[DO YOU WANT TO PLAY A GAME?]
→ [YES] [NO (Selected)]
Sigh…
'How many times has it been?'
Jan Wylde glared at the floating notification in front of him. This same window had been popping up since he woke up, and no matter how many times he pressed [No], it just kept coming back.
Most people would've given in by now—curiosity always wins eventually. But Jan…
He had zero interest in games.
Back when he was a toddler, his mother's greatest wish was for him to take her phone like any other child and give her five minutes of peace. But, unlike other kids, he wasn't drawn to flashy screens or noisy speakers.
Books, though? Books were different.
From the moment he could comprehend stories, he was hooked. He would press a book into anyone's hands—his mom, his dad, even his kindergarten teacher—insisting they read to him.
It wasn't long, however, before his mother dozed off reading him his fourth story of the night, and he simply kept going on his own, recognizing the words he had seen so many times before.
That day, the day he learned to read on his own, was both a blessing and a curse for everyone around him: from that day on, he stopped talking to people altogether.
Hours, days, even weeks would go by with Jan buried in books, lost in them instead of reality. His parents tried pushing him into social activities, sports, hobbies—he was naturally good at everything they threw at him, but that never mattered to him: nothing compared to reading.
And here it was again, another pointless interruption, trying to drag him away from the one thing he loved.
[DO YOU WANT TO PLAY A GAME?]
→ [YES] [NO (Selected)]
'I said no.'
Jan sighed and glanced at the clock at the back of the classroom.
'Just a few more seconds…'
RING!!!
The school bell finally rang. Students jumped up from their seats, cheering at the end of the semester.
Jan let out a quiet breath. Finally—freedom.
While gathering his things, a few voices caught his ears.
"The park!"
"No, the movies!"
"Yeah! I wanna watch Sinners!"
A girl perked up, sneaking a glance his way.
"Hey, we should invite Jan!"
Her friend scoffed.
"Seriously? He's just gonna say no. Like always."
"Freakin' bookworm."
"Albert Janstein."
The classroom burst into laughter.
Overhearing every word, Jan smirked to himself as he walked out.
'Huh, was that supposed to be an insult? I would be flattered to be called that!'
At the school gates, two familiar figures waved him over.
"Hey, Jan!"
"Hey, guys," Jan greeted them.
"Heading home?"
"Nah. Library," he replied.
Alex and Jordan groaned.
"We're heading downtown. We'll walk you there," Jordan said.
Jan nodded.
The three had been friends since they were kids, even if "play time" mostly meant them gaming while Jan sat nearby with a book. Somehow however, they remained close despite their differences.
"Hey, why don't you come with us for once?" Alex asked.
"Maybe another time."
"Here we go again! Dude, you always say that, but you never actually do it!"
"It's kinda sad, man. When's the last time you did anything fun?"
Jan raised an eyebrow. "I do have fun. When I read a good book."
Alex groaned. "I mean real fun!"
"Like what? Watching streamers make fools of themselves for hours?"
It went on and on, their weekly argument—games, socializing, hobbies, girls. Even his mom nagged him about it.
Just a week ago, she had suggested that he should start streaming, like her friend's daughter. She thought he could make millions!
Jan was as shocked as ever by how far off her suggestion was. It was as if she didn't even know him. He hadn't even owned a smartphone until recently—what could he possibly know about gaming, let alone streaming?
"Fine. I'll do it, I'll come with you downtown" Jan suddenly said.
Alex blinked. "Wait, really?"
Jordan gasped. "Whoa, you actually convinced him, man!"
"But—"
"Here we go..."
"—tomorrow."
Jordan groaned. "Duuude!"
"I mean it. Tomorrow, for real!" Jan sounded reassuringly more invested than usual.
Alex sighed dramatically. "Fine. This is a huge step, so I'll accept it."
They stopped at a street corner. Across the road stood the familiar building of the library.
Alex smirked. "Have fun reading."
"I always do."
"See ya, man."
Jan waved as they walked off, then muttered under his breath, "Did I just agree to that …?"
He then shook his head.
"I'll keep my word. They've earned it. Besides, anything's better than school!"
Jan hated school.
He hated how pointless it felt.
Sitting through hours of lessons, hearing teachers repeat the same concepts he had already grasped in five minutes on his own... from his trusty books.
It was endless. Even after high school, he wasn't going to be free—his parents had insisted on college.
But deep down, Jan knew. It wasn't just school:
It was this world.
A world that expected everyone to follow the same cycle:
Study → Work → Earn → Pay someone else → Get a fraction back → Eventually rot in a hole.
'Is this really all there is? Just another copy-paste life?'
Jan sighed, stuffing his hands into his pockets by the library entrance.
'If only I could find a chance to make a change…'
[DO YOU WANT TO PLAY A GAME?]
→ [YES] [NO]
Jan blinked.
"You again?"
He looked around again. No screen, no projector, no strange gadgets. What the hell was going on?!
The window hovered, following his every move.
Jan rolled his eyes. "Fine. Whatever."
He tapped [No], and the window vanished—only to be replaced with a new one.
[ARE YOU SURE?]
→ [YES] [NO]
Jan frowned. "Annoying little—"
He jabbed [YES].
Another window appeared.
[DO YOU WANT TO PLAY A GAME?]
→ [YES] [NO]
Jan's eye twitched. "I said NO!"
[ARE YOU SURE!!!!]
→ [YES] [NO]
Jan slammed the [YES] button.
Then—
A final message appeared.
[ARE YOU REALLY SURE YOU WANT TO QUIT?]
[THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST CHANCE.]
→ [YES] [NO]
Jan raised an eyebrow. "My last chance? Sacré bleu! How could I live on without you?"
Almost gleefully, he reached in to tap: [YES].
Just as his finger brushed the button… the screen flickered.
The message had changed.
[DO YOU WANT TO PLAY A GAME?]
→ [YES] [NO]
Jan's eyes widened.
His finger was already tapping [Yes].
"Wait—what—"
But it was too late.
The world turned white.
[WELCOME TO DIMENSIONS.]