The Immortal Player

Chog!

"Marisa, how's Sabrina?" The moment Sabrina's mom closed the door of their van, Loren's mother wore a worried expression after witnessing the events that had happened.

"She's fine! Just some bruises!" Sabrina's mom forced a smile as the image of Pedro full of blood and upside down was being played repeatedly in her head.

"Anyway! Let's head to the hospital and check on Sabrina's condition!" Marisa, Sabrina's mom, started the van. After some minutes, Police and Highway Management Group, HMG, arrived at the intersection. The HMG manned the road lanes so that they can pass through the unblocked area of the intersection in an orderly manner. Marisa, Loren and Loren's mom, Annette, went straight to the hospital.

...

Wang! Wang! Wang! Wang!

'Pedro! Hold on! Don't give up!' Endless tears started flowing out of Sabrina's eyes as she holds Pedro's hands tight.

The moment the ambulance reached the hospital, Pedro was raced in a vacant emergency area where an old doctor was waiting.

"Doctor! Please save him! Do everything you can! Please!" Sabrina held Pedro's hand and was unwilling to let go.

"Miss! Let's stay here and let the Doctors focus on treating your friend! KARISSA! Please take care of her wounds! Miss, there was an emergency patient earlier and I would check her condition... for now, let nurse Karissa treat your cuts!" The good looking man placed held Sabrina's shoulder as she was brought to a seat. The white curtain surrounding the hospital bed of Pedro was pulled closed.

*Sniff

"Miss... Can I ask you a few details about you?" The nurse was holding a paper and a pen as she sat beside Sabrina and approached her in a calm and professional manner.

"Yes..." Sabrina nodded as she wipes her tears away.

...

...

"Sir, Our factory in the Laguna Factory of VR Boxes has already requested for another batch of Energy Crystals! Our stocks of Atomic Energy Crystal III is becoming thinner regardless of the continuous production!" A man reported inside the office of Mr. Jon Armaz who was looking into some emails and report.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

"Tell the production board to stop the production of Atomic Energy Crystal I and Atomic Energy Crystal II and focus in Atomic Energy Crystal III!" His gaze was focused on his phone as he ordered the man. After the man bowed and left the room, he answered the call.

"HONEY! Pedro has been into an accident! He is in the ICU in Bacoor North Hospital!" Pedro's mother was crying while speaking on the phone.

"WHAT! I'll be there!" Mr. Jon Armaz took his coat and left the room immediately. His secretary was astounded by the departing Mr. Jon.

"Sir, where are you going?" Mr. Jon left the room and was followed by her secretary. When they appeared to the hallway to the elevator, several employees were running back and forth even if it was the board of directors' floor.

"To the Bacoor North Hospital! Inform Jerome to prepare our helicopter, we'll depart in five minutes!" Although Mr. Jon wants to depart as soon as possible, there was one call he cannot ignore no matter what happens! The call of Nature! (P@@ping!) "Pooot! Ah..."

...

Tog! Tog! Tog! Tog! Tog!

"Claire! Contact me if there is only a need!" Mr. Jon screamed on the top of his lungs just for his secretary to hear his voice over the noise made by the helicopter. He tapped her shoulder and entered the helicopter as Claire bowed in response and distanced her self from the helicopter.

"Mr. Jon! Please be at ease! We'll be there in minutes!" The pilot gestured an 'ok sign' to Mr. Jon as the helicopter starts to depart. Minutes later, the helicopter got the view of the Bacoor North Hospital as several hospital crews were on stand by near the helipad for the incoming helicopter.

"Jerome! Prepare and refuel the helicopter! The company has too many matters to handle that I may need a ride again today!" Jerome, the pilot, responded to Mr. Jon with an 'ok sign' as Mr. Jon opens the helicopter door and went out.

"This way sir!" A doctor bowed to Mr. Jon as she pointed the way to the elevator.

"How's my son! What's his condition!" He can't already contain his worries and started bombarding questions to the doctor.

"He had attained a concussion and several broken bones, especially in the rib and shoulder part! Luckily, His spinal cord was intact! He was already operated to remove and stop the bleeding in his brain!" The elevator opened as the doctor finished his explanation to Mr. Jon.

"Honey!" Pedro's mother ran towards his father the moment she saw him walk out of the elevator. Tear flow out like a waterfall from her eyes as she hugged her husband tightly!

"Our Pedro!" *Sob... Sob ... His father held his mother's hands as he walked towards the hallway with a glass view where the inside of the Intensive Care Unit, ICU, can be seen. In the hallway, Sabrina was seating in the hallway together with Loren and their mothers. Her eyes were swollen from crying as her arms and legs were covered by several patches.

Pedro's father nodded to them as he turned and see his son in the ICU.

*Sob... Sob!

"The doctor said that the estimated time he would wake up is around a week or so! But, he also said that there is a chance that it would take longer than that!" Her mother explained as she tries to wipe the tears flowing out of her eyes.

...

Ting!

The elevator opened as the good looking man and an old doctor came out and broke the deafening silence in the hallway.

"Nice to meet you... Mr. Armaz! I am Dr. Nielson Byrne, the President in this hospital! This young man is my son, Jason Byrne! He was the one who led the rescue team that saved your son!" The old doctor and the good looking man shook hands with Pedro's mother, then his father.

"Thank you for saving our son!" Pedro's father and mother bowed in thanks to the young man that astounded everyone around. As Jason was about to speak Sabrina stood and bowed at the same time.

"Eh... Please raise your head! I just did what I can do as someone from the Bacoor North Hospital! Besides, your son is one of the few people I knew, who would be helping others in times of danger!" Jason explained as he looked to the unconscious Pedro inside the ICU!

"Please don't worry about your son! As of now, He is already stable and all we need to do was wait for him to wake up! Besides, he has a loving family waiting for him to come back!" He smiled as he glances to Pedro's mother and father then into Sabrina. At the same time, Pedro's mother and father shifted their gaze to Sabrina like saying 'who the heck is this girl? Perhaps she is her girlfriend that he is hiding from us?'.

"Uncle, Aunt! I am Sabrina Concepcion! Pedro's classmate!" Sabrina broke the awkward silence and stares by bowing in respect to Pedro's parents.

"Uhm... Perhaps, you are Pedro's 'secret' girlfriend?" Pedro's dense father asked out of the blue that made Sabrina's cheeks turn bright red!

"Heh! More like she has a crush on Pedro!" Loren mocked as she crossed her arms and look to the other way.

"Loreeeen!" Sabrina looked with a frown as she tried to speak in a sweet voice in front of Pedro's parents. Her mother could only face-palmed her face as if saying 'My daughter was easy to read as always!'. The air in the area became less tense because of Loren's tease.

"By the way! I am here for another reason Mr. Armaz!" Dr. Nielson smiled towards him as if saying 'you'll be interested in what I am about to say!'

"what is it then?" Mr. Jon shifted his look to Dr. Nielson with a serious expression.

"Please follow me then!" Dr. Neilson walked and gestured to Mr. Jon like saying 'This way!'. They walked until they reached the end of the hallway. Pedro's father was astounded as he sees a VR Box inside the ICU.

"Yesterday! We had a patient who had the same case with your son! The expected time for her to regain consciousness was around two months! Hence, we tried the suggestion of the Department of Health, to try the VR Box technology! Once we used it, we were successful in making contact with her through the game, Bearth Online! Her family was also able to talk to her in-game too!" Dr. Nielson had a serious look as he stares to the VR Box.

"Can... Can my son be in one too? Can we see or talk to him too?" Pedro's father was ecstatic as he glances at Dr. Nielson who had a grim look.

"Yes! Your son can be in one too! Unfortunately, the hospital had only procured one of such device!" Dr. Neilson shooked his head in response.

"It's not a big matter!" The eyes of Mr. Jon was like a candle that was lit with fire. His depressed feeling was suddenly filled with hope as he grabbed his phone in his pocket.

"Excuse me! Claire! Contact the VR Box company! Tell them to send two of their best VR Boxes here in Bacoor North Hospital! Also! Look for a decent house or Condominium a walk away from the area! Buy it immediately and send five of the similar VR Boxes to that place!" His father knew that his mother would never leave the ICU area until Pedro was awake, hence, he asked for two VR boxes so that she could see Pedro without leaving the ICU area. As for the house or Condominium, It was for his grandmother who was not able to follow because of the rush. They might be strict to Pedro but that speaks of how much they care and love him.

"Yes! Right away, President!" Claire responded as Mr. Jon ended the call.

"VR Boxes are not a problem! They would be here in hours time!" His father glanced to Dr. Nielson like saying 'I have solved your problem! You better not get back on your words!'. As they walk back in front of Pedro's ICU room, Sabrina and Loren's mother stood up.

"We'd be taking our leave! We'll pray for Pedro's quick recovery!" The four bowed slightly to Pedro's parents.

"Thank you very much! And sorry for taking your time! We really appreciate your concern!" Pedro's mother bowed back to the four as they turn around and leave. Sabrina glanced to Pedro one last time and thought inwardly... 'See you soon!'

"By the way Sabrina! right? Pay us a visit one day! We'd welcome you to our house with open hands!" Pedro's dense father uttered again that made Sabrina blushed. Pedro's mother pinched his father in his arm as Sabrina nodded back in a shy manner.