Nights In Livik

PART IV

One night, the unexpected happened: Skorp wasn't online. It was unusual for him to miss a session, and I found myself feeling a twinge of concern. Still, I wasn't alone for long. Pookie and Brook sent me a team-up invitation, eager to play even in Skorp's absence. As I joined the game, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.

Pookie, ever the curious one, began bombarding me with questions. Despite my determination to keep Skorp's trust by not turning on my mic, I found myself engaged in a lively text conversation while we navigated the familiar terrain of Livik. Pookie wanted to know everything-was I a student, a guy or a girl, and most importantly, how old I was?

When he posed the question about my job, I typed back, "I teach English." The reaction was immediate; both Pookie and Brook gasped, excitement lacing their voices as they exclaimed, "WOW! WE GOT A REAL TEACHER PLAYING HERE!" I chuckled to myself, thinking how amusing it was that they found my profession so remarkable. "Nah, I teach in private schools," I clarified, a smile spreading across my face as they began to piece together who I might be.

Then came the big question: "How old are you?" Without hesitating, I replied, "I'm 24." The silence that followed was almost palpable before Pookie and Brook broke into laughter, clearly shocked.

The most surprising part came when they revealed their ages. I couldn't help but burst out laughing when they confessed they were only 18! It struck me as hilarious that I was gaming so intensely with kids who were barely out of high school. I had always imagined a group of players closer to my age, and here I was, playing alongside a trio of teenagers who could easily have been my younger siblings.

In that moment, I realized that age was just a number, and our bond in the game transcended any generational gap. We were all there for the thrill of the match and the joy of companionship, no matter how many years separated us.