.
But then again, it was listed on OmniStore, a global e-commerce platform known for its rigid quality checks. Surely, they wouldn't allow a scam to slip through, right?
His finger hovered over the scroll wheel. Beneath the price was a bold disclaimer:
~Warning: One time Offer only. Coupon code: FirstOne99999~
(Note: Experience VR like never Before, 100% Refund Guarantee.)
I really wanted this, because the one in the picture was a virtual reality gaming headset, like those in Novels and Anime.
Yes it looks exactly like that.
——
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