Chapter 2:

Addicted to playing the victim role

who I am is not who I want to be


Before we unravel the enigmatic depths of Zack and Karma's virtual connection, it's vital to establish one fact: Karma wasn't the girl's real name. It was a moniker she had chosen, perhaps to shroud herself in an air of mystique, to cultivate an aura of intrigue. Beneath this virtual veneer, Karma remained authentic, free from pretense.

The early stages of their friendship unfolded in a manner typical of online connections. Zack and Karma engaged in lively conversations, sharing stories of their families, friends, and daily lives. Only one facet of Zack's life remained hidden during this budding companionship.

Karma, however, proved to be a trustworthy confidant in the vast digital expanse. They messaged each other endlessly, engaged in late-night phone calls, and laughed together as if they were seated side by side.

But as the days trickled into weeks, a date loomed large on the horizon, poised to change their friendship forever. September 12, 2017, marked a pivotal moment in their lives.

The night was silent, the clock approaching midnight, when Zack's peaceful slumber was disrupted by a persistent ringing. Disoriented and weary from a day spent with his mother and younger sister, Rin, Zack begrudgingly reached for his phone.

Who could be calling at such an ungodly hour, he wondered, staring at the brightly lit screen. The caller's identity remained elusive.

Curiosity overtook him, and he rose from his bed to answer the call. To his pleasant surprise, it was Karma on the other end.

Their first voice call marked a significant shift in their virtual connection. It was 1:20 am, and for the next two hours, they talked as if the world beyond their conversation had ceased to exist.

Karma, in a moment of vulnerability, admitted, "I'm missing you terribly. I can't seem to get any sleep. It's a real problem. I miss my friends."

Zack, eager to console her, suggested she seek solace with her real-life friends. But Karma's response left him bewildered.

"I don't have many friends in real life," she confessed. "That's why I try to find friends online."

Her words resonated deeply with Zack, forging a stronger bond between them. Intrigued, he asked, "Why did you choose me as your friend?"

Karma paused before answering, her words laden with significance. "I was scrolling through social media randomly and clicked on a random profile. It was your profile that caught my eye. After seeing your photos, I thought of having you as a friend. I waited until your birthday to initiate a conversation."

Late-night calls between them became a regular occurrence, solidifying their connection. Yet, Karma harbored a secret, one she intended to reveal only when they met in person.

Despite the growing intimacy of their friendship, Zack remained blissfully unaware of the game that was slowly unfolding around him. He was merely a pawn in a grander scheme, an unwitting participant in a twisted game of revenge.

As days passed, the idyllic nature of Zack's friendship with Karma began to unravel. The revelation that he was being used as bait, a tool in her quest for vengeance, sent shockwaves through his world.

Unpredictability was the catalyst for life's myriad emotions—happiness, anger, sadness, and fear. It was the force that breathed life into existence. Zack, once an unwitting victim, now found himself embroiled in a complex game where every move was dictated by Karma's masterful manipulation.

As the weight of his role as a victim grew heavier, Zack questioned whether he had truly fallen victim or if he had become addicted to playing the part. He grappled with the damage this self-imposed victimhood inflicted upon him—the erosion of his self-worth and identity.

A chilling realization washed over him: he wasn't just the victim but also the mastermind behind his own suffering, orchestrating a narrative of misery and self-pity. The line between victim and perpetrator blurred, and Zack's psyche became a battleground for his conflicting emotions.

His dreams grew colder, and he meandered through life aimlessly, an empty vessel of his former self. The golden moments of camaraderie with Karma were distant memories, tarnished by the revelation of her true intentions.

Zack's thoughts swirled in a maelstrom of self-loathing and confusion. He yearned to escape the victimhood that ensnared him, to rise above the ashes of his former self, and to regain the admiration and applause he so deeply desired.

But the path to redemption was not paved with fairness. It was a lesson he needed to learn—a lesson that eluded him in his darkest hours.

In the midst of his inner turmoil, Zack wept tears as vast as the ocean, grappling with the realization that he had become what he had once despised—a victim, a puppet in Karma's game of revenge.