Game Over, NPCs

My son, Kaden Watt, shouted at me menacingly, “I don’t have to pretend anymore! I bet you didn’t know that I could hear your conversations with the System. I never once thought of you as my father. Every bit of it was an act. A man that desperate makes me sick.”

My wife, Silvia Watt, walked in with her true love, her affectionate eyes reflecting hostility.

“If it weren’t for fear of the System punishing Simon Bartone, I would’ve filed for divorce a long time ago.

My son doesn’t deserve a spineless man for a father. Watch yourself, or I’ll come after you.”

The trio stood there, as if they had their perfect ending.

I curled my lips.

Well, who was to say that I wasn’t acting too?

A player in a game could never fall in love with NPCs.

Kaden Watt’s words hurt me for a split second, but I quickly let go of the moment.

More than feeling upset, I was relieved.

It was a good thing that Kaden could only pick up on conversations between the System and me. Otherwise, he would’ve seen right through my fake affection.

The exposure could have been a major setback for my mission progression.

As I stood there in a daze, Kaden charged forward and tore into me.

“Dad, chosen players like you make me sick! You never cared about anyone else’s consent. You forced Mom to be with you. I feel disgusted that your blood runs in me. I regret every moment being related to you.”

As my six-year-old bore malice unbefitting of his age, Silvia ran her fingers along his hair with a faint smile before nudging him to Simon Bartone.

“Kaden is right. Every second by your side in the last few years made my skin crawl. Now that your System is gone, I could keep you around so long as you stay out of drama.”

With her tone dripping with generosity, Kaden wasn’t having it.

“I want him away from us! You and your System should leave us alone!

“You have no shame! Ptooey! Get lost! I want Simon to be my dad.”

Eyeing his opportunity, Kaden lunged at me like a cannonball, but Simon held him back in time and shuffled his hair.

“Kaden, you shouldn’t talk to your father that way. He might not have approached things in the most respectful way, but he’s just a man obsessed with your mother. We shouldn’t stoop to a pathetic loser’s level, or it’ll reflect poorly on your upbringing.”

Furrowing his brows, Kaden let out a spat.

“Simon has a point. You’re just a pathetic loser with no spine!”

His eyes fixated on my face, eager to search for any hint of pain in me to feel superior.

Not even flinching, I let out a friendly smile.

These people were nothing more than non-player characters to me.

Heck, I could say that they were merely codes that needed debugging.

Characters stuck in a game had no right to mock those on the outside anyway, and certainly not an elite player like me.

I had conquered at least eight hundred worlds, if not more. When it came to love, I put myself first.

Unconvinced, Kaden sneered at my joy, his finger up my face.

“Just drop it, Dad. I know you. I bet you’re dying inside, but you want to put on a brave face anyway. Tell you what. If you apologize now and get on all fours to give me a ride, I’ll consider letting you be my father still.

“But you’re not getting Mom. She’s with Simon. They are meant to be together.”

To be honest, I wasn’t keen on having a delusional and silly boy for a son.

However, years of caring for him filled my chest with slight heaviness.

Silvia met my gaze with indifference, her expression reflecting arrogance and pity.

“Calvin Townsend, as you can see, the boy can’t stand you. Given who you are, you aren’t even fit to be his father. You’ve always been an outsider. Simon is different. He’s smart, good-looking, and comes from a good family. He gets along with Kaden well.

“He’ll be a great father to Kaden once we get married.

“I have only stayed with you to keep the System from punishing Simon.

“My son deserves better than a coward. Watch yourself, or I won’t be so kind next time.”