1: New Game

"I did it! Yes! I, uh--" feeling downcast. He laid his headphone on the desk and stepped away from the stream for a moment.

Sigh.

Houwin Whitbeck, a distinguished man in during his studies and at work. Even when considering his childhood was fought with hardships. An adopted child of a poor family, he sought everything he can to uplift his adopted family's condition.

Born from a prostitute and a foreign soldier's part-time fun, Houwin accomplished colored achievements in his academics. His business boomed, earning him a 5 digit salary weekly without doing much. His past pushed him to strive the best for himself and for his family... leaving the fun side of things.

Now, he rubbed a towel to his face as he washed off the sweat. An uneasy feeling that is creeping up to him as he stared at his own reflection.

"I'm not happy anymore..."

He said to himself, and the uneasy feeling started drowning him.

Then he heard a commercial on his T.V

"Heroes are not born, they are made."

A recruitment commercial for the country's armed forces, a minor thing to many but to Houwin, this was a calling.

"Hey chat, I know this is out of the blue, But I have an announcement to make."

The chat board flared out with their excitement, guesses, and hopes.

Houwin look at the chat then look at the camera. He knew that once he told them of his plan, he will not be able to regain their trust in this platform again. He squeezed his hand, out of sight of the camera lens. Determined.

"I will be joining the Army."

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"HMMM! I'm gonna miss you so much!" Houwin's adopted mother hugged him so tightly and for a prolonged period. Like the rest of the people around them. Telling an encouragement to their sons and daughters as they leave to take the bus that will deliver them to their new home, The Army Officer Training School.

"Big! Bro!" his sister hugged him tightly. As she stepped back, she can't stop the tears in her eyes.

Houwin giggled and ruffled his sister's hair.

"At first, I was against this." said his mother, she sniffled as she tried to hold back a tear, "Your father and I were always proud of you- even when we got you, and people started talking bad things about you, You always try to do the best for your family, and now you have something you have decided on... I think as a family, we must support you on your happiness."

"Ma, I love you and dad." The three of them hugged each other so tightly.

"Aw! Aw! Aw! You're crushing me!" her sister screamed.

"HAHA!"

"Alright, people! This is your last chance to go home and play video games all day!" Screamed the Sargeant.

Houmin and the other recruits said their goodbyes as they will be seeing their family after their 2-year training. Or if they quit halfway.

The youths filled up in 2 sets of single file position. Standing straight as the Sargeant eyed each one.

"This may be the very last chance you will get! All of you bastards not yet done playing their games at their homes can quit now! Better yet! You can consider this a new game for every one of you! The Army Officer Game! Am I understood?!"

"SIR! YES, SIR!"

"OH MY GOD!! DO I LOOK LIKE I SIR TO YOU?! I WORK FOR A LIVING! CALL ME SARGEANT!"

Houmin spoke first, "YES! SARGEANT!"

"I like that one! You got the making of a-- What the?"

Sirens blared out.

Then a flash of light blasted out to his side. Houmin turned his head and was horrified to see a mushroom cloud from afar and to what it seems to be a nuclear detonation.

He dropped his things and ran to his family but got blocked by a girl with glasses which they both fell down. He hurriedly apologizes to her and continues running to his family. Forgetting the fact that she was still holding the girl.

Desperately trying to reach his family as the blast was behind them. His sister was hugging their mom so tightly and crying. His mom, on the other hand, was calm and smiling.

The houses and buildings behind them were quickly evaporated into the flash heat of the nuclear blast.

Before everything turned into dust, the last thing Houmin saw of his family was her mom saying the words...

"I love you,"

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*PING*

New Game?

Yes/no?