“It’s already 5 o’clock, I need to go.”
“Already?”
“Yeah.”
After putting away my phone, I replied then stood up.
Looking around, there are 5 other men in the dark room that has the TV as the only source of light. Four of them are in front of the said TV busily playing video games while the last one was also busy but with the snacks on the table behind the gamers.
Perhaps hearing my exchange with the glutton, Tom paused the game then slowly turned back to look at me.
“You do know that usually at this time of the day, people are just about to start drinking, right?”
I glanced at Tom then continued searching for my things. The large man weighing more than a hundred kilograms is still as intimidating as ever.
“I know, but my mother would be angry if I’m not home before they come back. Besides, I still have things to do in the house. So, I gotta go.”
Saying that, I bent down to take my things and the almost empty bottle of beer on the floor.
Meanwhile, being forcibly stopped from their gaming, the other three finally noticed me packing up so they bid their farewells.
“Can you go home in that state?”
A soft voice asked.
‘Michael.’
The man with a complexion that greatly contrasts Tom’s brown skin stood up. He put his hands in his pocket and took out a small container, he then extended his hands holding the container towards me as if asking if I wanted one.
“Thanks.”
I stretched my hand to him and on my palm, a small mint candy fell.
I drank the remaining alcohol in the beer bottle then placed the candy in my mouth.
“I’m not drunk, don’t worry.”
After answering Michael’s question, someone else replied.
“I’ll go with you, Lex, just in case. Dad just messaged me that I better be on my way home. Sorry, everyone.”
It was Gian, his thin but tall figure could be mistaken as that of an adult but he’s still a teenager, a teenager that has to follow his parent’s instructions.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
He also stood up and packed his things as the others tried to stop him.
While I was waiting for Gian, Bart, sitting next to Tom, talked to me.
“Going home, Tomato head?”
“Yeah, Barthief.”
“Thief!?”
Bart yelled, probably remembering that situation, I’m convinced it was him who took the extension cord though.
“What?”
“You know it wasn–”
Bart then continued explaining that it wasn’t him that took it, I didn’t listen to any word he said and after a while, interrupted him.
“Sigh. What do you really want to say?”
“...in con– Your face’s red, they might notice.”
“It’ll be gone before I arrive home so no problem there.”
He pointed out my red face due to alcohol but considering the distance from here to our house, it’ll be gone even before I get home.
A few moments later, Gian was finally done packing so I went to the door and grabbed the knob.
“Then, we’re off.”
“See you on Monday, everyone.”
We said our goodbye then left the room.
In the living room, Tom’s mom was watching TV with a woman who gave her a bowl of popcorn.
“Are you going home?”
Noticing us, she questioned, then proceeded to ask us if we wanted her to drive us home.
“Ah, no. We can go home by ourselves.”
Of course we refuse. We don’t want to inconvenience them any longer.
“Yep, I also brought my car so… yeah.”
“Oh? Gian’s a man now, huh?”
I guess Tom’s mom knows Gian for a long time for her to have that kind of reaction.
We thanked her and after that, we finally went outside.
“Let’s go, I’ll drive you home.”
On our way to the gate, Gian offered.
“You do have a license, right?”
“Maybe…?”
We got in the car and Gian, sitting in the driver’s seat, drove while I took out my phone to play a MOBA game.
As trees, buildings and street signs passed by, the game also loaded and a few moments later, it finally opened. I quickly started a match and picked my character, ready to enter the battleground.
Games
A form of entertainment, a way to pass time, a means to get away from reality and to some, an opportunity to make money. It was the same for me, but… in a game, there's something I’m looking for, along with but surpasses the beautiful and engaging story, the stunning graphics, the well-written characters, or the intricate mechanics of the game, something that a boring game would lack – the feeling that it induces to the players while playing.
The feeling that I felt when I was the last one being chased by the ‘police’ and had to free my dumb teammates…
“AAAAAAAAAAAA–”
“Save us!”
“–GGGGGGGGGGGG–”
“Hurry!”
“–HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH…”
“Go to the right! We’ll go left!
“THEY'RE TRYING TO SURROUND YOU! RUN!”
… Or when I had to desperately swim, as I was sinking quickly to the bottom of a creek because the bitch that challenged me to a swimming race was using my body to keep herself above the water while laughing her nonexistent ass off…
*Gurgle Gurgle
*Gurgle Gurgle
“KYAAAHAHAHAHAHHA!”
*Brrrrrpp
*Gurgle Gurgle
“YAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAAAAAAA”
In other words, adrenaline rush, the intense excitement caused by a difficult challenge along with the hope and possibility that it can be overcome.
The intense excitement that I can no longer enjoy…
…Well, only until I played this game.
30…
29…
28…
As the timer counted down, I started to feel a little sleepy.
27…
24…
Perhaps because of the alcohol, my upper eyelids started to slowly drop.
23…
19…
I shook my head, to get out of the drowsiness I'm feeling…
18…
13…
… But it doesn’t seem to be working.
12…
7…
My eyes had trouble opening and my memory started to be hazy.
6…
3…
As the timer started to jump from one number to a lower value instead of smoothly counting down, I realized that there’s nothing else I can do but give in to the temptation.
2…
1…
I slowly closed my eyes and dreamt…