"These are our latest desktop units," Sarah said, gesturing with a hand. "This one is called PhantomCore. Great for multitasking and known for long processing life. Over here we have NaniteSpark, best for rendering, used in most production houses for animations or virtual simulation work."
Ruby’s eyes flickered with a spark of curiosity as she absorbed the names, the details. There was something exciting about being surrounded by machines again. Her fingers itched—not just to create, but to build her own games world again, just like she used to.
As the final pieces were being packed into a beautiful matte black box—complete with cushioning charms and an extra dust shield—Ruby stood quietly near the counter, reading the long list on the payment slip.
It was written in neat handwriting, listing everything she bought:
– Soul S’ 2050 Ectoplasmic Tablet
– Wireless crystal mouse
– Dust warding keyboard wrap
– And two backup chargers...
Ruby calmly took out her card and tapped it against the machine. A soft chime rang.
Meanwhile, Karl had wandered off a little and now stood frozen near one of the display shelves. His eyes were fixed on something large and shiny: a smooth white monitor, curved and glowing faintly like fog. On the side was the logo SoulStream T9, known in this world for high-resolution spirit-channeling and dream-sharing visuals. It was basically a TV, but fancier and ridiculously expensive.
He turned to Ruby, eyes glittering like a child begging for candy.
"Wife..." he tugged at her sleeve with both hands, whispering like it was a secret treasure. "Look at that. Can you buy that SoulStream? I want it. Please?"
Ruby raised an eyebrow and tilted her head toward him. "You want it, huh?"
She let out a tired sigh and shook her head, her tone soft but firm. "Not now, Karl. I’m already buying the computer for the company too. I can’t afford this right now." She glanced at him with that familiar look—half amused, half speechless as if she couldn’t decide whether to scold him or pull his cheeks.
Karl’s shoulders drooped immediately, and he stared at the glowing SoulStream screen. His lower lip trembled.
"Wife..." he whispered dramatically, voice cracking, "I showed you the tomatoes I washed this morning. Doesn’t that count for something?"
And then—plop—his eyes turned glossy, fat tears welling up as if the world had ended right there in that very showroom. He looked like a heartbroken puppy who just got told the park was closed forever.
The scene didn’t go unnoticed.
Sarah, the salesperson, exchanged an awkward glance with her colleague behind the counter. One tried to hide a chuckle behind her clipboard while the other whispered, "Is he okay?" loud enough for Ruby to hear.
Ruby’s face flushed slightly as she looked away and rubbed her temple, completely embarrassed now.
"Karl..." she whispered under her breath, trying not to laugh, "Why are you ?"
He sniffled and wiped an invisible tear. "Because you said no."
Ruby turned toward the exit with her accessories bags in hand. "I said not now. If you cry here, I’m leaving you in this store."
Karl gasped. "You wouldn’t..."
Milo, holding laptop box beside them, leaned in with a shrug. "She totally would."
Ruby glanced over her shoulder and smirked. "Try me."
And with that, she walked ahead, leaving Karl speed-walking after her with big watery eyes and muttering, "Stingy Wife..."
Karl stomped dramatically toward the car, his steps loud and exaggerated like someone filming a sad movie scene. With a swift pull of the door, he plopped into the passenger seat and slammed it shut. He crossed his arms with a big pout, still sniffling.
Milo walked slowly behind, carrying Ruby’s new laptop in both hands like it was sacred treasure. His face was small and awkward, lips pressed into a thin line as he sat in the backseat, not saying a word. He just hugged the laptop box like it might protect him from the incoming emotional storm.
Ruby shut her eyes for two seconds, took a deep breath, and started the car.
But of course, the moment the engine hummed to life, Karl leaned against the window, his forehead pressed to the glass.
"We didn’t have Soulstream..." he muttered miserably. "I was going to learn acting, you know? Really become someone... win an award or something..."
Ruby glanced at him sideways. "From a Soulstream?"
"Yes!" he cried. "I was going to study every expression... every emotion... every scene. I had dreams, wife. And they were crushed."
"You were playing Fat Fish game five minutes ago," Milo mumbled from the back, not lifting his head.
Karl sniffled louder. "That was before. Before I met Soulstream and believed in myself!"
Ruby rubbed her temple again, this time harder. "Gods help me," she whispered, keeping her eyes on the sky as they drove out of the parking lot.
Meanwhile, Karl turned toward her, still with tears in his eyes. "Wife, if I cry too much and get dehydrated, will you buy me Soulstream then? For medical reasons?"
Milo burst into quiet laughter in the backseat, and Ruby let out a defeated sigh.
"We’re going home," she muttered. "And nobody’s getting a damn Soulstream."
"Karl, can you shut up!?" Ruby finally snapped, one hand on the steering wheel and the other rubbing her temple. "My ears are bleeding, I swear!"
Karl gasped like she just told him she was canceling his birthday.
"Wife..." he said with wide eyes, pressing a hand to his chest. "How could you say that to me? I’m just a poor soul mourning the loss of his Soulstream dreams!"
"Oh my god—" Ruby muttered under her breath, resisting the urge to drive the car straight into a bush. "You’ve been crying, talking, sighing, dramatically narrating your life for thirty straight minutes. I can’t even hear myself think."
From the backseat, Milo leaned forward between them with a deadpan expression. "I timed him. It’s actually thirty-two minutes and forty-six seconds."
Karl whipped around. "You traitor!"
Ruby cut in, her voice sharp. "Karl. One more word about Soulstream, I’ll stream your soul out of your body. Do you understand?"
Karl opened his mouth.
Ruby raised an eyebrow.
—To be continued...🪄