Chương 16: Getting lost and the strange dream.
After his initial match, Evan was quite disheartened, but he quickly shook off the disappointment as he began his next game to familiarize himself with the gameplay. Within thirty seconds of facing his opponent, Evan's character was eliminated with a single headshot.
This feat surprised his friends, as such skill is usually exhibited by experienced players.
However, Evan wasn't deterred like his first adversary and maintained his belief in his potential for improvement. By the match's end, the score was < 4-1>.
Considering it was his first time playing, this was a respectable outcome, especially since he scored a point by consecutively using his elemental skill three times, which caught his opponent off guard and led to their defeat.
Subsequently, they played together, but with Evan's character at a lower level, he wasn't much help and was mostly carried by his friends. By day's end, his character had reached level six.
He even didn't that the time was late just when his eyes landed on the wall clock did he notice its already past five.
"Guys, it's getting late; I need to leave first, or my aunt will get angry at me," Evan said as he logged out of his game account and stood up.
"Right, we're late too. Let's get going; we didn't even notice how time flew by," James remarked as he and Rey logged out and rose from their seats.
"I think you both were so engrossed in the game that you lost track of time. I was aware, though. James, have you completed the assignment Sir Peter gave us for tomorrow? I assumed you had, just like I have," Rey inquired, recalling a school matter.
"Wait, darn it, I forgot, and now I only have a few hours left. Please, Rey, help me out, you're my friend, right?" James pleaded.
"Okay, okay, I'll help you. But don't you dare tell Sir I helped you copy, not after last time when you almost got me in trouble," Rey warned as James nodded earnestly, like an employee eager to impress his boss.
"Evan, I hope we'll meet again soon at school, just like you said. And don't worry, the school is a much better place than you think," Rey assured as they all left the gaming parlor and headed home.
It was getting late, and Evan, retracing his steps, grew anxious as he couldn't remember the way he had come.
He considered calling Mrs. Rossy but decided against it, worried about tarnishing his image after boasting about his sense of direction.
Despite his efforts, no path seemed familiar, yet he didn't lose hope and continued his search.
After much time and exploring various routes, he finally recognized one and followed it, passing many people on their way to or from work.
He arrived at a park he instantly recognized and made his way to the bench where he had sat earlier.
Finding the bench, he searched for the water tap from which he had drunk earlier in the day.
He retraced his steps from that morning, and with each familiar landmark, his spirits lifted as he neared home.
However, his fortune waned when he reached a convenience store and could no longer recall the way he had taken earlier.
He looked around but still couldn't find it. Losing hope, he decided to call his aunt since it was already past seven and he didn't want to be any later.
Just as he was about to call her, the door of the store opened, and someone emerged from inside.
"Oh Evan, what are you doing here?" asked the person with a feminine voice, confirming she was a woman.
Evan turned and saw that it was Mrs. Rossy.
"Oh Mrs. Ro-... I mean... Aunt, I was just about to call you... yes... if you need anything, I can get it for you from the store," he stammered, hastily concocting a plan, but his urgency made the truth quite obvious.
"No need but thank you. I'm already here and have bought everything I needed," Rossy replied, showing him the plastic bag, she carried.
"Sorry, let's head home then," Evan said, knowing his lie wouldn't hold.
"Alright, lead the way," Rossy said, gesturing for him to move.
"I think I can carry this so you can walk freely, Aunt. It must be heavy," Evan said, attempting to change the subject.
"Thank you, that would be very helpful," she said as she handed him the bag and waited for him to lead.
"Let's go," Evan said, choosing a random road to take when Rossy stopped him.
"Where are you going, Evan? Our home isn't in that direction," Rossy pointed out, realizing Evan was caught.
"Sorry, I forgot the way back and was about to call you," he admitted aloud.
"Evan, you don't need to hide it; anyone can get lost in a new city," she said, laughing a bit as she entered a street with Evan following her.
"The solution is on your phone," she continued.
"I didn't catch that last part," he said, not understanding her words.
"There's an app preinstalled on your phone called 'Location Map.' It can guide you home easily," she explained, helping him find their home on the app and setting it as a destination, showing him how it could assist him in returning home, which he appreciated after trying it out.
His phone displayed both his current location and his home, and by following the map for a minute, he easily found his way back.
"Oh, it's quite good," Evan remarked, surprised to discover such an application on his phone.
"It was because of my son; he was terrible with directions and always got lost on his way home," Rossy recalled, remembering the times he had gotten lost.
"But as he grew up, he became quite good at it," she added.
They entered the building and walked into the apartment where Jason was reading his newspaper.
"Ah, Rossy, you're back, and Evan, you too. Good, I was about to call you both home because I have something to tell you," Jason said, looking up from his newspaper and setting it aside.
"Yes, sir, please let me know if there's anything I can do for you," Evan offered as he took a seat in front of him.
"The thing is... ah yes, I've already spoken with my friend and secured admission for you in his school, and even acquired the necessary items for your studies. They should be at your apartment's front door. I mentioned you to him, and he sent the delivery straight to your apartment, even when I instructed him to send it to my house. That geezer," he said, chiding his friend.
"Okay, sir, I will collect it from there, and thank you for everything you've done for me," Evan said, his gratitude evident.
The room fell silent until Rossy entered with plates brimming with dishes.
"Okay, guys, enough drama; come and eat the food I've specially prepared for Evan," she announced, placing the dishes on the table, which included meat, soup, vegetable salad, and rice.
Everyone began eating after Rossy sat down beside them. During the meal, Evan recounted his experiences, omitting only the unpleasant parts.
Jason and Rossy were pleased to hear that Evan had already made friends, especially since they were from his school, which would undoubtedly make his life easier. They had been concerned that Evan might spend a lot of time alone due to his reserved nature.
After Evan bid them goodnight, he left for his upstairs apartment. Reaching his floor, he spotted a large box and hurried to his door. As he was about to enter, the door beside his opened, and the girl he had met earlier with the guy emerged, startling him; he had expected her to yell at him like his friend did.
She noticed him and moved towards him, but Evan quickly retreated inside his apartment, shutting the door in front of her.
She stood there, taken aback, as no one had ever treated her that way before.
"Ah, damn it, I swear you'll suffer more than those guys," she muttered under her breath before slipping into her apartment to avoid being seen.
Evan, panting with relief, thought, "Thank goodness I escaped, but what will I do if she and he catch me?" Pushing the thought aside, he opened the box.
Inside, he found various school supplies, including his bag, uniforms, and stationery.
With everything in place, he lay down on his bed, ready to embark on a new journey starting tomorrow.
A few minutes later, he was sound asleep, overwhelmed by the day's events. The emotions on his face suggested he was dreaming, his expression shifting rapidly until he encountered something that rendered him emotionless.
He found himself before ten entities, with the central figure stepping forward.
He gazed at its face, shrouded in clouds.
"The time of arrival is near, R###n. Brace for the worst," it spoke, and with a single touch of its finger to Evan's forehead, he disintegrated into pieces.
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