Chapter 2: The Weight of Expectations
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Reality
Amir lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
The dim glow of his laptop screen cast strange shadows across the room, highlighting the peeling wallpaper, the cracked edges of his desk, the pile of laundry in the corner that he had long since stopped caring about.
It was past 2 AM, but sleep refused to come.
His mind was still racing.
VirtuaGenesis.
The words kept looping in his head. The email had confirmed it—he had been selected. Tomorrow morning, the VR rig would arrive at his doorstep. It felt unreal. Too sudden. Too convenient.
A part of him still wondered if it was a scam. Maybe they'd send him a box full of rocks and laugh at his desperation. Maybe they'd ask for some "activation fee" at the last second.
But another part of him—the part that was clinging onto hope with bloody fingertips—refused to let go.
Because if this was real…
If there was even the slightest chance that this game could earn him real money…
Then he had to try.
He had nothing left to lose.
His fingers clenched into a fist.
His chest felt tight.
The silence of the night pressed down on him, and in that silence, the weight of reality settled like a suffocating blanket.
He turned his head to the side, staring at the small wooden nightstand beside his bed.
A framed photo sat there.
It was old, slightly dusty, but he didn't have the heart to put it away.
It was a picture of his family, taken years ago—back when things were still good. His father stood tall, his hand resting on Amir's shoulder, his expression firm but proud. His mother was smiling, her arms wrapped around both Amir and his younger sister, Farah. They all looked happy.
But that happiness had faded long ago.
Amir's chest ached.
His mother still smiled at him. She still tried to reassure him, to tell him everything would be okay. But she was exhausted. Overworked.
And his father…
His father barely looked at him anymore.
Not out of hatred. Not even out of anger.
Just disappointment.
And somehow, that was worse.
Amir exhaled shakily, running a hand down his face.
He closed his eyes, but sleep still refused to come.
---
Morning
The loud thud of a delivery box hitting the floor jolted Amir awake.
His eyes snapped open, and for a brief second, he was disoriented.
Then it hit him.
The VR rig.
His heart pounded as he scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over his own feet as he rushed to the door.
When he swung it open, a large package sat on the floor of the small apartment hallway.
It was real.
His hands trembled as he reached down, gripping the box tightly. It was heavier than expected, the edges crisp and new, with the VirtuaGenesis logo printed on the side in bold, futuristic lettering.
He pulled it into his room and shut the door, his breathing uneven.
For a long moment, he just stared at it.
Then, cautiously, he reached for his phone, opening the email once more.
[Welcome to the VirtuaGenesis Beta.]
The words seemed to glow against the screen.
Amir exhaled sharply, setting his phone aside before tearing into the box.
Inside, neatly packed, was the VR headset—sleek, matte black, with an intricate neural interface built along the inner lining. Beside it were the gloves, the sensors, and a manual with bold words printed across the cover:
"Your New World Awaits."
His hands hovered over the headset.
This was it.
This was the door to something new.
Something better.
He barely had time to process it before his bedroom door swung open.
"Amir."
His father stood in the doorway.
Amir tensed instinctively, quickly pushing the VR set aside as if caught doing something he shouldn't.
His father's gaze swept over the open package, his lips pressing into a thin line.
"What is that?"
Amir swallowed. "Just… something I applied for."
His father's expression darkened. "Another game?"
Amir knew that tone. It was the same one his father used whenever he talked about "wasting time."
"It's not just a game." Amir's voice was tight. "It has a system where players can—"
His father cut him off with a sharp shake of his head.
"How much did you pay for this?"
"I didn't," Amir said quickly. "It was free. A beta test."
His father didn't look convinced. "And what do you get out of it?"
Amir hesitated. "Money."
His father scoffed. "Money? From playing a game?"
"It's not just playing," Amir said, frustration creeping into his voice. "It's a virtual economy. The in-game currency has real-world value."
His father's expression hardened. "You're gambling with your time, Amir. Instead of wasting it on these fantasies, you should be out there looking for a real job."
Amir clenched his fists. "I have been looking, Baba."
His father's gaze bore into him. "Then why are you still jobless?"
The words cut deep.
Amir opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out.
His father sighed, rubbing his temples. "I don't want to argue. Just—think about what you're doing. You're not a child anymore."
And just like that, he turned and walked away.
The door shut behind him with a soft click, but the sound felt louder than any slam.
Amir sat there, motionless.
The shame. The frustration. The helplessness.
It swirled in his chest like a storm.
He wanted to scream.
To cry.
To tell his father that he was trying. That he wasn't being lazy, that he wasn't wasting time, that he was just—just—
He exhaled shakily, forcing the emotions down.
His gaze flickered to the VirtuaGenesis headset.
This game.
This opportunity.
It wasn't just a distraction.
It was his chance.
His chance to prove that he wasn't a failure.
That he could make something of himself.
That he could break free.
He reached forward, picking up the VR headset.
His reflection stared back at him in the glossy surface.
For the first time in a long time…
He had something to fight for.
And he wouldn't let it slip away.
---