The sounds of plates gently hitting each other and quiet talking filled the room. Adam sat down at the dining table. This was his last meal at home. It felt strange and sad. A sense of finality hung in the air.
His mother Rachel walked around. She placed a bowl of hot colorful vegetables before him. Bright green broccoli orange carrots and red bell peppers.
Steam rose smelling fresh. His father Ricky sat across drinking coffee. The rich dark scent mixed with the food. Ricky watched Adam quietly.
The delicious smell was all around. But Adam's mind was not on eating. His gaze drifted to the window.
His thoughts were ahead on the train ride and the city. He knew this meal was important but his brain buzzed with secret plans. The knowledge of what was to come created a barrier. He forced himself to pick up his fork.
He ate quietly chewing slowly. The vegetables were crisp. He did not talk much. His thoughts kept going back to his big choice not to go to university.
Each bite felt like an effort to appear normal.
The weight of this decision felt heavy. But he knew he could not change his mind. This was the path he had to take. This conviction kept the guilt from overwhelming him.
The clock in the hall chimed. Noon. The sound marked time. Adam pushed back his chair. The legs scraped. He stood and walked into the living room. His parents were already waiting. The atmosphere was subdued.
They sat and talked. Not about anything too serious. His dad told a funny story. His mom reminded him about a cousin's birthday. They gave gentle advice about being careful eating well studying hard.
They did not know his plans. Their words were for a future he would not live.
They thought he was going to university to study computers. They had so much belief in him. He saw the pride in their eyes.
This faith made him feel warm. But it also made him feel intensely guilty. The duality of his emotions was a constant struggle.
Rachel's eyes looked shiny. Her voice shook a little. "Just promise us you'll take care of yourself Adam," she said softly. Her hand touched his arm. "That's all we ask. Stay safe and healthy. Call us."
Adam nodded. A lump formed in his throat. "I will Mom," he said his voice shaky. "I promise." He meant it. He had to do this for them.
Ricky his dad leaned forward his face serious. His gaze was steady.
"Remember son," he said. "Life is not just about chasing dreams. Sometimes you have to make tough choices." He paused looking at Adam. "But no matter what you do we're proud of you. Always remember that." His father's words were an anchor.
Adam smiled faintly a small sad smile. His heart ached. He wished he could tell them everything. About his mistakes in his past life. How things turned out bad. About this unbelievable second chance. He wished he could explain why he had to do this.
But he could not. Not now. How could they understand something so impossible? They would think he was crazy.
Soon it was time. Adam went upstairs for his suitcase. He walked into his room. It felt different emptier. The posters seemed faded. The silence was profound.
He grabbed his suitcase packed with clothes for a future his parents envisioned not his own.
With his bags he stood at the front door. He held the handle. His heart was heavy but also determined. He turned to face his parents. He felt their eyes on him.
"Take care of Eric while I'm gone will you?" he said thinking of his younger brother. Adam felt bad he could not say goodbye to him directly.
Ricky chuckled a warm sound. "Don't worry about him," he teased. "He is probably smarter than you anyway." The joke eased the tension.
Adam laughed softly. He knew Eric would understand eventually.
With a final wave Adam stepped out and closed the door. The click of the latch was loud. His journey had begun.
He walked to the train station. It was busy. The rumble of an approaching train mixed with voices and announcements.
Adam found a seat in a crowded train car. He put his suitcase above. As the train moved he looked out the window. His hometown disappeared. It felt like his old life was fading.
Memories from his past life returned. He remembered this trip. His father giving him $38,000 for university. The feel of the cash the weight of expectations.
This time he would not use that money for university. He planned to use it and more to buy a VR set. The cheapest one that would work for Row Online. Even the cheapest cost over $40,000. He needed thousands more.
It was a big risk but he knew it was his only chance. "$38,000 is not enough," Adam thought. "I'll need part-time jobs." He had to earn more fast. Two months until the game's new version in March. Every minute counted.
The train reached Feku City. Evening was setting. The streets were busy and bright. It was 5:00 p.m. Adam stepped off tired but also excited and nervous.
The station was a dizzy mix of people rushing home sellers calling out musicians playing. The city felt alive loud and fast.
Adam walked through the crowd pulling his suitcase. He found the apartment his father had booked. His dad thought it was temporary. Adam knew it was home for now.
The apartment was small and simple. A bed a table a chair. Plain walls. It smelled faintly of fresh paint. Functional but not pretty. He quickly unpacked.
Exhausted he collapsed onto the bed. He stared at the ceiling his mind racing. "I have two months to save as much as I can. At least another $4,000." He could not get scared now.
The next morning Adam started looking for jobs. He got up early. He walked to coffee shops and restaurants with resumes. He talked to managers trying to sound confident.
By day's end he had two jobs. A barista at a coffee shop. A delivery boy for a restaurant. He knew it was not enough.
A few days later he found a third job. Stocking shelves at a grocery store at night.
Time sped up. Days turned into nights. Adam juggled three jobs. Always moving always working. His mornings started very early ended very late. Hardly any time for anything else. He barely had time to eat often grabbing quick food. Sleep was a luxury. He was always tired. His body ached. But he pushed through the pain.
He kept going driven by one thing: every dollar earned brought him closer to the VR set. Closer to his goal.
By late February he counted his money. He had saved $12,000. Adding his dad's $38,000 he had $50,000. Enough. It was not easy. Many times he felt like quitting the tiredness overwhelming. But he reminded himself why. His past mistakes his second chance. He could not fail.
March 1 2025. The sun shone. Today was the day. He stepped out his savings clutched tight. The streets were busy. Bakers putting out bread people on bikes construction sounds.
The city was waking up. Adam felt he was too.
He walked to a small electronics store. TechHub: Tomorrow's Technology Today. The inside was filled with gadgets. His eyes found the VR set in a glass case. Sleek and cool. A symbol of his new life.
A sales assistant came over. Middle-aged friendly smile. "Looking for something?"
Adam nodded. "Yes. The basic VR set." He pointed.
"Good choice. Popular. $42,000 including installation."
Exactly the price he remembered. He had enough. He handed over $42,000 cash. His heart raced. The sale was completed. The assistant packed the box carefully and said an installer would come later.
Back at his apartment Adam waited nervously. He tidied up. By evening a technician arrived and set up the VR set quickly. The sleek device gleamed on his desk. It looked like the future in his plain room.
Adam stood before the VR set. Heart pounding. He had $8,000 left. Not much to live on. He decided to keep the night stocking job to cover costs. The rest of his time would be for the game. Release was days away.
9:00 p.m. He reached for the VR set. Strapped on the headgear. Put on the special gloves. They felt smooth responsive. "This time I'll fix my mistakes," he thought.
Adam started the VR set. A loading screen then a menu.