Blind Gunner

1.

This is the second time he has attempted suicide this month. Without changing clothes, while still wearing my graduation robe, I dash out of the hall and order a Grab to take me to the hospital. 'Crazy..!!' That's all in my mind. 'What has made him so desperate until until choose to suicide?!. If it's about his final research project, I think he's already finished it and has published his jurnal last month.’

"You want to kill me huh?!" My legs are still trembling. After getting off the motorbike I dash to the 5th floor where he was hospitalized. "Want to make me die young?!" My head feels very dizzy. I sat on the floor, straightened my legs, and tried to catch my breath next to his bed. It feels like my heart has jumped from its place now, and my chest feels sore because of running. He didn't pay any attention to my words, his eyes were red and his face was puffy. His leg was broken and had to be in a cast. While his entire body was covered with scratches including his torn temples and swollen lips.

"Grafik’s family?" A nurse walked toward me. “It's a recipe to redeem!” The nurse gave me some sheets of paper. "Are you his sister?" The nurse asked so, perhaps because she didn't see the resemblance between us.

"I'm his friend!”

“Do you know the patient's family? It's better to contact them for now!”

I looked at Graf, he looked really messed up. I don't know what made him choose to cuicide. Although I don't know what it is, I'm sure it's quite a serious matter. "We're close friends," I tried to reassure the nurse. “His family live in Kerinci. It will take a few days to arrive in Malang. Maybe It's better to  let them know when he is recovering!” The nurse was silent.  

After putting down the flower bouquet and my bag, I immediately went out of his room to redeem the medicine. He drives me crazy. First, he tried to consume insect repellent, then he jumped from the 3rd floor of his dorm. Luckily he got caught in a tree first and then fell. If he fell straight to the ground, I can't imagine what would happen to him now.

"You're crazy Graff!".

I saw Neo, maybe he just arrived. "Where's Grafik's room?!" He asked with an anxious expression. Behind him, I saw Amanda.

I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled before walking over to him. "Come with me to the pharmacy for a while!" My legs are still trembling. I was afraid I'd collapse at any moment. I asked Amanda, who had followed Neo, to accompany Graf.

…

“You guys are hiding something from me?!” I stared at Neo. "This is already the second time. Luckily he's still alive,” I wanted Neo to tell me what had happened if he did know anything about Graf. My studies are over, I won't be living in a dorm anymore. That means I can't take care of my super duper up normal friend.

"Ouh..., I'm still confused about how to explain our situation to you," Neo said. He seemed confused.

"It doesn't matter. Just say it!" I'm very curious.

"You know about 9 Guardians?" I don't understand what Neo means. “This game was released 7 years ago. An MMORPG game that I find super relaxing,” Neo looks at me. I don't understand, and just keep quiet.

"Then, what does that have to do with suicide?"

"Graf, with the IGN Monck_cha, is one of the strongest archers in the game." He had been playing this game since its first release, but took a year's rest".

I am still confused, having never played a game other than solitaire on the computer in my life. "So...?".

"We join the same guild!"

"Guilds?" I'm still trying to understand what that means.

"In every guild war, Monck is the main DPS LRD, damage dealer, and dps range. He is also our guild's vice-chairman."

'Gosh, I don't understand God...!'. "Then why he chose to suicide if he is... a great soldier in his guild?!" I said looking at Neo. "Sorry, but this is simply my perception of what you have said. Am I wrong?"

"His account was hacked a few months ago. Someone accessed that account without his permission, and worse, that person erased all equipment, gold, rubies, and everything else that had been earned so far in this."

"Does that mean it won't return?" I'm trying to understand what he was explaining, but Neo appears to realize I'm still trying to understand this problem.

"You don't understand it?! The point is, that you worked hard for 7 years. You purchased a home, a car, a savings account, and then someone stole it all. How do you feel?! Graf's main account is in 9 Guardians. He's been playing that game for 7 years with that account."

I finally understand what Graf went through. "Is there no way to get it back?" I considered how to catch thieves like in the real world.

"Asian developers are very slow to respond. Maybe the situation would be different if we lived in Japan, where the game originated!"

I don't think I can help this time. Even though the root of the problem is related to the 9 Guardians I still do not understand the other things like what is guilds. LRD? I'm still confused.

…

When we came back I saw him sitting. He was eating the cake Neo had brought. Graf looks so devastated, it seems that he really likes the game.

"Congratulations on your graduation," he said while smiling.

"It doesn't matter. Think about your healthfirst!” I walk toward him. 

"Come here!" I'm not sure why Graf asked me to come closer. His left hand was holding a memory card. "Save it!" He said as he gave me the memory card.

"What's this?!" They all looked at me. I'm confused, especially when Neo was grinning at me.

“Save and learn!”Graf said to me.

"What is this?" I asked and immediately returned the memory card that Graf had given to me. "I don't want to get involved in anything dangerous!" I don't want to be in trouble because of the game that went to Graf's choice to suicide or anything related to the incident that has caused him into the way he is now. My life has been relatively tranquil. I graduated college, got a job, and was able to live a normal life. I'm grateful for what I have now and don't want to deal with or be involved in anything that complicates things in my life.

"Can you wait for us outside, Amanda?" " Neo asks Amanda to wait outside. The girl was so obedient that she left us.

"I've seen you play piano tiles," Graf said while giving me the memory card once more. "I admit your finger movements are very fast when it comes to pressing the black keys on your phone screen during game play!"

"Hasn't it been a long time?!" I often used to play it because I was bored.

"I want you to put on Monck and play 9 Guardians for me!" ”

"Are you crazy?! Falling makes your brain shift?!” I took my bag intending to go home, my body was very tired. I want to sleep for a while.

"Henny...!" Neo called out to me just as I was about to open the door. “Please be Monck. At least until Graf heals!”

No, I'm not interested in 9 Guardians or other games. I don't like games; I play them just to kill free time. Would not make it as my second life. I thought the game was quite dangerous too, especially after seeing what Graf went through. I don't like getting involved in anything dangerous, let alone anything that may endanger my life. My life is too precious.

"I've already transferred $5.000 to your bank account; if you agree, I'll transfer the remaining $20.000 to your account in the eighth month or until I recover."

“I'm not interested. I'll return it." 

“$80.000?!”

He wants to kill me it seems.

"Are you sure?" Graf is insane, according to Neo. He offered me $85.000 to play on a hacked account.

"If you want to use my account for 11 months, I'll pay $80.000 starting next month. I will not pay you in the last month, but from next month you will get a monthly payment of $7.273."