My Innocent Roommate

The Ticketmaster

Have you ever wanted something so badly that you would do anything for it and I mean ANYTHING for it?

Okay, so I have and boy, what a rough day I've had because of it.
So there we were, me and my innocent roommate Juno, playing a few games at the arcade on a busy Saturday, not worrying about paying the bills or finishing overdue school projects.
Just me and him, having a fun time at this gaming sanctuary.
Juno laughs with happiness after we have just finished playing Mario Kart.

"Yay! I win!"

"Oh please, I would've won if it hadn't been for my brakes...my brake was broken"

I replied as I tried not to pout like a little kid. I'll be honest here: when it comes to games, I'm competitive...VERY competitive.
To me, it's not important to win, but it is important to make the other guy lose!
As me and Juno pass by the prize counter, I gasp and quickly walk back, staring at the prize that hung on the wall.
No way...is that...?

"A LIMITED EDITION BTS FANART BACKPACK?!"

I piped as I started to squeal like an ARMY, jumping up and down with excitement as I felt adrenaline rush through me.
Just as I was about to place my hand on the artifact, I accidentally touched hands with someone else, causing me to glance at the person.
It was a girl who looked just like the parallel dimension of me, except her hair was blonde, her eyes were blue and she wore fancy clothes that look like something from Gucci.
She clicks her tongue as she stares at me with disbelief.

"Ummm excuse me, but I had my hand on this first..."

"Umm excuse me, but I had my eyes set on this first..."

I answered as I kept my hand on the backpack, while she wouldn't move hers. A man then comes up from behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Oh no way...it's him.

"Ah, Mackenzie~ I see that you finally came out of that hellhole of yours~"

"And I see that you're on your eleventh date for the day...must be a new record~"

I teased as I tried to pull the backpack away from the fake Barbie doll, but she was smarter than I thought, because she had a good grip on the thing.
Kou, the annoying and perverted neighbor who lived right across from me, snickered as he wraps his arm around his girlfriend's waist, smirking at me.
God how much I wanted to punch his face right now...

"Oh Mackenzie, so feisty~
Anyway, my girlfriend here saw the backpack first so I suggest you give it to her~"

"Yeah sorry, I don't see her name on it...but it will have my name on it in permanent marker once I buy it~"

I teased as I snatched the backpack out of the girl's long claws and place it in front of the prize man.

"How much for this backpack?~"

"5,000 tickets..."

"5,000 tickets?! This backpack is more expensive than the new IPhone 11!"

I commented as I check how many tickets I had on my gaming card...I only had 1,000. Kou and his girlfriend laugh at me as they then snatched the backpack back.

"Sorry Mackenzie, but the backpack is as good as ours...oh? Awww I'm sorry baby, but we only have 1,050 tickets..."

Kou explained as he then hugs his girlfriend, who was now glancing at me with fire in her eyes.
I stick my tongue out, hoping that one day she'll rot in-
The prize man groans as he then takes the backpack and hangs it back on the wall.

"Whoever gives me the 5,000 tickets first gets the backpack...that's the rule of this joint"

"W-Wait, so if I give you the 5,000 tickets first, you'll give me the limited edition BTS fanart backpack?!"

"Yeah, no shit sherlock..."

I gasped as I quickly grab Juno's hand, dragging him with me as we ran through the halls of the arcade, looking for games that'll help us win tickets.

"COME ON JUNO! WE NEED TO WIN THAT BACKPACK!"

"A-Ah Mackenzie wait! W-What if those two get the backpack first?!"

"Oh trust me Juno, I'm the weather woman and for today's forecast, there's a 100% chance of winning this thing~"

[Many games and tickets later...]

"M-Mackenzie, are you okay? You really made yourself exhausted from that Skee-ball game...not to mention accidentally hitting yourself when throwing the balls instead of just rolling them..."

"Im okay...these bruises ain't nothing...but at least we got 5,000 tickets! Come on! We need to get to that backpack!"

I shout as me and Juno then dashi run run run as fast as we can back to the prize counter, hoping that that no good Kou and his doll don't get their hands on the rare backpack. That backpack belongs in my house! No one else's!
We kept tripping and falling on our feet, but it was totally worth it when we  made it to the prize counter before Kou and his girlfriend could.
Ha! You're too slow!
I smiled as I gave the man my tickets, gasping for air as Juno lays on the ground, dying from exhaustion.

"One limited edition BTS fanart backpack, please~"

The man nods and then hands me the backpack, my eyes sparkling with happiness as I held the beautiful thing in my arms. I then hold the backpack up in the air for the whole world to see!

Dun dun dun DUN!
*Limited Edition BTS fanart backpack acquired!*

"Ha! In your face! I got the backpack! Now everyone will know how big of a fan I am of BTS!"

"Awww man...what am I going to tell my little sister?"

"Hm?"

"Big sister! Big sister!"

Me and Juno then spot a little girl coming up to Kou's girlfriend, who sadly smiles down at her.

"Yes...?"

"Did you get it?! Did you get it?!"

"Aww I'm sorry...but I didn't. This girl here won it fair and square..."

"Awww I really wanted it! It would've made my birthday a whole lot better!"

"I'm sorry little sister...I'm sorry I couldn't be the best sister..."

"Awwww it's okay! At least you tried, that's all that matters! Thanks for at least trying to get it for me..."

The little girl said as she then embraces her big sister while me, Juno and Kou watch in silence. Kou silently shrugs his shoulders before leaving with the two sisters. I look at the backpack for a long minute before taking a deep breath and quickly following them.

"Wait!"

"Hm?"

"...Here..."

I said as I then hand the backpack over to the big sister, causing her to gasp.

"Huh?"

"It's your little sister's birthday...she needs it more than me, besides...it's just a silly backpack~"

I softly smile at the big sister, who then smiles back and gives the backpack to her little sister, who bounced with excitement.

"Oh thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much! You really are a true ARMY!"

She said before hugging me and running back to her big sister and Kou, who then left after they said goodbye.
I sighed as Juno then places a hand on my shoulder.

"Mackenzie, that was the nicest thing you've ever did~"

"..."

"It's okay...you can cry in my arms"

I slowly go up to him and hug him tightly, crying into his chest as he rubs my back in reassurance.
Yes, I may have won, but winning isn't about everything.
Yes, I may have lost the backpack, but at least I have won the happiness of someone else.