Chapter 2: Unexpected new life

After the uncomfortable situation earlier, I was eager to clear my head. I headed home, hoping some time to myself would help me feel better. Once inside, I tossed my things aside and immediately plugged my computer in to charge, not wanting to deal with it any more than I had to. I was exhausted, both mentally and physically, so I decided to take a quick bath to help me relax.

Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around my waist, feeling a little more refreshed. I headed to Baek's room to see if he had any pajamas that might fit me—something comfortable to wear while he was at work. After rummaging through his drawers, I found a random set of pajamas that seemed to fit. They were a little too big, but at least they were soft and cozy.

Once I was dressed, I made my way back to the living room to check on my computer. I didn't remember leaving it on, but when I sat down at the desk, I saw the screen was open and active. It took me a moment to process—why was it still on?

Then, I noticed something strange. A game was downloading on its own. The title flashed across the screen: "Romance Isn't My First Name."

I raised an eyebrow. The name didn't intrigue me at all. I'd never been a fan of romance or those kinds of games. To be honest, I didn't believe in it much either—not in the way most people did. Still, I was curious about how it had gotten there. I tried multiple times to delete the game, but no matter what I did, it wouldn't go away. My frustration started to build. Was my computer infected with a virus? That seemed like the most likely explanation.

As I sat there staring at the screen, I couldn't help but wonder: What was this game really about? Maybe it wasn't just some random download. I thought for a moment, feeling a little suspicious, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to know more. Against my better judgment, I clicked on the game to see what it was about.

I clicked on the game, but nothing happened at first. The screen stayed blank, and I frowned, starting to feel frustrated. Was this some kind of virus? My patience was wearing thin as I clicked repeatedly, hoping it would respond. But then—suddenly—the screen started getting brighter, way brighter.

I squinted at the screen, the light almost blinding me. It felt like the computer had turned into a flashlight. Quickly, I shut my eyes, trying to shield myself from the painful glare. "What the hell is going on?" I muttered, my heart racing. I thought about shutting the computer off, but the light was too overwhelming.

The next moment, everything went dark for a second. Then, when I opened my eyes again, I couldn't believe what I saw.

I was no longer sitting in Baek's living room. Instead, I found myself standing in the middle of a breathtaking field, full of vibrant wildflowers swaying in the breeze. The colors were so vivid, it felt like I'd stepped into a dream. The sun shone down softly, casting a warm glow across the landscape. The air smelled fresh, and everything around me was eerily peaceful.

"What… where am I?" I muttered, completely disoriented.

Suddenly, a message popped up in front of me, floating in mid-air as though it had materialized from nowhere. The text read:

"HelloDon't be afraid! You were chosen to play a real-life game for a cash prize >Y<."

A real-life game? I blinked, my mind racing. Was this some kind of joke? How could I be in a game?

Still trying to wrap my head around what was happening, I asked aloud, my voice shaking slightly, "Who are you?"

The message on the screen changed almost immediately:

"I am one of the few creators of this real-life game :3! You're physically in the game now… but in the other world, you're actually asleep!"

I stared at the text in disbelief, my thoughts spinning. Physically in the game? What the hell was that supposed to mean? I looked around at the field again, the flowers and trees swaying gently in the breeze. It felt so real… yet impossible.

I stood there, my heart pounding in my chest, trying to process everything. A cash prize, a real-life game, and the unsettling realization that I was somehow asleep in the real world. I had no idea what this was or how I got here, but I couldn't deny that the whole thing was too real to be just a dream.

As I stood there, still reeling from the sudden change in my surroundings, another message popped up in front of me, almost as if the game creator had been waiting for my reaction.

"Oh! I almost forgot to mention... you aren't in an actual dream. You're actually in the game! When I say asleep, I mean in case you die in the game... you die in the real world!"

My eyes widened in disbelief. I stared at the message, feeling a chill run down my spine. What? Die? This couldn't be real. But then again, none of this felt real, yet here I was, standing in a field with no idea how to get out. I shook my head, trying to process it, but the confusion only deepened.

I spoke aloud, still unsure whether this was some elaborate joke or nightmare. "Die? But how would that even happen?"

The screen flickered, and another message popped up almost instantly.

"Right, right… Let me explain." The text continued. "This is a game with a story. You're one of the very few main characters. When I say die, I mean unless you disobey the tasks! You'll have tasks to follow, and if you refuse them... well, you die! It's very important that you follow the story. The prize is between $700k and $1M!"

I stared at the screen, processing the words slowly. Tasks? Die if I disobey? My mind raced as I tried to make sense of what was happening. The stakes were high, way higher than I could've imagined. But the mention of the prize caught my attention—$700k to $1M? It was more money than I'd ever seen, and right now, in the "real world," I was struggling to make ends meet.

I exhaled slowly, weighing the risk. This was insane—dangerous even. But the money… I couldn't ignore that. If I survived, I'd have enough to change my life. My stomach turned as I thought about the danger, but the temptation was too strong. I didn't have much to lose.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. "Fine. I'll do it," I said aloud, though part of me still felt like I was agreeing to some kind of twisted game. "I'll follow the tasks. Where do I start?"

Another message appeared on the screen almost immediately, as if the creator had been waiting for my answer.

"Good! I knew you'd be smart. The first task will appear soon. Remember, if you disobey... it's over. Good luck!"

I glanced around, my heart racing. Good luck? That sounded more like a warning than anything encouraging. But there was no turning back now. I didn't know what awaited me, but there was a prize on the line—and I had nothing to lose.