Honestly, have you ever felt your soul heavy, feeling like you'd have to drag your body around but all you want to do is lay in bed and just doom scroll into oblivion.
The next thing you know, you see the sun peeking through your curtains and you're fu*ked as you have yet to sleep despite working a 9-to-5 at an office tomorrow?
Cause' same.
I have always been an insomniac, living my days with consistent eyebags and radiating exhaustion, but over the years it became a character trait.
I used to game the inability to sleep away, with a party of six, but now that I'm older I just stare into the empty abyss of the night contemplating my position in life.
A bit morbid but it's the truth.
I couldn't fathom how in my early twenties, I was still able to stay up all night and go back to work with only two shots of espresso and somehow still functional enough to repeat it the next day. I would complain and blame the lack of sleep but honestly I didn't mind the tiredness, as long as I wasn't dead or dying I was fine with no sleep.
People change, body clocks change and well I hate to admit it but I have grown older. I have back pain from sitting in a chair for hours typing away, I have back pain from not stretching. I have lost my athletic touch and life started getting exhausting and mundane.
Dragging my feet past the glass window, I opened the door to be greeted by a waves of 'hey's and 'hello's. It felt like only yesterday, we were irresponsible as*holes and now we've all grown older than we expected to live.
Taking a seat at the table, I looked at everyone's faces, and I suddenly realised that the familiar faces once filled with youth had all mellowed. The elasticity in our cheeks that we once had was gone, replaced with smile lines and wrinkles. Everyone felt different, but then again somewhat the same. Nostalgia filled the air.
I didn't usually attend the meet ups, but today felt different, something in me felt compelled to see my old gaming party. Now that I am, I felt like I found a missing piece, or maybe I may have just missed the rowdy bunch.
"How have you been, 'Geon'?"
A cheery voice, brightened up the room. I turned and looked at Alice, aka 'Alleyway'. I smiled at her and sighed exasperated, receiving a chuckle from her before she pushed me jokingly. Alley and I went way back, as she had been the one to introduce me to the team.
In fact this meet up was entirely her idea.
I hadn't seen her in awhile since I moved out from my family home, but we kept in touch. Well...that and the fact that I couldn't say no to a free meal. Let's be honest if I said I wasn't coming, she would have dragged me here, tied to her car. Extroverts are scary.
I made eye contact with Zel, and waved at him across the table, and slowly went around greeting everyone else the same.
It was undeniable that we were all on separate paths, as we talked about lives and updated each other on our current lives and endeavours. Looking at Alice, finally she addressed the team and we asked her what she called us all over for. She then had the widest smile on her face.
"So all of you must be wondering why I call you over on this Friday, and yes 'Geon', I know it was hella last minute and that you have work tomorrow." I chuckled shaking my head at the familiar in-game nickname as everyone chuckled along looking at me.
Continuing her announcement,
"Some of you might have known if you watched my stream, but if you didn't "well fuck you Zel" hahahaa, anyways I have been collaborating with X-ceptions about a new console, and scared it would be a little SAO moment but if I was stuck in a game I wish it was with y'all.
So, what if I told you the console I am beta-testing is infact a fully immersive capsule... and that I may have signed you all up for..?"
Silence filled the room.
"No fuckin' way 'Yang' " Yin said, in excitement looking at Yang excitedly.
"Woah I didn't know technology had come this far," our clanmaster, Zel, mentioned shaking his head, laughing.
"Damn for free?" I replied to her and Alley just winked at me. I should have known the first thing her rich-ass would do when she gets good money was to buy all of us stuff. I mean when she got her first big sponsorship, she got me a motorcycle, and back then...I didn't even have a license.
"I know you're all wondering, "Beta-testing? What about work?" Well, the company is willing to compensate you for your time, enough that by the time the project is ready to be in the market, you would be able to retire early. I've brought the contract here today, just send it in to the office within the next two weeks. Just enough time for our 'Geon' here to quit her job."
- - - -
After two hours or so, all of us dispersed and said our goodbyes, each holding an envelope in hand. I held two envelopes, wondering if our sixth member would be interested?