Evan had just walked downstairs when he noticed Jason, standing outside his apartment gate, deeply focused on a stack of paperwork. Curious but not wanting to interrupt, he approached silently.
Jason finished reading and looked up—only to find Evan staring at him quietly. He jumped back, startled.
“Woah! Are you okay, uncle?” Evan asked, blinking in surprise. “Is there something on my face?”
Jason exhaled, placing a hand over his chest. “No, no. I was just… caught off guard. You appeared out of nowhere. When did you get here?”
“Just now,” Evan said with a small smile. “I saw you were busy, so I waited until you finished.”
Jason nodded, finally understanding. “Alright, that makes sense. So, what brings you here? Need something?”
“Not really. Just heading out for a walk. Thought I’d clear my head after studying.”
Jason gave him a nod of approval. “Alright, but be careful. And make sure to be back before eight.”
“Got it,” Evan replied cheerfully as he made his way toward the main gate.
As he stepped outside, a warm feeling bubbled in his chest. Having someone to remind him to come home early—even for something as simple as a walk—felt oddly comforting.
He pulled out his phone and decided to call James. If he was out, maybe they could hang out. If not, Rey might be free.
The first call went unanswered. He tried again.
This time, James picked up.
“Hey bro, where are you?” James asked right away.
“I just finished studying and felt like going out for a bit,” Evan replied. “Wanted to see if you’re free to hang.”
“Perfect timing,” James said. “Rey and I are at Blaze Fox Gaming Café. Come join us!”
“Wait… is that the same place we first met?”
“Duh. You seriously forgot that already?” James teased.
Evan chuckled. “Got it. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
He hung up and opened the map app on his phone, typing in the café's name. A list of nearby gaming clubs popped up—and sure enough, Blaze Fox was on the list.
“Found it. Let’s get going before they call again,” Evan muttered, selecting the route and heading out.
The walk wasn’t too long, and when he reached the café, a wave of nostalgia hit him. Yep. Same place.
Inside, the place was buzzing with activity. Gamers of all ages filled the ground floor. He made his way to the second level, weaving past groups and glowing monitors until he spotted two familiar figures in a corner booth.
Rey was dressed in casual clothes, while James, oddly enough, was still in his school uniform.
“Hey! I’m here,” Evan called out.
“Oh hey, Evan!” James said, setting his headphones down. “We were just about to call you.”
Rey gave a nod in greeting and pulled a chair over for him.
Evan glanced at James’s outfit and raised a brow. “Still in uniform?”
“I did go home, but it’s… suffocating there,” James replied, his tone neutral. “So I come here whenever I can.”
“You should still check in at home first. Your parents would probably appreciate it,” Evan said. Rey nodded in agreement.
“I always check on my sister before heading out,” Rey added. “Even if I’m just going to work afterward.”
James leaned back, arms crossed. “What if your parents are never home? Leave before you wake up, come back when you're asleep. You only see them on holidays or special occasions.”
His words hung heavy in the air, silencing the two friends.
“Sorry,” Evan said softly. “I didn’t know your situation. I was just speaking from my own experience.”
James gave a faint smile. “It’s not your fault. They’re working for my future—I get it. Doesn’t make it easier, though.”
He turned back to his screen. “Anyway, let’s play. Come on.”
Evan logged in and entered the game lobby. His character stood under a pulsating shadow sigil, dark aura swirling around him.
“Let me warm up first,” he said, queuing for a solo match. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝※𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖※𝕟𝕖𝕥
The match lasted eight minutes. He managed to sneak-kill a player from behind—only to be taken out seconds later by a sniper wielding an elemental wind bullet.
Rank: 16 out of 100. Level Up: 2 → 3.
A glowing chest appeared in his inventory—his reward for three consecutive matches. Inside were designer gear and a new gun skin.
“Nice,” Evan grinned, equipping both to give his avatar a more unique look.
Soon after, he received a team invite from James. The trio played a series of duel matches, focusing on improving their coordination.
By the time their ninth game ended, it was already 7:30.
“Guys, I think it’s time to head home,” Evan said, glancing at the clock.
Rey stretched and nodded. “Yeah, I’m feeling the same.”
“I’ll play one more match,” James said quickly, his hand hovering over the keyboard. “You guys go on.”
“Nope,” Rey cut in. “You said that last time and played for another two hours. You’re coming with us.”
James sighed in defeat. “Fine, fine.”
He logged off, packed up his things, and cleaned up their table, tossing wrappers and cans into the trash bin.
They exited the club together, then parted ways at the corner after a quick goodbye.
“We should get home before it’s too late,” Evan murmured, pulling up his map app again and heading toward his house.