Chapter 53 – Reunion

“Oh, god this feels great!” I groan as I stretch my body. Wow. I’ve been sitting still for so long, I think my skin may have merged with the machine if I stayed on for another hour or so. God, if it doesn’t feel great to walk around with my real body for a change.

Three months. It has been over three months since I started my adventure. That’s three months since I was a regular human being like everyone else. I have got to say though, I don’t regret my new lifestyle one bit. Hell, I don’t even remember what it feels like to be sleeping anymore. Is it weird that I miss it?

I lightly shake my head while a smile creeps onto my face. Maybe I miss it a little bit. Going to sleep used to be one of the best feelings in the world, but I’m not sure if I want to dedicate one third of my life to keep doing it. Staying hooked up to a gaming capsule and play games instead of sleeping is a way better feeling in the long run and it feels like my life expectancy just increased by thirty percent. Thirty percent. That’s like living thirty to forty years longer! Whoever said gaming wouldn’t amount to anything?

I chuckle at the thought. When they first announced the full immersion technology, I was saddened to hear they never managed to create artificial time dilation. Now though, I don’t really mind. The fact that the machine manages to artificially mimic sleeping while the person hooked up to it is still conscious is probably the most incredible technological discovery since the invention of hot showers. I feel like I get so much more out of life these days, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

It allows me to follow my dream after all.

It’s been three months since I completely flipped my life around. I quit my job, sold my apartment, and even broke up with my girlfriend just to be able to dedicate every single hour of my life to become a professional gamer. I gambled everything I have; everything I have ever amounted to for this dream, and I’m loving every second of it.

Some would call me crazy for even considering doing what I have done, and they are probably not wrong. If they knew I decided to gamble my entire life on playing as a Villainous character where I could lose everything I have worked for in the blink of an eye though, they would probably recommend I seek out professional help. Hell, even I struggle to believe what an idiot I have been. Still, I don’t regret my choices. Not even for one second. I feel more alive now than I have ever done before. Every choice I make matters, and there is nothing but hard work and dedication standing in my way of gaining everything I have ever hoped and dreamed for. I chose to follow the path of a Villain, and I swear; I’ll be the best damn Villain the world has ever seen!

My mind wanders into a state of unicorns and rainbows as I head to the bathroom to take care of my bodily needs. Grabbing a good long shower and relieving myself are two of the most delightful experiences I have left in life after I quit sleeping, only beaten by the ecstasy of shoving a greasy bacon and cheese hamburger into my mouth. Which reminds me, maybe I can actually afford to eat a hamburger now that I finally ran into a bit of cash?

Do you know what? I think I might just do that.

I quickly get dressed and swipe my keys off the kitchen counter before I head outside. The bright morning sun washes over my face and I let the cold humid air sink into my skin. It must have been raining last night, but it’s not as if I would have noticed. Things like this still weird me out after living in a completely different world for such a long time.

I start my walk over towards the diner I met my dad at only a few days ago. Djeezes. It feels like it was months ago. I definitely need to spend some more time offline. I’m turning into some sort of closet-goblin. Speaking of, it’s been a few days since I last heard from dad. Perhaps I should give the old man a call?

I fish my phone out of my pocket and hit two on the speed dial. The phone only rings twice before my dad picks up.

“Ryan? Is that you? Damn, kid. I can’t remember the last time you called. Are you dying?” My dad grunts on the other side.

“Ha. Ha. Very funny dad. It’s not been that long since I last called.”

“That long? I’m pretty sure Trump the third was still president last time I heard from you. You know why I’m worried, right?” He says mockingly.

“Ease up on the dad jokes, gramps. Can’t a loving son call and invite his old jailor out for a cheese and bacon burger on a Thursday morning?”

“A burger? At eight in the morning?”

“Yeah, is that a problem?”

“No, I guess it isn’t. Jimmy’s diner in twenty?”

“Yeah. Bring lots of cash! I’m hungry.”

“Cheeky kid. Buy your own damn breakfast.” He huffs in annoyance before he hangs up, leaving me grinning. We have a lot in common, my dad and I. I’m just better looking.

Jimmy’s diner is only a ten minutes walk from my apartment, so I decide to take the scenic route along the local canal. Well, more like the local garbage dump, but there are at least some trees and a small park to look at. This is the kind of view you get when you can only afford to rent an apartment for under three hundred euros per month. It might not be flashy, but I hope I’ll be able to rent something better in a few months if my luck holds.

I eventually reach the diner, and I can already see dad’s car parked out front. That old man sure can move fast, especially when it’s anything related to Jimmy’s diner. I’m not sure what he loves more; bacon or my sister and I. Something tells me I don’t want to know the answer.

A small bell rings as I push the door open and enter the timeworn little diner. It seems like I arrived in the middle of the morning rush, so it takes a little bit of time to maneuver myself across the sea of middle-aged men with thinning hair and monstrous beer-bellies. I eventually push my way over to my dad’s regular booth, and I’m surprised to see he’s not alone.

“Heya chubs! Fancy meeting you here.” A cheerful voice calls as soon as she spots me. Ah, shit. What have I done to deserve this?

“Hey, sis…” I sigh. “How are you?”

She jumps to her feet and walks over towards me. “‘How are you?’ Is that how you greet your favourite sister? Come here and greet me properly chubs!” She chuckles while embracing me tightly. I reluctantly return the hug, counting the seconds until it’s appropriate to push her off me. My sister can be a little clingy at times. That, and I don’t really like hugging people; even if it’s family.

“Woah, what’s this?” She says while measuring my midsection with her arms. “You lost some weight chubs? Shit. Now I’ve seen everything… Dad? Are you sure he isn’t doing any drugs?”

“No…” My dad says while shaking his head solemnly. I can spot traces of a smirk on his face though. I snort.

“Ah, fuck off. Losing weight is a bi-effect of being hooked up to the machine all day. It’s kind of hard not to lose weight when I don’t have food to distract me.”

“Oh yeah, that old Virtual Reality coffin you worship more than dad worships bacon. I still can’t believe it when dad told me you quit your job to live inside of that thing. Like, I thought: What’s the worst thing that could happen? Terminally ill patients and infants pretty much live like vegetables already, so what’s adding one more healthy twenty-eight-year-old man into that demographic?” She snorts, giving me a dry look. “It seems like the consequences were far bigger than I could ever have imagined. If you continue to lose more weight, then I’ll have to stop calling you chubs! This affects me too you know. It’s completely irresponsible for you to make this decision without consulting me first.”

“Yeah, you have it rough, sis.” I shake my head. “You could always go back to using my real name, you know?”

“Pfft! Hardly. I’ll just come up with something new, don’t you worry. There are tons of potential nicknames for a kid like you out there. I’ll just have to go through a careful selection process. Don’t worry. I won’t even charge you for the work! What would you do without your generous older sister, eh?”

“Gee, I don’t know. Probably live a perfectly normal life for a change?”

“Hah! Funny as always, little man. You’d be bored to death before you even hit puberty. Now come sit your skinny ass down so we can eat!” She chuckles jovially before finally releasing me from her grip.

A smile crawls onto lips as I sit down in the booth opposite my dad. My sister scoots in beside me, resting her eyes on this side of my face. I ignore her to the best of my ability.

A waitress soon comes along and takes our orders, my sister choosing a salad while going on a long rant about eating healthy when my dad and I select the bacon and cheese burger. We nod along seriously for a moment and promise to choose a salad next time, which is a promise neither of us is planning to keep. Same as always.

“So, why are you here, sis? I mean, not that isn’t nice to have you here…”

She raises an eyebrow. “I came because dad called. We’re worried about you, Ryan.”

I slump back in my seat. Of course, that’s why she came. I should have known. “Dad, I thought we talked about this.”

My dad who has been quiet so far, grunts. “We did, son. But I called her a few days before our talk and she had already ordered a ticket. I still don’t agree with your choice, but it’s your choice to make. Your sister-”

She cuts in. “Your sister thinks you’re being an idiot and is too brain-damaged to know what’s best for you. Therefore, I got on the first plane I could to come up here and beat some sense into you.”

I sigh. “I don’t want to explain myself again, Allison…”

“Well, you ain’t getting out of this booth until you do, so talk before I make you talk.”

I massage the bridge of my nose, taking a good long sip from my milkshake in the process. “I’m following my dream, Allison. Same as you did when you decided to move to London to become a doctor.”

She gives me a deadpanned look. “Do you seriously want to compare getting a medical degree and a well-paying job to rotting away in a metal coffin all day and play a video game? Seriously?”

“I’m not rotting away. I’m in better shape now than I have ever been. Happier too.”

“You can’t live off a game, Ryan. You need a proper job. Like the one you had.”

“I can live off this game, and I will. My last job sucked every single ounce of life out of me. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life locked inside a cubicle.”

“There are other jobs…”

“None that could bring me even a fraction of the happiness I feel when playing this game. I’ve made up my mind and you can’t change it, Allison.

She starts to gently massage her temples. “You still can’t live off the game, Ryan. What are you going to do when your money runs out? Rob a bank?”

I release another sigh. Why does everyone have to be so damn condescending about dedicating my life to become a professional gamer? If I had told them I wanted to dedicate my life to become a professional tennis player, they would have praised me to the seven hells and back. Why is becoming a professional gamer that much worse? Hell, I’d say it’s easier to become rich off gaming than regular sports. Less strenuous too.

“I do well enough. I’ve already earned nearly fifteen hundred euros in only a week. After taxes, I’ll have enough to pay rent for another month and a half. I’m doing just fine. Don’t worry about it.”

“You’ve made that much already?” My dad says, raising his eyebrows.

“Yeah. Technically.”

“What you mean, technically?” Allison says.

“Well, almost all of it is in ingame items and materials. I would have to sell it first, but I estimate their value to be at around that level.”

“So, technically, you have nothing?”

I close my eyes and slowly count to ten. I only get to six when my sister speaks again. “I have to say, little brother. I don’t like this one bit. It’s not like you to be this stupid. Are you sure you are not in some sort of trouble? If you owe someone any money, I’m sure I could give you a loan…”

“I keep telling you, my finances are just fine.”

“How could they be? I have heard about that game. It costs three hundred euros per month just to play it, and that’s not considering the mountains of money you have to invest in the game to pay for the equipment and materials for your character. I read an article that a hardcore player can only make six or seven hundred euro profit per month this way and that demands you spend at least sixteen hours per day ingame. How long can you keep that up? That’s not enough to live a decent life. I swear, I would have lent you money already if it hadn’t been because you would probably just spend it to prolong this foolish venture of yours.”

I slam my fist into the table, startling my sister and several of the nearby guests who throw curious glances in our direction. “For the last time, Allison. I neither want nor need your pity-money. What sort of man would accept it? What I decide to do with my life is none of your concern and I will struggle through it by my own efforts, or fail trying.”

My dad sits quietly through our entire argument, crossing his arms and closing his eyes. My sister doesn’t see it, but I notice a single nod of approval after hearing my words. My anger abates slightly after seeing his nod. At least I have someone supporting me; even if he is a spineless wimp when it comes to my sister.

My sister, however, is fuming. “You cheeky little bastard. I only want what’s best for you.” She moves her glare over at our dad. “Aren’t you going to say something here?”

My dad grunts once before he opens his eyes. “I told you earlier, Allison. Your brother has already made up his mind. I will support his decision for as long as he needs me to, and I will be there to pick him up if he falls. Just like I would for you if you were in a similar situation. Why don’t we just give him some time to prove himself first?”

Cheeks reddened, Allison glares at our dad for a moment before she leans back into her chair, crossing her arms. “You two are the most pig-headed people I have ever known.” She huffs. “I have no idea how mom ever managed to keep you two from killing yourselves from your own stupidity.”

“Please don’t bring mom into this…” I say, shaking my head. My dad sits still like a statue, his eyes once more closed.

“Why shouldn’t I? I’m getting sick of seeing you two rot away in denial. She is dead, and she ain’t coming back. Pretending like she doesn’t exist won’t make your memories go away. She had her faults, but damn if we don’t all love her. It’s time you two could at least hold a single conversation about her without shutting yourselves off. You owe her that much. Hell, you owe ME that much.” She says, her face reddening further.

I release a deep breath. “We know, Allison. It’s just hard. We will get there eventually. We just need a little more time.” I say. Dad grunts in agreement.

Allison snorts. “See that you do. And don’t you think for one second that I’ve let you off the hook on this gaming thing of yours.”

“Don’t think you ever will.” I mutter, shaking my head.

We sit in silence for a few minutes until the waitress arrives with our food. I almost forgot where we were. It’s starting to become a bad habit that my family and I seem to solve all our conflicts in public like this. I don’t believe for one second that half the diner isn’t listening in on every word we say. If this keeps going on, we might have to stop coming here. Not that dad would ever agree to that. The bacon they serve is just too damn tasty.

We start devouring our food with great fervor which is a family trait we are well known for. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen an entire group of people who can finish eating a large meal in under thirty seconds. We’re just that amazing. Eating food also helps to lower the tension around the table, and even Allison ends up smiling after a few bites.

“So, Ryan…” She eventually says. “Tell me a little about the game. What is it that makes it so great?”

“Uhm.” I take a moment to drink another sip off my milkshake. What do I tell her? That I make money by murdering and robbing innocent computer programs for a living? Sure, that would work out great with my dad. Which retired police officer wouldn’t love hearing that their only son is a digital mobster?

“It’s the excitement and great scenery I suppose.” I say with an indifferent shrug.

“Great scenery? What kind of crap is that?” She snorts. “I bet it’s something else, isn’t it? A woman perhaps?”

I choke on my milkshake, my cheeks blushing red. “No.”

“Oh-hoh?” A glint shines in the corner of her eye. “I hit the mark right on, didn’t I? Who is she? Is she pretty?”

“There’s no girl!” I say a little bit too high-pitched. What the hell? Why am I even reacting like this?

“If she is half as pretty as your face seems to think she is, then I might have to steal her away from you.” She says, giving me her best shit-eating grin.

“For the last time; there is no girl! And if there was, it’s not like you would ever set foot in the game to find her.”

“So there is a girl?” She muses. “I was just messing with you, but now I just have to see this.”

… “Huh?”

“Oh, didn’t dad tell you? We both bought one of these capsules each. It’s not like we have anything better to do when we are supposed to be sleeping, so, we thought we might as well have a little family reunion at your newest place of work every day.” She grins.

My jaw drops. “Please don’t…”

“Oh, but we will! Please take good care of us, little brother!”

…

Fuck my life. This can’t end well.