It's true that once you see someone often enough, you start noticing them everywhere—even when you're not actively looking for them. Ryden had been seeing Angel all over his phone lately, even outside of Instagram. A contact lens ad here, a lip product ad there—her face seemed to pop up constantly. Not that he minded. In fact, he enjoyed admiring her face.
He'd recently picked up reading again and had found himself hooked on romantic novels. The simple plots and cheesy one-liners were a perfect escape for him. It was a good way to unwind.
It was Friday night, and Ryden was alone in his apartment with his book, Baby Blue Eyes. He didn't really have anyone to go out with, but he was fine with that. Ryden had always been the lone wolf, the quiet guy who kept to himself. So when the doorbell rang, he had no idea what to expect.
He opened the door and peered through the peephole. A mess of black hair and big brown eyes were visible. It was Gabriel. Ryden opened the door.
"Hey!" Gabriel greeted, his voice full of energy. "I asked Miss Samantha for your apartment number. Hope that's okay."
"Yeah, that's fine." Ryden stepped aside, "Do you want to come in?"
"No, no, no, I just wanted to give you something," Gabriel said, holding up a small paper bag. "Remember I said I'd give you something other than the pain au chocolat?"
"You didn't have to," Ryden replied, a little surprised.
"I insist!" Gabriel practically shoved the bag into Ryden's hand. "It's just a little thank-you gift. I hope you like it."
Ryden started to open the package, but Gabriel quickly stopped him. "Open it when I'm gone," he said with a playful wave. "I'm leaving now. See ya!"
Gabriel's visit was brief, like a gust of wind—quick and intense. Ryden closed the door and walked back to the living room. He sat down on the couch and opened the small bag. Inside was a box containing a rolled-up tie, its red and black stripes bold and flashy. It was a little much, but it seemed to suit Gabriel's personality. He'd wear it to work the next day.
Distracted by the surprise gift, Ryden opened Instagram to check for any updates from Angel. She'd posted three hours ago about an upcoming convention. It was a video game event where she would be the official cosplayer of a character named Asuka. The event was a three-day affair, and Angel would be there the entire time.
Ryden considered going. He didn't know anything about that specific video game, Tekken, and he didn't really have anything for Angel to sign. Maybe he could get a photo with her in costume? But he didn't even know the character she was cosplaying. He felt like a fake fan.
So, Ryden did what anyone would do in this situation—he started researching Tekken and its characters. Maybe this could be his gateway into gaming. He wasn't sure why, but he enjoyed diving into new hobbies. Tekken was a fighting game, and it seemed to have a strong following. He wasn't exactly a teen anymore—he was 27, after all—but he discovered that professional Tekken players were of all ages. Maybe he wasn't too old to give it a shot.
On Saturday, Ryden headed to the mall. He hadn't been this active in a while. Usually, he'd spend his weekends at home, scrolling through social media or binge-watching shows. But today was different. He grabbed a quick sandwich for lunch before heading straight to the bookstore.
Nothing caught his eye in the novel section, but then he spotted a cosplay magazine. On the cover was a small photo of Angel. Of course, he bought it. He figured he could flip through it later.
Afterward, Ryden made his way to the top floor of the mall, where the arcade was located. It was busy—couples, families, teenagers, all hanging out in the neon-lit space. Ryden wandered around, his eyes scanning the colorful machines. Then he spotted it: the Tekken arcade box. It was surrounded by people, but one of them looked familiar.
"Gabriel?" Ryden called out.
Gabriel didn't answer at first, too absorbed in the game. Ryden leaned against the machine and waited, watching as Gabriel's face twisted in concentration. He looked stressed, his lips pouting as his fingers furiously pressed buttons. Ryden couldn't make sense of the flashing lights or the action on the screen, but he kept watching anyway.
"YOU LOSE," the game flashed, and Gabriel groaned, throwing his hands up. "Okay, you got me," he muttered, standing up. "That was my last token." As he looked up, his eyes widened. "Ryden?"
Ryden waved awkwardly.
Gabriel laughed. "What are you doing here?" One of Gabriel's friends appeared from the side of the arcade machine, gesturing that he was done and needed a moment.
"I was curious about the game," Ryden explained. "So I thought I'd check out the arcade."
"It's one of my favorite games!" Gabriel said, a wide grin spreading across his face. "You should play with me. We can team up!"
"I just discovered the game today," Ryden admitted. "I'm a total newbie."
"We can play at my place," Gabriel said, clapping him on the shoulder. "I'll teach you."
Ryden hesitated but then shrugged. Why not? He thought. Not only was he learning a new game, but he was also making a new friend. It could be fun.