I came back to reality and sat down. Fourth sat on the floor, looking anxious. I don't know how to approach her because we're all in the same state. Aeizen is calm and expressionless. Aeith bites her fingernails on her right thumb. Sixzen walks back and forth and looks uneasy. Sectwen is glaring into nothingness while standing. I am standing and looking around—taking advantage of this opportunity because it could be my last day on the nth planet. All girls remained, so all boys are the controllers. They made the same decision as ours.
It appears that all pairs have the same decision. This tri-games are draining all of us, not just physically but mentally and emotionally. The truth is, I don't want to play anymore. I don't want to fight anyone anymore, especially since my friends have a high chance of being our opponents this time. It's exhausting. But what can I do? What should we do?
"As for our players..." Author is already there. "Kindly sit down."
We followed what it said. No one dared to ask questions because we all looked stupefied. I sat down on the chair and then it transformed again, the same as what happened earlier. Something hit my face again like a helmet. The backrest moved backward so I was barely lying down. My hands and feet were tied. Once again, I'm feeling nervous.
"Teleportation process ... 25%... 46%... 58%..."
The robot voice again speaks. I have also seen images move spontaneously in holograms even when no one is touching them. I saw an image of a place. I don't quite know because it's not fully colored. I just stared at these.
W-Wait, did the robot mention 'teleportation'? How?! We're going somewhere but no one knows where, how, and why.
"67%... 84%... 91%... 100% complete."
After a few countdowns, this was the last thing the robot voiced. "Game release!"
The inside of the glass tube released white smoke again. I tried to calm myself. I need to be firm. I don't know what will happen, but I know for myself that I and First can do this, we all can do this!
"I shouldn't have considered talking to you when in the very moment I opened my mouth, I didn't catch your slightest attention."
NINEZEN'S / TRAKE LO VEGA'S POV
Level 2 stage 1. Virtual game. Give me a break! It turns out that we have been controlled for a long time by that creepy hologram. We have been fooled for a long period, but you know what's worse? There's nothing that can be done about it. Since we entered this glass, my neck was tied and hurt. For some inexplicable reason... my memories came back.
The name's Trake Lo Vega. I attend the private school of Galliot International School. Not to brag, but aside from being quite famous and rich, I have looks and talent—if you'll believe me, that is haha! I have a lot of friends because I get to get along with almost everyone with my extrovert and loud attitude. I have two siblings. A sister and a brother. I am the second in the order. Others think I have it all. That's all they know about me. They don't know that I'm also lacking—lacking the love and attention of my parents.
Do you know how lonesome it is to have no one to talk with? The pain that you only talk to yourself. The pain of no one listening to you. The loneliness that only you are your ally.
My parents were not always at home and my siblings were abroad. I only sympathize with maids and gadgets. When they come home—which is thrice a year, they are tired and don't listen to a single thing I say. I became stubborn brat just to get their attention. I've been called out by our principal more times than I can count on my hands, but I still fail to get what I want. I always get myself in trouble, but those troublesome moments have become my company instead of my family.
My big sis is being trained abroad and pursuing business studies to handle our family's fortune soon. My lil bro is a spectacular prodigy for his age, and my parents decided that he will leave soon for abroad too. I always get compared to the two of them. I can't even be a role model to my lil bro. I can't even surpass him, not even to his level. What a joke my mother bore being her second child. No wonder I'm a big disappointment to my family's name. I can't even carry and represent it well.
I rethink my choices and become an honor student. That time I was too confident that they'll finally recognize me for the first time. Another failed operation, hahaha! No one attended the honor ceremony for me. I shouldn't have considered talking to you when the very moment I opened my mouth, I didn't catch your slightest attention. I was too angry, I threw my medal from my bedroom window. That effort might be worthless to some, but I earned it well. Yes, I have a lot of friends, but I cannot open them my personal problems because I am what you call the class clown. I make people happy, but no one keeps me happy. They only accompany me for making them laugh or for my money or both.
Let's just say my problem is very common. I ridicule those characters in shows and books that he/she lacks familial love. I never thought I would be the heroine of my own story about a young man that thirsts for his family. I am distant from my parents and the same with my siblings.
The creepy hologram says this is a game of public schools vs. private schools. And because of level 1, only public schools won. Maybe it measures which is more stable— the so-called unfortunates of wealth or the fortunately rich. This has become one of my reasons to fight. I used to think money would give me everything, yet I can't even have the simplest things others may think. I smile and laugh to hide my real feelings. And it's ridiculously effective! One should try it from time to time. I will prove that the Lo Vega does not lose. That's the only thing I learned from our family being competent at the business when it comes to money. And that's also the thing I'll hold on to until death.
The game is divided into three: wealth, health, stealth, and the infamous tri-prize—the money, life, and time. If I win the game, we will be even richer. My parents don't have to work their asses off because we will be wealthier. They can have their early retirement and will have time to take care of us. If my parents are sick, they will be cured right away with the life prize. They will have a long, healthy life to look out for us. If we lack time, I could simply turn back time to whatever time I wanted—to the time when I can finally spend time with my whole family. If I win this, they can now turn their complete attention to me. My longing for the warm love of a complete family will be fulfilled… if I win this game.