Going Off Script

Chapter One: Doom at your service

My family owned a little bakery shop which used to be my favorite place when I was a kid; when everything felt so easy. The sweet scent that stuck with my father always felt nice to smell. His hair, his clothes, it was all over him. I used to welcome him home, running to hug him and tackle him on the ground.

And this morning, it was all over the house, that sweet smell. The bakery was right downstairs.

I pull myself out of my stupor and get dressed to eat breakfast. I glance at my watch and let out a deep sigh. Life really is boring if I didn't have Ethan to make it better and bearable.

We are now living in a world where most people would rather escape into VR than face reality. Everyone lives out their fantasy life in VR, making reality feel boring by comparison because facing the reality is much harder than accepting the truth. I used to care about living life in reality but it all bit me in my ass and failed me. Now I can have whatever I want and whoever I want to be with the help of Virtual reality. I actually live a second secret life where I even found the love of my life, Ethan, through the VR world called "Mate-up".

"Mate-up" is a world you go to escape, a dimension where you can create your own world and any person you want to spend your life with. Most people make their ideal partner look like their celebrity crush. I made my life partner Ethan through a whole backstory and character I built on my own creative novel.

Yes, you're right. I gave life to my novel characters. In that world, we met in high school, became friends and then we hang out together in my "Mate-up" space. We also go to beaches and dates now. I still haven't made him propose to me yet to be my boyfriend. It's not as pathetic as it sounds. There is also a system where you can ask for a character to be made by VR if you can't choose between anything.

I'm sure single people like me can relate to my obsession with how imaginative hot guys asking you out feels like. I might have used up all of my luck on having something of my own. So now I live with my parents just to show my love for them. I know it's definitely to annoy them. But here I am being tortured by their constant nagging about finding myself a man and getting married already. I mean, it's the 21st century and I don't need a man to take care of me, right?

Who am I kidding, I would instantly run toward Ethan if he existed in reality.

"Mom, where is my breakfast?'' I ask as I race downstairs to tame my growling stomach.

I peek over my mother's shoulder to see what she's cooking.

"Ooooooo, that looks tasty, let me help you eat that," I say, with drool dripping down my mouth already. "If you're not going help me, at least stay put. God, stop eating everything. It's not for you." I can hear the frustration in her voice.

"C'mon, I'm not even eating the whole thing but just a bite. It tastes too good to be left alone!"

"Then cook it yourself instead of gobbling it all up from the pan. How come I'm the only one doing all the household chores when you don't even do any jobs." She glares at me.

"I would get my paycheck once my story gets published then I would help with the chores, I don't have the time to do it right now."

"You were the one who said you will stay home here forever and do all the household chores, even laundry. Make your own breakfast. That's the least you can do, don't you think?" she replies with an angry smile on her face.

After taking one last bite, I start going back to my room to meet my handsome 'Ethan'. Poor baby must be feeling alone. Then I remember her words from earlier about making lunch for someone else. "Oh, by the way, who's coming? You said you were preparing food for someone."

Before my mother can answer me, the front door opens and my father comes in holding flower pots. The silver lining and wrinkles on his face make him look older but the smile on his face as soon as he sees me makes him look so much younger. My mother is an Asian from Korea who used to sell baked goods with my grandma back in her hometown to make ends meet. She was twenty-seven when she met my father for marketing purposes for her bakery. My father stumbled into her life out of nowhere and eventually, they fell in love. They got married and stayed in her home for a couple of years before migrating to America where they had me.

I stare at my father and wonder if I would ever find a guy like him. Our eyes meet and he raises an eyebrow at me. I don't understand the questioning gaze he threw at me.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Share your thoughts along the way.

Have a nice journey! ❤️