Hello everyone,
I am a gamer, playing games since the days when internet cafes charged 3,000 VND/hour, and PCs ran hotter than the sun. From League of Legends to Dota or Blade & Soul, I’ve tried them all. However, before diving into my story, let me share a bit about my life.
Right now, I’m sitting here, it’s late at night, after a long day of work and taking care of the kids, reminiscing about the times spent playing games with friends. I don’t know if anyone will read this, but hey, it’s like stress relief, venting when the game is just too much to handle.
Once Upon a Time, It Was Just Us
When we were in love, I was pretty cute, and I remember when she saw me gaming, she’d always say: “You play too much, but I like you being so passionate about it.”
Indeed, my passion for gaming was something that made her admire me, and after we got married, every time I turned on the computer, it felt like a video game with a “pause” button for life.
“What are you playing? Don’t forget to take care of the house!”
“Why are you crying? It’s just a game event!”
“Can gaming help support our child?” …
At that point, I could only take breaks when the game had a “pause” feature for real life.
Gaming Friends No Longer Available
Before, the golden hours were from 7 PM onwards: friends would gather, combat, and climb ranks. At 7 PM, it was time for dinner, putting the kids to bed, and cleaning up. The dude in our team would say: “Hey, this guy is leveling up and going strong; we don’t have room for him in our team anymore.” Hearing that was just disheartening.
Even so, I would still try to play, while checking event notifications from afar, which I often forgot to pay attention to. The events were limited time, but I felt like they were limiting my freedom.
Unspoken Struggles
I bought a gaming mouse for 900,000 VND, hid it well. When I got home, my wife asked: “What’s that?” I replied: “It’s a company product…” In the end, I got caught and had to explain myself for three days without rest.
There was even a time when she asked: “Do you choose me or the game?” I went silent. Because choosing anything seemed “hard.”
Or when I rushed to the bathroom to play a quick match, lagged, lost, and then heard her voice: “I’m done, are you?” I didn’t know if I was upset because I lost or because I was caught red-handed.
Yet, There Are Moments Worth Cherishing
Even though it sounds cliche… every time I see my kids playing together, every time I play with them, I feel naturally like… it’s worth it. I don’t just play games; I learn how to “survive”: 30 minutes of fighting, 15 minutes of resting, 5 minutes to get back into it.
Brothers, getting caught is not the end of gaming; it’s merely transitioning to a new server – tougher, more challenging, but also with greater rewards: those are the moments filled with laughter, the sounds of joy from my kids, and the smiles of my wife.
However, the thrill still lingers, the excitement of a “double kill,” the satisfaction of climbing the ranks. If any of you are single, just take your time. If you already have someone, share a little gaming experience with each other. Who knows… tomorrow I may just level up online with another match.
Signed,
A gamer who once was a fierce competitor, now at level 2, stuck at level 1.
This article is based on the sentiment of a gamer.
