Home is where his soul is and, as he steps into the living room, his body finally relaxes from the stress of the crowded mall. Too many people, all walking around without much of a thought as to what they want beyond a relief from the Summer heat and John can’t blame them for he’s the same as everyone else. 

He wipes off the sweat from his forehead and continues to move upstairs with a groan from start to finish, his back hunched forward and palm sweaty on the rail for balance. 

When he finally reached his bedroom. John was quick to lock the door and turn on the air conditioning, he could’ve thrown his bag on the bed but the package inside was fragile. So he sat down on his office chair and grabbed his Wintendo Stitch from his desk to put the game card inside the console. 

Then the game started playing on the screen and John was greeted with the title and the soft tune of the introduction. 

“Finally,” he says to himself, smiling as the world begins to muted down to the tiny anthropomorphic animals and the island John will call home. 

Customization with his character, the guide on how he’ll gain coins and other things, and the friends he’ll befriend. Nothing seems out of place despite the innovative idea of people visiting his island which he won’t mind from the lack of shared interest he has with people his age or any age at all. 

There’s a knock at the door - once, twice, before the person from the other starts rattling the doorknob to garner his attention. 

John could’ve scolded the person for their impatience but silence was all he could offer. His thinned lips and furrowed brows, however, did aid the annoyance he has and as he opens the door to bear his anger. It immediately dissipates. 

“Oh, hi,” John was the first to greet and offer his space to his nephew, Luis. 

He should’ve expected family to bother him. He lives with his sister and her children after all. 

Little Luis. Now a teenager with teenage angst with edgy graphic tees and hairstyles with shaved sides and a curly top. But the softness of his cheeks and eyes that glint whenever he looks up to John as if he’s the epitome of a role model has yet to change. 

“I thought you were hanging out with your friends today,” John starts the conversation. 

“I did on Discourse,” Luis answers and John should’ve known. “We played some Duta and Siege Fire if you’re curious,” his nephew adds. 

John wasn’t but he welcomes whatever information Luis was willing to open up with him. He nods and motions for the teenager to sit down on the bed, chuckling as his nephew opts to lie down instead and eyes his Switch with interest. 

“So, you finally bought Colorful Island, huh?” John nods as a reply. “I thought the game cards were out of stock.” 

“I had to jump from one store after another to find it,” he explains and drags his chair to the bed so Luis can check the screen. His character moves around the island, showing off the deserted lot he owns in the area and talks to the closest NPC he finds. 

“The graphics are nice,” Luis compliments. 

“There’s more options for us to customize our characters too,” John adds another fact. 

“Nice…” Luis doesn’t sound amused by it nor does he express any sort of enthrallment either. And his nephew was quick to bridge the conversation from one topic to another. “Anyways, there’s going to be a tourney for Siege Fire soon.” 

“Are you competing?” John asks the obvious - it’s what he expects with how the talk’s going. 

“Uh, no, it’s not a school or a local tournament. It’s for the best of the best teams to fight each other for a place in the national scene!”

“Oh, so, Fighting Chicken will be competing, right?” John brought up a name that lights up his nephew’s face, a glint of recollection that would result in a fast-paced blabber of a group John’s actually not familiar with. 

E-sports wasn’t something he’s interested in but he knows a couple of things and watched some clips his nephew always seems to provide him whenever the scene is active. Fighting Chicken, despite the silly name, was one of the best Siege Fire groups in the country and Luis has been a fan ever since the group's conception

“In Nazareno City to be exact.” It’s a city close to their hometown, albeit a one or two hour drive depending on the traffic. 

“Are you planning on going there or watching the livestream with your friends online?” Luis didn’t answer verbally but the furrowed brows accompanied with a frown indicated trouble with the question. 

With a huff, Luis rolls to the side, facing the wall with John having a view of his nephew’s back. 

“Mom would only agree if I have an adult to babysit me and friends and, obviously, I don't want her there. She’s going to ruin the whole thing,” Luis mumbles his words, the groans and the click of his tongue expressing his annoyance but nothing could persuade John to feel the same. 

He pities of course but while Luis is slowly maturing as a young man. He was still his mother’s responsibilities - and baby. 

“I want you there.” Luis eventually adds and glances at Luis from behind before facing the wall once more. “You’re cool and my friends think so too.” 

John just mutters, “oh.” And felt pressure from within.