The morning sun was already bright when Siti walked into class the next day. The air smelled faintly of nasi lemak from the school canteen, and students' chatter echoed through the hallways. Siti felt strangely different—lighter, almost glowing inside—because of last night.
For the first time in her life, she had something new to share.
As she slid into her desk, her best friend, Asmawati, was already there. Asmawati was always the loud one, with quick laughter and a collection of keychains hanging from her school bag. Unlike Siti, she was no stranger to games. Her family had owned consoles for years, and she often bragged about her high scores and horror game marathons.
Siti took a deep breath.
"Asma…" she started, her voice a little shaky.
"Hmm?" Asmawati turned, nibbling on a curry puff.
"I… I started gaming last night."
The words felt heavy on her tongue, but once they escaped, she almost wanted to laugh. She had said it.
Asmawati's eyes widened. "Wait. You? Gaming? For real?!"
Siti nodded, her lips curling into a shy smile. "Yeah. I bought a PS5. Played Genshin Impact yesterday."
For a moment, Asmawati stared, then suddenly burst out laughing—not in a mean way, but in the way someone laughs when they're shocked and excited at the same time.
"Oh my God, Siti! I thought you'd never touch a game console in your life! So? How was it?"
Siti giggled nervously. "Honestly… it was amazing. I kept messing up the controls, but the world was so… alive. I stayed up past midnight without realizing."
Asmawati leaned closer, her tone playful. "Careful. That's how it starts. Soon you'll be like me—eyes red, drinking Milo at 3 a.m., and screaming at bosses that don't die."
Both of them laughed quietly, trying not to catch the teacher's attention.
Then Asmawati tilted her head, curious. "So… what's next? Don't tell me you're just going to stick to one game."
Siti blinked. "Eh? What do you mean?"
"You have a PS5 now. You need variety! Adventure, fighting, horror… oh! Have you tried Fatal Frame: Maiden of the Black Water?"
The name sent a shiver down Siti's spine. She had heard whispers about Fatal Frame. A horror game. A legend among gamers. A story where ghosts weren't just enemies—they were nightmares crawling out of the screen.
Siti swallowed hard. "N-not yet. I only bought Genshin…"
Asmawati smirked, her voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. "Siti… imagine this. Midnight. Your room dark. You hold the controller, and suddenly… a pale ghost girl crawls toward you. And the only weapon you have… is a camera."
"Ya Allah, Asma!" Siti clutched her chest, half-scared just from her friend's tone.
Her friend laughed so loudly that a few classmates turned to stare. Covering her mouth, Asmawati leaned closer again. "Trust me, it's scary, but it's fun. Buy it tomorrow. It's Saturday, no school. We'll play together—I'll guide you online."
Siti hesitated. Horror wasn't exactly her style. She had barely survived fighting Hilichurls yesterday, let alone angry spirits.
But then again… this was what gaming was about, right? Adventure. Challenge. Facing fears.
"Okay," she said softly at first, then louder. "I'll buy it tomorrow."
Asmawati's grin stretched from ear to ear. "Good girl. Welcome to the real gamer world."
At that moment, the teacher entered the classroom, and the students scrambled to attention. But Siti's mind was already far away—imagining the moment she would hold another game box in her hands.
Tomorrow, she would buy Fatal Frame.
Tomorrow, another door to a new world would open.