Back in 2003, during my college years, I got addicted to what was then one of the most popular MMORPG: Ragnarok Online. In an age where most of my peers were thinking of who to date and where to fuck, I was more concerned then of what monster to kill and where to boost up my character's level. I would skip classes or lunch---more often both---just so I could have an extra hour of playing time. I would even spend thousands of pesos to buy godly items and rare cards in the game. I recall one time when I spent PhP15,000 in just one transaction to buy a few billions of zennies (Ragnarok currency), a couple of extremely rare cards and some powerful items. I was that passionate a player.
To some---okay, to many---it would seem to be an awfully stupid waste of money. And time. And effort. After all, what does one get out of playing an online game? Eyebags, you might say. A gaping hole in your pocket, you hasten to add. Oh, and don't forget low---no, failing---grades.
Well, to be honest, I got all that. But then I got something more. Something quite unexpected. Something incredible and fantastic that until now, I still find it hard to believe I've found it. And in Ragnarok, to boot.
I found love.
My name is Paopao and this is my story.
to be continued...