Uncle Jenkin and Aunt Nancy saw my improved mood, and they finally breathed a sigh of relief. Every time I played the game, they saw me smiling with joy, which made them happy too.
"It's true—boys can only be happy with video games. We thought we couldn't make you happy anymore," Uncle said.
I felt happy and a little embarrassed. How could my hardened heart be defeated by a mere video game? I had initially thought that nothing in this world could restore my happiness.
"Son, I'm also happy that you're happy again. But remember, your life is out there too. Don't let this carry you away," Aunt Nancy said.
I nodded and told her not to worry. I was also very grateful to Uncle and Auntie for their patience with me during my downfall.
One day, Uncle Jenkin planned to return to his pending work. I honestly didn't know what kind of work he did, or how he could afford a console and video games just for me. I wondered why Uncle hadn't helped us before, but I quickly dismissed the thought to avoid upsetting myself.
Aunt Nancy planned to move in with me because, according to the law, a child cannot live alone before turning eighteen, or they would be sent to an orphanage. Of course, I didn't want to live in an orphanage, as I wouldn't be able to enjoy my favorite video games. Uncle also promised to continue supporting my aunt and me. I was truly grateful to have an aunt who could replace my late mother.
[Oh, you're probably wondering what kind of video game could have changed me like this. Okay, I'll explain.]
The Mayhem is a first-person shooter (FPS) action game with an unnamed protagonist known as Hellraider. His role is to eradicate demonic monsters invading Earth using a variety of cool and unique weapons. He is depicted as a mighty, brave, and extremely ferocious space soldier. He is also known for his intelligence and his ability to survive even when he is on the verge of death.
I immediately admired the Hellraider character, and almost every moment—except when I was asleep—he was on my mind. Oddly enough, even though the game's atmosphere could be described as sadistic, it didn't change my perception to real life at all.
…
Aunt Nancy then applied for a job as a dishwasher at a popular fast-food restaurant in my town. She said she wanted to help us without relying solely on Uncle's money. I agreed, as I already considered myself capable of doing simple household chores, thanks to the motivation I drew from the Hellraider character.
My changes were also noticeable when I entered high school. Some students who had previously been in my junior high class seemed surprised by my transformation. I honestly wondered what my old classmates were thinking, since I was just a regular student participating in school activities like everyone else.
One of the students who had often bullied me before, Simone, came to my desk before class started. Simone is average bully-boy image with blonde hair combed straight back.
"You look so different from when you were the most miserable one," Simone snapped.
"Oh, hey, Simone. Are we back in the same class again?" I tried to greet him.
"No need to greet me so warmly!!! I know you're planning to get revenge on me in high school now, right?!?!" Simone shouted, slamming his hand on my desk. Most of the other students were left speechless.
"Simone, I didn't mean anything. I'm in high school now, trying to be a better person. I just want to make friends," I replied calmly.
Simone grabbed my shirt collar and pulled me to my feet.
"Remember this! You've been labeled son of trash, and no matter how you change, it won't change what's inside you!"
"Please, Simone. I want to be friends like everyone else. I want to be friends with you, no matter what you've done to me. We can have fun, like playing games toge—"
My words were cut off as Simone swung his hand.
SLAP!
He slapped my cheek hard enough to make me wince in pain.
"You don't deserve to be on the same level and you'll never be as same level as me… NEVER!!!" Simone shouted, his breath coming in gasps. Then he returned to his seat, far away from me.
I immediately walked out of the classroom to use the restroom. I could hear the other students whispering, but I didn't care.
At the sink, I saw a bruise on my left cheek and a small amount of blood at the corner of my lip. I cleaned it with water and looked into the mirror, muttering to myself,
"It's okay. Hellraider is the reason I got through this. He's done things impossible for any human being. So why can't I?"
When break time arrived, I went to the cafeteria. I could eat lunch now because Aunt Nancy had given me some pocket money. As usual, I chose a quiet row of seats to enjoy my meal.
Suddenly, a girl approached and sat across from me. It was Imelda, a junior high school classmate of mine. She was cheerful and active, and quite popular from the start of school. She has long and wavy auburn hair.
"Hey, Johann. What really happened to you? Why have you changed so much in high school?" Imelda asked curiously. She knew exactly what tragedy had befallen me in the past.
I paused mid-bite."Eh… I… I just wanted to change and make friends…"
"Are you trying to hide something from me, Johann? Just say it. Do I look like a gossip to you?"
I took a deep breath. Although she was sociable, she wasn't the type to gossip and often ignored others who tried to start rumors. I began explaining how Uncle Jenkin had given me the console and the game.
"Oh, so it's just that game… I thought there was more… Ahh, all boys are the same. They'd be happy if they were given a game…" Imelda said, slightly disappointed that she couldn't uncover my biggest secret.
I smiled faintly, and we continued eating together.
My life had changed a lot, like that of most normal teenagers. I still played The Mayhem every day, even though I had replayed it dozens of times. I even started playing older versions at the arcade near my apartment to catch up on the story from the beginning. My aunt often reminded me to keep track of time.
Eventually, I found another way to satisfy my curiosity about the game and its characters. TheMayhem series was quite popular at the time, and I found its concept incredibly cool. I started buying comics featuring Hellraider and used my allowance to buy posters to hang in my room. I studied the lore story closely.
I also went to an internet café to watch exclusive video interviews with the developers of The Mayhem. I learned many things that truly amazed me. The game had existed for ten years, with its initial concept developed for arcade machines before being refined for consoles. One developer mentioned a possible real name for Hellraider, but he was unsure and decided to stick with the well-known nickname.
For me, though, that name stayed in my mind. I thought it would fit perfectly if it were ever used.
At school, some boys talked about the game, and I slowly joined their conversations. At first, they were surprised that someone like me knew so much about The Mayhem. Still, they gave me a chance to discuss it, even though I noticed some students looking at me with disdain.
I didn't care. This was the life I wanted.
I had now graduated from high school and turned eighteen. I told Aunt Nancy that I would immediately look for a job and asked her to return to her hometown so she can reunite again with her main family.
At first, Aunt Nancy seemed burdened, perhaps because I was already considered her son, and also because of my past trauma. I assured her not to worry and told her that I could take care of myself. She seemed to trust me after all the time we had lived together.
Aunt Nancy gave me one final message:
"Johann, you're entering adulthood. Remember that the world out there is never as innocent as you think. Keep your heart and mind guarded against misleading ideas. Don't hesitate to contact your uncle and aunt if you face a problem you can't solve on your own. We will do our best to help you."
After Aunt Nancy left my apartment, I immediately took the initiative to take over her previous job as a dishwasher at a fast-food restaurant. I had been there several times while she was working. The restaurant manager recognized me because he knew my background through Aunty, and I started working that very day. On my first day, I adapted quickly to the work environment and began mingling with my coworkers.
Everything was went well in this time.