*Phize is in his room covered with a blanket*
*A little boy opens the door and shakes Phize*
Boy: Big brother, it's time to wake up.
*Lexia enters the room*
Lexia: Did your big brother wake up yet?
*A little girl hugs Lexia from behind*
Girl: Mom!
Lexia: Oh sweetie, you shouldn't be here.
*Lexia leads the little boy and the little girl outside the room*
*Lexia gets sad*
Lexia: Oh, Phize...
*She taps his shoulders*
Lexia: Phize, I know you're having a hard time and you can skip school if you want to. But you have to move on, I'm sure Pallitra wouldn't be happy if she saw you in the state you're in right now.
*She leaves the room and closes the door*
*Phize rises from his bed taller than before with longer hair*
It's been... 3 years... but it only feels like yesterday that I lost her.
Phize: I never even got to say to her that I love her.
*Phize looks at the stitches around his heart*
*He touches them with his right hand*
This scar... it hurts. Physically and emotionally. It's almost like it wants me to remember that traumatic day.
*He looks at the ground*
What should I do now? I don't know what to do.
Phize: I feel so... empty...
*Vhint enters the room*
Vhint: Hey there buddy.
*Phize looks at Vhint but looks at the ground immediately after*
*Vhint sits down beside Phize*
Vhint: You know, I can understand what you're feeling right now. That feeling of emptiness, the feeling of losing someone, in front of your eyes nonetheless. I've lost my mother, my father, my best friend, and a lot of my close friends.
*Vhint looks at Phize*
Vhint: The feeling is always there, it never fades, a sense of hopelessness overcomes you, and you blame yourself.
*Vhint wraps Phize around his right arm*
Vhint: Phize, you are an exemplary child...
*He hugs Phize*
Vhint: So don't blame yourself, it wasn't your fault that this incident happened.
*Tears let out from Phize's eyes*
Phize: I-I STILL CAN'T FORGIVE MYSELF! WHAT I DID WAS INEXCUSABLE!
I CAN'T SAY I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING! I DISCOVERED SOMETHING. AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO USE IT TO MY ADVANTAGE. I CAN'T EXCUSE MYSELF FOR JUST BEING A CHILD BACK THEN, BECAUSE INSIDE ME THERE IS A 20-YEAR OLD MAN. AND FOR BEING SO HOPELESSLY POWERLESS AGAINST THEM DESPITE THE ADVANTAGE I'D GIVEN MYSELF...
*Tears come down from his eyes*
Phize: ...Just makes me so utterly pathetic.
*Vhint stands up*
Vhint: I hope you find your way, son. I know you have it in you. It's because there's only one way to go from here.
*Phize looks at Vhint*
Phize: ...One way?
Vhint: I'm sure you'll know it soon. You are my son after all.
*Vhint smiles*
Vhint: Now, come on and eat breakfast. A sad tummy won't feed itself, would it?
*Vhint goes down the stairs*
One... way?
*Phize stands up and goes down the stairs*
*The whole family is eating at the table*
*Phize sits beside Vhint*
*Phize eats his breakfast*
*He stops and admires his breakfast*
Delicious...
*He eats the breakfast very speedily*
*The little boy looks at Phize*
Boy: Big Brother, why are you eating so fast?
*Phize finishes his meal*
Phize: Mom... I'm... going to school today.
I'm tired of moping in that room.
*Phize grabs his bag and runs to school*
*He arrives at the school entrance*
It's been a while since I've looked at the school again.
*Phize goes inside the school*
*He goes to his classroom*
*The classroom is a 4 by 5 seating arrangement*
The seats are cleared as usual... except for one.
*Phize sits at the 3rd row and 4th column*
*Hasha arrives at the classroom*
Hasha: Good morning class!
*She looks at Phize*
Hasha: Oh, Phize, are you feeling okay? You don't need to force yourself to go to school if you don't want to.
Phize: I-I'm fine. Thank you, Miss Hasha.
School... the only time I enjoyed the concept of school were in my early days of childhood in my previous world and the time I spent with Pallitra in school.
*Phize looks at his desk*
Ever since the incident, I was labeled as an unfortunate guy, but instead of guiding me, the students and teachers were scared of me, they thought that I was being controlled by the Witches of Haydel acting as a spy.
*Hasha discusses*
They labeled me as... the Cursed Child since I was the first case whatsoever to survive the infamous Organ Hunt.
*He looks at the door*
Ever since the loss of Pallitra, Trif Guise bullied me more than ever and I didn't participate in the school lectures anymore. I was basically the Problem Child of the High Institute of Veril. My grades were still average but I was no longer the top student of the school.
*He looks to his left*
My seatmate, the girl who was second to me reigned as the top student of the school. Her name was Hazel Athi? Wait, no, that's not it. Hazel Paufia, the top student in school.
*Hazel looks at him*
Hazel: Um, what are you looking at?
Dammit... looking at how high she's gotten, makes me remember how far I've fallen.
*He looks at Hasha*
For three years, I've been moping in my room. I've had enough of that. Right now, at the very least, I don't think I can still let go of Pallitra nor can I ever forgive myself for my uselessness, but there's only one thing I can do, and that is to...
Phize: ...Move forward...
END OF EPISODE 19
YOU ARE READING
Programmer in Another World
AdventureThere was a man in modern-day Germany who always favored programming and in his pursuit for his dreams, he attained it, but life hasn't what he expected. He can only rely on his best friend, Ansgar Wegener, a gamer, who had always supported him. Bot...
