Chapter 11 : JUST A GAME.
1009 Words
JUST A GAME.
The night passed awkwardly. I didn’t log into the game, and my conversation with Mason had ended weirdly thanks to me. Darla didn’t bother to engage me either.
So, I went to sleep.
The next day, I don’t know how I found myself back in the virtual room with the ‘breakfast ingredients.’
Yeah… them.
Milk (Darla).
Chocolate (Mia).
Sugar (Brendan).
And…
Bread (Mason).
Yes, Bread was there.
And it was awkward.
He had his microphone turned off, not talking to anyone. Darla and Brendan were doing most of the talking, with a little bit of banter here and there.
Mia giggled from time to time, amused by Darla and Brendan’s constant bickering. I laughed too.
I couldn’t help it.
But I still felt out of place. I didn’t feel like I belonged there, didn’t feel like I belonged with the group.
Maybe because all of this was still new to me.
I tried to push aside the guilt that I had indirectly shown Mason my disappointment and focus on other things.
“Why are we not playing?” Brendan asked, apparently done throwing shades at Darla.
“Now you ask,” Mia responded with a hint of scorn before laughing.
Silence followed.
After a while…
“Is everywhere quiet or is my network bad?” Darla broke the silence. “Can you guys hear me?”
“We can.”
“Yes…”
“We can hear you.”
We all responded at the same time.
“Let’s just start the game. I’m bored.” Darla said.
Who would have thought that I would regret playing that game with them?
I couldn’t keep up with the people we were playing against. They were far more experienced than I was, so I wasn’t exactly helpful.
Everyone understood that.
Everyone except Brendan.
Sweet, flirty, playful Brendan didn’t.
He picked on me.
He got mad.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m so sorry.”
Those were the words I kept repeating every time I messed up. Every time a round was lost because of me.
He went from:
“Bella, watch your left.”
“No, no, not there.”
“Bella, come on.”
To:
“Can’t she use any other gun?”
“Bella, why are you so slow?”
“Are you dumb?”
“Didn’t you see that guy?”
“Bella, that was easy.”
“You’re blind!”
I wondered why he was being so spiteful.
But there was no reason behind it.
I just apologized every time he said something.
I couldn’t deny it.
His words stung.
They were sharp and hurtful.
I knew it was just a game but…
I genuinely felt useless.
I was scared now, not of the enemies, but of my failure. I was scared I would mess up even before I made a mess.
The others didn’t seem to see Brendan’s reaction as a big deal.
Once Darla had said:
“Easy on her, what were you expecting her to do there?”
And Mia:
“She’s still learning. Brendan calm down.”
Mason was just quiet. Didn’t bother. Didn’t care.
I was definitely leaving the stack immediately after the game. There was no way I was staying. I wasn’t going to lie to myself. If I stayed, they’d keep losing.
I had to leave.
The moment the match ended, I left the virtual room immediately and closed the gaming app.
I went to my room and lay down on my bed.
I don’t think I wanted to play with them anymore.
I only wanted Darla
I didn’t want the stack.
I didn’t want Brendan.
If I had to play, I would only play with Darla.
Not Brendan, not anyone else.
I sighed.
My mind trailed back to his hurtful words:
“Are you dumb?!”
I was going to get better.
But it was just a game.
Did he have to be so serious with it like that?
The buzzing of my phone interrupted my thoughts. I picked it up.
It was Darla.
She called.
My heart warmed.
She cared enough to call.
“Hey.” Her voice came through the phone immediately I picked it up.
I didn’t respond.
“Sorry about Brendan. He’s a fool.” I laughed at her comment.
He’s a fool.
It was just a line.
But the way she said it… just made me laugh.
I don’t know how she did it. But she had that effect on me. She had the ability to brighten my mood so effortlessly.
“Are you good?” She asked again while I was laughing.
“I am good.” I responded.
“Why’d you leave?” Funny question.
She expected me to stay?
“What do you mean?”
“You left after the game.” Darla said slowly.
“Oh. You called me right? And you asked me if I was okay? Yet you’re asking me why I left? Why wouldn’t I leave????”
“Relax…” she choked out through laughter.
“You’re so cute when you’re mad.” She added.
I sighed.
“It’s not funny.”
“I know. I’m sorry… I’m sorry. I can’t help it.”
“Smh.”
“See yeah..? When I just started the game too, I was bullied, because I played really bad. Most of the time the only thing that helped was my gender. Usually people are easier on girls in the game. But the guys have it tougher. People get competitive and say stupid things when they are frustrated. Brendan just didn’t want to lose the game, I’m sorry he vented his frustration on you.”
I hadn’t been angry before.
But now?
Now I was.
Was she really defending him?
“So he called me dumb cause he was frustrated?”
She went quiet.
“All I have picked from what you said is, ‘Bella you have to get used to being bullied.’ In a freaking game for goodness sake!”
I didn’t sign up for this.
- Writer
