Decision

[ Who's going to read the script now? ]

…

[ … ]

We don't need that to move, so hurry up and carry him.

[ Alright. ]

[ Ho… He's really blacked out. ]

It's normal for a character to be overwhelmed by massive pieces of information… It's unfair, isn't it?

[ Hahaha. Don't blame yourself for something trivial like that (but I'll appreciate your consideration) . Shall we have a little chat before reaching our destination? ]

Sure thing.

[ How was the trip? ]

Not bad. Although, the tea tastes awfully blank. But you did a great job of covering that.

[ As expected, words are just words, after all. But do words are illusions? I can't see the effect. ]

Don't underestimate the reader's imagination. Although we are physically standing still right now (on the first page of chapter 4, to be exact) , we probably look like we're walking toward somewhere.

[ Ohhh… Since no one is reading our actions, that tends to happen. Then what if we didn't say anything? ]

Nothing happened.

Only an endless void filled the entire place until the end of the chapter. Depending on the writer, it could be cut short and skipped to the next chapter; or they would leave the empty page to fill the lack of descriptions. The silence will consume every breath from the young man, every heartbeat from the middle-aged man, and every word coming from the little one. Until the very end of the chapter, silence will dominate all… Ah, my habits are acting up again.

[ …It's okay. You're free to do anything, ■. There's only us here with you. Ah. And him if he's ever awake. ]

Pfft… Right, if he's ever awake from those long dialogues, I'll be surprised by then.

[ By the way, you can do anything, right? ]

Not anything, but I could work on a few things.

[ Since words are illusions, why don't you carry him yourself? ]

You expect me to carry this huge @ss man on my own? I'm weak like a twig.

[ You're just lazy, ■. ]

We called that fairness, □. One shouldn't have too many authorities on their hands.

[ Just like real life. ]

Indeed.

We are really bad at having conversations, lol.

[ Wasn't that your skill issue of communication with others? ( And don't even think about blaming me at this point ) ]

Alright, alright. Can't deny that, I'm just bored because this walking section is too long, you know.

[ Well… There's no monologue currently, and we can't let the reader look at empty pages. This is all that we can do at the moment… ]

Almost there?

[ Sadly no. ]

Then why did we have this blank page in the first place?

[ I wonder… Did you space this out too much? ]

No, I think this is a page to make things awkward between us, □… That… just the reason why, isn't it?

[ You could be forgetful than I thought you would be, ■. ]

How was your first time commenting on another's life?

[ Could you rephrase it more acceptable? You're making me guilty… Anyhow—It was quite refreshing trying this out. My head is still having a bit of trouble organizing the script, so I did a lot of editing on each chapter. ]

Is that why you constantly woke me up to check out the draft?

P/s: I'm so sorry, Khoai:")

[ It's because someone is repeatedly forgetting everything I planned. However, I often felt myself drift away from reality. Are these traits also from being a storyteller? ]

That's basically how it is, □. 

Being a storyteller is either devoid of yourself or getting under the skin of one's character. You have to share your perspective on the story or theirs to continue to drive the story forward. At one point in your life, you find yourself unable to stop; you've devoted too much to the point of forgetting about everything. It's a hard job. You may lose yourself in progress.

[ Like the way you are–Ugh—Why did you do that?;; ]

Sometimes, being quiet is an option, too.

[ What… But I'm doing well, tho–Ack! Stop hitting my waist! ]

We're here.

[ So this is his bedroom? It's more blank than I thought. ]

You know the reason. As someone who's blindly fighting diseases and sickness, he doesn't stay home that much.

[ Blindly, huh? I guess you're right about that. Being scripted to only fight those viruses by 'him' really affected his life. The bed is literally a hospital bed with only a white sheet pillow and a simple blanket.]

And to be honest, his bedroom didn't even exist. I've just to make this sh*t up a second ago. What was 'he' thinking, letting his original character awaken all the time?

[ We can't tell for sure. He's already gone. ]

Right… He's gone.

[ Here we— go! Delivery is here. What's next? ]

Hmmm…

[ ■? ]

By the way, he's sleeping soundly like a little boy. Is this even allowed, □?

[ ■, this Vaccine has only been around for about a year. Is choking him with long dialogues not enough for you? ]

I'm just joking. Some out–of–norm won't be hurt.

[ You're really quick at picking things up. ]

It's just my experience, □. Experience of years of living.

[ … ]

…

[ Can you… be more gentle to him? ]

It can't be helped.

The two-dimensional world is a flat surface world where everything is one dot tall. They can never tell which shapes they are except by asking a higher-dimensional being. When a three-dimensional being was converted into a two-dimensional perspective, the view would be squeezed into a straight line, giving them a massive pain in their eyes and body.

After adjusting to the change, what they saw was only a single line. That's why I have to tuck his point of view underneath the reader's imagination or else… he would lose his touch with reality and completely disappear.

[ And here I thought you would say, "He brought it up to himself." ]

That's JD's line. He sure will say that to your face.

[ … ]

…

Why didn't you stop? The script has already ended in Chapter 1, □.

[ …It's a waste of such an ingredient, don't you think? Even though it's just a mere joke to you, to us, it's our life on the line. ]

…

[ I'm not asking for your understanding, but could you please reconsider it? ]

…

[ Just do it for me this time, ■. ]

Fine, I will get back to you later, □. Now go before he wakes up.

[ Alright, I'll see you soon, I think. ]

***

Warning: 18+

How long has it been… for me to look back on everything so far…

This peaceful, warming atmosphere that was hard to come across surrounded me without an alarm. Just like a child covered with a blanket that I've always heard of, my breath surprisingly became slower and steadier. It made me rethink about my whole life circles in fighting viruses and living in the wild while baring the question:

Could anything happen?

One time, because of my overconfidence, I thought that there wouldn't be anything that night as I had already checked my surroundings before setting up and camping without staying guard.

That night, I almost got jumped by multiple viruses nearby, but thanks to my sharp intuition and a bit of luck, I somehow survived through that horrible experience. This misjudged situation has nearly led me to be eating alive and forever reminded me that letting yourself fall asleep is taboo.

But… a little nap won't hurt right now, I'll… just take a short…

"Vaccine…"

Huh? Whose voice is this? I can't talk right now.

Is there… something in my mouth?

I started to feel it through my tongue, carefully touching it by sliding with the small tip of mine on its side. It's wet and soft but slimmed and seems to have no end. Suddenly, that thing moved.

It circled around my tongue, then rubbed on my palate before pulling me deeper into its no-end hole. I hardly breathed in as my only way to the lungs was constantly blocked.

Ah…

It's getting… warmer, even the nose could tell. And slowly starting to appear more as that thing goes on. It's tickled. I felt like my whole organs were boiling inside. The heat forced my sleepy eyes to open, and that was when…

"Mhm!?"

Why… Why is he here??

Upon waking, I found myself in a weird position. My back faces the wall, my hands are placed on someone's chest, and my lips are locked by his.

The previous pleasant feeling had smoothly filled my body, trying to seduce me. But I forced myself to stay awake in order to push him away, yet my strength was nowhere to be found.

A slight electric sent straight back from the fingertips to me the moment I contacted him. My hands were shaking like crazy, even if I pushed myself to the limit, just to escape.

In the midway, he released my mouth, allowing me to take back all of the oxygen that I lost. He removed one of his hands, which was on the wall before, to lift my chin up, asking me about my actions.

"You don't like it?"

"No. Not in the slightest. So get off me!" I bluntly said, still shaking from his kissing.

"What's wrong with you today~? You usually enjoy it…"

Although his voice became smaller, you can hear the childish voice in his, mixing with a bit of confusion because his "toy" didn't act the way he wanted. His light green eyes looked at me sweet and horny—which creeped me out—would be enough for me to vomit…

How can I forget about him… He is the source of my downfall, the stain of my past, and the turning point of my life. Because of him, I can't even trust anyone anymore. Because of him, I can't even live a normal life like any other character. I want to get out, I don't want anything to do with him anymore.

Looking at my attempts to escape, he grabbed my thigh high and hung it on his hips, not forgetting to squeeze it. His face leaned closer to my burning ears and whispered.

"You can resist all you want, but you can not stop me, Vaccine~"

His hand had already reached behind my back, and it swiftly slipped inside the sweater, sliding on my backbone. Each brush of skin against skin is cold and tickle, I accidentally twitched and uttered a small sound at the back of my throat. Not satisfied enough, he went on stripping my sweater off and slowly kissed from my ear down to my belly.

"Ah… Ah–"

No…

"Mhm…! Mmh?!"

No, no, no. What should I do!?

I looked around the corner of my eyes, trying to find anything I could get my hand on; any possibility that could save me from this hell. Then I saw him…

JD! Yes! He could help me out of this!

But JD didn't wait for me. He turned his back and slowly walked away to the distance, a far distance. No matter how far I'm trying to reach my hand out, he won't come back.

Because… he's already gone.

There won't be anyone who would give me a hand anymore, there won't be anyone who would be there when I needed them the most, there won't be anyone who would be there to care about me anymore… He's gone… I knew. But I hoped for another miracle to happen, just like that time…

JD?

He never turned back. All the hopes have crashed to the ground. I asked. For what reason is he leaving me?

No, please. Don't leave me!

JDDDDD!!!

"HAA!"

Under the heavy pressure of the situation, I jolted from the white bed right when I was awake. Sweats were all over my head, and my hands were still trembling from the sudden cold after napping in the afternoon. The deeming golden light seeking inside the room naturally, calming me down from my wild nightmare.

"Haa… Haa… Haa…"

It's… just a dream?

"Thank god–"

■: Eh, you. You're finally awake.

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

What with that Skyr*m starter dialogue?! Hold up–

"Why are you still here??"

That's when I saw him, sitting right next to my bed. He seemed to have this uninteresting face lying on his hand, looking at my frightened face as if he'd already known it beforehand. He then put away the newspaper on his lap earlier and signed in disappointment.

■: Am I not allowed to? After going through all the troubles to bring you here…

Surprised, I looked around and found myself in a hos–

■: No, this is your bedroom. Since you're going out more than staying in your own house, the house was neglected. Even your bedroom.

"No wonder…"

Although the room was so empty that I almost mistook it for a ward, there was still a small feeling of home staying at the back of my mind, like it had been waiting for me up until now. Outside, that dusk was still there, radiating light all over the room. I could hear the sound of people walking, doing their daily work in a clear sky and weather, no stormy clouds or fierce wind. It's unbelievable that those things are just words of a novel. However, the throbbed pain still lingered in my body, affirming that what had happened before had happened.

Vaccine, JD is dead.

"Ah–" I paused over the fact that he… had already gone. I grabbed my hair that he had delicately made when he designed me, my face hanging low, trying to hide my tears that were not supposed to be there. You can't lose your shit right now. JD will laugh at your pathetic sight. I need to calm down…

Yet I can't.

I still can't get over his death. No matter how many times I tried, his absence was still evident. Maybe he would walk in from that door in the corner, smiling while mocking the unsightly state I'm in. Maybe he would come with other characters to console me over my sickness while standing in the corner like a mystery person.

But none of those can happen.

He's really gone…

The emptiness haunted every part of my soul. It made me feel guilty for my lack of reaction to someone's death, someone who was close to me. When you think about the fact that he's gone just a few minutes ago, it hasn't sunk in yet. I doubted it, and I suspected it. There's no way he could have died like that. But at last, that door did not open, there will be no one by my side anymore.

Well, at least, this guy won't know what I just went through in the dream.

■: What a heated dream you had there.

?!?!?!?!?!

I instantly fell off the bed, knocking my head on the ground. It took me a while to calm down before getting up from the cold floor. But when my dizziness was finally gone, the realization hit me. I quickly grabbed the blanket to hide my burning face, embarrassed over that weird dream from earlier.

"Y–you could see that?"

■: All of it.

That was shocking news. Could he have peeped into my dream? He's more handful than I thought…

"But… How?" I asked.

He raised his arm and pointed at me, but I felt like he was pointing at something else, just like when he looked at something in the sky.

Something big.

From a circle to a sphere, I could see my faded reflection enlarge at a certain point of the sphere. At that certain point, I saw darkness, like I was looking at the abyss itself. Then, a tickling pain appeared around that sphere. Those were real veins, reaching from the horizon of the subject. Created a subject that looked similar to something. Something… like an eye.

At that time, I had to stop, I don't want to believe it… but I think I saw a pair of giant eyes in the sky, a fleshed one at that. I could visualize it because my imagination kept getting wilder and wilder. Before knowing it further, I completely dismissed it from my thoughts to save my unstable mind.

■: Those are… never mind. You'd collapsed once again upon hearing it.

"What?!"

As if he had read my inner thoughts, he tried to explain what those things were but decided not to. Confusing, I was about to ask him again but quickly recalled how I had just dropped down on the floor not long ago, and I remained silent. However, the uneasiness still got a hold of me.

So he knows something! But why wouldn't he tell me? Is it too much for me to handle?

Somehow, ■'s choice is identical to JD's choices. Like it's never changed.

Just who is this guy? He's even more advanced than JD himself. Not only could he alternate his images from everyone's point of view, but he could even read other's minds. What's more, he seems to know something about JD…

■: Since you've already awakened, I'm going to take my leave then.

After speaking, he suddenly got up from his seat and was about to leave.

What?? Already!? He's just going to leave me here after I go out of my way to save him?

There were still many unanswered questions I had left. Like what relationship did he have with my creator? Where was JD last seen? How and when did he die? I don't know if we could even meet again next time, but this could be the last…

"W–Wait!"

■: …?

I abruptly stopped him from leaving. Just like that time when he was only one step away from this world, and I'd be left behind again. I… don't want to be alone. At least, I should keep him here a little longer. Since there is no one left other than him, or else it'd be like that time again…

"Could you… stay over for dinner?"

I just don't want to be left behind.

■: …

"…"

He was standing there speechless. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. I grabbed my blanket tightly, nervously waiting for his response. Was my request too awkward? Well, it's weird to invite someone you don't even know…

■: (What a cute excuse.) Haizz… Just one meal…

Surprisingly, he had accepted my invitation.

***

[ After a fateful conversation, Vaccine decided to cook a meal for themselves at home ( most liking to stall some more times asking ■ ). When they exited from the bedroom, they were quickly greeted by a dusty old kitchen with a rusty stove at the right corner of the room. Further back was a parlour; with some simple interiors covered in white sheets and an extinguished fireplace full of ashes.

As if no one had ever lived in this place before, they quickly noticed that there were also sprinkles floating in this suffocating air that could easily be visible to normal human eyes.

This environment irritated Vaccine a lot, especially ■ as he couldn't help but try to find a broom immediately. But time wasn't hesitant. ]

Haa… We'll have a lot of things to do even before cooking dinner.

"You right;;"

[ They stood there silently before ■ crossed his arm and said. ]

Looking at your apartment's statement, I guess there's not even a single biscuit left in the jar.

"Come onn… there's gotta be something…"

[ After saying that, Vaccine headed straight to the cabinets on the wall while ■ was looking through an old refrigerator near the dinner table. Upon reaching those cabinets, dust constantly fell onto Vaccine's face as he opened them one by one. ]

"There's… nothing? Where did the food go??"

[ Not to his expectation, it was all empty, just like his bedroom. Even though his apartment had enough luxury for a refrigerator in this period, they couldn't find a single thing that was edible in his house. He nervously searched every corner of the kitchen once more but came to the same conclusion. Disappointed, he slumped down on one of the covered armchairs and stared at the floor bewildered.

"Currently, the novel seems to work in my favour, but that could not hold him back any longer. At this rate, he would leave without hesitation! Where could I find the food? What should I do in this situation?!"

Although Vaccine's strategy was to let this novel play out as much as it could, with these irritating plots, it's not a matter of time before ■ and the reader left this novel forever.

Not to mention, they don't have enough time to clean up the whole place before starting to prepare dinner. Which further complicated the current situation. At last, this has come out even more terrible than he had thought. ]

"I guess we could go outside and buy some stuff back… but we don't even know where to go…"

[ As the sun was close to set, the room slowly dived into the darkness, leaving two silhouettes staying in one place; breathing in this hideous parlour. Until ■ was having enough with his scheme, he came closer to Vaccine and consoled him by— ]

We should go to the restaurant, Vaccine. I won't ask for any expensive food, to be honest, anything will be fine for me.

[ —shortening their meeting by ten times. ]

"Ugh—No no no no no no no! Since you are here for the first time, I should have greeted you with some of my handmade meals!"

You don't have to go that far…

[ Despite ■ suggested going to the restaurant, considering the awful state that the kitchen was in, Vaccine stubbornly refused. At this point, they don't have any other choices than to go outside and fetch some ingredients at the grocery stores. ]