DAYMARE 8: You’re Next

"Winwin!"

I was startled when Vea came into my room fresh from the shower with a towel on her head.

"That's mine!" She grabbed her phone from my hand. "Who called?"

"Tch," I hissed.

"Hey!"

“I don't know. It was an unknown number. Why? Are you hiding something, huh?” I smirked.

“N-No. Wait, what are you doing with my phone?”

"Just checking some games, but your phone isn’t interesting enough."

“Ugh, seriously? Quit messing with my stuff without asking me first.” I annoyed her, haha. “Come down later and help me with the laundry.” She left my room.

That’s why it took her so long to go upstairs, because she’s doing our laundry.

Back to the topic. I turned off my Xbox.

I read the first ten chapters plus the prologue of ‘Curiosity Kills’. I’m not a bookworm type of person, but that story has a good start. But why are the views like that? With only one view in each chapter, there’s only a total of 11 views before I read it. I also noticed that only one person votes and comments. Since I viewed that online book, it doubled to 22 views.

This book came out like a year ago, and I’m waiting on chapter 11. Guess the author just got lazy and ditched the story.

What a pity, then.

I shifted to playing games on my desktop. I pressed the keyboard and mouse, then plugged the red headphones into my ears. My screen suddenly freaked out and started flashing black and white like some cursed old TV.

What up with this?

I stood up and touched the back of my monitor, then snuck to see if there was a problem with the cable or a disconnection. But nothing really seemed wrong.

Sh*t!

I was shocked when the whole computer suddenly turned off. I glared at the plug and unplugged it from the outlet. Weird. How the heck did it pop out when I’m pretty sure I plugged it in tight? Maybe there's a big rat here in my room. Gotta tell Mama about it or catch the rat myself.

I inserted the plug again.

"Ah!"

I freaked out when I felt the jolt run through my whole body. Shook my fingers a bit, then quickly plugged it back in. My PC’s fine now, and luckily my fingers are too.

This vacation’s been so boring. Feels nothing like summer except for the heat. We just had a quick trip to a relative’s place, and that’s it. At least Rico and I have games, but our “vacation” is basically just going from home to the computer shop. I mean, I kinda want something to do besides gaming 24/7.

“Winwin? Let's eat!” I heard Vea’s shattering-eardrum voice outside my room.

“On my way,” I answered.

I turned off the monitor first and went down the stairs. I didn't realize it was 6:30 PM already. I went to the dining area and sat with my family for dinner.

“Wow,” I was amazed at our dish today. Smokey grilled veggies!

"Hep, hep!" My sister, Vea, stopped me when I scooped a dish and rice.

"Why?" I asked irritably. I’m hungry.

“Mom is here.”

Mom just got home. She’s usually out late because of work. Vea’s makes a living and helps our family, so yeah, she definitely has the right to yell at me if I do something dumb. She’s always doing the laundry and cooking, which probably explains why she doesn’t have a boyfriend.

“Mama!” Janey ran to Mama and hugged each other.

"Hi, Ma," I got up from my seat and offered a seat to Mama.

"Oh, where have you been?" Mama interrogated me.

Vea helped Mama with her bag and put it upstairs.

My mother works in a small office pretty close by. She sat opposite me, and Janey was next to her.

"My mommy, Winwin is wandering around again," the youngest complained.

I didn’t tell them I went with Rico to enroll, then just ended up gaming all day.

"Shh," I shut Janey up so she could no longer talk about something that Mama would disapprove of.

"Bleh," she stuck her tongue out.

"Bleh!" I did it too.

"Lewin," Mama called out.

"Yes?"

“How long are you going to keep up with your childish acts? You’re always out with your friends. You should help with the chores and do an advanced study for next school year.”

Eh, I am too lazy to do the housework. One more thing, those chores aren’t my cup of tea, hihi.

"Because…"

"What?" she raised her eyebrows.

"It's so boring here," I said with a bored tone to emphasize it well.

"So, you'll be playing games for the rest of the vacation?"

"Um, yeah."

"That’s why our electrical bill skyrocketed. Stop with your games."

“Ma, it’s normal. The bill always goes up in summer ‘cause it’s so hot.”

"Lewin!"

"Ma…"

My mother fell into silence. It seems she no longer knows what to do with me.

“Can you please be serious about your future? I don’t know what to do with you anymore, really…”

"Hehe"

Yeah, I’m naughty, especially in class. I’m kinda famous ‘cause the teachers are always scolding me for being noisy, sleeping, not paying attention, eating during lessons, showing up late, and doodling on desks. But hey, at least I don’t bully anyone, join gangs, do drugs, or get into other bad stuff. Gaming’s my only vice.

"Mom, teach Lewin a lesson," Vea said and drank some water.

I glared at her. She wanted Mama to be mad at me.

We started eating as well. I thought the food would be cold before we could finally eat.

"Lewin"

I glanced at Mama. "Hm?" I snorted.

"Do you know your father's province?"

I paused for a moment. "Yeah, why?" This food is very good.

"Do you think you can live there?"

I thought about it for a sec, but I was too focused on my food. Like, you know how animals hate being bothered while they eat? Yeah, that’s me.

“Sure sure. Ask these two instead,” I was referring to my sisters, if they can live in the province.

"You're the only one I haven't asked and talked to about it because you’ve been off wandering around."

I swallowed everything I ate. "Is that so?"

“Yes. And because all of you agreed… I've been thinking about it… ” she stopped moving her spoon and fork.

"And?"

"We will be moving out and start living there. You and Janey will also study there."

I choked and drank water. "C-Come again?"