FIRST INSTANCE: LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDS
1
Jana can still remember the first ever mission that she had experienced inside the game. She recalled sleeping in after her disastrous swimming class that afternoon.
Then, it was midnight when she woke up in an unfamiliar room. She was dressed in a white nightgown, her hair running loose with eyes blurry as hell. She tried to pull herself out of bed when she noticed the most horrible thing that could happen to her.
She can't feel her legs.
Nerves racked her brain. The moment she was about to open her mouth and shout for help, Vivien, the ‘trusted’ Ai's voice rang.
“Great host, how are you feeling?”
“Where am I?” Jana gasped. Her voice doesn't sound the same. “Where am I? My voice isn't like this! My-My face too...”
“Great host, I know. Have you forgotten? You accepted the conditions. Would you like to open the plot summary now?”
“What?” Jana demanded, “I'd like to go back—now! Let me out of this!”
“I'm sorry, host. That's not a part of my job as a trusted Ai. If the host wishes to leave, then she must complete the instances given consecutively.”
“I-I don't know how.” Jana hugged herself. Lost and full of anxiety. “I…can't feel my legs.”
“The protagonist in this instance is Hailey Greystone. She is a businesswoman, running five stores including the bakery right in front of the condo building the host is currently in. Hailey had experience scarcity in every way when she was young. Now that she is old enough, she ventured to make a name of her own. That's when the male lead, Giovanni Qiamco came to the part. She is Queenie Servantes' secretary. Queenie is the owner of the host's current body...”
Vivien continued with ease. “…Queenie had an accident which changes not just her life but her personality as well. A car accident ruined both of her legs. Before, the woman is outgoing and loves to travel the world. Because of being disabled, she needed to hire a secretary just for signing papers and pushing her wheelchair. Queenie does not treat Giovanni well. Often calling him names. Giovanni is not from a well-off family. That's why when the protagonist and male lead met, they felt an instant attraction.”
Jana closed her eyes. That's just like those TV shows she had seen in the past! Mumbling to herself, she rolled closer to the nightstand. Feeling up the glossy wood, her hand caught a grip of something hard. It was a box. After pinching it open, a glasses presented itself. Jana tried to put it on and instantly, the blurry images became clear.
Yet no Vivien was in sight. She could still hear the Ai speaking but nothing suspicious can be seen infront of her. Jana nodded her head, understanding that the Ai is inside her consciousness.
The story follows when Queenie continued to bully Giovanni. Hailey will comfort the aching Giovanni and the feelings of the two will continue to expand. The male lead fell for the protagonist's great skill in cooking. Later on, Queenie will realize how important was Giovanni to her. The protagonist and the male lead is now exclusively dating when Queenie decided to get the man back.
Giovanni quits as Queenie's secretary. Leaving the woman with no one beside her. No one can stand Queenie like Gio does. Queenie tried to apologize but then Hailey held Gio tight, promising to make their future together. Gio only bid Queenie his last goodbye.
Disappointed and forlorn, Queenie decided to throw everybody out. With her frustration, she decided to stop breathing for life. Queenie ended her pain.
Giovanni heard the news about Queenie's suicide and blamed himself for it. He then became absent-minded. Extremely guilty that he did not talk with Queenie properly. The protagonist fought with the male lead and reasoned for all that she could. It's not his fault, that Gio is a human too. He needed love, and love is where Hailey is. Queenie should have just accepted it. In the end, Hailey hugged Giovanni. After resolving their conflict, the male lead proposed, and the story ended on their wedding.
It was a good story. She heard something like this before. Not the same title, but the struggles were equal. Jana inquired, “The story is perfect. What needs to be done?"
She didn't know getting hit by a stray ball in the middle of the campus may lead her in this problem. If she had only knew, then maybe she wouldn't have get out of the classroom even if it rained fire!
“Tsk! The great host is not paying attention. Attentiveness can save lives, host.” After the gentle laugh, the Ai said with a cold voice, “The host must prevent her own death.”
Jana was quiet for a second before she blinked furiously. “What?”
‘Why do I have a bad feeling about this?’
“Each instances issue different tasks. But one of these task remains certain and unchangeable; you must save yourself. In this mission, you are tasked to change Queenie Servantes' ending and prevent the protagonist's from falling in love.” Vivien cheered. “Host, I wish you luck—enjoy the instances!”
Jana busied herself when the system went silent. She ran a critical eye to every clause and notice written on the faint hologram in front of her.
Dying inside the instances had no damage on her body once she went back to reality. She's basically immortal inside the game. Yet, that doesn't mean that every injury won't hurt her.
Once her character died, she can have rebirth just by spending some points. Eventhough this condition looks good, she can still feel the pain of being murdered or anything related to sickness. This might be all virtual but the feelings here are real-life. That's what scares her the most.
The fast time spent inside the game is a hundred times slower in the reality. Once she passes all these then she'd be able to eat dinner at home by ten. Her landlord would be full of litany again if she get home later than usual.
Jana told herself to be optimistic. However, settling low in her gut is a feeling where as though everything right now sounds ominous.
Like a great doom is just ahead.
