Page 4 of Unbearable Player
Glancing back at her computer screen, Brianne sighed. The security protocols for Shadow Realms weren’t coming together as smoothly as she’d hoped. She’d have to tackle it again with fresh eyes. Saving her work, she shut down her computer and stumbled to bed, her mind still whirling with code and game mechanics.
The next evening, Brianne found herself in her parents’ cozy kitchen, chopping vegetables while her mother, Martha, stirred a pot on the stove. The warm aroma of herbs and spices filled the air, making Brianne’s stomach growl.
“So, honey,” Martha began, and Brianne braced herself for the inevitable. “How’s that new game of yours coming along?”
Brianne relaxed slightly. Work talk she could handle. “It’s going great, Mom. We’re calling it Shadow Realms. It’s this immersive multiplayer experience where players navigate through different dimensions, solving puzzles and battling interdimensional beings.”
Martha nodded, a bemused smile on her face. “That sounds... interesting, dear. I’m sure the kids will love it.”
Brianne chuckled. “It’s not just for kids, Mom. Our target audience is actually?—”
“And how about your social life?” Martha interrupted, her tone casual but her eyes sharp as a gamer’s reflexes. “Any nice young men at work catching your eye?”
And there it was. Brianne suppressed a sigh, feeling like she’d just entered the boss level of a game she never wanted to play. “Mom, you know I’m focused on my career right now. The gaming industry is more cutthroat than a team deathmatch. I need to give it my all if I want to level up.”
Martha tsked, shaking her head like a disappointed NPC. “Brianne, dear, you’re not getting any younger. Don’t you think it’s time you started thinking about settling down? Meeting someone special? Your biological clock isn’t going to pause itself, you know.”
Brianne set down her knife with a dramatic clatter, turning to face her mother. She spread her arms wide, gesturing to herself. “I’m only thirty-four, Mom. There’s plenty of time for all that. My eggs aren’t scrambling themselves just yet. Besides, the guys I meet through work are... well, let’s just say they’re more interested in upgrading their gaming rigs than upgrading their relationship status.”
“You can’t paint them all with the same brush, sweetie,” Martha argued, stirring the pot with more vigor than necessary. The wooden spoon became a weapon of mass guilt-tripping in her hands. “What about that nice boy from marketing? What was his name... Todd?”
Brianne rolled her eyes so hard, she nearly saw her own brain. “Chad, Mom. And he’s about as deep as a mobile game’s storyline. Last week, he spent an entire lunch break talking about his ‘epic’ win in some online battle royale game. I swear, if I hear the phrase ‘I totally owned those noobs’ one more time, I might go full rage-quit on life.”
Martha’s eyebrows furrowed. “Owned? Noobs? Brianne, are you speaking English?”
Brianne couldn’t help but laugh. “Trust me, Mom, it’s better you don’t know. Let’s just say Chad’s idea of a romantic date would probably involve matching Pokémon onesies and a 12-hour gaming marathon. I’d rather try to romance a Sim, at least they have some personality programming.”
Her mother looked utterly bewildered. “A... Sim?”
“Never mind.” Brianne chuckled, patting her mom’s arm. “The point is finding a guy in the gaming industry who’s more interested in real-life relationships than virtual ones is like trying to find a rare legendary item drop. It’s theoretically possible, but the odds are not in my favor.”
Martha sighed, but there was a hint of a smile playing at her lips. “Well, I suppose I should be grateful you’re not bringing home some character from one of your games. Though at this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if you introduced me to your virtual boyfriend.”
Brianne grinned mischievously. “Don’t tempt me, Mom. I could probably code a better boyfriend than half the guys I’ve dated. At least he’d remember my birthday without a notification reminder.”
As they both dissolved into laughter, Brianne felt a wave of affection for her mother. Sure, the constant prodding about her love life was annoying, but she knew it came from a place of love. And who knew? Maybe someday she’d find a guy who could keep up with both her wit and her gaming skills. Until then, she was more than happy to keep leveling up in her career, leaving the relationship quests for another day.
Martha opened her mouth to respond, but Brianne’s younger brother, Danny, chose that moment to burst into the kitchen, saving her from further interrogation.
“Is dinner ready yet? I’m starving,” Danny grumbled, making a beeline for the pot on the stove. Martha swatted his hand away with a wooden spoon.
“Patience, young man,” she scolded, though her eyes twinkled with amusement. “Why don’t you set the table instead of trying to steal bites?”
As Danny mumbled good-naturedly and pulled plates from the cabinet, Brianne’s older sister, Leann, entered the kitchen, her toddler perched on her hip.
“Something smells amazing, Mom,” Leann said, inhaling deeply. She set her daughter down, who immediately toddled over to Brianne.
“Aunt Bwi!” the little girl squealed, holding up her arms. Brianne scooped her up, planting a kiss on her chubby cheek.
“Hey, there, munchkin,” Brianne cooed, bouncing her niece gently. “You being good for your mommy?”
Leann snorted. “As good as a two-year-old terrorist can be. Speaking of which,” she turned to Brianne with a mischievous grin, “when are you going to join the mom club, little sis?”
Brianne groaned internally. Not Leann too. “Can we please talk about something other than my nonexistent love life?” she pleaded.
“Fine, fine,” Leann conceded, holding up her hands in surrender. “Tell us about this new game you’re working on. Danny hasn’t stopped talking about it since you mentioned it last week.”
Grateful for the change of subject, Brianne launched into an explanation of Shadow Realms as the family gathered around the dinner table. She described the intricate world-building, the complex puzzle systems, and the innovative combat mechanics she’d been developing.