Chapter 1 : Zion

It's been two years. I can't believe that I lasted this long. That's right, I really never expected things to go down like this.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Maybe I should be proud, or should I be ashamed of what I've been doing.

But no matter what, I'm really reluctant to let this go. My life, you see, for me it was already perfect.

Thinking about it again for the hundredth times, I nodded. This is really perfect! And there's nothing I could wish for anymore.

Money, power, or anything you could name it! Thank you! But I don't need it. I'm already satisfied with my life and I plan on continuing this kind of everyday until the day I die.

And... that’s what I thought.

You know, life is about change.

And I didn't know that my life would abruptly be turned upside down like this.

So, what happened?

Come on ask me. Aren't you curious?

Well, whatever. I'll tell you anyway.

It's like this...

Maybe, I'll start off with my name.

For the introduction, my name is Zion.

Zion de Valle. Everybody calls me, Zee. It's cool right. I like my name very much. It didn't sound like a girl's name, and it sounded more like a guy.

Hehe. Right, Zee is a girl. A girl that didn't look like one. Of course, if I try, I could be the most beautiful girl in the world. I just don't have much interest in that aspect.

What's more...

Age; I'm 22 this year. I graduated two years ago. And currently, I'm a NEET. Not in Education, Employment, or Training, basically a full time NEET!

When I graduated from college, till now, I didn't expect to step on this road. I had worn full-on battle armor and was ready to face the danger of being part of the society.

A month after I graduated, I finally got my first job. I can say that it wasn't in line with the course program I graduated with, but I still choose to do this one. You see, I planned on continuing my studies. Maybe, get a Fine Arts degree, since it was the program, I wanted in the first place. But because the schools were really far, far, far, away from our home. Despite how I wanted to be a Fine Arts student, I gave up and turned towards the 15 minutes long University drive from my house.

That school was a new school in our city. It was just 20+ years old. A baby, compared to those ancient schools in our country. Programs there are few, and I decided to take on BS Psychology and stayed there for four years.

Why? Because, they said that Psychology didn't have those f*cking math! But I was extremely wrong! (ノ｀Д´)ノ彡┻━┻ Those guys were truly deceptive! In my first year, there was already math! And it just got harder and harder as the years went by.

The only thing that I could be thankful for is, we don't have calculus. It's fine, I could take on Anatomy. Memorizing muscles, skeletons, or every little part of the human body system but Zee can't really take on numbers. Chemistry was still fine, and I could still cope up with it. Genetic was fun too. But physics was hell.

Nevertheless, major subjects were fun and enjoyable in every way. Abnormal Psychology, will take you for a ride where you'll see everything abnormal. Clinical Psychology will make you describe everyone as mentally ill. Education Psychology was an exploration.

There's many more. But I could only say that, life as a Psychology student was really fun.

I graduated beaming with ambition. I took advice from my supervisors from every internship we have. I already plotted out my future. I could say that I was already ready to face the harsh society, when I took my diploma from my school.

But reality was really harsh. And I really thought I was tough.

I got my first job, and I was so happy. Though it was really far, far, far, far, far way. I still tried. As a person who didn't know how to commute by myself, getting a job far far away is very ideal for me. I wanted to try learning to be independent.

I endure 6 hours of riding, from my home to our office every day. It was very tiring but I adapted very well.

But Zee was scared away. Yup, it was humiliating and I feel ashamed for that, but I really thought that the outside world was scary. I thought I was mature enough and could face anything the society threw at me. But I was wrong once again.

I resigned a month after my training ended. And I never left our house ever since.

A year ago, I thought it’s time to try again. This time, I was determined.

However...

Sad truth, I was stuck in the house again.

Why?

Because a f*cking pandemic strikes the world in disorder and even has the guts to stab my little determination and self-esteem to look for a job!! ┻┻︵ヽ(`Д´)ﾉ︵┻┻

And now, two years have passed.

Sigh~

And here I am, still laying flatly on my comfy bed staring unblinking at my phone. Sweat drips down my face and my back is already drench.

I feel like a pancake being baked in a hot pan. In a low fire, slow and steady. It was super-hot, even though it's nearing Christmas, the sun still shines like summer. And this heat lingers every day.

I lick my dry lips as I continue reading a web novel, while my thumb swipes the screen up.

This is my life. I woke up nearly at 12 in the afternoon just to eat. I read and read while eating, and lay again after. I read, then read, until I became hungry and ate again. From afternoon till night, I read. On normal days, I sleep between 3 and 4 am. On special occasions, where I found a gem and decided to binge read, I will never sleep until I finished the whole chapters available.

I'm really satisfied with my life right now. Though I have no money or a job, I am just a parasite clinging hard to my parents.

This life, I don't want to give up on it.

Yup, and I never really thought of giving up on this life.

Even though, my life is not the same as it used to be anymore.

Sigh~

Life as a NEET is truly satisfying.