THE GAME only costed $1000, which is cheap.

But for such a cheap price, I was expecting it to be delivered immediately but one week had already gone by and I kept waiting.

During that time, I kept myself busy by trying to learn how to kiss using my hand. Don’t judge me. How else was I going to learn to kiss a real girl if I didn’t do it on my hand?

Wait, she isn’t even a real girl. I forgot for a second there.

But the most important detail is that I have been keeping myself busy.

So I was active on my Instagram, admiring some cute couples when I received a notification I felt so good to get.

“Your package will be delivered to your house. Please send your details.”

I danced when I read it, shaking every inch of my body, knowing my girlfriend, who's in a box, would be delivered soon.

Excitement brought anxiety when I thought about my decision to have a girlfriend. Would I be good enough for her?

I know every guy might worry about that at some point, but I had no reason to worry because she wasn’t real after all. She is basically programmed to love me. So I brushed that thought off.

I sent my details and waited in anticipation.

When I received a second notification, my heart skipped. The delivery man was at the door.

I ran downstairs, not caring whether I would fall off one stair and hit my head. It took me a while, but I rushed down each stair trying to be as careful yet as fast as I could be.

I opened my enormous door. The door was 3 times my height and it never quite made sense to me why my dad would make the front door that large.

My eyes caught sight of a very skinny, light-skinned man holding a large box. His skin clung to his bones in such a manner that I could see his skeleton. He was wearing a dark blue work suit with a badge written ‘delivery man’, but not even that suit was enough to hide his malnourished body. I was moved with pity as I glanced at him.

“Here is your package, sir.” He said to me slowly and nothing sounded creepier than his voice. It was raspy and high-pitched, like an alien from some sci-fi movie.

I grabbed the box from him. “Thank you, sir. Would you like some water? It is hot outside, and you have been out in the sun.”

He looked at me with a raised brow. “You’re a very kind and respectful young man. No one has ever shown me such kindness, but I have taken some water, thanks for offering.”

“Alright, no problem. So, is there anywhere I need to sign?”

“Actually, here.” He directed me to a board he got out of his bag.

I got the pen and sighed.

He was about to leave when I stopped him. I pulled out 10000 naira and stretched my hand to give him.

His eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “You don’t have to.”

“I insist. I really appreciate how you brought my package in a safe condition. So here is your tip.”

“Thank you once again.” He smiled and got the money, then waved bye.

I got into my house and carried my box along the stairs. How did that man carry this thing? It was so heavy so I rushed upstairs until I arrived at my room.

That box meant an opportunity for me to have the girlfriend I had always longed to have.

I opened the box and caught sight of pretty cool looking virtual reality headsets. They looked exactly like the ones James had, except mine were blue and his were black.

On the right side, was what looked like cables with little box-like white ends.

I concluded that those must be the touch sensors they spoke about. I searched the box for other things, but I only found the same booklet James gave me and a one paged manual.

Filled with excitement, I read the manual and gathered up all the info on how to use it.

I finally wore the headsets and knots formed in my stomach, knowing I would finally meet her.

I took a deep breath before almost turning on my headsets, but my hands trembled in fear that I couldn’t press the on button.

Gathering all my courage, I finally pressed the button, but all I could see was a black screen.

I immediately removed the goggles, ready to try them on again, when I heard a scream from my mom’s room.

After dropping the headsets on my bed, I ran to her room. I was hoping nothing bad had happened to her, so I entered her room without knocking.

“Mom, are you alright?” I said, breathing heavily since I had been running to get to her bedroom.

“Don’t call me mom, I am not your mother.” She said, pointing at me with an empty vodka bottle. She sat on her enormous bed without a trace of bruises, which made me wonder why she was screaming.

“Why did you scream?”

“My bottle of vodka is empty. That’s the most painful feeling ever. I didn’t realize I had drank all of it till now.”

“I came running, thinking it was something more serious.” I rolled my eyes. I never understood her obsession with alcohol because I wanted nothing to do with it.

“I never asked you to come here. You came here yourself, so you might as well get me another bottle of vodka.”

“I am not doing that. You just finished one full bottle without diluting it, so I will not give you another.” Her drinking habits would eventually be the reason she dies and I would not want to contribute to her death.

“With every passing day, you always prove to me how useless of a child you are. You are just as useless as your father.”

I hated the way she always called me useless, but it hurt me more to hear her call my dad useless.

My father has been the only genuine family I have ever since my real mom died. He truly cares about me, unlike any other person.

“My dad puts a roof over your head and you dare to call him useless. You’re so unappreciative.” I clenched my jaw. I would take the insults being fired at me, but not my father.

She smiled slightly. “Are you talking about your dead father?”

My dead father? My father isn’t dead.

“What are you talking about? My father isn’t dead.” My face scrunched up in the shock of her words.

“Oh, you don’t know that he is in the hospital right now?”

My stomach formed knots, causing me a lot of anxiety. “Dad is in the hospital?”

She burst into laughter. I didn’t understand why she was laughing.“Yes, he is probably going to die from there.”

I ignored her rude remark. “What’s wrong with him?”

“He had a heart attack and was immediately admitted to the hospital.”

I felt a warm sensation on my face; a sensation I am very familiar with. A tear rolled down my cheek and at that moment my eyes kept watering out of the pain of knowing the person I love so dearly was that sick.

“Why are you so relaxed about this? Aren’t you supposed to be with him at the hospital?” I asked, while glancing at her blurry image.

She laughed again. “The doctors said I should visit him tomorrow and besides, him dying isn’t all that bad.”

I had so much respect for her, but her evil words put a knife to the back of my respect. At that moment, all respect I had for her died.

I glared daggers at her. “You’re the one that deserves to be in the hospital right now."

“But I am not!” She burst into laughter. “When your father dies, I will have all his riches.”

“You are a pathetic excuse for a human being. I wonder what my dad saw in you. You disgust me.” I said, walking away from her.

“Your opinion is of no importance to me. I just hope your useless father dies so that I don’t have to deal with you and I can have all his money for myself!” She shouted from behind me.

I was so angry at her words, I vented all my anger on her bedroom door. Shutting it with a loud thud.

Dad was sick, and she saw that as a good thing. She clearly did not marry him for love. She just wanted his money, and that’s the demon my dad has to deal with constantly.

The moment my father recovers, I will tell him about all she said to me so that he can divorce her.

I entered my bedroom and eyed the virtual reality headsets on my bed. I was not in the mood to use them. Not after everything I had just heard.

My heart felt numb. I was deeply hurt by the news I just received that I sat on my bed and stared at the wall saying nothing.

Tears kept falling down my face until I couldn’t take it. There was only one way to get out of that misery; a way that could temporary make me forget about my problems. I needed to sleep.

_____ Authors note _____

I guess we got to see a sad element in Luca's everyday life.

Quick question, what is something you once spent your money on that you solely regret?

I regret paying for some skin care products that did not work well on my skin.

(I am interested in hearing yours.)