SWITCH TO ME

Chapter 01 : Neil's Pov

“It's seven in the morning, you need to wake up, Neil.” When I heard Dexter's voice, a vacuum cleaner robot, I immediately got out of bed and took off my eye mask.

In a huge mansion full of high-tech gadgets and robots where I live. I'm alone here at home from five in the afternoon to six in the morning. Because in the afternoon, my servants leave immediately, and then they come back the next day to prepare breakfast for me and to clean my house as well.

Handsomeness, intelligence, and wealth. I have almost all the types that a woman looks for. Unfortunately, I'm just a cripple. Because I had polio when I was five years old and when we found out about my illness it was too late, so I wasn't treated right away. Therefore, I couldn't walk anymore, and I always sat in my high-tech wheelchair. This wheelchair that I use does not need to be pushed further because it works automatically with the remote control and this high-tech wheelchair was created by my parents who are both scientists. While my vacuum cleaner robot, Dexter, I made him. That's why he's also programmed in me where he reminds me of what I need to do or what I forget.

“Dexter, play some music,” I ordered him while I was in front of the dining table eating my breakfast. He played good music, which often lightened my mood. Until a bird outside the window caught my attention. I slowly put my spoon down on the plate, so I wouldn't make a noise that would startle him. I just watched him carefully, but after a while, he flew away and left.

Furthermore, I can't help but be jealous of simple birds like them, who can fly freely wherever they go. Whereas, I was always indoors and couldn't even go to the different places I wanted to go.

Furthermore, because of my disability, why I study at home. I am typically bullied before because I am a cripple and no one dares to make friends with me. The things I went through for a long time were not easy, and I also did not experience going to club nights with my friends. Because of my legs, I can't do anything but sit in a wheelchair all day and move around the house.

“What's wrong? Are you sad?” Dexter asked me. He knows how I feel because he can detect the emotions on my face.

“Yes, I'm sad. I wonder what if I didn't become a cripple, and I'm just like ordinary people walking on the road like others. Will I be happy? Or will my life still be this sad?” I responded and he suddenly stopped the music.

“What do you want me to do to get rid of your sadness?” He asked, but I just grinned and left the kitchen.

What exactly would I expect from a robot like him? All he knows is to read the emotions on my face, but he doesn't understand my feelings.

I just went inside my room and opened my laptop because it was time to go to my online class.

I have to admit that I'm getting tired of the life I have. My life is repeating itself over and over again, and I have run out of ideas to do daily. After my online class, I will leave the house to water my plants in the garden, and then I will watch my favorite movies, then I will read a book while lying in bed and eating cookies and by seven o'clock at night I'm going to sleep. My life has always been like that. I want to experience life as an ordinary person running on the road while rushing to school or part-time jobs.

But no matter how hard I try to move or walk my feet, I always stumble and get hurt. So, sometimes I just wish I didn't wake up one morning. Whereas they will find me lifeless while lying in my bed, after all the life I have is useless. If it wasn't for my parent's money and the robots I use, I might have disappeared from this world a long time ago.

“Neil, don't forget to go to church today.” The text message Mom sent me. Therefore, I suddenly remembered that it was indeed Sunday and I had to go to church. That's why I hurriedly dressed and changed my clothes. Suddenly, the sadness I felt earlier disappeared because I remembered that today is Sunday and I can leave the house.

Every time I go to church, I can go out and take a walk in another place. But I can't leave alone, and I always need someone to watch over me.

“Are you ready for another adventure, Master Neil?” Arturo, my driver, and bodyguard, jokingly told me. I nodded my head and smiled as he picked me up and gently put me inside the car. Thereafter, we left immediately and went to the church.

I could hardly take my eyes off every building we passed. Because over time, the appearance of the surroundings changes little by little, and many will suddenly disappear and then be replaced by a new color. I also often watch children playing on the side of the road with happy smiles on their lips.

“Arturo, did you experience when you were a child to play as they do?” I asked him, he nodded his head and smiled as if he suddenly remembered the happy memories of his childhood.

“How does it feel to play with your friends while you're sweating profusely because the sun is so hot?” I asked him again while I peeked through the windshield and just looked at the road.

“It feels good and fun, even though it's so hot and our clothes get dirty. Honestly, you don't realize you're dirty or sweaty because you're enjoying yourself so much.” He replied, and I drew a bitter smile on my lips.

I didn't even understand what he meant, but I wanted to experience such simple things. Where nothing stands in the way of your pleasure and desire.

While we were heading to the church, I didn't realize that I was already taking a nap thinking about plenty of things. I just woke up when I heard Arturo's voice, and it seemed like he had been calling me by my name for a while.

“We're already here, why didn't you wake me up right away?” I asked and he laughed at the same time.

“I woke you up a while ago, but you were too sound asleep.” He replied. I was about to open the door, but I noticed that there seemed to be no one else there but us.

“Where they are?” I asked him at the same time he scratched his head.

“The truth is that the mass ended a while ago while you were sleeping.” He said that surprised me.

“You mean I slept that long?” I said in surprise and he nodded his head.

I couldn't believe it because that was the first time I slept so well and for so long. If Arturo hadn't woken me up, I might still be sleeping in the car.

“Then I'll just go inside the church to pray.” After I said that, he immediately got out of the car and picked me up while gently sitting me in my wheelchair. “I can just go in here alone,” I added, and he just nodded his head, then I continued inside the church.

I noticed that some people were also praying there, so I slowly went to the back seat because I would rather not disturb them while they were praying. After making the sign of the cross, I closed my eyes for a moment to whisper to him what I repeatedly prayed to him.

Thereafter, I was about to leave, but suddenly a piece of paper fell from my hand, so I picked it up immediately and read what was written.

“Life is short, so don't be afraid to believe in yourself.” What was written on the paper surprised me. I looked around to find out who gave it to me, but there was no one else there except me. So, it's a puzzle to me how this paper ended up in my hand when it wasn't there earlier when I entered the church.