The beginning
1061 Words
『Welcome Player to the World of Game』
『Everything in this world is decided by game』
『Whether you will be able to become the final winner or a loser will be determined by your skill in playing game』
『Let the game begin』
The notifications that pop out in front of me is the beginning of my hellish life. However, to tell the truth, my difficult life started a long time ago before I saw those floating notifications. Back when I am seventeen years old.
I grew up in poverty, and I believe life couldn’t get worse. Gambling addict and alcoholic father, drug-dependent mother, an abusive, violent brother. My only solace is my little sister. She is my ray of sunshine in the darkness. No matter how hard my brother punched me, I made sure to protect my little sister.
Whenever my father cursed out loud, and all kinds of profanities came out, I used both of my hands to cover her ears so she would remain pure. Whenever my mother hallucinated because of drugs, I played hide and seek with my sister so she wouldn’t see that.
That kind of life continued until I entered high school. I will hold on to this harsh reality, at least one more year until I am eighteen years old and be considered old enough to get a job. I will then find a job, rent a place, and bring my little sister out of the nightmare.
How naïve I am to think that the world could be a better place once I have a dream. Before I even had my eighteenth birthday, life decided to send me another punch in the face.
“I am sorry to tell this to you. Your little sister is suffering from a genetic disease. The best treatment that she could take right now is to take a drug called Zolgensma. However, it is costly.”
“Doctor, please save my sister. No matter how expensive it is, I will pay for it.”
“Listen, I am not saying this because I look down on you. I am saying this to make you face reality. The treatment for Zolgensma cost around $2.1million for five years, and that’s only the cost of the medicine. If you include the treatment and hospital cost, it will be more than $3.5million at least. I already looked at your family background, and I believe this isn’t something your family could afford. It is better to take your sister back home and let her spend the remaining time peacefully.”
“No, doctor, please treat my sister. I will pay for it.”
“Sorry. No matter how much I want to trust you, the hospital won’t allow it. At least treat your sister better for the remaining time.”
“No! I don’t believe you! You’re a quack doctor! Why do you say that my sister can’t be cured unless she takes that expensive medicine? You just don’t want to treat her!”
“Security! Help!”
Not long after, my body is detained by the hospital’s security as I throw a tantrum at the doctor’s office. In the end, I managed to scratch his face twice and leave a cat-claw like scar.
However, that was the best that I could do. I also have to give my thanks to the hospital for not stopping my sister’s treatment. As for the rest of my family, none of them cared nor showed up even once since my sister was admitted one month ago.
My sister sickness has something to do with spinal muscular atrophy. At first, I didn’t notice it. I should have realized it when I saw her dropping things from her hand. Not long after, she keeps on stumbling even though nothing is blocking her path. Until one month ago, she couldn’t walk anymore, and she could barely lift her hand.
I looked at her sleeping face, and I could only imagine how much pain she must experience. Slowly losing control of her body. If she didn’t get the Zolgensma, she may still live as a disabled person, stayed on top of the sickbed for the remaining of her life.
“F*ck this! How can I gather the money for the treatment?”
I cursed, screamed, kicked the trash can, yet nothing helped me get out of my current predicament.
“God, do you think my life isn’t horrible enough for you to do this to my sister? I know that I didn’t go to church every Sunday or pray every night. But, I believe I didn’t deserve this kind of sh*t!”
As I pulled my hair in frustration, I saw someone that would change my life forever. A dandy man dressed in a suit and carrying a suitcase.
“Boy, it seemed that you are in need of money.”
“Uncle, what’s the point of you asking that? Not like you could help me.”
“Oh, who said that I couldn’t help you?”
Hearing the man’s reply, I am like a man on my last straw, trying to cling to anything that could give me hope.
“Really? You could help me?”
“Maybe. Tell me, how much money do you need?”
It never crossed my mind that the man was only joking with me. I started to count inside my head, and a number pops out.
“$5million. Can you give it to me?”
“I can give it to you. But, what can you give to me in return?”
“Anything, I can give you anything as long as you give me the money.”
Hearing my answer, the man smiled. The kind of smile that isn’t friendly at all but entirely full of malicious intent. Yet, I could care less about it. As long as I get the money to treat my little sister, I don’t care about anything that could happen to me.
“You said it yourself. Here, read this paper and sign over here when you’ve made your mind.”
As if the man had prepared it beforehand, I read through the paper.
「By signing this paper, WIC will immediately give $5,000,000 to Ryker. In return for the money, Ryker has to come to the WIC building tomorrow.」
- Writer
