Time slipped away like a fleeting dream, and a week had whisked by before he knew it.
Xin's therapy had made steady progress, evident in his newfound ability to walk without stumbling, write with steady hands, and speak without the burden of gasping for breath.
To Xiaxia, the improvements seemed almost futile. Her brother had always been a man of few words, choosing silence as his preferred companion long before the coma had claimed him.
His reserved nature and inscrutable expression had often frustrated her, leaving her longing for a glimpse beneath the mask he wore.
She could understand him even without the words, though. They were twins, after all. She understood him the most.
Even now, as Xin regained his physical capabilities, his demeanor remained unchanged. His face remained an enigmatic canvas, betraying no hint of the thoughts and emotions swirling within.
As the sunlight gently filtered through the curtains, illuminating the room, Xiaxia, sat at the bedside, methodically peeling an apple. Her eyes were filled with a mix of concern and curiosity as she broke the silence that enveloped them.
"What are you going to do once you're out of here?" she inquired. With their mother absent, Xiaxia had taken on the role of caregiver, shouldering the responsibility of tending to Xin's needs.
Xin's gaze was fixed on the glowing screen of his phone, absentmindedly twirled a long strand of his stark white hair between his fingers. His lips twitched with a hint of contemplation as he pondered her question, his mind searching for an answer amidst the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions that consumed him.
A faint sigh escaped his lips as he finally responded, his voice carrying a trace of uncertainty, "I'll . . . think about it."
With his long hair cascading past his waist, Xin thought of the idea of getting a haircut first once he was free from the confines of the hospital.
He idly twirled a strand of his pristine white locks, knowing all too well that Xiaxia held a deep disdain for their unusual hair color. It had often been the target of teasing from their peers, and does Xiaxia opted to wear bold color to escape such comments and attention.
Their mother, who possessed a natural mane of rich brown hair, had clearly not passed down this distinctive trait. The origins of their striking hair color lay in their father, a topic Xin had long chosen to avoid delving into.
The thought of their father's absence and the mysteries surrounding him brought a pang of discomfort to Xin's heart, and he quickly pushed it aside.
"You could start school again," Xiaxia proposed. "You could take an advancement exam and break free from the confines of the same year."
Xin listened intently to her words, his expression unreadable. Deep down, he understood the significance of her suggestion. While she and his peers had already embarked on the journey of college life, he was left behind, frozen in time by the four-year gap that had stolen away his youth.
It was a bitter reality that he had to confront.
The idea of returning to school at the same year before he had an accident didn't sit well with him. He contemplated the possibility of taking an advanced exam, an opportunity to bridge the gap and catch up to his peers.
However, he knew the limitations of such an endeavor. Even if successful, it would only propel him forward by a mere two years, leaving him perpetually trailing behind.
A heavy weight settled upon Xin's shoulders as he grappled with the disheartening truth. The world had moved on without him, leaving him in a state of suspended progression.
The thought of returning to high school while his peers ventured into the realms of higher education gnawed at his self-esteem.
Xin dispersed the depressive thought. He should be glad that he was still alive.
He paused when he stumbled upon a familiar name on his phone.
"Hey, are you listening to me?" Xiaxia asked, "I said that you don't have to think so hard. It's still early in the semester, and if you pass the advancement exam, you can join me at Fate Academy."
"Where's Meilyn?" Xin asked instead.
The room was suddenly filled with a sharp, jarring sound as metal knives clashed together, drawing Xin's attention towards his sister.
Xiaxia's countenance had darkened, her face etched with tension as she gritted her teeth in frustration.
"Forget about her," she declared forcefully, her words laced with an unmistakable disdain.
Xin's eyes met Xiaxia's. He knew all too well that his sister held no fondness for Meilyn, but he couldn't help himself. Meilyn was his girlfriend, after all.
"When will she come?" Xin pressed on, undeterred by his sister's outburst which he dismissed as a mere display of immaturity.
Xiaxia's frustration grew evident as she glared at him, but Xin's expression remained impassive, determined to get an answer.
Avoiding his gaze, Xiaxia huffed, her voice filled with a mix of annoyance and disappointment. "No, she hasn't visited you in nearly three years."
Perplexed, Xin persisted. "But why?"
Exasperated, Xiaxia clenched her fists and let out a frustrated growl. "Stop asking me about her!"
She abruptly stood up and stormed out of the room, the sound of the door slamming echoing through the air. But before the door shut completely, she couldn't resist one final outburst.
"Forget about that girl! She's the reason why you ended up in this state, you fool! She doesn't care about you anymore!"
The words from Xiaxia reverberated in his mind, drowning out the echoing sound of the door.
'She doesn't care about you anymore!'
Xin couldn't accept her declaration.
Despite the forcefulness of her statement, he couldn't bring himself to believe it. Meilyn was more than just a girlfriend; she was a childhood friend. They had shared countless moments together, long before she gathered the courage to ask him out.
'Even if you don't want me anymore . . . I'll still be here for you.'
Those were the words she often spoke.
The image of her warm smile and kind eyes remained etched vividly in his mind.
It was as if it had happened just yesterday. He recalled the day he was running late for their date, rushing to their designated meeting spot when he had slipped and fell.
Yet, he had never held her responsible for the mishap.
Not even for a moment.
Driven by a surge of longing, he instinctively reached out and pressed the call button, his eyes shimmering with a glimmer of hope.
Time seemed to slow down, each passing second feeling like an eternity as he anxiously waited for the connection to be established.
But instead of the familiar ringtone or the sound of her voice filling the air, a cold and detached robotic voice abruptly shattered the silence.
'The number is out of service.'
His heart plummeted, sinking like an anchor into the depths of his chest.
But he couldn't blame her if she moved on and forgot about him. He was dead four years ago and might never wake up. Who would want to stake their future on a person who might never wake up?
The uncertainty and depression might have taken a toll on her, and it would have been better if she did move on and continued with her life if that would make her happy.
Despite the disappointment, Xin's longing to see Meilyn remained unabated. A flicker of hope danced in his eyes as he contemplated the idea of paying her a visit at her house when he got out of the hospital.
The thought of their potential encounter brought a small, tender smile to his lips, a rarity in his recent days of solitude. The mere prospect of seeing her again stirred a mix of emotions within him, and an unfamiliar sense of excitement bloomed in his chest.
As he envisioned their reunion, a surge of anticipation coursed through his veins. It had been so long since he had felt this kind of eagerness. The possibility of reconnecting with Meilyn ignited a spark within him, dispelling the heaviness that had lingered for too long.
Xin paused when he saw something popping on his notification.
[Guildbane: Battle for Domination's four-year anniversary event is coming!]
Guildbane?
When he recalled before his comma, that virtual game was heavily promoted and popular to the masses.
He wasn't into games, so he wasn't interested at that time, but now . . . it was all the news talk about.
Xin turned off his phone and decided to sleep.
He was too tired lately, maybe because of his medications.
Falling asleep, he dreamt of the time when he was with Meilyn.
Those were the happiest days of his life and the only time that he could show emotion, even a little bit.
He and Meilyn went through a lot . . .
Surely she couldn't just forget about the years that they were together.
The shock was an understatement when the cab drove them into the poor area in Zone A. This was where the mass housing was located.
Towering apartment buildings stood in rows, tightly packed together, leaving little space to spare. The units were tiny, some measuring just around twenty square meters, and frequently filled with a multitude of people.
Now, standing in front of Xin was the very same apartment, a small room permeated with the pungent stench of sweat, decay, cigarettes, and alcohol. The air was heavy with the sounds emanating from the neighboring room.
"Augh . . . you must be shocked, right?" Evelyn started as she mustered a weak smile..
"What happened to our house?" Xin asked.
"Ah well . . . things happened and . . . I had to sell our house. But don't worry! This is only temporary. I'm currently hunting for a house right now, near our previous one."
Xiaxia rolled her eyes and opened the door. "Mom, don't babysit him. Tell him the truth that you had to sell the house to pay his medical expenses and that we're in a huge debt right now because of him."
"Hurrah!" Evelyn reprimanded her daughter, but Xin only stood at the entrance without saying a word, his face filled with unspoken thoughts.
Xin couldn't help but feel the weight of his mother's sacrifices as the truth settled in. She had sold their house and possibly more just to cover his medical expenses.
Guilt gnawed at him, knowing that he had become a burden to his family.
"Don't pay attention to Xiaxia's words, alright?" Evelyn pleaded, her smile strained. "You don't need to worry about anything. I'll take care of everything."
Xin remained silent, his fingers curling tightly into his palm as he stepped inside the house. The unspoken gratitude and remorse swirled within him, and he couldn't find the right words to express his emotions.
The room in the mass housing apartment was small and suffocating, offering little respite from the outside world. The air hung heavy with a stale odor.
The combined scents of various households, intermingled with traces of cooking, cleaning products, and the faint hint of mildew, created an unpleasant atmosphere.
The walls, worn and faded, seemed paper-thin, failing to provide any significant sound insulation. The voices of neighboring occupants spilled through the thin barriers, their conversations blending into a cacophony of noise.
"It isn't much, but this is our new home," Xiaxia said dully and entered her room. Before she shut the door, she slipped from the gap and said, "There's only one room in here, so you sleep here on the floor."
"Hey!"
"It's fine," Xin said and went over to the living room that also served as their dining area. "Where will I put my things?"
Evelyn's face was sorry. "Just put it in the boxes over there. Sorry, I still haven't bought any furniture for your clothes."
"Don't worry about it. These boxes are fine." Xin started to reorganize his clothes while his mother excused herself to make dinner.
There was only a small foyer, and after that was a tiny kitchen that had little room to maneuver. After the kitchen was the living and dining area that served as Xin's sleeping quarter as well.
The remaining two doors were probably the bedroom and the bathroom.
As Xin unpacked, the reality of their living situation finally sank into his head, and this made him decide what to do.
=======
"I'll find a job tomorrow," Xin said when they were having dinner.
They were sitting on the floor with a small table at the center.
As he expected, his mother was quick to protest.
"What are you talking about, Xin?" Evelyn said with a serious face. "What about school?"
"I won't go."
Xiaxia's eyes went to him and their mother while she kept eating from her bowl without a word.
"No," Evelyn replied with a hard tone. "You will take the advancement exam and go to college. End of story."
"But–"
"If you're worried about the expenses and debt, don't. I'm not weak and old that I couldn't pay for it. You only focus on school and let me handle the rest. Let me do my job as your mother," Evelyn said with no room for argument.
". . ." Xin didn't comment anymore. He knew that stubborn jut of his mother's lips – there was no talking to her.
He would let go of this for now and bring up the topic in the following days.
"There's a way to earn decent money even while you're going to school, you know," Xiaxia chimed in. "And I'm not talking about part time jobs."
"Xiaxia, that thing is a scam."
Xiaxia glanced at Evelyn and responded with a straightforward tone, "It covers my tuition fees and even paid for Xin's hospital bills."
Evelyn was at a loss for words, unable to come up with a retort. She simply returned to her meal, muttering, "That's despicable."
Curiosity filled Xin's eyes, although his expression remained unchanged. "What is it?" he inquired.
Xiaxia locked eyes with him, a wide grin spreading across her face. "It's called Guildbane."
Xin's forehead crumpled. "That game?"
"It's more than just a game. It's a massive empire worth trillions of dollars, where anyone has the chance to become incredibly wealthy overnight!" Xiaxia spoke with passion. "This game has its own currency system, where one thousand gil is equivalent to one real dollar! If you spend an hour grinding in the game, you can easily earn at least ten dollars. And if you're lucky enough to find rare items, the earnings can be even greater!"
Xin wanted to interject, but Xiaxia continued without pause.
"But the real money comes from raiding dungeons, participating in contests, and winning guild wars! If you manage to reach the top ten in the leaderboards, you could even become a celebrity! Actually, even the top one hundred would be impressive!"
"When did you become a game addict?" Xin asked when he had the chance to finally interject.
Xiaxia's earlier enthusiasm faded, and she glanced at him with a lackluster gaze. "Since money became a part of it."
Evelyn slammed her plate down, her frustration evident. "That game is nothing but a scam."
Xiaxia scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Anything that is easy money is a scam to you, Mom."
"So you're already playing this game?"
Xiaxia's gaze shifted to Xin, and her head tilted up with pride. "Hm~Hm~. I've already established a guild in this game. Aren't I amazing?"
"So you're already a pro?"
"GuUKk . . ." Xiaxia fell on her high throne. She quickly recovered and cleared her throat. "N-no. But I'm getting there."
". . . Hmm . . ."
"What?! What's with that disgusting look on your face?! Are you starting a fight, huh?!"
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GOT IT