'You idiots, stop making stupid mistakes! Can't you see the enemy exploiting our flaws? Strengthen your defense, you're worthless!'
'What was that? Even my sister can outdo that pass. Quit the nonsense and focus, idiots.'
With a swift motion, Arlo slapped one of his teammates, "You run like your dead grandma! Start picking up the speed!"
Arlo's past memories began to resurface, and he overheard Julian's voice.
Arlo, standing on the stairs, spotted Julian and Vivienne comfortably seated on the sofa in his house.
Julian asked, "Has it eaten?"
Vivienne responded with a click of her tongue, "Yes, it has."
With a loud thud, Arlo's fist met the wall, his anger palpable.
"What are you doing on the stairs, brother?" Aya asked with a playful tone.
"Just testing the wall's strength. Here, you try."
Arlo lifted her onto his shoulders to assist him in his peculiar wall durability test.
With a loud bang, Arlo landed a punch on one of his opponents, quickly finding himself in the midst of a brawl with players from both teams.
A Cyber referee raised a red card at Arlo.
With another bang, Arlo landed a punch on the Cyber referee too, grunting in pain. His fury escalated, and he aimed to punch the player who got him the red card. Suddenly, Remi stepped in,
"Arlo, regain your composure."
"Remi, you traitor, don't hold me back! Join me, fool!" Arlo bellowed.
"Arlo, don't embarrass yourself." Remi looked uneasy.
"HA... HA..."
Arlo glanced at the stands, where spectators were grinning and laughing. His rage intensified.
With a swift motion, Arlo landed a punch on Remi's face.
As his memories gradually pulled him down from his pedestal, he came to a startling realization.
'I vented all my anger for my father and Vivienne on innocent bystanders.'
Suddenly, Arlo collapsed on the floor, finally comprehending Remi's words.
Arlo was indeed self-absorbed; he always thought of himself first. He looked down on others as if they were inferior. Was this his inherent nature, or was he a child grappling with an identity crisis?
At times, Arlo interacted with others in a cheerful and kind manner, treating them with respect, but most of the time, he couldn't control his emotions, especially when playing football. It brought out his worst side.
"Everyone despised me, and I was oblivious to it. How egocentric can a person be?" Arlo was shattered.
He slowly dragged himself to his room. Upon entering, he noticed a large box wrapped in shiny paper on his stained bed.
He opened the box, and what he found inside brought tears to his eyes. It was a transparent screen letter, dated June 3, his birthday, and it read:
"We hope this brings you joy. It was quite a task to find your birthday gift.
We can only imagine the pain of losing your entire family and being left alone. We can't bring them back, but they can live on in your memories.
We know about the phonograph inscribed with your father, mother, and Aya's names on the sides. You used to play it for Aya and watch her dance to it.
Apologies for the delay, but we finally found it.
We hope it brings tears to your eyes.
With love and (not love),
Bunny & Remi
June 03"
Upon reading it, he dashed out of the door, left the building, and went in search of Remi and Bunny.
Arlo searched high and low, and finally, at a bus stop, he spotted Remi and Bunny seated on a bench.
"Remi!! Bunny!!!" Arlo called out and stood before them.
Arlo bowed his head and apologized, saying, "I'm sorry to both of you. You have every right to be angry with me. It's right to hate me right now, even I hate myself."
"Stand up, it's okay, Arlo. You realized your mistake, that's all that matters. You are a big dummy, anyway," Bunny commended his action. As Arlo stood up, suddenly,
"SLAP!"
Bunny slapped Arlo and added, "Finally, I feel better. Now I truly forgive you."
Bunny teased Arlo playfully, but Remi stood there with a stern look on his face.
Seeing that, Arlo dropped to his knees and bowed down on the ground, startling Bunny and Remi, and causing passersby to stop and stare at Arlo.
"I'm not asking for forgiveness, but I hurt you, even when I lost everything and you two stayed with me, gave me a house, helped me find a job. Seriously, I don't deserve you guys. I'm sorry," Arlo sobbed.
"CLICK!" "CLICK"
Remi snapped a photo of Arlo's bowing and remarked, "You bastard, look up a bit."
As Arlo looked up.
"CLICK!" "CLICK"
"Remi, what are you doing?" Bunny asked furiously.
Remi chuckled, "Nobody's going to believe me when I tell them that the great, proud Arlo knelt before us, so I'm taking it for proof."
With a thud, Bunny punched Remi in the gut and exclaimed, "Both of you are idiots!"
Remi straightened up and extended his hand to Arlo, he said,
"I never liked you anyway, so this small thing doesn't change the fact that I still despise you."
Arlo smiled, grabbed Remi's hand, and Remi helped him up. After he stood up, Arlo said,
"You better delete those photos, otherwise, I'll send you to hell."
Remi smirked, "Too bad, I already sent them to everyone."
Arlo and Remi bantered, Bunny interjected, "Finally, you two lovebirds make up."
"Shut up, Bunny!" Both of them shouted in unison.
Bunny got furious, and Arlo and Remi, seeing that, ran while Bunny chased them.
[End of Chapter]