A big house, a nice new car, a super hot wife, and an adorable daughter. Life was looking great. For my friend Dennis, that is. I pressed the doorbell. Dennis opened the door.

"Man, long time no see." I put my hand on his shoulder.

"You again?" He frowned. His daughter looked at me from behind the door.

"Yeah, I came back to visit you, like the good friend I am."

"What do you want?"

"I need cash. Give me some cash."

"You never gave me back the money I lent you."

"Mommy." Dennis’s daughter grabbed her mother’s skirt. "Why does that uncle smell like that?"

"Shhh…" His wife pushed her back inside where she could hide from me. "Come here and don't talk to him."

"For the old times, man." I got closer to Dennis. "Remember? When we were kids, two guys were fighting against you. I saw it and I say 'Damn, I need to help.' So I went and helped."

"You helped THEM!"

"Yeah. Hahahaha. Good fun times, aren't they? Then we became good friends and left our problems behind. Anyway, cash?"

"You should get a job."

"No, man." I stepped back. "A job isn't something you get. It's something they give you. Like they gave you that nice job and all. But look at me. People say I stink and I'm lazy and don't want to give me a job. It may be true, but it hurts, you know? It hurts!"

"Fine... This is the last time. I mean it. If you come back again, unless it's to pay me, I will tell Roger to get you." Once Roger heard his name, he came smiling. Roger was his dog, a small beagle.

"What a cute little doggy." I crouched and extended my hand to pet him.

"Grrrrrrrrr..." *Snap* I pulled back my hand just in time. It almost ate my fingers, that little monster. Thankfully, I had fast reactions from playing too many FPS. Scrap that, there is never too many.

"Come back, Roger."

He smiled and hopped to his side.

"Here." Dennis gave me 400 dollars.

"Thanks, man." I shook his hand. "I appreciate it."

He slammed the door in my face. I left, my presence wasn't wanted anymore. Not like it was ever wanted in the first place.

I walked down the street to my home. Just what I needed, 400 dollars to pay the rent. Maybe I should do what Dennis said and get a job. I need to get some money, it cannot continue like this. I already owe him 3,000 dollars! Or was it 5,000? Nah, it must be 2,000 or so. Yep, 2,000 it is.

I crossed the red light without looking. A truck came toward me. No matter how much I tried, my body refused to move. A thought ran through my mind. Am I going to die? Am I going to leave this world like this? Without a chance to really live. Will I get transported into another world? Start my life again?

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

This time, I won't drink beer and I won't be lazy. I will start my life as a hard working person and reach the top! Here I go, to my new world. I closed my eyes. I felt a strong gust of wind blew past me. I opened my eyes again, the truck had turned to the side and evaded me.

The truck driver slowed down and shouted while waving his fist, "what the fuck are you doing standing on the middle of the street? You motherfucking piece of shit!"

Since what he did ended up saving my life, I responded in kind. "Fuck you," I shouted at him.

I continued walking without looking back. Stop being lazy and stop drinking? What the fuck was I thinking? I can't believe those stupid thoughts crossed my mind. Anyway, I need to get more money. I can't live forever with these four pieces of paper. Why do we need money anyway? We should all live for free and stuff. Yep. At least the basic necessities, like beer and internet. I heard you can live on beer. It may be true, though. I want to try it one day.

I stopped in front of a store. Something big in front of me caught my attention. I observed it in detail. There was a poster; it read:

'Dusk Online'

'The new VRMMORPG that revolutionizes the world. 50 million people already pre-ordered it.'

"Pfff... I don't have time to play video games. I need to get a job."

There was a short notice on the corner.

'Every week there will be a regional tournament with $1,000 for the winner.'

$1,000 per week? If I buy the game, I will make $56,000 a year. That's a lot! Imagine all the beer I can buy with that. I need to start as soon as possible to get the edge. I saw the release date, 9/27 at 8 am.

"September 27. That's today!"

"No, idiot. Tomorrow is 27," the man at my side gently informed me. "And stop ogling at my wife's butt!"

"Thanks, bitch." I politely thanked him and went inside the store.

The cashier was a cute blond girl, must be about 20 years old. "Wel..." She saw me and stepped back. "Welcome." She put a fake smile on her face.

I approached her with my winning smile. "I saw you and I was like, wow, man. Did I die and went to hell? Cuz your beauty isn't from Earth. You must be a succubus or something."

"Shouldn't it be an angel in heaven?"

"Nah, you're certainly a naughty succubus."

"Security..."

"Okay, okay. Just joking. I always respect women. I wanted the game in the poster outside, miss."

"Dusk Online? It's $50 with $10 subscription after the first month. Do you want it for console or PC?"

"What do you take me for? A peasant?"

"You need the latest VR headset if you want to play the game. The homunculus gift 2. Its price is $320."

"Okay, I will buy it." I put the four franklins on the counter.

"You need to register the headset. I need your driver's license."

"Here." I gave her my ID card. I didn't have a driver's license because, you know, drunk driving and stuff. "If you wanted to know my name and age, you could've just asked. I'm Gary, 26 years old, single."

"Here is your card." She gave me a card for the headset and the warranty. "Please come again soon."

I looked at the paper with a frown on my face. "There is something missing on the paper."

"What?"

"Your number." I winked at her.

"Security."

"I'm leaving, I'm leaving. You must be frigid or something." I took the 30$, the game, and the VR headset and went home, grabbing some beer along the way.

When I got home, I saw fatgourd slap some muscular guy. The guy flew through the air and slammed on the floor. The floor cracked a bit. Fatgourd was my landlord. He was fat like a gourd, but he would break me a few ribs if I said that in front of him.

There was another muscular guy on the ground. He pressed his finger to his lip and feigned being blacked out.

I recognized the two of them, they were my neighbor Stan's cousins. Stan was kneeling in front of fatgourd.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"You don't pay three months of rent and now come with two guys on steroids?" He took Stan by his feet and lifted him.

"Sorry!"

"Maybe staying half an hour upside down will help you think things better." His tone was calm like always. He bound Stan's feet and tied the rope to the roof. "You two can leave."

"Yes!" Both of them stood up and dashed away.

Fatgourd turned around and looked at me. "Gary, Gary... What the fuck is that thing?" He gestured at the headset. "Did you get me the money?"

"Not yet, but I will get some soon."

"You are already late two months." He cracked his fists. "Since you seem to have money to waste, I won't tolerate another one. If you fail to pay me again, I will take that new little game of yours, break a few ribs and throw you to the streets. Understand?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"Good. I hope you do, Gary. I truly hope it." He patted my shoulder and left.