Family Forever

August slowly opened the wooden door. He entered and saw clothes hanging, shoes neatly placed by each other.

He took off his shoes and placed it beside a pair of smaller white shoes. He continued walking the hallway and entered the living room.

The moment he stepped in, he got greeted by a suprise he forgot or just too immersed in his emotions that he couldn't remember:

"Happy Birthday!"

Three voices, two females, one older while the other sounded much younger. The last one sounded male with a deep voice.

In front August stood three people who he regonized from his very being. Even though they looked less familliar from his past life. He loved them from the bottom of his heart.

August shed a small tear drop from the corner of both of his eyes. He didn't notice it, but the people in front did.

'Hmm? Today is my birthday."

'Ahh, I forgot, It was ages ago when we last celebrated.'

"August, is something wrong?" asked a woman with a sweet voice that carried the usually motherly tone, but with a hint of worry.

She looked to around her late early 40's with her black hair and charming brown eyes, small nose and red lips. Her name is: Amanda Watch.

"Brother, don't cry.." asked a sweet and adorable voice that also carried the same worry. She looked around to be 15 years old, her dark brown hair and innocent brown eyes with her small nose and red lips made her cuter. Her name is: Alice Watch.

"Son?" asked a deep male voice, even though the worry in the tone was hidden, but in front of August and his family who knew him better than anyone, he was easily seen through. He looked aroind to be the same age as his wife, Amanda. He has brown hair and piercing brown eyes. He had the aura of a true man, coupled with his tall height and muscles. His name is: Ben Watch

August looked at his family, his heart filled with warmth with their tender and worried looks. He couldn't help but feel happy.

"Nothing... It's just happiness." answered August.

August's family narrowed their eyes and looked at him, they felt that he seemed different than usual, but couldn't pinpoint it.

"Ok, then let's dig in!" echoed Alice.

"Right right, let's go now."

What they didn't know was that indeed August has changed due his past life experiences. Only people who were close to him could see that he changed. He is no longer naive or weak, he had the same aura as his father.

August followed his family and sat down around the table. There was a big cake in the middle displaying his current age of 17 years old on a sign.

Alice was gobbling on the piece of cake she got while others laughed and talked with each other. August also joined them, but it mostly related to school.

Talking about school, August narrowed his eyes and felt his painful memories flood back again. He closed his eyes and released a deep breath.

While deep in thoughts that has strangely became a habit of him. He noticed that Alice was looking at him.

August stared back at her and wondered why she was looking him with an expectant gaze.

"Alice, what is it?"

"Mmm, can I have another piece.."

"Huh, Hahaha. Yeah you can lil sis."

Alice pouted her adorable cheeks and took another piece of cake. It seemed that she is cake lover.

August stared at his family with a profound gaze that was filled with famillal love and gratitude.

'...Thank you'

He thanked whoever or whatever that gave him this chance to meet his family again in good condition.

.....

After the birthday celebration, August and his family went back doing their stuff.

August went inside his room. It was small, but in his opinion it was spacious enough for him. There was a single bed in the corner, a table with the typical gaming setup, like gaming keyboard, mouse and computer. Yes, he is a gamer nerd.

He walked towards his bed and jumped and laid his entire body on the comfy bed. He slowly sank into the bed's matress. It felt like he was in cloud nine, he missed this relaxing feeling that wasn't carrying the burden of his family.

'No, It's no time to relax! I still have a long way to go..' sigh August inwardly.

'I gotta prepare a plan so I can reap the most benefits'

August laid on the comfy bed and thought about his plans, how he is gonna execute them and the consequences behind each action. By the end of his planning, it left him quite a headache.

'Ahhh.. I'm tired.. Tomorrow the gaming VR headset should release in our city.'

He closed his eyelids and slowly but surely he faded into his dreams...

Zzzzzz.....

.....

The sun rays shining past the windows, reflecting the light over the shadows. Welcoming a new day that arrived. The greenery and the athmosphere smelled summer and looked bright coupled with the bright flaming orb in the sky.

A young man's eyelids trembled opened, revealing his crystal brown eyes. August slowly sat on his bed, he rubbed his eyes and yawned while stretching his arms and legs a bit.

August realizing he slept in his ordinary clothes, facepalmed and blamed himself for forgetting something so simple, yet at the same time he couldn't help but blame at his tiredness and shock of yesterday.

He slowly stood up and walked outside of his room. Today he was planning to outside and go to the gaming mall and buy the gaming capsule for ASCENSION° Online.

He walked past the living room and saw the front door. He was just about to open it, but stopped because he heard his little sister voice"

"Brother, where are you going?" asked Alice behind him.

"I'm going to th-" but got interupted mid-sentence.

"The gaming store?"

"..."

"Yes. The gaming store..." sigh August.

"..."

"Expected."

"Ahhh, enough, I'm going now okay, goodbye. I'll be back before lunch."

"Wait, let me follow you!"

"Huh no, never"

"Pretty please" Alice stared at August's eyes with those 'puppy eyes'.

"Arghh... Okay lil sis you can follow, but tell our parents first."

"Okay~"

Alice walked back deeper into house and found their parents sitting in the kitchen eating their breakfast. She told them about following her big brother to the shopping center, both didn't ask why and just nodded, but reminded them to be back before lunch.

Alice went back to August after a minute of waiting. They went out and walked to the gaming mall located near the center of city.

"Brother, why you going to the mall?"

"To buy a new game"

"Huh, but you already bought one last month! Hmph".

"I know, but it's a VRMMORPG, it's like real life but in a game!" said August.

"But isn't it going to be expensive though, if it's like real life."

"No no, It cost like 10 dollars for the Bronze Gaming VR Headset, which is the cheapest one"

"That's weird hmm..."

.

.

.

After a few minutes of walking and talking, they finally arrived at the gaming mall. August could see a poster saying 'ASCENSION° Online GAMING CAPSULE - FOR SALE' plastered on the window by the mall. He could also see alot of people in the mall holding onto a white package that either had the text: Bronze, Silver or Gold. [AN: Explantion for "bronze, silver or gold stuff in the next chapter]

August stepped in followed by her little sister. They looked around and saw the ASCENSION° gaming capsule packages. August took one and went to stand in the line filled with rows of people, around 15 different people ranging from early teenage to middle-aged could be seen holding gaming headset packages.

Finally after a few minutes of waiting in the line, it was their turn. August paid the gaming headset of his own money earned from the supermarket. He walked out and went into the direction of their home.

But suddenly August noticed someone he couldn't help feel anger and nostalgia, mixed with helplessness.

Alice stared with narrowed guys at the mentioned person. The mentioned person had beautiful blonde hair, crystal blue eyes. She had above-average figure and face, but isn't at the level of supermodel beauty. She was two inches shorter than August. She was currently talking on her phone while walking. Her name was Nora Veland, August's ex in both of his lives.

She is a scumbag through and through. She is from an wealthy family named Veland. They focus on oil and energy. Nora only dated August because he was smart in high school, but dumped him because she found a new man. The old August was left heart broken by her.

Alice was just about to walk towards Nora, but August grabber her and shook his head. Luckily Alice is understanding and nods her head. She suddenly asked him a question:

"Brother, are you still heartbroken?"

"Hmm, no.. I got over it."

August doesn't want to get aquinated with Nora, she hurt his heart, that there is stil some lingers of it.

"Let's go home now.."

"Okay brother."

They returned the same way they went and walked home. After a few minutes they finally arrived at home. Alice went back to her room, while August went to his own room with the Bronze Gaming VR Headset package.

...

...

...