Nixon's P.O.V.
***
My office was located at the fifth floor of my company building, Illusion. I could see everything from here; everything that was happening at the ground floor where the simulation and playing area was located. I was like a king watching the kingdom I built for a very long time. For almost three years, Illusion Inc. was the leading gaming company with my historic invention, the first-ever virtual reality game, Undertaking.
Habang tumatagal lalong umaangat ang Illusion; lalong tinatangkilik ng mga tao ang Undertaking, marahil ang pinakasikat na laro sa lahat ng ino-offer ng kumpanya ko.
Mula sa malaking salaming bintana ng aking opisina, nakangising pinapanood ko ang mga taong nahuhumaling sa mga larong ginawa ko. Walang edad na pinipili— lahat sila ay ginagastos ang kanilang pera para sa mga computer games na binubuo lang naman ng mga numbers at codes. Ample amount of money for a thirty-minute to an hour virtual reality gaming experience; which feels like almost a day or two of escaping the reality.
Illusion Inc., my dear company was only feeding their brains with illusions and yet here they were, ready to spend their money and time. May mga tao talaga na handang magwaldas ng pera para sa mga bagay na wala namang halaga.
"Mga utak munggo," naiiling na saad ko bago nabaling ang tingin ko sa entrance ng office building.
Kumunot ang noo ko nang makita ang maraming mga tao na may hawak na mga placards at pinipigilang makapasok ng security guards ng Illusion. So, nandiyan pa rin pala sila hanggang ngayon? I think their protest was already happening for about two days now.
I heaved a deep sigh before turning my back. They could protest all they want but dude I wouldn't be shaken— I am the pioneer of the virtual reality gaming industry.
These rallyists were really getting on my nerves. Ang lakas ng loob nilang mag-rally sa harap ng kumpanya ko para paratangan na ginagawa kong bayolente ang mga pag-iisip ng mga bata dahil sa mga larong ino-offer ng kumpanya ko. Come on, computer games and virtual reality games were categorized as recreational activities.
I heaved a deep sigh before turning my back and returning to my swivel chair.
Undertaking was the major and the only virtual reality gaming in the country for about three years now. I am really a genius for creating this game. Napapaikot ko sila sa kamay ko nang walang kahirap-hirap. I'm turning twenty-three this year and for the last three years, I was living my life as the game master. It was really great.
Who would have thought that the Illusion I had always dream to build since I was ten years old will come into reality? Now, it was giving me all the recognition, money and privileges.
"Sir?"
Napaangat ang tingin ko. Pumasok ang sekretarya ko sa aking opisina.
"What is it, Lora?" nakakunot ang noong tanong ko kay Lora De Villa, ang secretary, bestfriend at katuwang ko sa pagbubuo ng UNDERTAKING.
"Nothing. Nangangamusta lang." Umupo siya sa bakanteng visitor's chair na nasa tapat ko.
"Kumusta ang sales ngayon ng Illusion?" seryosong tanong ko na tinawanan naman ni Lora. Kailan kaya ako seseryosohin ng babaeng ito bilang boss niya?
"Enough with business. Halata naman na maganda ang sales ng Illusion. Bukod sa mga online games at arcade games we offer, mas marami ang naaadik sa UNDERTAKING. Why bother asking regarding the sales?"
"Fine then. How's the next update, Secretary?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong ko sa kaniya.
"Since UNDERTAKING became the major league, I can't remember the last time you treated me as your bestfriend. How dare you." Umirap pa siya sa akin na kaagad ko namang ikinatawa.
Ewan ko ba. I was really trying to be professional with her but she always knew how to crack my defenses.
"I'm asking about the update. Stop—”
"Fine. The updates are going well. Kaso, may problema sa isang section ng sequence of coding system on the level 32, we're working on that though."
Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi ni Lora. Kinuha ko kaagad ang tablet na nasa ibabaw ng mesa ko at tsaka binuksan ang system file ng UNDERTAKING to check for the level 32.
"Paanong naging 'going well' ang updates kung may mali sa coding system. Ano ba ang problema rito? Is it the weapon? The progression of the levels? Or— what the hell, Lora!" Nanlalaki ang matang tiningnan ko ang aking sekretarya.
Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa aking tablet.
"What?"
"Hindi pa okay ang prototype ng level 32! Why is it already running?"
"Ha? Running? That's impossible! The level 32 is still on the testing section!" Mabilis niyang kinuha ang tablet na hawak ko. Maging siya ay hindi makapaniwala. Naiiling na nag-angat ng tingin si Lora sa akin. "Oh my God! Wala akong alam dito! How dare them to move without my command!"
Halos umusok ang nanlalaking butas ng ilong ni Lora dahil sa inis. Kaagad siyang lumabas ng opisina ko. She was going to the testing room.
This couldn't be happening. Hindi puwede mag-run ang isang level na hindi pa tapos sa testing section. A prototype could be fatal to the gamer. Hindi pa tapos sa testing level kaya hindi pa sigurado ang epekto no'n sa utak ng gamer. And that was the most important part of virtual reality gaming's aspect; to ensure the safety of the gamer.
I checked the prototype of the level 32 on the desktop in front of me to somehow stop it from running in the system but an intervention occurred while I was correcting the program.
"Lintik! Virus!"
A pop up invaded my monitor, afterwards.
Imahe ng bungo na may mga rosas ang nag-appear sa monitor at isang nakakaewan na boses ang pumailanlang sa buong opisina ko.
"After a three years, I was able to finally infiltrate your system. Ito na ang katapusan ng UNDERTAKING. Ito na rin ang katapusan mo. This will be the fall of a genius."
Napangisi ako sa pop up na 'yon. Sa tingin ba ng kung sinong taong nagpadala ng threat na ito na matatakot niya ako sa ganitong paraan? I became a genius for something. Hindi mawawasak ang UNDERTAKING ng isang walang kwentang virus.
I was quick to deny the virus from ruining my desktop. Sunod na pinindot ko ang intercom sa akomg harapan para ikonekta ako sa mga nasa simulation room ng UNDERTAKING.
"Check the level 32's algorithm and create a code to stop it from running. Then, detect the source of the f*cking virus that infiltrates our system."
"Sir? I'm sorry but we couldn't alter the level's algorithm because there is a gamer who is currently playing it. We had to create another level 32 and then run it in the system. Then, we can transfer the gamer to it. 'Yun po ang nakikita naming paraan ayon sa ginawa naming troubleshooting."
Natigilan ako sa sinabi ng employee ko. What the f*ck?
"Pano niya nalaro ang level 32? Nalagpasan na ng gamer na iyon ang level 31? Kaka-update lang natin 'yon, 'di ba? "
"Yes Sir. And its Marievic Andres we are talking about."
I gritted my teeth upon hearing that name again. 'Yung game addict na 'yon. Bakit ba kailangan niya laging maglaro sa bawat updates na lalabas sa UNDERTAKING?
"Nixon! It's red alert! We have to do something!" sabi ni Lora na kakapasok lang muli ng opisina ko. Kitang-kita ko ang panic niya.
I heaved a deep sigh.
Napatingin akong muli sa entrance ng company building ko kung saan nagre-rally ang ilang kritiko ng Undertaking at ng mga larong ino-offer ng Illusion. Hindi maaaring lumabas sa media ang nangyayari. We have to control the situation to save my company and my reputation
"What is the worst possible scenario, Lora?"
"The gamer will die, Nixon."