Ren’s apartment – Evening.
Ren is locked into a heated back and forth with his dad. Both are standing in the middle of the dark living room, with a black and white movie playing in the background. (The movie is twelve angry men)
“So, are you going to tell me why you left school early?! Your teacher called me directly to tell me you never came back.” Ren’s dad confronts him.
“I left because there was some stupid fight going on between some girls and I somehow got roped into. It’s no big deal.” Ren tries to downplay.
“That’s not the full story. You think I’m stupid?” Ren’s dad says while stepping closer to Ren.
“Okay. That girl that beat me in that one tournament was there. She didn’t even Remember me.” Ren tries to explain but he’s cut off by his father.
“So, this girl is back and antagonizing you? Why didn’t you just handle the situation?”
“Wait… what do you mean?” Ren asks.
“I mean by putting that bitch in her place!” Ren’s dad suggests.
“But what do you mean by that dad?” Ren asks Earnestly.
“What are you stupid? By delivering a swift back hand, son. It’s that simple. After that, normal women understand their place. You can’t keep being a push over.”
Ren is appalled by what his dad just said. In fact, these exact words begin to make sense as he begins to piece things in his memory together. Without thinking, Ren’s next words just slip out of his mouth.
“Is that what you did to mom? Is that why she left?” Ren asks.
Ren’s dad’s next reaction comes to him instinctively, as he strikes his son in the face. Sending him crashing to the carpet of the living room floor.
“Now you listen to me, don’t you ever speak to me like that. I am your farther, you understand me?!”
Ren Remains down on the carpet, he lifts his head in time to see a single drop of blood fall from his nose, onto the carpet. He doesn’t lift his head, instead staring at the drop of blood.
Flashback:
10 years ago.
Ren is sitting on the park bench while his dad sits next to him and his mother (A rather tall, red headed women with glasses.) is setting up for a family picnic.
“Dad will you and mom always be around to protect me?” a five-year-old Ren asks.
“Of course, son, why do you ask?” Ren’s dad asks.
“My friend down the street said his parents are separating. He’s scared. Which made me scared. I don’t want to lose you and mommy.” Ren says.
“Nonsense Ren. Your mom and I aren’t going anywhere, and we will always protect you, no matter what.” Ren’s dad says.
“Promise?” Ren asks.
“Promise”
Flashback end:
Ren is still silently looking at his own blood on the floor. His farther still standing over him. Before his father can say anything else, Ren gets up, pushes his father out of the way and runs out of the apartment. He can vaguely hear his dad’s voice behind him, but he ignores it.
**
At the VBL HQ, it’s an ordinary day. People of all ages sit at the booths, rent out training rooms, stare at the monitors or mingle around the estate. In front of the monitors is a Mexican teenager with short hair, open buttoned shirt, ripped jeans and white sneakers stares at one of the monitors. This is Eduardo Nunez (16). His phone suddenly vibrates, and he gets a message that reads “The training room that you booked is ready. Please go to training room 3 and enter code 0988 on the door keypad.”
Before Eduardo can put his phone back in his pocket, a pre-teen 4 years younger than him steps in front of Eduardo to get his attention. Once their eyes meet, the preteen’s assumption is proven correct.
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“Are you … Eduardo Nunez?” the preteen asks.
“Damn it.” Eduardo responds.
“I knew it! Hey, listen I’m a big fan, I’ve been following you since you were going to locals at LA fight night. You’re really amazing. Wait, what are you doing here?” The pre-teen pursues.
Thinking on his feet, Eduardo does the first thing that most fans want most.
“Hey what’s with all the questions? Don’t you want an autograph and picture?” Eduardo bribes.
“Yes of course! Thank you so much!” The pre-teen exclaims.
The pre-teen is quick about pulling his phone out and taking a selfie with Eduardo. Soon after people around them begin to look over in curiosity. Eduardo looks over just in time to see them recognize him. The pre-teen reaches in his bag and pulls out a magazine that has Eduardo on the cover. Like a true professional, Eduardo pulls out his own marker and quickly signs it.
“See you later kid!” Eduardo says while running away.
Some people have already begun to walk towards him with random, miscellaneous things for him to sign. The pre-teen looks at the escaping Eduardo with admiration.
“Just my luck. I thought I had more time before people started noticing me like this. I guess word travels fast.” Eduardo says to himself.
*
Inside training room 3 Eduardo opens the door and immediately closes it behind him. He allows himself to fall to the ground.
“Which room did he go in?”
Eduardo can hear someone say on the other side of the door. He lets out a relaxing sigh. Then goes ahead to walk over to the two VBL pods laying diagonally towards the back wall. He notices a match being streamed on the monitor. It’s between Brian and another contestant that he doesn’t recognize. He sits on the couch and analyzes the match. The weapons, abilities, and the playstyles of each player. After a while Eduardo walks over to the pods, where’s there a tablet. Eduardo scans through all the different abilities and weapons. Brainstorming a build to try. The training room is quiet.
**
On the other side of the VBL HQ in the far corner of the building Ren is sitting on the floor, in the dark. Crying with his head in his legs. Just then an exit door opens and Ren looks up from his knees to see Brian walking into the building from the outside. Smelling of freshly smoked cigarettes. There’s a brief moment of Brian and Ren looking at each other before Brian speaks up.
“I was feeling a little nauseous, so I stepped out for a smoke. Do me a favor and don’t tell anyone else about this door. It’s one of the few corners the camera can’t see, so I’ve made it my pseudo smoke area.” Brian explains before he sees Ren isn’t interested at all. Instead, he places his head back between his legs.
Brian almost walks away with his hands in his pockets, but he hears a slight sniffle from Ren showing that he is still crying. This stops Brian in his tracks. He turns back toward Ren.
“Alright kid, let’s hear it.” Brian asks.
“It’s Nothing.” Ren says.
“You are telling me that you’re crying in public because of nothing?” Brian pursues.
“Just leave me alone.” Ren finally says.
Brian stands there for a second.
“I’ll say this once kid. Then I’ll get going if you still want me to.” Brian says.
Ren is quiet.
“Sometimes you aren’t meant to go through something alone. You may feel like you’re a burden if you lay your baggage on someone, but there exist people that will actually feel worse if you don’t. They would rather you tell them than the alternative, which is you hurting, alone. Long story short, it’s okay to ask for help.” Brian states.
Brian couldn’t have expected what would happen next. Ren finally looks up from his knees, no longer trying to hide his pain.
“I don’t know what to do.” Ren admits.
Second to Ren’s tears, his attention is drawn to the bruise on Ren’s cheek. He doesn’t lose his cool, but he is concerned.
“What happened to your face? Are you getting bullied?” Brian asks.
“Not exactly. This was … from my dad.” Ren explains.
Brians eyes go wide with rage. He tries to internally compose himself, but bits of his frustration cause his hand to shake. Ren notices this.
“Is this what you’re feeling conflicted about?” Brian asks.
“… Yeah.” Ren conflictingly agrees.
Brian inner thoughts: This kid is conflicted on giving me family details. Which is good, I’m a stranger after all. But his parent seems to be doing excessive punishment. I don’t know the full story and I don’t know if this kid did anything. These could be crocodile tears… no. You wouldn’t hide in the corner of the building just to fake cry. He didn’t even know I was smoking outside… He’s around “her” age.
“What’s your name kid?” Brian asks.
“Ren”
“May I sit for a second Ren?”
“Yeah.”
Brian follows through and takes a seat next to Ren. Making sure to keep a bit of distance between them for personal space. He gathers his thoughts while looking up at the ceiling. Eventually Ren looks over to him.
“You know Ren. Parents aren’t perfect. We may act like we know everything but a lot of times we’re figuring things out in the same way that you are. We have more experience on this earth because we’re older but we’re still learning. About the world and ourselves. What I’m trying to say is don’t allow yourself to feel like you’re stuck in one spot because a parent only shows you one path. Sometimes even parents can’t see the whole picture.”
“Are you saying I should forgive my dad?” Ren asks.
“No. In my eyes, he may call himself a man, but he can’t call himself a farther.” Brian elaborates.
“So, how would you describe a farther?” Ren asks.
“It’s a simple description. A man that brings more chaos than comfort to his family can’t be a good farther. That’s because the child can’t accurately decipher the correct actions to make him a good person. He’ll grow up carrying the baggage and insecurities of his parents, instead of solving them.” Brian says.
“That’s nice and all but what can I do with that? I’m stuck in this situation now. With this man that wants me to be just like him. With this man that doesn’t care about hurting people, including me. This man. This pathetic man.” Ren’s words come out with a guttural noise as he tries to drown the emotions inside him.
Brian looks directly at Ren for the first time in the conversation.
“Well, what about your mom?” Brian asks.
It wasn’t that Ren had forgotten about his mother. In fact, he thinks about her a lot. More like his failing relationship with his farther clouded his mind for a while. It took Brian talking about her that allowed Ren to open his eyes, and his mind, to the bigger picture. Then make a quick decision.
**
Jin walks up to the VBL HQ front door with a cigarette in his mouth.
Jin inner thoughts: So, this is that gaming building I keep hearing about. VBL.