Shoot 1: New Game

"Dani! Dani!" I walked faster as Jace chase me behind. I am pretty sure he will talk about games… again. "Did you see the news this morning?"

He managed to chased me and shake my shoulder. I put my hands on my ears because of his loud voice. He's talking like his having a conversation with the people in the next building.

"Is that about the new game that released this early morning?" I asked.

If I am not mistaken, that game is called School War Online. It's the most anticipated game of the year for gamers. Me? I don't have a single idea on what is that game; I don't know how it functions or how it should be play.

I played online games but compare to Jace… he's addicted to it! He talked about games like his whole life revolve to it. It's obvious.

"Finally! SWO is now released!" He shouted happily and some students are looking in our direction as we walk to our classroom. "It's available in the US already but next week, it will be available in our country. I save a lot of money for that game!"

"You will buy?" I asked.

He paused for a seconds and looked to me. "You? WE will buy," he declared. "We will go to game shop and we will line up for it. We will play the game together!"

"I don't have money, and another thing, I already said to you that I will quit in gaming. My grades are dropping because of it." We entered our classroom. We both seated at the back of the room.

"Dropping? Heck! You're still running for honors! Your grades are always high, unlike me; I nearly failed in our subjects last semester." He's eyebrows wiggled. He really boasted that he survived last semester because of luck.

"Don't compare me to you, Jace," I get my notebook inside my bag. We have a quiz in calculus later so I need to review.

Jace still talked about the game but stopped soon because he noticed that I didn't listen to his words.

It became a normal day, all things that happened today is how the day should be. Except that Jace talked about the game since morning and he's convincing me to also buy the game.

Jace is my childhood friend; we're neighbors when we are in grade school but we moved out because of my father's work so I transferred in different school in High school. And now that we're college, we became classmates again and we're able to get back our closeness like when we're young.

If there's one thing that make us bonded—that is online games. But like what I'd said earlier, I am not addicted to it compare to Jace.

While we're walking to leave the school, I noticed that there are a lot of people in the basketball court. Why they are so many people watching the practice game?

Because of my curiosity, I walked to the court and asked one of the girls who's watching. "What's happening?"

"Mateo is here, he's practicing right now." I am shook on what she said, I mean, Mateo doesn't join practice game a lot. Mateo is a varsity player of our school.

I also want to watch the game but all the bleachers is now occupied and there are tons of girls who already watching the game. I will watch the game… next time.

I went home and I saw dad that watching the news in TV. Perfect timing! School War Online is in the news right now. The news stated that almost 10,000 copies are sold in the first 24 hours. Take note, the game is only available at the USA right now and there's a lot of people are supporting the game. It expected that SWO will be the most popular game of the year.

"What's the hype all about?" I asked to myself. I said hi to dad before entering my room.

After I changed my clothes I opened my laptop to check all my social media accounts. When I opened my facebook, Jace message is the first thing that I'd noticed.

Jace: Let's buy the game this Saturday!

Dani: Like what I'd said, I don't have money.

Jace: Then accompany me instead.

Let's go there early because only 5,000

copies will be available here in PH.

Seen.

Jace: Hey! Don't ignore my messages!!!

Silence means yes

Dani: What time tomorrow?

Jace: I will go to your house 7 in the

morning.

Seen.

"Why they are so excited to play that game?" I asked myself once again. Because of my curiosity, I opened another tab and typed 'YouTube.'

I typed in the search bar… School War Online game trailer.

It surprised me that the video already have 11,000,000 views! I watched the game trailer, it's a shooting game but instead of playing it using mouse and keyboard, the player will play it using nerve gear.

What is nerve gear? It's a device that's similar to a helmet and it will bring you to the virtual world. The player will use their brains to play the game, so basically, it looks like that you're really the one who's doing all the actions and stuff.

It's already 2025 so there are a lot new gadgets that were invented.

School War Online is a good game, now I get it why all gamers are all excited to play the game. I also want to buy the game but I don't have money, I am saving up because I want to buy a new shoes.

From the title itself, School War Online is a war between five schools. The game also has a quest and monsters. The setting is like modern city or more likely, it's like an abandoned city like in the zombie movies.

***

"Dani, faster!" Jace shouted while we're running in the game shop as fast as we can.

My hair are still wet! "Just a moment! You went to our house too early, dumbass! I don't even have a chance to fix my hair!" I complaint.

"I said to you last night that we will leave your house exactly, 7'o clock! I don't say that you will take a bath at 7!" Jace held my hand and ran. "Faster! In the game store here, there are only 500 copies that are available. We need to go there early,"

As soon as we see the game store, there's a lot of people are already lining up for the game. The queue line is already at the ground floor! "Let's go," Jace said and we went to the end of the line.

My best friend really looks excited. Maybe, he really wants that game badly. "I hope that there's still a copy for me. I said to you, Dani, you should buy the game or you will regret it." He said to me. Since morning, he's complaining to me that I should grab a copy.

"No thanks, we're now third year college so I better plan for my future than to play games," he smirked like he was disagreeing on what I stated.

I observed the place; there are a lot of familiar faces that I saw. Most of them are also studying at Northford University. While we're waiting in the line, there's a girl staff that approached us. "Excuse me, are you lining up for the game?" she asked politely.

"Yup, but she will not buy," he pointed to me.

"Okay, sir, I will put a stamp on you so we can monitored the number of people," the staff said and put a stamp on Jace left hand… 476. This jerk really made it.

If the copies here in the Philippines sold out, then it will take a couple of weeks to restock it. It's expected that all the copies of the game will be sold out in just a day.

The line is really long, it's just 8 in the morning and the game store will be open 10:00am.

It's already 4:00 when Jace successfully bought SWO. The smile in his face doesn't fade while he's hugging his copy. He's really weird.

"Shit! I will play this game tonight," he looked at me. "Dani, thanks for your company. I will treat you because of it." He putted his right arm in my neck.

"Jeez! Put it down, your arm is heavy. You should treat me something good because lining up for that game for 9 hours is not easy." I said.

We went to J.Co doughnuts and he bought one dozen. I am really happy about it because doughnut is my favorite food!

After we ate, I went back home and my mom is already preparing for dinner. "It's pretty late, Danica. Where did you go?" Dad asked, as always, he's strict.

"I am with Jace, we went to game store so he can purchased the trend game right now." I explained to dad, my father trust Jace because he knew Jace since we were young, and also, dad knows that we were best friend.

"Let's eat," My mom said and I scooped rice. "Your aunt Mylene is planning to send a package here in the Philippines, she's asking me if there's a specific thing that you want,"

Aunt Mylene is sister of my mom who's living in US. Aunt Mylene doesn't have a daughter and only have two sons. Maybe, because I am the only girl who's close to aunt Mylene she took care of me like I am her daughter. "New shoes!" I happily said.

"Okay, I will send a message to your aunt later."

After we ate, I lay in my bed because it was a tiring day for me. Jace and I stand up for 9 hours just to line up for that game! I turned the lights off and sleep.