In a Battlefield for Seventy Two Hours

The Acceptance

An ordinary day happened after that, Dreign was overseeing the store as a cashier and helping out the customers who were having trouble finding their needs and wants.

As always, it has always been an unproductive day in the store as the competitor across the streets was bustling with customers.

The moment that store was built, most of his regular customers were charmed by something like voodoo that they instantly lost interest in Dreign’s Grocery Store.

It was not because of reputation, Dreign’s Grocery Store has always been up in quality and standards. How about the management? Well, to be honest, Dreign’s wasn’t good at managing the store, however, it wasn’t enough to fully compromise the economy of his grocery.

Is it because of bad luck? His store collapsing, his health deteriorating. It was like someone cursed him to be miserable.

About his health, his disease, glioblastoma, the tumor attacking his brain is inoperable according to doctors. Even if it is, the cost alone would definitely empty their coffers. Albeit their coffers are already empty.

There’s no other way out of this miserable life he’s into. Dreign is going to be a father soon but he felt guilty about leaving his son a mountain of debt to inherit.

Dreign doesn’t want it.

During his free time, Dreign was researching his condition. Remedy of how to defeat it naturally. But there’s none, most websites are filled with paid false testimonies that will increase the hope of a person who truly has one.

There’s really no getting out of this life other than death.

Wait, there is one! The offer yesterday, a game with prize cash of hundreds of millions of dollars. Life-changing money that could definitely help him and his family.

At that moment, Dreign decided.

…

Later in the evening, Dreign was sitting on his favorite sofa. His hands clasped together as if praying. Tense, as he was about to say something to his wife.

Allie, who just got home, saw Dreign sitting on the sofa.

“Hey? Where did you go?” Dreign asked.

“I took a walk to clear my head,” answered Allie.

Dreign stood up and faced Allie.

“Uhm…Allie, I have something to tell you. An offer was made to me. There's this one company willing to lend us money. So we’re gonna have money coming in, and we’re gonna use it for the most aggressive drugs out there, experimental surgeries, whatever it takes. I did some research and there's a doctor that has developed procedures for them…”

“...Oh my God!”

Allie sobbed and hugged Dreign, stopping his words.

Allie had thought there’s hope for him to live and survive, for him to see his unborn child.

Dreign hugged back and kissed her softly on the cheek. Then he moved his mouth closer to her ears and whispered. “Listen, I’m not ready to let go yet. So I’m gonna fight. I’m gonna fight for all three of us, and I’m not gonna give up.” assured Dreign.

“Are we gonna be okay?”

“...Yeah. Yeah, I promise.”

With a smooch on the cheek again, Dreign decided.

Three hours later, his wife Allie is asleep. Dreign took the opportunity of his time alone in the living room staring at the company card called “Laban Fund.”

He is considering it. If he wants to secure his family financially before he departs this world, he will do whatever it takes.

Dialing the number written on the company card on his phone, Dreign called the “Laban Fund.”

The phone rang, Dreign waited for his call to be picked up.

Seconds later, a voice was heard at the end of the line.

“Hello, Saludo.”

“How’d you know it was me?” Dreign frowned.

“You’re the only person outside my team who has this number. How can I help you?”

Dreign gathered all of his strength inside and said. “I’m in.”

A decision where there’s no turning back.

“Very well, see you at this address tomorrow morning. Don’t be late.”

The call ended and Dreign opened up the message notification.

“Come to Mama Sitas’ Eatery at 6 in the morning, sharp.”

It was a short and direct message. The location was near Dreign’s Grocery Store, two blocks away.

It was already midnight. Dreign returned to his bed where Allie was sleeping and joined her. He set his alarm at 5 a.m and goes to sleep.

…

Six hours later, Dreign arrived at the meeting location. It was a chilly morning and Dreign was shivering from the cold. Even though he already had a jacket on, the morning breeze still penetrated it.

In the eatery, a person wearing a black suit waved his hand at him, getting his attention.

Dreign saw it and approached Mr. Sanchez.

As Dreign arrived at his table, he was beckoned to sit down across from him. Dreign obliged and sat on the chair.

Watching him eat his macaroni soup, Dreign asked Sanchez.

“Sanchez, what is it that we have to meet early in the morning?”

“I’m here to brief you about the game. You want some Sopas?”

“No, I’m good.”

Wiping his mouth, Sanchez began briefing Dreign.

“This game is battle royale. The last man standing will be hailed as a winner and will receive an enormous grand prize of at least one hundred million dollars. Now, our clients want a spectacle. They don’t want the game to be boring to the point they’ll sleep out like it was just a movie. In this game, you’ll be given a choice to select your weapons before the start of the game.”

Sanchez slipped the table on the table towards Dreign.

Dreign picked it up and saw a collection of guns, vehicles, equipment, and even drones.

His eyes widened. “Wait? This set of weapons, why does it feel to me that I’m going to start a war?”

“Because that was the request of our big-time clients. They want a show! A spectacle that wasn’t witnessed in reality. They want the spectacle from the movies to be shown in reality, meaning here in the Philippines. We could’ve chosen a better location such as New York, Tokyo, and Beijing but they arbitrarily chose Manila.”

“So, how am I going to afford this?” Dreign asked.

“It’ll be deducted to your prize once the money flows into your bank account. If you survive a day, you will have an outstanding balance of 24.5 million dollars. So, don’t be shy about choosing your weapons and vehicles. After all, the equipment you’re going to select will be the only thing you can use during the course of the game.”

“What do you mean?”

“I told you before, right? No I.D., no cash, just you and the additional equipment you purchased in our inventory.”

“What if we needed cash?” asked Dreign.

“Hmm, let me be clear. At first, you mustn’t have cash because that’s in the rules but during the duration of the game, if you need cash, you can do all sorts of methods to have one.”

“Methods? Like stealing?”

“Something like that,” Sanchez said equivocally.

“Hmm…this game is really something,” Dreign said and asked. “May I ask about the other players?”

“You can’t.” Sanchez denied. “But don’t expect them to be your ordinary citizens.”

“Understood. So when does the game start?”

“Good, you’re now being keen on this aren’t you?”

“I’m not.”

“So, the game will start on Friday, three days from now. I suggest you choose your weapons wisely as they will be your best friend on the battlefield. Because when that day arrives, the entire Metro Manila will be your battlefield.”

“Wait…won’t the police get dragged into this?”

Based on the collections of advanced weaponry on the table, once the game starts, they’ll use it as a tool to exterminate other players. When they use that, it will get the attention of the local police and might cause disturbance in the game.

“The possibility of that is near 98%. So I suggest that you be careful not to get caught by them or else, it’ll violate the rules.”

“I see. I understand. In three days huh?”

Dreign pondered, this decision of him partaking in this game is bad enough to the point it might cause a public disturbance. However, this is the only way for him to escape the circumstances they’re in or at least to his family before he descends to hell.

Yes, hell. He’ll go there because there’s a possibility of him killing the other players of this game. But if it’s going to save his family, not even hell will stop him.

“In three days, I want you to visit me at the Fishermall, at exactly 10:30 am. I’ll be the one to give you the equipment you ordered from that tablet.”

“Understood.”

“Then, let’s see each other in three days.”