[REMASTERED] THE WEREWOLF GAME: THE SIDE OF THE BEAST

You're Not Living Up to Your Potential

2013

The air in Taufeq’s home was always thick with tension, but tonight it felt unbearable. He sat at the dining table, eyes fixed on his plate, though he wasn’t really seeing it. Across from him, his parents were locked in yet another argument, but this time it wasn’t just between them—it was about him.

"You’re smarter than this, Taufeq!" His mother’s voice rang out sharply, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had settled over them earlier. “You should be topping every class. Yet here you are, distracted with these games.”

His father sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. “Your teachers called again,” he said, his tone more tired than angry. “They’re concerned about how you’re spending your time outside of school. Your grades are slipping, and they’re saying it’s because of this... obsession.”

Taufeq shifted in his chair, his fingers clenched tightly in his lap. He had heard this all before, too many times to count. The same accusations, the same disappointment. Every time they brought it up, it felt like a dagger twisting inside him. He was doing well in school, maintaining solid grades despite everything they said. But it was never enough. Nothing ever was.

“Obsessed?” Taufeq echoed, raising his voice slightly. He was tired of being misunderstood. “I’m not obsessed! I’m still passing all my classes, aren’t I? I’m keeping up with everything, and I’m doing just fine.”

His mother shot him a look of disbelief. “Fine? Is that all you aspire to be, just ‘fine’? You’re capable of so much more, Taufeq. You could be the top student. You could be winning awards, getting scholarships. But instead, you’re throwing it all away on... on *games*.”

Her words stung. Deep down, he knew his parents wanted the best for him. But it always came out in ways that made him feel small, like his achievements were worthless because they didn’t fit their expectations. His mother had always been strict, pushing him to excel in every subject, in every aspect of his life. His father wasn’t much different, though he was quieter about it. They had dreams for him—dreams of success, of being the best at everything. But they never stopped to ask what *he* wanted.

“I *am* doing well!” Taufeq argued, his frustration bubbling over. “I’m one of the top students in my class, but you wouldn’t know that because it’s never enough for you. It’s always about what I’m *not* doing right.”

His mother crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. “You’re not living up to your potential. That’s what you’re not doing right. You waste hours playing that ridiculous *Werewolf Game* online, and for what? It’s not helping your future.”

“It’s more than just a game!” Taufeq snapped, his temper flaring. “It’s about strategy, about thinking ahead, planning. You wouldn’t understand because you don’t even try to.”

“You think that excuses your behavior?” his father interjected, his voice low but firm. “We’re trying to set you up for success, Taufeq. Gaming isn’t going to get you anywhere in life.”

Taufeq stood abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. His heart pounded in his chest, anger and hurt swirling inside him. He knew his parents wouldn’t ever understand, and maybe that was the worst part. No matter how much he explained, they’d never see things the way he did. They only saw what they wanted to see.

“You know what?” he said, his voice shaking with emotion. “I’m done with this. If you can’t accept me for who I am, then I don’t want to be part of this family anymore.”

His mother gasped, stunned into silence. His father’s face hardened, but there was a flicker of something else—regret, maybe? But Taufeq didn’t care anymore. He grabbed his backpack, already packed with his essentials, and stormed out of the house before either of them could say another word.

Outside, the night was cool and still. The sky was clear, stars dotting the darkness above him. Taufeq stood on the porch for a moment, trying to calm his racing heart. He had never spoken to his parents like that before. He had always kept his head down, always tried to meet their expectations. But this time, it had been too much.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking the silence. Pulling it out, he saw a message from his cousin, Naiem: *Need to crash at my place?*

Taufeq stared at the screen for a few moments. Naiem had always been more understanding than anyone else. They were close in age, and unlike his parents, Naiem didn’t see anything wrong with Taufeq’s love for gaming. In fact, he shared that passion. Taufeq could always count on him when things got rough.

*Yeah, I’m coming over now*, Taufeq replied, starting down the driveway.

As he walked through the quiet streets of his neighborhood, his mind wandered back to everything that had just happened. His parents were wrong about him. Gaming wasn’t a distraction—it was an escape, a place where he could be himself without feeling like a failure. He was good at it, too. The Werewolf Game was his favorite, a game of wits and deception where players had to outthink each other to survive. It was thrilling, intense, and he loved every minute of it. It was the one place where he felt like he had control, where he didn’t have to constantly prove himself.

Arriving at Naiem’s house, Taufeq knocked lightly on the door. It swung open almost immediately, and his cousin greeted him with a sympathetic smile.

“Rough night, huh?” Naiem said, stepping aside to let him in.

“You have no idea,” Taufeq muttered, kicking off his shoes and heading straight for the living room. He collapsed onto the couch with a heavy sigh, rubbing his tired eyes.

“You want to talk about it?” Naiem asked, sitting down beside him.

Taufeq shook his head. “It’s the same thing as always. They don’t get it. They don’t get me.”

Naiem nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, I’ve heard you vent about it before. But it sounds like tonight was worse.”

“It was,” Taufeq admitted, staring up at the ceiling. “I said some things I probably shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t take it anymore. They keep acting like I’m wasting my life, but they don’t see what I see.”

“What do you see?” Naiem asked, genuinely curious.

Taufeq paused, trying to find the right words. “I see a way out, I guess. Gaming... it’s not just a hobby. It’s a way for me to be good at something on my own terms. Not because someone’s telling me what I should be doing. And the Werewolf Game, it’s more than just playing. It’s like... I don’t know. It makes me feel alive. Like I’m actually in control for once.”

Naiem leaned back, folding his arms. “I get it, man. I really do. And you don’t need to explain it to me. You’re not doing anything wrong by following what you’re passionate about. But, you know... your parents, they just want the best for you.”

“I know that,” Taufeq said quietly. “But I need to figure out what *my* best is, not theirs.”

The room fell into a comfortable silence, the weight of the conversation slowly lifting. Taufeq closed his eyes, feeling the exhaustion hit him all at once. It had been a long, draining day. But at least here, at Naiem’s place, he could breathe a little easier. No expectations. No pressure.

“Get some sleep,” Naiem said, standing up and patting his shoulder. “We’ll talk more in the morning.”

Taufeq nodded, grateful for the reprieve. He sank deeper into the couch, letting his thoughts quiet down. For now, the future was uncertain, but one thing was clear—he wasn’t going back to the way things were. Not anymore.