This Game Is Rigged!

The clock struck 12:55 PM, and with the Sunday mass behind us for almost an hour, I decided to reach out to Precious again via text message.

Having shared the time and location of the party earlier, I now sought details on where I could pick her up, wanting to arrive early before the festivities kicked off. I was met with her prompt response.

She was already in the process of getting ready, and to my delight, her friends were on board for the event, it would be too awkward if i had to inform greg that the guests cancelled.

"Aren't you done yet?" Theo interrupted my text session, complaining about my delay in our Mortal Kombat battle, returning my focus to the game. I faced a challenging match against the twins, It turned out to be tougher than I expected, feeling a bit rusty after a hiatus from gaming.

Nevertheless, my determination was unyielding; after all, once a champ, always a champ. "Gimme two more minutes" I replied still engrossed in texting.

Realizing that I needed to swing by my apartment to grab my ride, the schedule seemed tight.

"I would have to head back to my apartment first to get my car though, so it would be a tight schedule" I confirmed that I was still at my parents' place.

"Don't worry I'll be pick you up"

Precious generously offered to pick me up, a gesture that both surprised and pleased me.

"Oh ok that's nice, you still remember the route right?" I asked.

She assured me not to worry about the route. In case of any hiccups, she promised to give me a call.

Theo persisted in his complaints, urging me to finish texting.

"Yea yea I'm done" Succumbing to the pressure, I dropped my phone and resumed the game.

However, Theo's character landed several successful hits, leading to my fifth consecutive loss. Adhering to the house rules, I handed over the controller to Tim, who was ready to take on the next round.

As I retreated to the sofa, Theo and Tim couldn't resist reflecting on their earlier boasts. "I told you that you wouldn't be able to beat us anymore," Theo declared, eyeing me as I settled in the sofa, "It is what it is."

Tim also chimed in teasingly, "E liss whaaat lee lees." I rolled my eyes at their banter, all the while concealing the fact that I intentionally played these matches to lose.

Unbeknownst to them, my strategy involved using these games to assess their new gameplay and also regain my gaming prowess.

It was a tactical move, and now, with Precious offering to pick me up, I had the time, perfect opportunity to showcase to these younger challengers that the champ was still the champ.

The atmosphere crackled with tension as I took the controller from Tim, determined to turn the tide in this Mortal Kombat battle. It was time to put all the cards into play, unveiling a new round that would showcase my gaming prowess.

My character moved with a grace that mirrored professional-level combos, executing evasive maneuvers and air kicks that left the twins agape.

Theo, who had been riding high on his previous victories, was caught off guard. My systematic counter to his gameplay left him scrambling to defend. Focused on being defensive, he resorted to constant blocking, but I had already calculated my moves. Swiftly, I shifted to delivering low special moves, strategically sweeping Theo's character into the ground every time he attempted to block my air assaults.

The tide turned in my favor, and I emerged victorious in that round. Theo, visibly frustrated, evacuated the controller, blaming his character for the defeat.

"Don't complain, bro. It's really just what it is," I remarked, a smug smile playing on my lips.

The banter continued as Theo grumbled about his character's shortcomings.

Tim faced a similar fate in the subsequent round.

My calculated and strategic moves proved to be too much for the twins to handle. As they suffered consecutive losses, the living room echoed with their frustrated exclamations.

It was a satisfying moment, a testament to the fact that even champions needed to hone their skills after a hiatus.

The twins, now yelling at their characters on the screen, couldn't believe the sudden turn of events.

The competitive spirit that had fueled their confidence earlier was now replaced with a palpable sense of defeat. The banter took a new turn as they tried to come to terms with the unexpected outcome.

"Man, this game is rigged!" Theo exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at the screen.

"Rigged? Nah, it's just that I'm back in action," I retorted, reveling in the triumph.

The twins exchanged glances, their earlier boasts now a distant memory. The room buzzed with a mix of my laughter and competitive energy.

It was a stark reminder that in the gaming realm, skills spoke louder than words. It was a lesson learned on a lazy Sunday afternoon, and I couldn't help but revel in the camaraderie that gaming had brought to our family.

The Vibly notification interrupted the intense Mortal Kombat match between Tim and me. Amidst the virtual chaos, Tim claimed victory with exuberance, blissfully unaware that I had subtly allowed him to win.

"Yess!" Tim shouted excitedly "Stop playing with me! I just broke your unbeaten run" he bragged.

"Relax he let he win" Theo was quick to burst Tim's bubble.

The debate over whether I let him win or not ignited a fiery determination in the twins to settle the matter in their next match.

I navigated to Siri's messages on Vibly, eager to catch up on what I had missed. Siri's messages flowed in, each one carrying a playful tone.

"It was fun haha."

"They just left a couple of minutes ago."

"We literally played for hours, and somehow they dragged my dad to play with us as well."

"But are you really 6'7? Oh My God."

"Sir I will def be able to walk in front of you without you noticing."

"Like you won't even see me."

PinGG** A meme notification popped up, and I eagerly opened it. The caption read "How to talk to tall people," accompanied by two image collage. The first depicted a towering man, around 7 feet tall, and a police officer who stood at 5 feet, appearing to give the tall man a stern talking-to while looking up.

The second image showed the police officer standing on the bonnet of his police car, leveling his middle finger at the tall guy at face-to-face level, thanks to the height boost.

I couldn't help but chuckle at her responses. Siri's humor was infectious, and her playful banter added a lightness to the conversation. However, her disbelief in my height caught my attention,

"It's really nice to have fun with family"

"Especially now you're planning a trip out of the country"

"Lol that meme was epic! Yea you're welcome I accept your compliment"

"How tall are you tho?"

The twins, having finished their debate and with Theo graciously accepting his defeat to Tim, continued their gaming session as I wasn't ready yet, i waited a bit for Siri's response to my last replies.