Del sat back on his chair. He forgot all his troubles at work and his failing marriage. He wanted to jump up for joy and do a fun dance which consisted of him strutting like a peacock and saying to himself - who’s the man? On his laptop, the General stood before him. He had never seen this NPC character before.

The four-star General said, “Great job soldier! You’re promoted to Colonel Zonig5 and you get the gold star. You are now the top elite status of the game. You’ll receive extra perks for this status. You will be contacted later. Great job Marine!”

John said, “Did you see that?”

“Yes, I see that on my screen,” he said.

Del had never heard of the top elite status before. This must be an upgrade to the game he was not aware of. Del’s wariness suddenly came over him. He would usually after a big battle recheck his stats and upgrade his character and weapons, but he wanted to celebrate.

“Do you want to play another round?” John said.

“No,” Del said. “I’m tired and I feel a little thirsty. How about a few drinks?”

John said, “I thought you still have a hangover.”

“I’m fine. Let’s drink some libations to the Marine Battle God. What do you say? If you’re willing. I’m buying.”

“I’ll be there,” John said.

Del said, “I’ll text you where to go.”

He took a shower and cleaned himself up and felt a little better. It has been a rough couple of days. But now he wanted to go out and have fun. Maybe, he could meet a new woman. Somebody better than his stuffy wife. He’s single now and he should celebrate. He sat on his unmade bed and texted John back. He text John to meet him at a bar in Huntington Beach on Main Street.

***

Del walked out of the HB parking lot and walked along the pavement toward Main Street. People milled around him. Del was a little tipsy and smiled as he moved. He finished his pint of rum before he left and he didn’t care about his divorce or his suspension from work. It was summer and all the women and men were walking up and down the street. He looked at the scantly clad women and a few of them looked back at him. John knew a few girls at this bar and he text him that he would meet them there.

Before he arrived at Huntington Beach, his stomach convulsed a little and he was hungry. He went through a drive-through at a Jack-in-the-box and got himself a hamburger and a diet soda. He poured the rest of his rum in his drink.

He felt alive and strong while he strolled along the street. He debated if he should call his daughter but he knew his ex-wife would stop him and nagged him to sign the divorce paperwork. He was not ready for that yet. Unfortunately, when he scanned the paperwork, she got the house and cars. She also got custody of his daughter and he had to pay alimony. It was not fair he thought. His ex-wife was a lawyer, a smart lawyer who probably got one of her crony lawyer friends to help her with the divorce. She probably got a discount. Del thought he should get a lawyer himself so he wouldn’t get screwed. Marion was getting everything, and that wasn’t right. He didn’t have anything.

John told him he should have got a lawyer because he wanted to protect his own assets. Also, his ex-wife excluded him from getting any visitation rights to see his daughter which made him mad, but he didn’t want to think about this tonight. He almost threw the divorce paperwork across the hotel room.

He walked up to the bar called HB Bar and Grill with the best burgers in town. Del showed his ID at the door bouncer and he moved the small entrance into a smoky and crowded room. Pictures of local celebrities were all along the walls.

He saw several pool tables with people standing around them. A long bar with several chairs and tables was at the far corner. Most of the crowd of people were at the bar trying to get drinks.

He didn’t see his friend, John, among the people at the bar. He hoped he might be at the upstairs area. Del took out his cell phone and saw a text message. It was John. He was running late and told him to grab a beer and a table if he could.

Del found a corner table in a far area away from the pool tables and the crowd. A cute pixie looking brunette waitress came up to him. She wore skintight clothes and a V neck T-shirt that accentuated her cleavage.

“Do you want something to drink sir?” The waitress said.

“Sure give me a beer whatever is on tap. I don’t care and also a shot of tequila,” Del said.

The lady walked away and shook her behind seductively. Del smiled. This was going to be a great night. He wondered why he got married early in his twenties. He should have went out on more dates. Del shook his head and shouldn’t dwell on things that he couldn’t change.

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He wondered if his ex-wife had a boyfriend. She must have been seeing somebody the last few months. She was acting odd before they separated.

The waitress came back with his drinks. He paid her and she smiled and then went to her other customers. He drank the tequila shot in one large gulp. He was feeling better. The alcohol burnt his throat. He sipped his beer but really wanted to finish it. He needed to wait and pace. Del scanned the bar and wondered how long it would take for John to get here.

Del waited close to an hour before John came through the entrance. John saddled close to him and sat down. Del was a little mad but didn’t care. He was about to say something when the waitress came back and asked John for his order. They ordered another round.

John said, “Hey buddy, it was awesome what we did tonight. We should team up more often.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think about that message we got after we finished the game?” John asked.

“I don’t know. We’ll have to find out,” he said, “Where’s the girls you told me about?”

John scanned the crowd. “They’re not here yet. They’ll be here later. I’ll buy this round of drinks and you’ll buy the next round.”

“Yes that sounds great. Are these girls pretty?”

“Sure there’s a cute skinny short girl who’s your type,” Johns said.

Del was actually thinking about his soon to be ex-wife, Marion. She was a shorthair skinny woman. She was everything he was looking for. He took another drink of his beer and finished it in a couple of gulps. Del was feeling good, ecstatic even. A group of girls walked toward John. It was a blond and two brunettes. Del saw all of them was good looking. They had the air of vibrance and youthfulness. Del wondered how John knew these pretty women. He had never told him about them before.

John introduced the girls to him. Sandra was the blond and the shorter brunette was named Cheryl and the other girl was named Rosa. It was loud in the bar and all he heard was music and laughter. John conversed with Sandra. Cheryl and Rosa talked to each other and looked around the bar at the other men there, the younger men. Del could tell Sandra was interested in John.

Del thought about his ex-wife, Marion, and how on their first date they went to Newport Beach and walked around the beach. They had their first kiss along the railing on the pier while they stared at the full moon reflecting off the cold ocean waves. Del thought how perfect that night was. He shook his head and scanned the bar. He didn’t want to be single again. He wanted his marriage back.

Cheryl said, “How do you know John?”

Del heard some of what she said. A song was playing loud over the bar’s speakers. Del explained to her how he met John in college in his poly-sci class and how they kept talking after the class ended.

Del said, “He has been my best friend since then.”

Cheryl smiled at him and nodding to him. She still looked at the other men around them but also looked at him. Del wondered if he could have a chance with her. But then he thought about his ex-wife, Marion. Cheryl had the same style and looked of his ex-wife. They both have the same haircut and body type. John bought a round of drinks for them. Del smiled.

John nudged him. “I think she likes you.”

Cheryl was talking to Rosa. The dim of the music was noisy, and she didn’t hear John’s comment. Del nodded and realized he was drunk almost smashed. He looked at the table and saw several shot glasses and empty glass cups.

Del said, “John, I need to take a leak. I’ll be back.”

John looked at him and said, “Don’t call Marion.”

“Nah,” he said and stumbled off his chair. He moved through the crowd of people towards the restrooms on the second floor. His body kept on hitting the walls as he walked up the steps. People moved away from him. Del knew he swayed to the side but he couldn’t help it.

The music was not so loud on the second floor. It was mostly pool tables and also a smaller bar. He went to the restroom and did his business. He barely glanced at himself in the mirror when he was washing his hands. He moved to a balcony and walked out into the night’s air. A few couples talked quietly along the railing. It was warm, and he thought he heard the sound of the ocean from here but he most had been mistaken the HB pier was too far away from the bar.

Del staggered toward an empty chair and sat down. He scanned the night’s sky and looked at the stars. He clumsily took his phone and dial his ex-wife’s number.

“Del, is that you?” Marion’s said.

“Yes, it’s me,” he said.

“Did you get the divorce paper?”

Del wanted to tell that he still loved and that they should be together. Except he said, “So, who are you seeing? I know there is somebody else.”

“No, there’s nobody. It’s your drinking. You’re an alcoholic. You’re drunk right now.”

“No, I’m not. I’m just out with my friend John. I did get the divorce papers and I’ll get my lawyer to look it over. Ok, I’ll call you later.”

Del hung up the phone before she could reply. His face was flushed and the ground seem to spin. He was mad and knew that he should stop drinking but right now he wanted another shot of rum or tequila.

Del walked down the steps. He took an extra longer time to get to the bottom floor. He saw John and the girls dancing on a small dance floor near the back. John was dancing close to Sandra. Del went back to his table. He noticed his glass was empty. The waitress was busy with the other customers.

He shook his head and walked toward the bar. He moved through the crowd of people. Standing in line, he saw somebody who looked odd. This man was dressed in a navy blue three-piece suit like he was a business executive going to an important meeting. He was staring at him.

Before Del could move away, the man said, “My name is Lodi. You have reached the elite status on the game. I’m a representative of the game company. I want to invite you and your friend to a special gaming night. We have this new prototype game that I think you guys would like to enjoy.”

The guy, Lodi, reached into his pocket and took out a business card and handed it to him. Del laughed and grabbed the card. It was made out of plastic and it shined in the light. There was a hologram on its surface. It showed a futuristic rifle. It was hard to tell in the light. Underneath, the gun there was an address.

Lodi said, “Tell your friend to come. Here’s another card for your friend. You’re both invited.”

He handed Del another card, and it was dark blue color. Del pocketed it. He looked up and Lodi was gone.