1 The Game [1]

Chattering of many can be heard inside a class. Students who are enjoying their lunch time while it last.

"Hey Dizian!" A tan guy shouted, approaching another man that was sitting on the middle chair in the last row.

The man sitting looked up, "What?" He asked irritatedly. He slid down the headphone he was wearing, and placed it around his neck, pausing the music being played on the phone on his hand.

"Man, you're in no good mood— but that's not important."

"Wow, talk about being a good friend, aren't you Anthony?" The man stated sarcastically, "Now what is it this time? If you're asking me to accompany you and Eva on your date then, get lost!"

"Oh come on! You know how awkward it is when it's just us, please~?" Anthony plead, looking at Dizian with puppy eyes.

Dizian eyes twitch as disgust and disbelief is written at his face. How burdensome, to think he again shall act as a third wheel for this bastard.

He sighed and placed his hand on top of the desk resting his chin on his palm, "Dude," He started Looking at Anthony with an irritated expression, "you need to learn how to not rely on me honestly, you two are already dating, me being a third wheel Everytime on your date is such a nuisance. Be a man and just be yourself. If you kept this up, I might even move in with you after you two got married."

"M-married?! How did you get to that conclusion, we're still dating!" Anthony stuttered as he tried to hide his flustered expression.

"And where do dates usually go? Engagement then marriage, doesn't? You have to keep in mind the responsibility of being in a relationship, and circumstances along the way." Dizian lectured.

"Coming from someone who's still single since born."

"Why you—!"

Dizian was about to throw a Notebook which he took below his desk at anthony, when someone suddenly cough that made them look in front.

The two noticed a woman in front of them who has a short wavy hair, smiling at the sight of the two.

"E-eva, What're you doing here?" Asked Anthony nervously, as he went to Eva's side.

Great here comes the love birds, Dizian rolled his eyes totally uninterested at what the two would talk about in front of him, instead he decided to put his headphones back on when eva suddenly mentioned him in their conversation.

"I thought I'll invite you and dizian along with me in a newly open store across the street market."

"Nah, no thanks. I'll just be your third wheel all over again, just ask your dearest here." Dizian instantly replied, putting his headphones back on.

"I heard they sell novels and Manga too."

Dizian twitch from what he heard, he knows eva purposely said it quite loudly for him to hear. But his urge to come was not strong enough, better luck next time.

Although, He isn't uninterested in the conversation the two was having, dizian purposely lowered the volume down to hear them.

"What really? They also sell figurines and stuff toys? What kind of store is that even?"

"Yeah they do, the store was quite unusual for they sell random things from books to videogames or gadgets. It's like an all in one store, ah they also do Fortune telling and game re—"

Bam.

The two including everyone in the room and hallway was shock when dizian suddenly, slam his hand on the desk. However, eva smirked for she know that she had Piqued his interest.

"I'll go." Dizian said with a serious expression yet his eyes sparkles with excitement and joy.

The two looked at each other with a victorious smile as they secretly fist bump with each other.

Time flew quickly, the three was now seen in the street market looking around before crossing.

***

Ugh.

Dizian who was behind the two, had a sour expression as he looks down at their hands. It has been three months yet he still can't bare to see the two being lovey-dovey. Oh, don't misunderstand him he's happy for the two honestly, however, he just cannot deal with anything that involves romance. He's quite bitter even though he has been single for all his life.

Once they had crossed the street, the trio quickly went into the unusual shop.

The shop was neat and large. There are aisles for every items from books to gadgets. This shop really was unusual. Although it was newly opened, it only has a few costumers and not to mention only three employees are present.

"Are they short on staff? Or are the others on break?" Anthony suddenly said.

"Same thought, they're probably on break." Dizian replied, he then excused himself from the two and went ahead to the book aisle.

As he found the aisle he saw two costumers taking their time picking books. The sections are in varieties. Each Bookshelves are labeled; Fiction, Adult, Classics, Manga, Manhua, Manhwa and Comics.

Dizian who is known to be a bookworm even though it does not show, this area was like heaven for him.

How cheap, high quality books and rare books are all here, however they are all in cheap price. If he would use all his pocket money he could buy a whole 30 books.

"Well they're newly open so I guess they lowered the prices still." He said to himself as he trace his finger to the books stopping and taking out that would piqued his interest.

Oh!

How lucky must he be today, to think a full set of volume of a manga he was indulged was there. The set contained 27 volumes, how lovely!

Drooling as he hug the set, someone tapped him in the shoulder. It was Eva, the girl handed him a white phone.

"Oh thanks, I forgot you had my phone— right, anything you want? It's on me." He delightfully said to eva.

Eva raised her brows, she then understood dizian onto why he is on a good mood as he saw a book set in his arms.

"Really? Then an iPad."

"What? Are you fucking serious—"

"Ah, ah, ah, you said it's on you. No backing out."

Dizian's eye twitched, wanting to take back what he just said but he know he cannot win against this girl. And so he sighed, giving up.

"Argh— fine, but you better treat me next time." He said as he and Eva started to find the gadget section. "Ah right, where's Anthony?"

"Oh he's on the videogame aisle. He's probably playing since they let costumers try out the games they pick."

"I see."

"We're here!"

The two started to look for an iPad with affordable price.

Anthony who already bought the game he played earlier passed by the Gadget section. He then saw Eva clinging onto Dizian, he sighed then approached the two.

"What're you doing?" He suddenly asked. Making the two to jolt and looked at his direction.

Dizian sighed, "This bi— I mean eva— no, I suddenly promised an irreversible promise to her." He said with an irritated look holding two iPad in his hand.

"You can't win against me, you know that."

"Shut it wench. Let's just pick this one, I'm tired." He said as he put back the plain white and kept the rose gold iPad.

"You're getting old! Anyway thanks." Eva joyfully snatch the ipad Dizian was Holding as she kissed his cheek then hugged him tightly

"Gross, get off of me."

Anthony chuckled at the sight of the two. They sure do get along, well they are twins after all.

Indeed, Dizian and Eva are twins— fraternal twins at that. They don't look like it, for each resembles their parents, Eva who has a jet black colored hair which resembles her father and Dizian who had darkish brown hair which resembles his mother ,However, he eventually dyed it blonde last year. They might not look alike but, they do share the same eye color which is mantle green that they inherent from their late grandmother on their father's side.

While at the counter, Dizian excused himself and went to the videogame aisle. Fortunately, there was no one around, to think he'll actually buy a romance game, but he does not know what to choose.

"Ugh, why am I even buying stuff like this?" He muttered, suddenly, when he turned right he jolted to see a man standing there. The man was tan and has a long hair that was loosely tied, he was tall, probably at least 185 cm tall.

'He.. he's fucking tall.' Dizian thought and suddenly felt irritated, he seemed to be defeated after realizing that he was so short compared to this man. But then he froze when he realizes that he was holding a romance genre game.

He stood there— doesn't know whether he should leave or just casually shrug it off and continue picking. When Dizian quite got his computer back he looked to his right once again, and his eyes almost got out of their socket after seeing at what the man is picking. It was an 18+ adult DVD.

Dizian instantly look away, thinking that it is normal for people to buy stuff like that and just went back at picking games still flustered.

"Ah, that one is good " Said the man suddenly, which made Dizian to look at him, "The 4 male leads are shit, though one of them is bearable." He added.

It's a harem! Although Dizian is not fond of harem genre, it did piqued his interest. He's curious how shitty are the other male leads and who among them is the only worthy one.

Embarrassed as he is, he kept hold onto the recommended game by the stranger and continued to pick other games.

"Got anymore recommendations?" Dizian suddenly asked. Ah who cares anymore, he does not have knowledge in these kind of genres so it is better to have someone to recommend him.

He peeked to his side to see the stranger smiling.

"Alright then," The stranger replied.

The man pushed Dizian gently aside as he look at the romance genres and put the adult DVD game back to its place. He then pull out a video game DVD entitled "Love & Magic" and handed it to Dizian.

"7 men..." Taking a closer look at the CD, there are seven man surrounding a black haired girl and the blurred background seems to be an academy for they were all wearing a certain uniform.

Dizian turned the DVD around to read the description of the game.

[ Luna Vermillion was a very talented senior student in the magic academy. Her days were usually normal, until she encountered 7 Handsome men in her class. No days was peaceful ever since, they have became a bother to her, and somehow, these men started to catch feelings for our dear Luna. Follow Luna and her love story among 7 men. On what path do you wish to fall? ]

Is what the description says.

'Seems interesting, but why seven?' Dizian thought, sighing as he faced the stranger.

"Uhh, thanks," He awkwardly said as he said goodbye and run like walk back to the counter.

After paying for the two game he brought he swiftly put it inside his backpack. He know that once his sister and Anthony saw the game they'll tease him, rubbing that he's filling his single soul on an Otome Game.

Honestly, he could get a girlfriend, there's alot of girls who had confess to him, including his crushes, however, he find dating bothersome. Why would you date if you're going to break up anyway? Why date if your feelings are only admiration? Why date if the other party just forcibly accepted you?

Dizian always had this thoughts whenever someone he likes started to confess to him. Can he bear the responsibility of being in a relationship? And maybe he was just scared of falling out of love to his partner at some point or his partner falling out of love.

Suddenly, Eva snapped her fingers at him, "What are you thinking, that you have such a serious expression?" She asked.

He looked at the two who was in front of him who are holding hands and being lovey-dovey, he couldn't help but to think— would he also be like this to someone? Someone who would willingly accept him, not just his looks but the whole him?

"Nothing, I'm just lost in thoughts," He replied shrugging it off. Eva then started to stare at him, "what?" He asked frowning onto why she's staring.

"Don't tell me you're thinking of that tall guy."

"What tall guy?"

"Oh don't be like that, you know that long haired guy with you in the game section? You two seems to be checking out adult games. How shameless." Eva said teasingly.

"Ha?"

"We checked in on you and happened to see you with that tall man," Anthony butted in.

"He was quite handsome, no? But I feel like I saw him somewhere," Eva stated as she started to be in deep thought, "Ah! He's a model of an underrated agency on social media!" She blurted out suddenly.

"Is that so...?"

"Don't tell me, you've fallen in love! Are you really in to guys?!"

"What?! Stop spouting non-sense. He just happen to be there alright? Sheesh, you and your crazy ideas."

Dizian started to walk faster than the two, and eventually leaving them behind. He got into a bus earlier that the two did, he honestly don't understand what's going on with his sister's mind sometimes.

***

Once dizian got home, he got a text message from his sister saying she will be having dinner at Anthony's. That didn't really bother him for that's how she had always been. You could say she's technically living on Anthony's home, she only go home around 6 am to get change and after school she'll instantly go home with Anthony.

It was quiet and peaceful in the apartment. Since their school was too far away from their home they eventually rented an apartment, his parents doesn't mind since they are quite a busy person and they trust both of them completely.

Since there's no one around other than dizian, he just took his uniform in the living room leaving him on his boxers only. Putting the dirty laundry on the basket he then went straight to his room to change into a black shirt and sweatpants.

Going back to the living room he took out the two game from his bag and placed the bag in the empty shelf.

He firstly put the game "Triple Crown" which was the first game he kept hold. After putting it on a DVD player that was connected to the TV he sat on the floor leaning his back onto the sofa.

After logging into the game, He started to seriously play it. In between his gaming, smiles slips in,sometimes he makes a sour expression because of a certain scenes.

Hours has pass by without dizian noticing that it is already been midnight. He only got back on track when he finished all the male Leads path.

Dizian was in disbelief, to think he was so indulge in the game that he did not notice the time and didn't even get the chance to eat. Once he got up from the floor didn't even bother to go sit on the sofa— dizian went straight to the kitchen to cook fried rice.

Lost in thoughts, dizian was criticizing the game as he chop ingredients.

Ah.

The game was good, however, all male Leads are not worth it, though one was bearable enough but he was quite an ass. Choices are stupid, the Mc was too naive and dumb,setting aside the romance, the war and fantasy plot was enjoyable to read.

"Hmm... I'll just play Love &Lucky while I eat," He mumbled as he started to heat the pan.

Feeling full, he ended up eating before he could touch the controls. After washing the dishes, he walk around for a while before sitting.

Setting up the game once again, but now he sat on sofa for his butt went numb when he sat on the floor. Pressing the start button below the illustration, the screen flash in white and faded revealing the minimal animated characters doing such as blinking, hair flow and moving hands.

"What? Shouldn't I be on the story now? Oh wait, you can check the characters?"

Dizian started to click onto the female lead and it lead him to a status. It was the MC's profile. To think all characters are already unlocked to their background story.

As he was done reading all the characters info, he became more intrigued to the game. His eyes sparkled in excitement and joy.

However, before he could even click the button on the right side, he suddenly felt sleepy and starting to nod off. He tried to shrug the sleepiness, but he lost, sleepiness won.

His eyes started to close but he still got a glance on how he suddenly clicked the Dive in button.

Ah, that's right it was already Saturday, He'll play it later, since sleepiness is really winning him over, he then let his eyes to shut, as he felt his body collapsing into the soft comfortable sofa. This day would probably be alot of fun, and maybe go to the store again and buy another game DVD.

But, What he didn't know was that, a new life would be waiting for him after that simple Sleep.