As I touch my new embossed tattoo, my eyes are still teary. After the shackles loosened and the pain in my neck was completely gone. I saw others sweating, bewildered, and stunned too. Their memories came back as well. Moments later, we heard Author's voice. We are out of the glass tube.
"The battle 12, for your next game, the Health Level: Stage 1, you will be playing as a pair:
First (1st) and Second (2nd)
Third (3rd) and Fourth (4th)
Fifth (5th) and Aeizen (18th)
Thirtwen (23rd) and Aeith (8th)
Ninth (9th) and Sixzen (16th)
Ninezen (19th) and Sectwen (22nd)"
I am paired with my classmate, First. Not all of us are partnered with our original pair and classmate because some did not make it to this stage.
"The next game is a virtual reality game. As a pair, you will play as one. One will be the player - the one who controls the character who is inside the game. And of course, the other one is the character itself who will be transformed into the real settings of the game."
I gasped. Another game I'm not familiar with but from the sound of it, this will be another challenging one.
"The reason all of you entered the capsule before the virtual reality player and character selection, is to give a gist how it will feel like to be the character lying inside the capsule. You will communicate with your partner while inside your room to decide who's who. Two minutes will be given... Now!"
I turned to my right where First was because our glass room was just next door. I would have approached him but there was a cubicle made of glass separating us.
I stood up and went near him. "F-First. What are we going to do?" My palms stick to the glass as I call out to him.
There was a trace of concern in his eyes. "Are you alright?" Even with glass between us, I heard what he said.
"Yeah, I'm fine. You don't have to worry...What are we going to do?" This time, I really depend on him because I'm clueless about what's happening. I want to take my time recovering my memories, but we need to play right away.
He was silent for a moment. "Okay, you'll control me, so I'll be the character inside the game."
"Huh? Does that mean we're going to play a real game?"
I didn't quite understand what Author mentioned earlier because I was still agitated with my memories and how to separate this matter from the game that we have to play next.
"I think that's what it means. One will be the controller outside of the game and one will be the puppet in the game. A virtual reality, that is."
"If it's really a game between partners, shouldn't we take it seriously?" Now, I'm asking nonsensical questions. But I want to hear him answer to clarify and ease my mind.
"All levels and stages that we play must be taken seriously because this game is no child's play." What he quoted made me reflect for a minute. All games here should be taken seriously.
"Are you sure about what you said?"
"It is a better choice for you."
For me. Just for me? We should both benefit from our decision.
"No, First," I disagree with him. "You should be the one who will control me because you know more than I do. And I'm going to be your follower."
"That can't be!" I am startled by his reaction. He was still calm before but instantly his eyebrows came closer.
"But-" He cut me off.
"I'm being serious here, Second. I regret it about a thousand times for not protecting you." He sounds too serious.
What? Is this what concerns him? He is worried too much about me.
"This game is not like it used to be a group. Now it's just the two of us and… There's a chance that they will be our enemies." This is no longer a team-based game. It lowered the number and will go into pairs. There's a high possibility that since we'll be playing as pairs, First and I will fight against them.
"Not that I care if I'll be in trouble. I'll see to it that there'll be no harm coming to you."
"Think hard, First. There's little to no chance we'll win if you're not the player. Besides, I don't know anything about games. I don't want you to lose because of me, because..." I paused for a bit. "I can see in your eyes that you're willing to win till the end. " I averted my eyes for a moment because of what I said at the end.
"Well…"
"You said it yourself that this is not a joke game. If you are the player and I am the character, we have a chance to win, and I am sure that no harm will come to me if it's you." I replied to assure him that this will be a better decision.
"I-I won't let you... I already told you. Why are you being so defiant?" he insisted. This might be the first time that we argued.
I smiled at him sparingly. "I trust you, First."
"Second"
"First, please."
We were both silent. I could not see his face or expression when he turned his back.
"Time's up! Now, for the game players, please proceed to the control room while the characters will remain."
I noticed that First is looking at me so I looked at him. He was already out of his room.
I secretly smiled. Others have also left. They went straight and entered the said control room. Before he could finally enter, First approached me. He pressed his palms to my glass room and stared at me. I also pressed my palms, so our palms met with a glass in between.
"Good luck," I mouthed with no voice coming out of my mouth.
He was speechless. He glued his forehead to the glass, so I glued mine too. I noticed that he had raised his head so that his forehead was no longer touching the glass. I lifted my forehead as well. I would have smiled at him and said goodbye, but my gaze was fixed on his blinking eyes.
He stood up straight. My eyes blinked immediately when he mouthed something. I was distracted when he said something, but I couldn't hear him. 'Please… come… back… safe'. Please come back safe. He then gave me a reassuring smile. When he turned his back on me and before finally entering the control room, I saw the letter L on his nape— probably the first letter of his real name. Just like mine, I have the letter H.