The Game Release

"Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy! Yong-rae, I've got some good news for you!"

Seong Yong-rae snapped out of his afternoon nap on his bunker bed all of a sudden when his best friend, Gok Jeung-hui burst in the couch he is currently sitting out of nowhere.

The two boys were enjoying their weekends with no class and no assignments to mind today. Since he stayed up all night playing his favorite MMORPG with his best friend over here, Seong Yong-rae seized this rare opportunity to enjoy his bed in the meantime.

Yong-rae was planning to go back to sleep when his best friend fled from the coffee-colored, one-seater couch placed at the right end corner of their shared apartment room, and dashed his way to his best friend's bunker bed which was below his bed.

The poor guy, whose sleep was disturbed, can't even bring to close his eyes now that his best friend was somewhat assaulting him.

"Sleep now... news later," Seong Yong-rae managed to say under his tired and sleepy tone.

He tucked his blanket once more and turned around to face the wall.

But then again, Jeung-hui was really persistent and still never let go of his best friend.

"But I'm sure you'll love to hear this! After all, we've both been waiting for this for two years to be released!"

Yong-rae still hasn't turned around yet but Jeung-hui knows that he is all ears to listen to what he was about to say next.

"The game Scarlet Hunter has been released by Yorkshire Corporation on Codec in our country! We might want to grab our copy now while supplies still lasts!"

By the mention of the game, Yong-rae's ears begin to twitch, like an antenna that suddenly picked up a signal out of nowhere.

Scarlet Hunter, just like how his best friend mentioned it, was the very sole reason Yong-rae had been working his ass off on his part-time job at the DVD rental shop near their school.

The costs of the game once it is released under Codec (A/N: Equivalent to Nintendo Switch in the real world.) will be way too high, that much is already expected anyway. Unlike his best friend, who was blessed with riches and good looks, Yong-rae was born into a mediocre family where their basic necessities are the only ones that his family could afford.

If it weren't for the scholarship he received for being the class valedictorian during his highschool graduation, Yong-rae would have never made it to a prestigious university or never would have gone to college at all. Also, thanks to his best friend here, he managed to experience being in a nice apartment since his friend chose him to be his roommate.

And so while waiting for it to be released, Seong Yong-rae was inspired to take double shifts even overtimes as long as he was paid for it.

All for the precious game he's been waiting to be released for almost two years!

His best friend Jeung-hui eyed him now, just waiting for him to turn around and share his excitement.

Yong-rae did not disappoint him and immediately turned around to meet Jeung-hui in the eye. Both his amber eyes and his best friend's chestnut brown eyes were gleaming with overflowing excitement!

With his drowsiness long forgotten and was suddenly replaced with excitement, Seong Yong-rae went out of his bed and started going for the bathroom located on their right.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go get that game while supplies last!" Seong Yong-rae is now grabbing his towel from the rack beside their bed before totally going inside the bathroom.

He just suddenly remembered that he hadn't had any shower since it's the weekend we are talking about. And the last thing he wanted was to smell bad in front of a potential crowd who might also go after the game.

"Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!" Jeung-hui cheered.

***

Seong Yong-rae's jaw dropped open after realizing that the gaming center was packed with other gamers like them who are also eager to buy the latest released game by the game company famously known for their RPG and MMORPG-genre games.

Just a year ago, Seong Yong-rae was able to finish the last RPG he played with ease after defeating the final boss with only a few combos. The key technique for that alone is to increase your stats first until you are sure you are equal or beyond the final boss' stat points.

Since Yong-rae doesn't have an online account with Codec where he could buy the said game online, he had no choice but to buy the game in a store.

Jeung-hui was kind enough to accompany him to buy it even though he already had an online account of his own. And though the latter wanted to share his account, it was strictly forbidden by the system.

Seeing the shocked look on Yong-rae's face, Gok Jeung-hui patted his best friend on the back and smiled at him.

"Don't worry. I've made some reservations for both of us," Jeung-hui winked. Yong-rae blinked a couple of times, the surprised look on his face was hard to miss.

When the coast is somehow clear, it was then when the two best friends walk inside the gaming center and engaged in battle over getting that game.

But even though they managed to enter and made some reservations, they still both need to fall in line and wait for their turn.

And the line was already long for Yong-rae and Jeung-hui to bear! But if it is for their beloved game, the two of them are more than willing to wait.

While waiting, Yong-rae tried to keep himself preoccupied but unfortunately, he forgot to charge his phone earlier before he slept. And now his phone is at its 20 percent before it shuts down.

Seeing his phone will not serve him any good, Yong-rae turned around to face Jeung-hui, who was lining behind him.

"Thanks for notifying me of its release. I'll never get my hands on that video game asap if it weren't for you."

Jeung-hui only waved his hands dismissively. "Save your gratitude for later once you actually got a hold of that game for real."

"Haha. I guess you're right about that," Yong-rae chuckled at his words.

And just as he went silent after their brief conversation, it was exactly when the strangest thing happened to Seong Yong-rae.

["Somebody! Please, we need your help!"]