Leon sat in the car driven by Alfred, staring at his phone’s date: October 1, 2035. It was September 2, just 29 days ago. The date reminded him of when Bob fired him from the store. That moment marked when everything in his life began to change.
“In just one month in the real world, so much has happened in the game world,” he thought aloud. “No wonder people are starting to lose touch with their real lives.”
The car came to a halt in the parking lot. Leon opened the door and stepped out. “Thanks, Alfred.”
“Leon,” Alfred called after him.
“Yes?” Leon responded, turning back.
“I have another task to handle later this afternoon, so I might be late picking you up. Would you mind taking a taxi if I’m delayed?”
“Of course, it’s fine. Have a nice day, Alfred.”
“Have a nice day, too, Leon.”
That day, Leon had a Genetic Engineering class, a key subject in his Biotechnology
Engineering program. The course focused on manipulating the genetic material of organisms to enhance or create new traits.
As Leon walked into the large lecture hall with its rows of seats ascending towards the back, he chose a secluded spot and sat down. He immediately pulled out his notebook, opening it randomly-not to study, but to avoid eye contact with anyone he might know, as he didn’t feel like making small talk.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder.
“Leon,” they said.
Leon turned to see a tall guy with stylish hair, accompanied by two muscular friends who obviously spent a lot of time at the gym.
“Hey, is it really you? The one named Broken, who teamed up with the Ass Guild?”
“Yeah, isn’t that you, Leon?” added another one.
Leon tried to muster a smile, uncertain if they were about to compliment him. Why did this feel so strange? Was it because he was unaccustomed to receiving praise in real life? Should he hide this fact? But it seemed that those who recognized him were undoubtedly aware of Broken’s identity with the Ass Guild in the last Raid Battle.
“Yes, that’s me,” he confessed.
The trio burst into laughter. “No wonder… the guy in the game seemed clueless about what he was doing, so it was you… no surprise… hahaha.”
“Hahaha…” the others joined in and walked away, still laughing.
“Damn you!” Leon cursed under his breath, feeling an intense urge to punch the guy who had taunted him.
He then directed his gaze a few rows down and noticed a woman with wavy blonde hair watching him. It was Laura.
Laura, realizing that Leon had caught her looking, quickly turned her gaze away.
As the class ended, Leon packed up his belongings and walked towards the exit, taking his time while most of the other students hurriedly left. On his way out, the tall guy from earlier purposefully tried to bump shoulders with him. Leon, anticipating this, tensed his muscles, allowing their shoulders to collide with equal force.
“Phew… the Broken player is so tough, huh?” the guy sneered, laughing as he walked away with his friends.
Leon made a silent vow to train his body even harder, so one day he could stand up to those bullies and fight back. He made his way quickly through the hallway, trying to avoid any further interaction. But someone caught up from behind, walking faster until they were beside him. When he turned to see who it was, he found Laura.
“Hi, Leon… can I talk to you for a moment?” she asked, matching his pace.
Leon slowed down and moved to the side of the corridor, with Laura following suit. “Yes?”
Laura offered an awkward smile and showed him the book she was holding. “I’m trying to catch up on this material, um…” she hesitated, seemingly unsure. “Can I ask you about a few topics?” She hesitated again, this time looking a bit more pleading. “If you don’t mind, of course.”
Leon glanced at the wall and saw a clock, remembering that Alfred was going to be an hour late picking him up. Initially, he had planned to head home right away, but maybe he could spare some time. Besides, while she could find much of the information online, not everything could be easily understood just by reading; some things required discussion for better comprehension.
But then… was there really any reason for him to refuse?
“Thirty minutes… is that enough?” he asked, his face remaining expressionless.
Laura smiled, slightly looking away to avoid direct eye contact. “Thanks…”
Together, they headed to the library. They found an empty table and sat down next to each other after gathering a few books from the shelves.
They discussed various topics on Genetic Engineering, which happened to be one of Leon’s favorite subjects. He had an in-depth knowledge of the topic and explained it to Laura with enthusiasm. Occasionally, he would pause, turn to her, and ask, “Is there anything else you want to ask?”
Laura would sometimes seem lost in thought, recalling their high school days when they used to do the same. Snapping back to the present moment, she would shake her head and say, “No, I’m okay… I’m still following.”
She then pulled a book from beside her, flipping through the pages before pointing to a specific highlighted section. “What about this one?” she asked, indicating the highlighted
notes.
Leon furrowed his brow and took the book from her. “This part… I don’t think we’ve covered it in class yet. Have you studied this far ahead, Laura?”
She nodded slowly. “Sorry… I was just curious and ended up reading further into the topic randomly.”
Their conversation had an awkward undertone. Even saying her name felt strange to Leon, like something familiar but oddly out of place on his lips.
They both fell into silence, with Laura engrossed in her book while Leon checked the time on his phone. Only ten minutes had passed, but it felt like an eternity. He couldn’t help but wonder why time seemed to move so slowly.
Leon usually had no problem happily answering anyone who sought his help. Known as a bookworm who delved deeply into subjects, people often came to him with questions, and he would always respond with enthusiasm. So, his interaction with Laura was no different from what he typically did with others.
But still, there was an undeniable discomfort between them, like an invisible wall blocking a genuine connection.
“At this university, it turns out that the curriculum goes quite far,” Laura commented, trying to lock eyes with him.
“Yes…” Leon’s voice trailed off… there was a moment of silence between them, and he quickly added, “Why did you transfer here, Laura?”
Laura seemed taken aback by the question. She looked down at her fingers, hesitating before she spoke. “My father…” she began, pausing.
“Yes, I remember him. How is he… is he in this city as well?”
Laura’s voice trembled as she lifted her gaze. “My father passed away after a long battle with
his illness, and because I wanted to be close to the memories we shared, I returned to live in the same house we used to live in,” she explained. A forced smile appeared on her face, clearly a protective mask to hide her true feelings.
After a few more minutes, they decided to leave the library. Leon mentioned that he needed to go first, and as they walked out, Laura watched him from a distance.
She saw a car pull up and the front door open. From where she stood, she could clearly see who had come to pick him up. It was Freya. The sight stirred an unexpected pang of emotion
within Laura.