The First Strain:

“The worst part of self-destruction is when you don't even notice it yourself…”

There is this place…

Where the majority of the dumbest people who think their decision is one of the wisest, gathered as how they were startled by the fact that their decision to escape from reality, has been chosen by a lot of other dumbest people just like themself.

Especially me…

Surrounded by many glassy tables, fitted with a huge amount of gaming computers set above it. Just a simple local internet cafe but there’s this special Daniel who’s coming to visit.

But if you think about it, everyone in a place like this is actually a special person... With special needs.

People like us tend to be prey to psychiatrists. Or in reality it’s quite the opposite… Like we would be very offended by whatever they said. Their understanding is an insult to us.

So I take my word back. I’m not special at all… Besides, It is not too rare anymore to find someone like me and my best friend, everywhere at so many internet cafes in town. Even it will be much more difficult to find us in our own dwelling.

But at least you may call us “The professional” in terms of running away from home.

Daniel Umaga acts as myself, playing on computer number three. And this guy… I don’t remember his last name again, but you can call him Deo, right in front of computer number four. We’ve become best friends since ten years ago. Which means, I know this guy more than himself.

After talking to myself for about ten minutes straight, the man that I’ve mentioned before, stares dead right into my eyes. And apparently, I’ve become the one and only rational reason behind our own team’s losetreak in this match.

This online battle arena game that we’ve mastered for a whole four years until now. And that really made Deo growl real hard…

But this is just who we are… Just two very common best friends in a daily-

Something abruptly interrupts my own mind to talk to myself… Again…

As one phone is ringing right next to my keyboard while in the middle of a fight… An online one. The first thing that popped into my head about who the caller is, not too far from my own mom and dad. That’s why I ignore it.

But then Deo shouts and beats me, just only to mention that it is not my parents who’s calling, but someone else.

Name’s Fanya… Fanya Fellicia Primarsi Tumanggor.

Easy… Such an easy name to remember.

And also now that I finally remember, we are not just two best friends... But three!

I don’t know why I am so hyped about it…

So then I, by a sense of compulsion, dared myself to pick up the phone.

“Yeah whatever. You win, Fanya. You happy now?” I’m babbling it quite loudly.

“But we haven’t even started arguing yet!” She replied while taking a very long breath. “Just try not to make me angry and you will be safe, okay? By the way, Daniel. How’s your preparation?”

“What? You’re asking about me? Aw... Thank you for being very considerate of me, Fanya...” Near from the next monitor, Deo is trying to make this girl lose her temper with the happiest face he's ever used.

Sure he made it.

And I respect him for his bravery.

But by the flat and deadly tone, Fanya replied as to how a psycho was trying to kill us with just perfectly cut words. A word that contains “Kill” and his best friend “Yourself” but she didn’t even finish any of that because she already knew that we would fear her.

Deo’s very daring tho…

“You have to realize that I respect you for…”

“Shut the fuck up, Daniel…” He cut me off as we both laughed.

“No offense, but Daniel... You are the most forgetful creature that maybe until I die will always be the most forgetful of all. And You're so stupid that you need two extra brains every time you're confused about what to eat for lunch at school. That's why Deo and I care about you this much.”

“Are you really trying to not make me feel offended, young lady?”

“And you do also understand that... Right, Deo?”

The guy she asked was silent for a while.

Giving Fanya another try to yell the same question again, Deo then replied with a double “Yep” before the girl spoke for the three of us.

“Just a week from now, we will leave for Guinaian City. For where our new campus is. It’s not as long as you think, so just hurry up and get ready already! But… Look at this! What the hell are you guys doing for every fucking single day and night playing in the same place with all those cowardly cowards!?”

“How dare you call my species as a…”

“Shut up, Daniel. Let's get rid of the joke for now, you hear?”

“Yeah sorry.” I said it as how I feel disappointed in myself, bowing down to a girl like Fanya. Maybe she was really being serious, so my joke landed in the wrong place. But even if she was serious, wouldn't that offend the weak feelings of all of us in this place a little?

But look! As you can see... I'm just trying to fix the problem, right?

Or... Just running from the same thing.

No! It’s not it! I tried to dissolve the tension!

Yes… I tried to dissolve the tension as how I really want at least one a very useful role for both of them. And why do I need that?

The only reason is because I'm the only one who's so much different from the three of us. I don’t know if I’m worth enough for saying this, but both of their parents passed away some time ago. And It feels like I'm not allowed to complain more than them.

But yet I can’t do more...

so the only thing that I'm capable of is just…

Yeah, dissolving the tension… And I always fail.

But don’t you worry, because we really are best friends after all!

~~~~~