Edge Online: A New Frontier

Prologue - Life from Here and Beyond (Part 2)

- Life was so simple yet a paradise of pain and suffering. -

"Hey!"

"Hang in there... Don't close your eyes!"

Those are the words I kept hearing over and over again.

Siren of the ambulance are reaching my ears like knocking in front of the door, the muttering voices of people around me, and yet, I was lying on the ground like I was in my bed.

People are in such a rush perhaps they have important things to do?

Maybe, there is a Mid-Winter Comiket near.

Hiru smiled as the people around him keep screaming for help, others ignore him but most are intact to see what is happening. Those terrors in their eyes describe as a nightmare for others to see.

Comiket?

Impossible, because as far as I know there is no event today especially this New Year's Eve.

Then memories slowly pop out. A resemblance of strange voices. A couple or more.

They said I'm too old to be an otaku myself.

It was not the right thing to do for the rest of my life.

But...

But I ignore these voices and live my own life.

I remember those days that someone told me something funny.

It was funny enough I could laugh and cough all day.

Yet he said this...

"Hey kiddo, do you know about the story between a King and his Knight?"

You know what I replied? I say "No."

How could I know about those pathetic fairy tale stories! They are just... JUST a mere living words made up by old men from the past. It can't be real.

Of course, I was a kid back then and I was stupid enough to listen to those stories. Who or someone can resist that child play stories.

No one does. Every kid will listen particularly when there is a surprise in the end. Like a lollipop or something. I guess I was too focus to get that treat for me so I listen carefully.

I was stupid...

The man keeps waving the treat as he talks and points out a very important note to take for.

"A King can manipulate his Knight and order him around like a slave but that Knight is a man for himself. Still, its soul is to him for a good keeping."

When I heard those phrases, I was not paying attention because I don't know the means of it but now, I am old and somewhat responsible, I know what it meant to me.

Your life is your own. Decide and live for your own leisure.

Sometimes the stupid things you heard in life can be the most greatest things to treasure.

I was busy thinking of the past without paying attention to what really happened to me this time of hour.

It was like the same kid back then, not even listening to what's around him or basically, I am just rude.

Hahaha-ha... I laugh deep in my mind.

"Hey!"

So irritating, I heard someone... no, a person keeps nagging me and what? He is making sure I'm awake.

"What's your name?"

What the heck, who is gonna ask my name in a time like this. Can you leave... I am chilling here peacefully.

What do you think it will work? Definitely, not.

…..Hah.

And then, it started to rain snow.

It was the craze of winter, when it starts to turn cold. The icy flakes of snow melted through my clothes that I'd worn for I had known how many years, miraculously giving some heat for my body that slowly fades away.

I already know I am dying.

...Am I?

But I forgot why. My memories are giving me blurry vision. It was not working properly this time.

If I could remember everything.

...and allowed to choose between two things "Live or give up"

I will choose to give up. Maybe there is a possibility of an afterlife or perhaps a resurrection to another life to a different world. I will gladly start over from the beginning.

I couldn't help saying that.

I regret everything I did in my life.

Even though I am almost good at everything, I was not good at games back then, an average guy who's pretty good at playing basketball too. I was even once the center of attention in my school.

Then in high school-college, everything change from getting good into getting worse. I don't know how but my parents seem to pressure me a little bit over time. Their treatment changes or maybe because they don't like that I refuse the demand of them making me what they want me to be.

A doctor... maybe a nurse.

I don't know... why would I try to envision it now. Past is past. Just look at what's ahead and keep marching forward.

The turning point in my life wasn't my college years but my last year in high school. When I confess to a girl and get friendzone... no, she basically rejects me and I started to distrust everyone.

I found out she was just playing with my heart and used me. I felt betrayed by someone I thought we were on the same page. But it was not.

In the end, the rumors started to spread that I was rejected.

I ignore it once because I thought it was unnecessary to deal with.

I decided to start over again and fix myself, my studies, and my beloved sport, basketball. That was what I thought...

Everything got worse. When I got to school one day, they began acting weird and I don't know what it was.

In the afternoon, the class was over. I decided to went to the gym as usual basis for practice.

While practicing especially in layups and dunks. One guy came over, a junior of his years. I am a senior of his.

He punches me in the cheeks and spewing words that I don't know.

Saying that I did this and I did that... To whom? Well, my mind back then was in bewilderment. I don't know what to say but I tried to recollect myself from larger pieces to the tiniest bit of pieces of me. I am basically knocked down into the shiny floor of the gym trying to get up slowly.

Then...

People start to swarm in.

Left and right, they show in every angle.

You could say, It was like in Korean drama or Hollywood blockbuster movies.

A set-up!

Slowly, everything he said begin to make sense at all.

"...You bastard! How dare you do that to her!"

He said after his melodramatic entrance by punching me a while ago. But I want to say...

Do what?

Yet, I keep that in my mind.

He kept talking like he was her boyfriend. Maybe her plaything too. Definitely an i***t like me.

And...

The principal and other staff came in, her parent I supposed back then also there with an officer.

A police officer.

Ah... Everything hit a downfall on that point.

I was frame-up...

I fell to the bottom of society in an instant, got laughed at by others, and vomited by my friends.

My parents fix everything for me. Managed to arrange my case into one sort of agreement with the other party.

For a year, I stop studying, even neglected showing up myself to the public. I fear people will try to hurt me and pull me down. I shut myself playing computer games especially the game called "Edge Online"

It was heartbreaking for me. Any people will do...

Eight months and a few days in. A school official came to our door knocking and saying...

It was in the amid of the afternoon.

"Good Afternoon Ma'am, I am an official from the school of your son's previously attended."

My mom was not shocked at all seeing those school officials or perhaps she was in a friendly manner when she open the door.

"Good afternoon, what business would you have me here today?"

It was too formal for me and others to hear this but that was not what they came for.

"Your son was..."

But before he continues his speech my mother interrupts him and says.

"We can talk about this inside. Come in."

At that point, I was so clumsy and weak. Being a shut-in makes my every look change. I am like a living corpse... no, not in smell but by looks only. I am barely like a walking mummy.

I have told you that I am clumsy right?

Yes, it was.

Then, I accidentally shoved off an old vase. Still, I save it in a nick of time before it hits the floor.

My mom and the staff official saw me. The mix of disgust and irritation showed from my mom and the staff official was in sympathy looking at me, his sadness of his smile show everything he wants to say to me.

They got inside a room as the other person look at me in distress of my condition.

Days had passed after that, one by one my so-called friends and best friend came to me but I didn't entertain them. I kept myself shut and play computer games.

They left a letter for me. Telling sorry for what they have done and asking forgiveness.

One of the few letters that came in had something to say, a very important note saying...

"Hi Hiru, It's me your best friend XXX..."

I don't want to remember or pronounce his name because he is the one who throws me off first and dishes me out.

That incident was still fresh on me. But I'm happy the accusations were wrong. It was late already.

"They said that day was a made-up story by her and the guy who punched you quits and tells everything he knows after he found out her true intention."

The police are already trying to contact her and the family.

The last words he had was. "I hope you forgive me. Your friend."

Even though I did nothing at all.

I don't have any room for softness, for forgiveness... Not at all.

You could be asking why I didn't do anything about that incident earlier. Well, I don't have the courage to support myself.

I am already down on that point and hardly to say anything or do anything.

...Ah, never mind. It's useless already.

Once again I started to stand up on my own and face all those claims. Facing everything for the sake of my future.

Many years had passed. I am walking to the street going home but...

"Mommy! Uwaaah! Mommy!"

In the middle of the street, a small girl seemingly looking for her mother.

Is that?

It's pissing me off seeing that in front of me but what would I do? Leave the girl behind and possibly can be kidnap or hurt.

Seeing what a few meters away from me. A small girl. She was dressed in the pretty bell-like gown. Splashing green around her as she keeps calling for her mother.

It seems the mother and daughter were separated during their walk with all people around.

Spacing out a little bit. Suddenly, at that exact point in time, I saw a car coming in sight.

The car was charging towards the small girl at an incredible speed.

Also, the driver of the car was not paying attention to the road.

And no one even cares about the girl.

"Get out of the road!"

I tried to shout as loud as I can but the immense noise around me shrink my vocal into nothing. The worst is the people keep walking without a little care of the situation.

I should act fast. I needed to. But I asked myself...

Do I?

My mind was blank on that point.

But I kept running and running...

It was to be expected, and it wouldn't even possible if I didn't act quickly. As a result of sprinting with my lazy pair of legs, I got dragged forward by my own will and momentum.

I felt a flicker of reality in my eyes during the moment I drag the girl out of view and got hit by the car.

Was this the end? My life I tried to rebuild will reach for nothing.

The only thing I think at this time if the little girl is alright. I hope so...

I saw on that flickered reality was a deep blue sky running endlessly into the horizon. I couldn't describe it well. It was fast in a short time flashes of memories.

I was sent into the air. Hitting the ground hard. My body was heavy and I couldn't move myself anymore.

Then another vehicle went past by in a flash.

A truck coming in hot honking as if I'm a crazy person lying on the ground.

I was basically good as dead already.

Blood splatters all around as I vomit and cough in red.

"Uhhh.... *cough *cough"

I wasn't dead yet...

...but I wasn't alive either.

I was trampled like a rotten tomato between the ground and the tires of the truck.

People once again run into me, watching me in this state like that before. Muttering voices, those laugh before turns into a scream, and stomach turns as few people in sight vomits. I could see myself from before and in my position now, nothing changes but the difference is the purpose why they are here.

A mid-twenties guy like me dying for one little good deed I did.

"Hey!"

Oh for goodness sake, this again?

"Hang in there..."

Just let me rest. I have done what I could do in life.

"Call the ambulance! Immediately!"

"He-ey!"

"Wh-a-at's yo-our na-"