Money

"How was it? Are you past the beginner village?"

And, another fact to note is that my sister also plays the game.

Though she plays with her friends.

"Haha, no I'm only done hunting slimes."

"What? Really? Haven't you been playing for five hours?"

"Wait, five hours?"

I take my phone out of my pocket and check the time.

It was already 11pm.

I had been playing for three hours before entering the cave. Then that must mean that,

"I was stuck on that part for two hours?", I muttered in shock.

Wow.

The game time and real life time functions differently.

One hour in real life = One and a half hours in the game.

"Haa.."

Ri-ring, Ring—

The phone rang on the desk in the living room, close to Aisha.

"Let me get that."

My sister picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

It all looked okay and well until her expression turned to the contrary with a shocked look.

"What?? Dad's in the hospital?!"

A huge frown that her face had, entered mine as well.

I heard the news and understood very well what happened.

* * *

"Dad!"

Aisha ran towards my father in his hospital bed after the nurse opened the room door for us.

"Oh, Aisha, how are you doing today? Did you have fun at school?"

He acted so normally despite his condition of being bedridden in his bed. Contrary to my sister, who hugged him while bursting out into tears.

"Dad.. stop talking like that. Look at yourself first.."

Her tears wet the hospitals blanket which was wrapped around his body.

"It's okay, dear.."

As my dad looked down at my sister with a humble smile, he looked up and made eye contact with me.

"And, Alexander. Did you finally save up for that Pod you wanted?"

I couldn't take it.

Why was it that he acted like this? Like everything was okay.

I was incredibly concerned,

Yet, he acted so strong.

He was someone who worked day and night for us. Even starving himself whenever necessary just so that we could eat more.

'It's so unfair.'

I stood there in silence while staring at my father.

With hate.

At myself.

Mainly due to how I couldn't do much out of pure helplessness.

"Are you Mr. Mark's son?"

A voice behind me.

Judging from the uniform, it was the doctor.

I slowly nod, still trying to recover from what is happening right now.

"Please follow me."

I follow the doctor to room while my eyes look down at the floor in a dark mood.

We arrived at a secluded place and he explained every detail to me while I subsequently nodded every few seconds in understanding.

.

.

.

"Yes, I understand."

We both travel back and I call for Aisha.

"B-but, dad is.."

"Aisha. Come with me now. Dad still needs to rest."

I interrupt her with a stern voice.

"A-ah.. yes."

We both exit the hospital while staring at the ground.

"W-what did the doctor say?"

My sister stared at the floor, unable to make eye contact.

I looked at her for a second before answering.

"It's nothing that you have to worry about. Just focus on doing well at school."

"I'm fifteen! Of course I'm old enough-"

"Aisha!"

I interrupted her words by staring at her and shaking my head,

Clenching my teeth together, holding back my grief.

"Okay.."