Zack scratches his head as he stares at the emails on the computer that Celeste allows him to borrow. His eyes scan through dozens of rejection emails, each one a punch to his gut. He rubs his temples, trying to ease the tension building up.He glances at his tattered leather wallet and takes another heavy sigh. His phone lights up and he reads the message from Trina. It is the amount of tuition he needs to pay and how to pay it. And now, his situation presses him down further, making it hard to breathe.Feeling defeated, Zack continues to search for job posts, his desperation creeping in. Finally, he comes across an advertisement for an online loan facility. He hesitates for a moment, but then clicks on the link. Maybe this is his last chance to make enough money to pay his tuition and survive until Celeste arrives and he can look for a new job.“Hello, Borrower,” a flashing marquee greets him as the website loads. “We’re here to help you with all your financial needs. What can we do

“Why are you so slow?!” Celeste scolds. She meets him by the door and snatches the bag of groceries that she asked him for. “It’s painful, ugh! I need my pain reliever since an hour ago.”She takes what she needs and leaves him by the door. She moves to the living room, not even noticing the beating he has just endured just because she went away and been very happy while on her vacation!She turns towards him and snaps, “Hurry up with the other groceries, Zack! What are you standing there for?”“I-I’m sorry,” he stammers weakly, trying not to show his pain.Celeste rolls her eyes and shakes her head before returning her attention to the bag.“Do you need anything else?” he asks, trying to sound helpful.“Just my pain reliever… Where is it…” Celeste grumbles as she rummages through the groceries. “And probably some snacks.”“Here you go,” he says, handing her the pain reliever.“Hmm, you’re not as useless as I think you are,” she says and snatches the medicine from him.Zack flinches wh

*********** TRIGGER WARNING: Self harm and Suicide. Consider yourself warned. ************ Zack hunches over in the corner of his room in Celeste’s apartment. He returned from the hospital yesterday and he hasn’t left his room since then. He is afraid to come across the loan sharks again. Thankfully, Celeste is too angry to request things from him. He shifts his attention to the window, which is covered in blinds, not allowing any light to flicker inside his room — or Celeste’s room, since she is the one paying for the entire apartment. “Useless,” he whispers in the darkness. He already knows it. He is fucking useless, but Celeste should have been more gentle about it, even if it is true. How can she dismiss his struggles with such callous indifference? He is also her family. Besides, it is also partly her fault, right? And now, he has hurt her, too. He scratches his head and hides his face. He doesn’t want to hurt her like that. He just wanted her to see his worth. That’s all he

Zack freezes as Celeste wraps her arms around his neck. He doesn’t know how to respond. She is crying and trembling and the arms around him are getting tighter. “Zack, please let me help you,” she offers again. “You’ve been adrift for far too long.” His throat tightens. The walls he has built around himself are beginning to crumble under the weight of her words. Rather, her words feel like a lifeline tossed to him. Should he really grab it? Will his pride allow it? But he has been receiving her help for quite a while, right? It’s just a matter of finally admitting it. When he doesn’t respond, Celeste says with her voice trembling, “Why do you hate me so much?” Her initial anger, hot and bright, begins to wane, replaced by anguish and pain instead. “I don’t hate you,” Zack finally replies. “I think I just... I envy you.” She continues to cry, his shoulder getting wet with her tears. In truth, Zack wants her to hit him instead, rather than her, hugging him like this, trembling, as i

Zack’s mind races, trying to make sense of what’s happening now. It looks like the screen of an ordinary video game, but smaller and miniaturized with fewer details. And besides… Attributes Statistics? Death? An empty Consequence? The system? What does it all mean? Then, remembering the urgency of his situation, he shifts his attention to Celeste. Her eyes are closed tightly, her face a picture of fear and disgust. A notification appears again. “Being a first-time user of the Zenith System, all your attributes will be reset and all wounds will be healed.” There’s a ting, and Zack stands up, discovering that his body feels light and energized. There is no more pain and exhaustion. The wounds on his face and body disappear as if they are never there. He looks around, everything is still moving in slow motion. Without a second thought, he moves towards Celeste, who is still struggling under Adi’s weight. He can feel the power coursing through him, urging him to protect her. He grabs