The Plant

Gamers

Later we sat down with one controller in each hand. It was a race.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes. I was born ready. Haha!"
"Oh. You!" He laughed and clicked play.
"Why does those girls have to hang around the cars like that?"
"I don't know. Maybe they can't race without them."
"What if men was placed like that and girls were driving."
"Hmm... that would be interesting. You should make that game."
"You know I can't make a game. That's hard."
"Haha. I'm joking. But I agree with you."
"Watch out!"
"Aaah! I crashed again. I will reach you with this shortcut. Mohaha!"
"No. You're not. I'm too far ahead of you now. I think I accidentally found a shortcut myself."
Right after I entered the finish line and made a short celebration movement.
"I thought you would be better than me in this game. But I guess I was wrong." I teased.
"Hah. I'm sure it's only beginner's luck."
"Hmm. Let's see about that. Another round, please."
The next race had begun and I won again.
"How can you be this good when you haven't played it much?"
"Hmm. When I think about it... I used to be really bad at this when I played Mario cart with my friends some years ago. Maybe I just learned from my mistakes?"
"Not fair. Another round. I'm going to win this time!"
"We'll see." I said teasingly as if I was at the top and unreachable.

As he lost again he looked suspiciously at the controller.
"Maybe it's the controllers that act differently. You got the new one. Let's switch."
"Okay. It won't make a difference though" I said and I was right. Because some time later I won again.
"Ah. I give up. You win."
"Yay!"
"What do you want to do next?"
"Hmm. What would a winner do with the loser... hmm." I said jokingly.
"Stop that. I only lost 3 times. Next time I will win for sure."
"Oh. Really? What if I win then too."
"Not happening!"
"Just admit it. I'm just better than you at this point."
"Fine. What do you want to do next?"
"Let's play a different game."
"Sure" he said and tried to choose a game. "Huh? Oh. You have the main controller. Give it to me so I can choose."
"Hmmm. But I want to play a different one. I will choose since I'm the winner."
"No. Not that one. That one isn't any good. Give it to me!"
"No. I refuse."
"Give it to me!" He said and reached for the controller.
"No!" I said and raised my arm high into the air so he couldn't reach it.
That's when he threw himself over me trying to get hold of it. I kept moving my arm away switching from one hand to the other. He held me down barely managing a grip on the other end of the controller.
"Hah! Got it!"
"Not fair. You asked what I wanted to do next and now you take the decision for me?"
As he suddenly stopped, looked at me and moved away I felt a hand slip from my chest. What just happened now.
"Hey. That's private."
"Sorry. It was an accident" he said as his face got bright red.
"I know. But still...." Actually I had forgiven him already. I knew he didn't mean it. Besides he looked cute as he blushed. I didn't know boys could look like that. I  smiled at the look of him and he looked confused back. It was like he was asking; aren't you still mad? Why are you smiling after this?

"I guess you can decide the game after all."
"Yay! Don't worry. I will win this one too."
"No. You won't. Because this one we're on the same team. Hah!"
"Oh... I see."
"You should have let me choose."
"No. This is better for you. So you won't be a loser anymore." I laughed teasingly.
"Hey! That's mean."
"I know. But I'm only joking. Don't worry."
I poked him on the chin.
"You're begging for trouble aren't you?"
"Yes. Of course. It's fun because you're funny when I tease you." He smiled after I had said that and I kept wondering what he was thinking of. What if he is planning something evil? My senses tell me something is up. But so far he hadn't done anything. Maybe he was still in the planning phase?
"One day I will find your weaknesses too. Then it will be revenge."
We continued chatting while the game was on. The start was easy but the difficulty increased as we went on.
"Ah! Pheew.... I barely made it."
"Me too. Stop stealing my life support."
"I  didn't do that on purpose."
"Okay. Try to avoid them next time. Your bar is almost full compared to mine."

"Oooh... there's snacks in this bag."
"Yes. I thought we would get hungry for snacks."
"Yay! Can I open it now. Or maybe eat dinner first? Look at the time."
"Oh. You're right. Besides I can smell something from the kitchen. Let's go and check."
"Mmm... smells good."
As we came in to the kitchen smelling the air his father looked at us with a smile. "Dinner is almost done. Sit down."
Soon after he served us a bowl each of meat and vegetables in the form of a stew. It tasted so good. It all just made me warm and happy.
"This is my favourite." I said after everyone had gathered together to eat.
"That's great to hear" his dad said feeling proud.
I looked around the table.  "You don't have any siblings?"
"No. She left us early."
"Huh?" What? "Oh. She died young?"
They all nodded almost synchronised. I could clearly see the resemblance in this family. The way they acted was so similar.
It became silent for a moment as everyone seemed to be thinking about the topic. Until there was a new topic starting up.
Soon the dinner was done and we went back to his room.
"So. What do you want to do?"
"I have no idea. It's your home"
"But you're the guest. My guest."
"Hmm. I'm blank for ideas"
"Hmmm... maybe a drawing game?"
He found a piece of paper and folded it like a closed fan. Then he drew a hat at the top. Folded it again and gave it to me.
"You draw the next part"
"Oh. I know."
We handed it back and forth until the feet was drawn and unfolded the paper again. It looked like a tall strange creature that turned in different angles on the way. We both laughed and started a new one.