The Zenith System

Chapter 002

The key turns with a soft click, and the apartment door swings inward. Celeste's silhouette fills the hallway and Zack can't help but look at his older cousin.

Celeste, Zack's 28-year-old cousin, lives with him in an apartment. She is a lead manager in an international company and has just returned from her shift. Her eyes are ringed with exhaustion.

She must have felt his stare because she raises her head and greets, "Evening, Zack."

"Hey, Celeste. Rough day?"

She gives him a half-shrug, her gaze skirting away from him. "Isn't it always?"

She then drops her keys into a bowl by the door, shedding her blazer and placing it on the back of the couch before sitting beside him.

"Want to talk about it?" Zack ventures, already knowing the answer.

"Maybe some other time," she deflects.

She unbuttons the top of her shirt and closes her eyes, as if her everyday is as hard as his day is.

"By the way, Mason is asking if he can visit, after all his exams," he tentatively asks.

"Hmmm," she mutters. "Is he still in college? He's the same age as you, right?"

Zack feels a pang. Here he is, who is not even in school and will probably stay as a convenience store worker forever.

"So, can he visit?"

"Only him? Or with other young women? I don't want a rowdy party here."

"Only him," he says. Celeste knows how popular Mason can be. "But he asked if you could join our little party."

"He can come, but I can’t join," is the quick reply. She looks at him with a scowl. "You know I am always busy."

But she's not. Every time she is in the apartment, all she does is stare at nothing, thinking of something that he's not privy of.

She takes a deep breath and stands up. She moves towards her room, her steps heavy with exhaustion.

"Mason will bring in snacks and drinks," Zack calls after her, but she has already disappeared behind her sanctuary. "I also prepared dinner," he adds.

Zack exhales. Mason will be disappointed. He stands up to clean up and then, maybe later, he can play some games.

*****************

Once all his tasks are done for the day, Zack sits in front of the television and powers up the console in the living room. The familiar chime sounds and the screen flickers to life revealing the title screen "The Chronicles."

Zack's avatar — a rugged looking knight stands in the middle of a forest, clad in gleaming cobalt armor. It wields the legendary blade, said to contain the essence of a fallen star.

His fingers dance over the controller, a smile tugging at his lips as he navigates the enchanted forests.

"Time to take down the Shadow Dragon," he whispers as his avatar charges into a cavernous lair.

"Come on you overgrown lizard!" he taunts.

His fingers expertly guide his avatar in a dance of slashes and parries. The battle is intense, demanding every ounce of his focus. In this virtual world, he is a hero, powerful and fearless.

Just a little more, and it will be done. There is no need for him to use an HP potion even if his HP will be depleted in just a single hit from the dragon. One more combo and— 

"If only you have that same concentration on other aspects of your life, you won't stay as a convenience store worker forever, you know."

Zack jumps at Celeste's voice, his finger slips and a hit from the dragon enters his defenses, and then, a 'You Lose' appears on the screen.

He turns sharply towards Celeste and sees her looking at the screen. Her hand is on her waist while her other hand is holding a bottle of water. She's wearing skimpy shorts and a very loose shirt. Her hair is messily done in a bun. He wonders if Mason digs these types of women. Elegant when outside the house, but shabby while inside the house.

"What?" she asks, sensing his eyes on her. "It's just a game. It's okay to lose there if you are winning in real life."

Zack snorts. Only people like her can say that. Twenty-eight and she is already successful. That is why, she doesn't notice that her words come off as harsh to him.

"What do you want?" he asks. He can't really get angry at her. She owns the apartment, pays the bills, and even the majority — or maybe all — of the grocery comes from her.

"Well, the sink is full of ants. You might have not cleaned it properly earlier."

And he is also, currently, her servant in the house, in exchange for everything that she provides.

"I will clean it up."

"Hmmm, okay, don't stay up too late."

"I will lower the volume down."

"Just be aware of the electricity bill."

"Alright."

"Also, your brain cells will die if you continue staying up late. And I'm pretty sure you still need them, given your current situation."

Zack looks away, so that his cousin won't see his annoyance. He can't really see how Mason will like this kind of woman, when other sensitive young women are running after him.