For as long as I’ve lived I could never keep myself grounded in the now. I was always so scattered-minded, always in the past or future yet never in between. 

Finding myself a way or reason to ignore my current problems through those lenses, like at times I overstay my place at work to do more than expected of me, or sacrifice my time for studies and even frighten myself with of living my past— in poverty— if I even as slightly deviate or slack on my current doings. 

The concept of delayed gratification remains one of my main virtues, by exchanging my present time so that my future self would have it easier, it became my coping mechanism against the macabre of life.

Especially now… as the state of this place limbos between perpetual distraction and new-found reality; either possibility frightening me to my core. After all, I risked everything I gave in my past to live out my successful future. 

; OBJECTIVE: TUTORIAL — COMPLETE ;  

; GOAL; LIBERATION — Locate the way back… if possible ;  

Shortly after, someone’s hand nudged my shoulder, snapping me awake… for the uncountable times, my head swirled seeing the first glimpses of vivid red lights flooding my view, but it soon formed a singular image. 

A worn metal helm, with a singular horizontal slit in the middle, the shadow-clad figure hunches over with his white sleeves right by my shoulder.      

“‘Oy ‘oy! Did you hit your head on the ground too hard?” He remarks with a tone of concern and annoyance. His voice, unfiltered by the helm visualized a man roughly my age in my mind.   

Soon after this, my limp hands jumped from the concrete floor as I shoved myself up against the wall, “Gah!” I yell while I frenzy my hands, holding on to whatever I can put between me and him.   

“Sorry, I was just checking, you seem better now.” He says crossed arms, while he prompts his back on something undisguisable close to me, besides the fact that it was embedded on the ground. 

After scrubbing my weary eyes, I picture the guy better, broad shoulders— prim and proper— slacks, long sleeves, and grey vest; a student of some kind? 

I scoff at his claim, feigning my status, which conveniently conveyed at 60 HP on the top right of my vision. I wipe my mouth, with a returning gaze of defiance. “What for? I’m fine as always—” 

As I stood, a shock coursed throughout my body, coming from the core. I stammer my words and stumble my way back to the floor. 

Cupping the source, a sting on my stomach. My eyes flutter, before sliding to wide-eyed panic.  A laser-like cut etched on my exposed abdomen, branding a terrible scar that burned even now. My eyes tear up, while gritting my teeth.

“Agh! What the hell!” I yell in anguish, giving him a deep-rooted glare. 

He leaned forward, breaking off his hunch, and hurried towards me, replying “‘Oy!” He pauses, responding to the hostility with his wimpy head lowering.

“Sorry that had to happen, my words weren’t getting through you.” He apologizes, vaguely wording his remark. I lessen my glare dulls as I grew more confused than anything, my eyes flutter  

“What does that mean?” I ask with a tone of consideration. 

He strokes the ridge of his chin while his head turned to the side, “I had mistaken you for something else.” he says, I retort— without consideration this time—   “Just get it straight you—” He stomps his foot,  “Shut up! I didn’t think you were a person.” He explains, leaving me blank-faced. 

I adjusted myself from kneeling on the ground to take a more comfortable sit, as a tuned in to hear his reasons.  

He shook his head, now his gaze directed towards the pit of his hand. “After killing those sentinels, I didn’t think I’d see another survivor, and when I did…” His gaze would slowly hit mine— blinding red lights— and kneel in front of me.  

“you weren’t exactly in your right mind.” He scoffs before turning his back and walking away.
I frown, displeased with his remarks. Though as I recall more about what happened after the ranged sentinel was sliced— taken care of— I just faded away and I didn’t know anything past that.

Even so, this didn’t justify him leaving this bruise or his dismissive behavior.   

“Huh? That’s a bit harsh don’t you think?” I remarked, biting my hand as I recalled the light of my exit.  

Not that he understood how frustrated I was, having to go through this grand fantasy while the real world slowly left me behind— burying me into deeper obscurity— in my absence.    

“I know, which is why I took it upon myself to watch over you until you got better.” He explains while approaching the thing he had his back on from before. 

His words, failing to explain more only got on my nerves. If it was so against you to help me, then why bother in the first place? If not for a different reason… 

The “thing” embedded on the ground turned out to be his weapon, as he clutched the handle grip protruding on the top with both hands. He pulls the unsuspecting chunk of metal off the ground and onto his back. Resembling more of a pillar than an actual weapon, the sword would liven up with red lights on its sole edge.    

I found my gaze stricken— wide-eyed— dumbfounded by such a sight; of how he easily wielded the weapon. It was more of a miracle that I was left with only a cut, not slashed in two when looking at it.  

“Tsk, so that must be the thing that made this incision—” I scoff, suppressing my inner thoughts of it, though he didn’t seem to care as he continued to walk out of the room regardless of my condition.      

“Hey, where are you going?” I call him out, he doesn’t respond. 

Using most of my regained strength, I pull myself up on two feet, dust myself off, and chase after him. Leading me down a decrepit, unmaintained hallway, wires dangling from the ceiling, potted plants, rugs, and all sorts of ornaments washed through the ground as a storm of sorts ran through the place. 

He paused at the end standing before the staircase, grasping his hand on the wooden railings. He gives me the corner of his eyes. 

“Where are you going?” I shout down the hall, repeating my words, he turns to the stairs and lifts his foot a step. This time, he answers “That doesn’t concern you, ask yourself that before you do me.” he remarks before continuing up.
I chase after him, setting aside my recovering injury, with each step lessening the pain I had to endure.

“You’re not escaping too?” I yell while ascending the stairs, with each shaky step tightening my grip on the railing. I only now realize just how many floors up we were, being at least in the double digits. 

He did stop in his tracks letting me catch up, however, I couldn’t get a read on his possible reactions to my words.

But I was confident, He had to understand, he’s seen what I have. There is no way any of this is real, none of it. This pseudo-video game and all the meaningless distractions it had with it.        

I consolidated my beliefs —maintaining as firm of a posture as I could—  and sighed “You know, this world, it’s all a dream! We have to wake up and get back to our real lives.” I explain with lit fires in my eyes. 

He stares back, meeting my eyes with his blinding red rays— in pause— deep in thought. I look back with a stupid grin while I await his answer.  

What’s taking him so long? This was clear the moment we received our “tutorials” yet… through his helm, I saw a look of bemusement— the eyes of something who’d just talked to someone who went mad— But, wouldn’t that mean—
He crosses his arms, unamused at my elaboration, “A dream? Maybe you really have lost your mind. That gash on your abdomen is no dream, and neither me nor you are asleep. ” He scoffs, while his hand moves up to rub his shoulder, showing not a tinge of support for me whatsoever.

I flutter my eyes, gripping his shoulders tight, pulling him up against me.

“You don’t believe the protocols, the sentient mechs, and all this overgrowth are real, do you?” I assert with a demanding whisper. He goes quiet, letting a simple yet terrifying silence imply all the things I fear.  

My eyes sharpened and shoved myself, almost breathing down his neck “You’re wrong… No! This is all wrong, My old life— all my hard work and path to success, I can still get it back!” I yell defiantly.   

In a state of absolute denial, for if all the work I’ve struggled with for years on end just amounts to nothing, then— I’ll lose the only meaning in my life, a death to both mind and spirit.— I might as well be dead in every part that mattered.   

He tugs himself up a step, placing distance but keeping my hold on him. “Hmph, whoever you used to be doesn’t matter right now so better let go of me!” He retorts, pulling my hands off of him.
With water building on the ridge of my eyes, I yell “You!” My voice cracks “Your words, take them back— right now!” I demanded with my fist clenching. 

“I repeat, whoever you were doesn’t matter anymore—” He states, while I swing my open hand on his helm, only for him to catch me by the wrist, and lift me mid-air and up to his eye level a couple of steps up.  

“As I see it, the only one who needs to wake up to reality here is you.” He mutters scornfully, before pulling me upstairs with a surprising degree of heedfulness. 

But I couldn’t care about that, 

I struggled his hand off of mine, “Ngh! Get your hand off me!” to no avail. He maintains a stern oppressive shroud between us. He seemed to know something deep— beyond words— and didn’t bother speaking. Whatever it was that awaited me was more to see than be told.   

We reach the enclosed indoors of the rooftop, a small route between the heavy-duty doors and the stairs, and much like everything else I’ve seen, it was run-down—a recurring theme— like decades have passed. 

He pushes the doors open without a second’s thought, showing me at large what world I found myself in… 

The soft clicks of the door hinges preceding our exit, letting morning sunlight enter the inside before we exited completely. A breeze of unnaturally clean winds came our way, with the sight before me leaving me he’d let go of my wrist and I would run as fast as I could to the very edge. 

It was neither an imitation nor fantasy, it was as real as it could be. 

The cityscapes of my home… abandoned and deserted. Overrun with vines and all sorts of vegetation, while some with holes and broken parts.

Along the horizon, sights of familiar buildings like the church, the plaza, and the roads in exact form as I remember them in. Skyscrapers and barong-barongs along the riverside alike without a single person, even the street— overrun with traffic— without even as minor as a motorcycle left on the street. 

This building we stood on, I remember, was the highest building in the city, and looking just below was— my then office— I turned towards the man, standing somberly on the center of the rooftop. I looked in horror as the absence of even bugs was apparent.

“W-where’s everyone and what happened here?” I questioned as my vision got cloudy, there was no escaping this, was there?    

On the contrary, watching— unbeknownst to me at the time— the last rays of the sun preyed upon by gathered storm clouds. He sighed, beckoning for me to take cover as the first drops of rain fell from the sky.  

“I’ve asked that question too many times myself…” he sighs “All I recall was a category five super typhoon crashed into the city—” I fell on my knees, while the rain pours slowly strengthened.  

“BULLSHIT!” I yelled, the place was virtually untouched, as fine as I’d left it… yet, could a storm do all of this?

My final remaining hope is rampant by the now restless downpour, like a repeat it was all deja vu. 

For two long years, I’ve lived like an automaton, avoiding indulging in my life and all forms of enjoyment, because I knew that once I’m successful— without worries— could I start living my life and experience that happiness derived from something earned, unlike the meaningless joy people find in distractions and delusions.

I wasn’t about to lose it all now, not when I’d just started.  

Tap tap tap

His black shoes trail along the rain, closing the distance between us. “You could put it like that— but that tells me this isn’t natural whatsoever.” He explains, looking far off in the horizon.

After wiping my eyes and fixing my glasses in place, I eye the now static-like skies, which seemed to be not only pan above us but around us also. 

With fluttered eyes, I turned around and saw the clouds envelop us, resembling perimeters…     

He comments, “This cylindrical storm surrounds us and it’s not moving either…” 

As I grasped for air, tears mixed with rain, 

My chest tightened by the second, A petrifying numbness to my knees and legs locked me in place, while I gasped for air. 

But just as my emotions were getting the better of me, that fire in my heart remained— that willsome beat plays on— even against the brashness of the rain.  

My time wasn’t for waste, and neither should my present.

“I don’t believe you— I don’t believe any of this,” I mutter while biting down on my hand, kneeling on one knee with my eyes laser-focused on his.  

As the storm ate up the final rays of the sun, so did I eat up the remains of his patience as he rushed to me, pulling me by the shoulders and lifting me off my feet.  

“As if that changes anything, you being right won’t help our situation—” He argues, while firmly locking me in place. 

I cross my arms, unshaken, with narrowed eyes I   “Yes, it does! I can bring everyone back!” I sighed cleching my hand. 

He shakes his head, understanding yet refusing to accept. “Just listen, I’m only trying to help—” 

PUNCH
In a blink a fist lands right on his neck, sending him a couple of steps back, freeing me from his hold. I carefully adjust myself towards the rooftop doors, lending myself an escape route if he’d retaliate.   

“Don’t you dare put responsibility on me for refusing your help, not when I didn’t ask for it!” I yelled,   

He coughed, grasping his larynx while he audibly breathed for air. 

No matter how invulnerable he seemed behind that helm, It was a nice reminder to see him being human once in a while, even if that meant being in pain. But I wasn’t finished just yet, “Just what is it you’re trying to prove? That everyone is gone, is that it?!” 

He snaps his vision, having triggered something past his humming metal helm. I raised my arms, bracing for the worst.    

He scratches his hair, sighing “Tch, alright… if you insist on believing that… then I won’t change your mind.” He seemingly concedes— just like that— I couldn’t deny that I felt relieved that it finally got through that thick skull of his…

“We’re not obligated to stick to each other, leave me— we’re better off on our own anyway” I suggest, though he dismisses this with a gesture. 

“You won’t make it. Not for someone who got overwhelmed by only two sentinels.” He says, “I’m going with you, whether you want to or not.”