Chapter 41

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No Plagiarism!ujrlfUWs6iRt0amWjnCnposted on PＥNAＮＡ ‘Don’t go.’ She held me tightly and lifted her head up slightly. Hot tears filled the brim of her eyes.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDTxpym6Wd 維尼

‘Don’t be like this.’ I rejected her, yet deep down I was still clinging onto her.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4u0tP8Gayp 維尼

‘Is this place not good enough? The idyllic scene around us, the huge mansion we’re in, the gourmet food and fine wine… Siu Si and I are here too!’ She called Siu Si, our beloved daughter, to come over here by gently waving at her.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdRgm0PQM4 維尼

Only five years old, Siu Si was already chubby, all dewy-eyed and whose hair was tied up into two thin small ponytails. She puffed up her little pink cheeks and hugged my leg, just like her Mum did.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhU3tZrn2v 維尼

Every word and gesture of theirs touched my heart, tearing my rational and emotional thoughts apart.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCI02wdxcF 維尼

I had no choice.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaVOAxWmo7 維尼

Their appearances, words, and actions were from my memories. With the help of advanced technology, their voices, their scents, their touch… All of which made it look like they were right in front of me! They were right in my arms!8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡHipy0eImXF 維尼

‘I’m sorry…’ Without waiting for them to respond, I abruptly took off my helmet and left the virtual world.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFhRpO2ZBU 維尼

The dark, narrow space and the mellow sunshine in the cyber world created a stark contrast. My mind and eyes kept spinning since they hadn’t adapted to the current surroundings, and I rolled off the bed to the ground.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOVnSfrPj4 維尼

Seconds later, a middle-aged male staff burst into the room. He let out a sigh of relief only after noticing I was fairly conscious.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LMmEjhOgt 維尼

‘Sir, I have explained the whole process to you. You should know that there will be consequences if you forcefully take off the helmet on your own. You may fall into a coma for days. Worse still, your nervous system may be permanently damaged and you’ll end up being in a vegetative state.’ The tough-looking man had a surprisingly mincing voice.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlJK7r5ynQ 維尼

I propped myself up and leaned against the backrest. Just right after I had merely calmed myself down and my breathing became slightly more stable, I apologised to the man. ‘I’m sorry I scared you.’8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrPuLNDGtq 維尼

I didn’t know why the man froze after my apology.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQgXkWN63T 維尼

‘If the machine is damaged because of my actions, I will pay up for it.’ I was a responsible man under any circumstances, and I was proud of that.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡM08Bsk4XRK 維尼

‘No, I didn’t mean that… ’ The man finally recovered, and came forward to help me up and walked me to the lounge. He got hold of a hot towel and placed it on my forehead.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxApzXN0hZ 維尼

The heat made me feel much more awake, yet an immense headache followed.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZ4ngAS3KF 維尼

‘Just bear the pain for a while.’ The man blew out clouds of smoke beside me. ‘You shouldn’t have gone against my instructions.’8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIXbER0Bbt 維尼

‘I couldn’t not go.’ My heart dropped. ‘I was afraid that I would wallow in the virtual world forever.’8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mud9ntHmp 維尼

‘Did your family die?’ His two fingers casually held onto the cigarette he was smoking.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxZT425vVw 維尼

‘You can tell?’ I tried to ignore the pain and examined him with squinted eyes. He was a big man who had seen many things.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CxQ2be87M 維尼

‘Most of my customers are willing to spend fortunes at my shop, because they can’t stand the pain of their loved ones’ deaths.’ Conveying a deeper message, he added, ‘You're not the only one.’8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0drAgV4Ts 維尼

‘So that’s why I should not feel sad about it?’ There was subtext in his words.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SDjgjjhdY 維尼

‘That’s why you’re capable of making it through. Everyone’s been through it.’ Was he looking down on my misery?8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJtsrx3YZ1 維尼

‘I’m not them! And they’re not me!’ I was a bit mad.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡVljFx7XlZX 維尼

‘I know. People spend fortunes reminiscing about the past. Their wake-up call finally hits them until they don't have a penny left. They have no choice but to get back into the swing of things, by finding a job to earn a living, and then gradually they forget about the pain. You’re the only one who has the ability to stop yourself from letting your mind set on the past and quickly returning to a normal life. You took the initiative to give me an apology, instead of throwing a tantrum to let out your pent-up grief.’ The man handed me a cigarette.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2ihtXhBgQ 維尼

I took it and toyed with it between my fingers.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcLnkwapao 維尼

The whiteness and roughness of the cigarette. The strong scent of tobacco. The faint crunching sounds created from fingers pressing the tobacco together. The artificial taste given off from the filter put between my lips. All of them were real, yet void of anything. Soulless.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6kif1lKsH 維尼

Like the virtual world.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡe30ds0tiUr 維尼

‘As for this…’ I put the cigarette down, and took out every bill from my wallet. ‘Thank you.’8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡic1VcbwXfB 維尼

The man happily accepted the bill, and jokingly said, ‘See you never!’8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0xM1XB0S2 維尼

‘Hopefully so’ The pain in my head was still there, though the pain in my heart slowly faded away.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1zyBWwoFE 維尼

Night fell as I stepped out of the shop.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡES5EUCWhwt 維尼

I turned around to look at the shop’s neon sign. Flashes of purple, white, blue, and green flared rhythmically. The sparks they gave off were eye-catching.8964 copyright protection338ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuYopJA5wv 維尼

But when I opened my eyes, I realised that they were only a glint out of a thousand blazes. How trivial.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6dA2T7C5Q

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