Chapter 27 the trespassing neighbor
I was swallowed by depression born of failure. I felt like the world had turned its back on me. I grew angry at people and eventually lost my drive for life.
I accepted the reality of the world, and to fight the harsh truth that left me slumped in deep sadness, I chose a path I knew wouldn't fail me.
I locked myself in my room and didn't leave the house, accompanied only by anime, manga, and games. I distracted myself until I forgot everything that had happened. I became addicted to games and obsessed with anime—anything to show that I was "happy" with my life.
I wanted to show everyone that I was enjoying myself and that I didn't need anyone else to be happy. I smiled and laughed through every day of my self-indulgence, as if I hadn't a single worry for the past eight years.
Until one day, I happened to notice myself in the mirror. I saw the reflection of a young man who had been bypassed by time, desperately hiding in the dark to escape the world.
But did I really escape it?
This isn't what I wanted. This wasn't my plan for life. What was my mistake that led to such failure?
Is it destiny or just coincidence? A question so hard to answer.
If I could only turn back time, I would work twice as hard as I did back then just to make my work better. But would that even be enough to achieve true success if the truth is that I wasn't destined for it?
Please, give me back my youth, because this isn't the harvest I wanted from my hard work. Is this the equivalent of everything I sacrificed?
In the present, I suddenly woke up on my bed. I briefly covered my face with my hand. I didn't expect to dream like that—for the past to come rushing back to my memories. I looked around. I found myself lying down, still holding a book. I hadn't realized I'd fallen asleep reading the new light novel I bought.
I sat up and stretched to wake my senses. As I yawned and rubbed my eyes, I noticed someone sitting in front of my PC. I was startled to find Elisa using my computer. As usual, she had entered without permission. Maybe I forgot to lock the door earlier because I didn't expect to nap.
"Wait, why are you here again? And how did you guess my password?" I muttered groggily.
"Hm... what's the point of me being a former IT student then?" she replied. "Good afternoon, Didi," she greeted without looking away from the screen.
Afternoon? I had slept longer than I thought, but that was fine since I had a shift tonight. I got out of bed and immediately started lecturing Elisa about entering my room without asking.
"We aren't kids anymore; we should know the importance of privacy. It's not like before when you could just come in here without people thinking anything of it."
"Hmmm..." She smirked, looking at me with doubt.
"What?" I asked.
"Hm... nothing. It's just a miracle that you actually care about what people think of you now."
"Tsk, shut up. Of course I care what people say about me."
"A NEET never worries about what others say," she said in a cold tone. "Because if he actually had any shame or a care in the world, he'd be thinking of how to be useful."
She said it without hesitation, as if she didn't care if she hurt my feelings. But she's been doing this for a long time. She was starting to tease me again, and really, what else should I expect from her? We've been bickering since we were kids. To be honest, her words don't bother me anymore; I know that if I get annoyed, I lose—except when she insults the anime I watch. That still gets to me.
"Tsk, before you judge my life, why don't you actually pass your exams and graduate for once?" I shot back.
She stopped playing and was clearly stung by what I said. Elisa is a smart person, but the shocking thing is that she never finishes any of the courses she takes. She either fails them or just stops attending after a year.
Her excuse is always a "lack of interest," which is why she lets herself fail. It sounds like a ridiculous reason, but the truth is she can afford to do that without regret because her family is wealthy.
Seeing an opening to get back at her, I advised her to change her attitude. I teased her that her life would be ruined and no man would ever like her because they'd think she had no brains.
"It's fine. I'm pretty anyway, so plenty of guys will still choose me—especially since I'm a politician's daughter."
The arrogance! But it was true; finding a partner wouldn't be a problem for her. Unlike me, she is beautiful and, above all, rich. She's like the "famous rich girl" character in the anime I watch—the one everyone admires. Tsk, the world really isn't fair.
"Sure, you're pretty, but you have a bad personality," I said.
"Out of everyone, you're the only one who says I have a bad personality. Maybe you're the one with the problem?" she asked.
"Obviously they won't tell you that because you're pretty. But I see right through your 'maldita' attitude."
If I think about it, she and Romeo would have been a perfect couple if things had worked out, especially since they've been together since the beginning. I can only laugh and feel a bit sorry for my parents; their wishes didn't align with the two's decision to just stay best friends.
"I heard Romeo is out on a trip, right? Didn't you hear?"
"He mentioned it last night. That annoying Romeo... the moment he gets a girlfriend, he forgets he has a best friend to check in on."
"Hahaha, that's what you get for being such a meddler in his life. You act like you're his older sister, lecturing him on what to do," I teased.
Elisa does have an "older sister" vibe when it comes to Romeo, always bossing him around and poking her nose into his business, which is why my brother often tries to escape her. Back then, it worked in our favor since she kept an eye on him—something I failed to do as the actual eldest sibling.
