GENESYS

NINETEEN

“This is ZNN, bringing you the latest news in all things Gaming. Breaking news, this just in that the LZT guild had failed their conquest for Ganiyu Village. We have Anne in the scene to give you all the latest details. Anne!

“Thanks, HQ, That’s right, LZT Guild has indeed failed but they did not just fail, Th- they. *Deep breath* It’s better if I show you. Full warning: the scene you're about to witness is not for the faint of heart. Viewer discretion is advised. Cameraman!”

“As you can see behind me, LZT guild didn’t just lose, they were massacred.'

There being broadcast to the real world, the body of LZT guild lying all over the area. Some of them don't have heads, some got their hearts ripped, innards and intestines litter all over the place. The whole place is not looking like a battlefield but a butcher shop. 

“OMG Anne! What happened there?”

“To tell you the truth HQ, I do not know, I’ve tried interviewing players but they don’t seem to be in the right sound of mind yet.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“See for yourselves. Cameraman!” 

Right in the viewer's eyes, they saw the survivor sucking their thumb, traumatize about what just transpired.

“Mo- Monster.”

Not only the people of ZNN HQ but every viewer around the world have left to wonder.‘What happened there?’

“I’ll try to interview the players again after they come down but now my hands are tied. Back to you HQ”

“Ah-- Thank Anne keep as posted.” The anchors in ZNN HQ tries to compose themselves but the viewer at home can easily see that they are extremely shaken.

....

“Bro you watching ZNN? Any news about my Price Eric?” Ems walks into the room as Leon watches ZNN. Not wanting his sister to view some gruesome site, he quickly turned off the tv.

“No, not in particular. You're still crushing on that prick” Leon looks at Ems intensely.

“Come on bro, I’m still a girl, of course, I would like a prince to be my husband.”

Leon look at his sister head to toe and smirk “A girl ah,”

“Yes, a beautiful girl. What are you smirking there about?”

“Hahahahah, Nothing, nothing,” Leon said laughing. 

For the past year, his sister Ems has changed a lot. She became more worry-free unlike before when she doesn’t have a choice but to be the mother of the family.

‘I don’t want to go back at that time. I need to earn more money’ As Leon contemplating Ems said. 

“Right bro, I bought an OPH [Online Port Helmet] and I would also be playing Genesys, any tips?”

“Tip? Can’t you be like your sister Val and make some real friends?”

Ems pouted “I don’t want to be like that glutton.”

“Ok, ok, no need to be angry, just promise me you’ll make some friends.”

“Alright bro, no need to nag me.”

Leon put out his pinky finger.

“Promise me?”

“Alright bro, I promise.” 

“If you want to play the game better stay away from the Kingdom of Camelot and don’t fight monsters, it is better if you choose a healer. I don’t want my little sister getting hurt.”

“Why? Is there something in Camelon?”

“Just do what I said.” 

‘There is no way I hand my sister to that prick Eric’ Leon thought to himself

“Alright bro, let’s play together sometimes, okay?”

Leon pauses for a moment and looks at his sister. Seeing her expectant eyes, he sighs dejectedly. He never played Genesys before, he only worked.

“Alright, some other time.”

“Promise?” It's now his sister's turn to put out her pinky finger.

“I’ll be out for a while, you want something?”

“Stop changing the topic” Ems pouted.

“I’m off, I’ll buy you a popsicle when I got back.”

“Stupid brother!”

Leon walks out of his house and looks at the time on his phone. ‘Need to hurry up.’

Dialing his phone, he called Anna. The real estate broker who helped him purchase his house and also his ex.

“Hello, Anna.”

Immediately after hearing his voice, Anna curse. “You asshole!”

Leon distance the phone in his ear and pretends that he didn’t hear her.

“Wanna meet up?”

“You have some nerve calling me after running off just like that. Pick me up, I’ll be out on 30.”

“Ok”

…….

“So, what’s this all about? You might be dreaming if you are hoping we can get back together after what you did.” Anna is extremely furious at Leon for what he did but she can’t help but admit it's good to see him again, it's only been 6 months since they last saw each other but Leon looks more handsome than before. He already looked good before but now he looks like a model.

“That's not why I’m here. You look good by the way.” Leon looks at Anna, He knows he wrongs her but what can he do. The other party is perfect, compared to her, he is nothing. He better just wake up early before his dream turns into a nightmare. 

“Asshole! Do you think I can forgive you because you flatter me a little?”

“I don’t expect you to. I know this is stupid of me but I need your help.”

Anna wants to immediately refuse and run off but when he looks at the sad look in Leon's eyes her heart can’t help but hurt a little.

“Ems and Val are also like my little sister, I’m only helping you because of them. Got it?”

“Thank you.”

“Save it, so what do you need me for?”

“I want your help in selling Cat’s cafe.”

Anna is surprised, he remembers how much Leon cared for this Cafe. To be honest, back when they were dating she even felt jealous of how much better he treated the Cafe compared to her.

“What happened? I might not understand why you care so much about this little dump of yours but I know you treat it like your own baby. Are you in trouble? Is that why you broke up with me?”

“It’s not that and this is not about us. I just can’t manage it anymore.” Hearing Leon's response, Anna became infuriated.

“You said that even though you put more time into this cafe over me. If you need some money, I can lend you some, no need to sell it.”

“Like I said this is not about us, don’t speculate, there is no need for you to lend me money and everything is fine.” 

Anna faces twitch and can’t help but burse out.

“Asshole! You asked for my help but you wouldn’t tell me sh*t. You're always like that even back when we are dating, you never open up to me. You know I’m willing to give my all to you but you just grrrrrrrr.”

Leon opens his mouth trying to find words to explain himself but in the end, there is only one that escapes his mouth. “Sorry”

He knows Anna loves him. He just doesn't understand why. Why can a woman like her, love a trash like him? He was scared that someday she'd realized it and tossed him away, he doesn’t know if he can handle that so he ended it before it could happen.  

“Ok I’ll help you but after this don’t contact me again. Bye”

“I’ll give you a ride.”

“No need.”

Leon looks at Anna’s back as she walks away. His heart can’t help but ache at the thought that this will be the last time he would see her. Although their relationship didn’t last long. She was his first and the only woman he ever loved.

Minutes passed as Leon sat alone with one thought in his mind. ‘If only.’