Resting my head against the glass car window, I realized I never finished telling the crew about my hate for the countryside. My story was like any other, I was an adolescent boy whom experience a little too much kindness from the resident town beauty and got my hopes up and unknownly began crushing over her.
News flash was, she was always like that to tourists and people new to the town and I wasn't excalty an exception. That was the sole reason I hated visiting country sides. It just brought back memories and made me cringe.
"Commander!"
"Hmph!"
Answering AI's call, I shifted my head slightly and locked gazes with her. Leaning in closer and bridging my concept of personal space, she showed me her phone.
"Do you like games?"
With eyes full of anticipating, she questioned. Before I answered I stared at her phone screen, marveling at the abundance of games on her home screen. Form shooters to endless runners. She was undoubtedly a gamer girl and luckily for me I also was a gamer so I nod.
"Yeah...a well back I use to be a professional in a famous shooter, unfortunately I got banned."
"Oh !" Surprised by my revelation,she clicked one of the games and thrusted her phone towards me.
I expected her to ask why I got banned but looking back to what I did, yeah I'll preferred if she didn't ask. I was too unhinged back then anyway.
Staring at her screen, the game she had clicked on, a candy matching game icon pop on the screen and began to load. Eventually it's familair tune began to play and as I slowly hummed to it, AI handed me her phone to play.
I wasn't really a fun of those clicker and matching games but I guess I was bored so I went a long and began from level 4 to avoid unnecessary tutorials.
"Let's see,I need to match three."
Understanding the basis, I began.
Taking note of the timer I began matching three candies of the same color, nodding in satisfaction as my win was registered. The level was surprisely easy to clear in no time and with three stars at that.
"Very good."
Encouraging me like a mother, AI patted my shoulder proudly urging me to continue.
Believing I could use this to pass time, I clicked on the next level and continued the previous process. That too I cleared without any difficulty but It did take longer than expected.
"You're doing great commander!"
Pleased with her encouragement, I moved on to the next level and while I didn't suffer a few minor setback, three star never left my sight. I continued to win and win and before long I found myself too lost in the game to keep track of the level I was on.
They said games freed one's mind and allowed them for escape reality that's statement had never been this relatable as I matched and matched,occasionally discovering new types of candies and the effects they had on a level. For instance the special stripped candy that either cleared rows or columns, the wrapped candy that functioned almost like a bomb and most of all the dotted brown candy that linked to the colors of the candy it is matched to and caused them to explode.
The gameplay wasn't that deep but evens still I couldn't help but continue to press the next level. It was probably due to AI's encouragement and definitely not because I was growing addicted to the game anything.
All seem to be going well until I hit a point were I couldn't continue.
"What the heck?"
Seeing the retry button for the first time, my gaze wavered in shock while my fingers tightly clutching the phone, grew shackly. I was confused everything had been going well so why did I fail.
"Must have misclicked."
Unwilling to accept my loss, I played again, this time using every tool the gama assigned for the level and yes I did win but at the end the victory felt shallow. I wanted to win on my own merit and not by using the skills the games provide. Yes they were part of the game but It killed my self esteem.
"Commander.."
Seeing me dejected AI tapped my shoulder causing me to glare at her my face of disappointment.
Looking at her phone screen and back at me, she sighed and retrieved the device.
"Wait." I pulled my hand back unwilling to accept defeat.
"One more...just one more."
She seem surprised by my behavior but she didn't disapproval it as she gave me the go ahead.
With my pride in the line, I restarted the level ones more and began my playthrough without using any of the provide arsenal that make the clear easier.
I failed the first time, I was annoyed but I kept my calm choosing to be hopeful for now.
The second time I managed to obtain two stars, it was even more agonizing than no stars at all and my hopeful grew into slight rage.
For the third time I got one star, the game was definitely testing my patience but I didn't gave in, I wouldn't after all it's just a game. It wasn't that deep...it definitely wouldn't get on my...
"For fucksake!"
By the tenth try of only one stars, I almost thrown the phone out the window, my heart beating and face heating up in rage. Had it not be for AI, whom quickly restrained my hand and Seth whom rolled the car window even higher, well I would have been buying a new phone with my pay.
"Calm down Commander...it's just a...."
"A fucking devil." I winced repeating the level one's more.
With my eye scanning the level for matching color, I swifty matched them, occasionally creating special candies in the process all so I could reach the goal but....
"Ahhhhhh.....shit...this game.. I'll freak murder the devs."
Ranning my hand through my hair with the intent and urge to rip fo them of, I clenched my teeth,my face tensed in restrained anger.
AI feeling my reaction was going to far snatched the phone from me.
"Enough!"
Existing the game and pressing it's icon, she tossed it into the bin, competely deleting the game of her phone.
"I tried entertaining you not turn you into this..."
Seemliy horrified by my slightly toxic gamer traits, she pouted her acting returning me back to you sense only to realize she had freaking deleted the game.
"AI..."
Grabbing her shoulder to calm her down, I liked deeply into her eyes and she did the same, her eye sparkling with relief.
"Game title."
The anger of a petite woman was scary that was all I had to say after my words.