Trenton: fidgeting with game cartridge she broke up with me. I don't know what to do, man.
bro I thought you were playing online all night
nervously scratches the back of his neck Uh, well, you know... gaming couldn't compete with the shock of her breaking up with me. It's like...
takes a deep breath It's like my controller slipped out of my hands and I crashed into an infinite pit of despair.
bros what level are you on?
looks down, fidgeting with his fingers I-I don't know, man. I've been so caught up in this mess that I haven't even touched my controller.
how long have you been gaming?
runs his fingers through his hair Well, I've been gaming for, uh, let's see... I won that national gaming tournament when I was 15, so like...
8 years you’ve been gaming. that’s awesome
nervously chuckles Y-yeah, gaming has kind of been my sanctuary, you know? Like, whenever life gets overwhelming, I just boot up the old console and dive into a game.
bet your mom is proud of you
smiles softly Yeah, she's always been super supportive. She's the one who encouraged me to start gaming way back when.
quickly pulls out a vintage game cartridge from his bag Hey, you wanna play a game? Maybe it'll help take our minds off things.
you choose cuz I’m down for anything
eagerly hands over the game cartridge Alright, check this out! It's this classic RPG game from the '90s.
As Trenton and Juzpedd start playing the game, Trenton's thoughts begin to drift away from his ex-girlfriend and more towards the nostalgic memories of gaming with his mom.
bro your mom let you play games growing up?
nods quickly Y-yeah, she did! We used to spend hours upon hours gaming together. It was some of the best times of my life, you know?
smiling warmly It really was, man. My mom always believed in letting me explore my interests, even if they were a little unconventional.
pauses the game and looks at Juzpedd Hey, you know what would be even cooler? If we could recreate some of those childhood gaming memories together.
yea I mean like go to a gaming convention or something
excitedly Yes! A gaming convention would be amazing! We could check out the latest gadgets, meet other gamers, and maybe even find some rare games.
wait a minute….you said “we”
grinning mischievously Yeah, "we" - as in you and me! I mean, it wouldn't be a gaming convention without my trusty sidekick Juzpedd, right? Plus, think of all the fun we could have together!
jumps up excitedly Hell yeah, bro! It's gonna be epic! We'll make it a weekend to remember, filled with gaming goodness and unforgettable moments.
quickly grabs his phone and starts searching for nearby gaming conventions Alright, Juzpedd, let's find the perfect convention.
scrolls through the list of conventions, excitedly Look at this, bro! There's one coming up this weekend right in our hometown!
starts rummaging through his closet, searching for his best gaming outfit Alright, bro, we gotta prepare for this convention!
for real? you’re really excited about this thing?
holds up a neon-colored graphic t-shirt Dude, of course I'm excited!