Ang Boyfriend Kong...

Clause 8 (2)

Ang Boyfriend Kong...

Clause 8: Ang Boyfriend Kong... gamer. [2]

Kat's note: More of Nicolo and his games? Trying naman si Nic na ipasok ako sa mundo na na-discover niya, which I very much appreciated but of course. But some things aren't just meant to be, I guess. HAHAHA.

Time Setting: Right after Clause 11.

One afternoon, as usual, iniintay ko si Nic matapos sa laro niya. Gusto daw niya kasing tulungan akong magluto (which just basically means na tatambay siya sa kusina at papanoorin ako magluto).

But there was something different about this one particular day, we didn't stay in his room like we used to but he made me go to the game room. The game room was painted in deep blue and has loads of posters on the wall. Marami ding laruan na nakalat sa sahig, which I guessed was Collin's. Carpeted naman siya at mayroong mahabang sofa sa tapat ng dalawang flatscreen TV na naka-hang sa wall. May TV stand din at isang glass cabinet na puro gaming console ang laman pati mga case ng mga laro.

Naka-upo lang ako sa sofa habang si Nic, kinakalikot yung isang XBOX at kino-connect sa TV nila. And then Nic was like, "Laro tayo."

And I was like, "Huh?"

"Laro tayo," he repeated.

"Anong laro?" I dropped my phone and caught the controller he threw me.

"COD. Pero dito puro Zombies yung papatayin."

Umupo naman siya sa tabi ko at nagsimulang mag-explain ng controls kung paano laruin yung game. Halos lahat ng sinabi niya lumabas lang sa kabila kong tenga pwera lang dun sa shoot at aim.

"Ano yung COD?" I asked.

"Call of Duty."

Dalawang TV yung nakabukas at dalawang console yung gumagana. Ang dami pang echos na ginawa si Nic para mag-link 'yung dalawang device at nagsimula na 'yung game.

"Wala bang racing?"

Natawa naman si Nic. "You sound like mom. Racing ka diyan. Masyado kang 90s kid."

Ayokong maglaro kasi wala naman talaga akong alam kung paano pero I guessed that I have to try if I wanted to be closer to Nic. Kailangan, I should share some of his interests para naman mas marami kaming mapagusapan. Nung una sobra ko pang nae-enjoy ang isang damakmak na tawa naman si Nicolo kasi hindi ako mapakali sa ginagawa ko.

"Hala, Nic, i-revive mo ko!"

"Oo na, oo na. Heto na." Pumasok naman siya dun sa building at na-revive nga ako kaya lumabas na kaming dalawa. May parang barricade pa kung saan sa kabilang side maraming zombie. Masyado naman akong natuwa kahit nangangapa ako sa controls. Now I do get it kung bakit mas pinili ni Nic 'to sa basketball. Less effort, more fun. Sino bang magaakala na masaya palang pumatay ng zombie? Pakiramdam ko tuloy kapag nagka-zombie apocalypse mabubuhay na ko. HAHAHA.

But what I didn't get was how Nic could continue playing this game. Because ten minutes later, I was in the bathroom, puking my guts out. Nic was holding my hair out of my face, his laughter echoing inside the bathroom.

"Ang likot mo kasi eh."

"Kasalanan ko bang ang likot nung screen?" I mumbled before gargling.

Bumalik naman kami sa game room at naupo ako doon sa sofa. Binigyan naman ako ng tubig ni Nic. I felt lightheaded but relieved. Nic was rubbing my back comfortingly and leaned to me. "Hey, Kat, thanks for trying."

I smiled at him, 'yun lang naman kasi kaya kong gawin. He kissed my cheek. "Wala bang setting para hindi masyadong gumalaw 'yung screen?"

"Sad to say pero wala."

"Sanayan lang siguro."

He nodded before shutting everything down. "Siguro naman hindi ka na makakapagluto niyan?"

"Makakapagluto naman, wait lang."

...another day perhaps?

Kat's note: It's better to try than give up, right? And that was what Nic did. But this time, hindi namin kaharap yung TV screen nila. Kundi yung desktop. One of the most boring days ever.

Question: May type ba kayong gamer na lalaki? Well, here's a few bits about this one particular game that might come in handy. Keep the terms in mind and ask them away about it, trust me, you knowing these terms are enough to impress them and it will get him talking too much. Keep your ears open and listen ;)

Time Frame: Summer 2015

This year, hindi sila nagpunta ng US kundi umuwi sila Nikki at Collin dito kasama 'yung daddy nila.

Nasa sala kaming dalawa kung nasaan 'yung PC nilang isa. Magkatabi kaming nakaupo ni Nic. Wala kasi akong magawa, I've told you already. One of the most boring day ever. Ayaw ko namang matulog kasi sayang yung oras, tinatamad din naman akong magbasa ng libro kasi kakatapos ko lang. So that's what I did, I sat next to Nic and watch him loiter in the internet, also looking for something to do.

Nasa YouTube siya at nanonood ng game play ng isang player, minsan tawa pa siya nang tawa habang naka-headphones. Naiinggit naman ako kaya nakiusisa na ko. Once I sat down, I started questioning what was happening on the screen and Nic gave up on his earphones to explain every bit of it.

He was telling me about this game called League of Legends or more popular in the abbreviation of LOL. Sabi niya, he just started playing that game a month ago when he got tired of playing his usual DOTA. It was an easier version but with the same objective.

There were this things called Champions, Skills, Abilities, Skins, Shells, Spells, Gank, Jungler, Carrier, Tank, AP, AD, ADC, ADR, Support, Top, Mid, Bottom, Jungle, Blue and Red Buff, Wards, Respawn, Heal, Bursts, Stuns, Slows, Shields, Manna, Minions, XP, Turret, Cool Down, Dragon Slayer, Baron, Early Game, Mid-Game, Late Game, and all the other words and names that I wasn't familiar with. Lahat 'yun, inexplain niya sakin pero minsan hindi niya mapaliwanag at nags-speculate kami ng game at tinuturo niya sakin kung ano 'yung gusto niyang iparating.

"Ang main objective ng game is to destroy the enemy towers?"

"Nakuha mo."

Pinakita niya din sakin yung ibang heroes, mostly yung mga pinakamahirap gamitin, and tell you what, my eyes couldn't follow the character's whereabouts once all the other champions crammed in on him and he'd still win. He explained the keys Q, W, E, and R. We watched a few game highlights and I could say that I was really impressed by the idea of the game.

"So, 'saan yung pinaka-exciting na lane?" I asked.

"Hmmm, top or mid."

"Bakit hindi sa bottom?"

"Kasi wala ka naman masyadong gagawin sa bottom."

"Edi ang boring?"

"Hindi naman," he chuckled. "Pero medyo lalo na kapag support ka kasi magh-heal ka lang at maglalagay ng mga wards, bawal mo pang atakihin 'yung minions kasi baka magaway kayo ng AD mo."

"Anong pinakamasayang role?"

"Hmmm, siguro 'yung Jungler. Kasi nasa jungle lang sila tapos minsan mag-gank sa mga lanes. Dalaw kumbaga tas tutulungan nila yung Champion na nandoon."

"Eh di ba sabi mo 'yung nasa Mid nag-gank din?"

"Oo naman, minsan pumupunta din siya dun sa ibang lane tas minsan sa jungle tas babalik din siya dun sa mid."

"Anong nangyayari sa Top?"

"Ganun din, parang Mid pero ikaw lang mag-isa kaya kailangan medyo malakas yung champion mo doon."

Then a few more questions about the partitions of minutes in the game. Early game is for when you farm for gold, XP, and the like to level up your champion. Mid game is where some of the turrets fall down and kills are sometimes to be made in between champions, it's also best to have wards laid out the map. Late game is where the champions are on the top of their game. There'll be lots of damage on this part and it is considered as one of the most exciting time.

"Gusto mong i-try?" tanong ni Nic.

"Hmmm, 'wag nalang kaya? Baka masira pa record mo sakin."

"Edi gagawan nalang kita ng account."

"O sige."

Then he goes explaining on how I should learn how to play DOTA first rather than LOL. Kasi daw kapag DOTA yung una mong nilaro, mas madali kang makaka-adjust sa LOL. Then Nic went to the internet and told me this story about the first TI (The International—which is the tournament worldwide for the best team in DOTA). In all fairness, may gwapong mga naglalaro. Lalo na si Puppey ng team NAVI, pero Secret na yung team niya ngayon. Jusko day! Hindi mo akalaing gamer. Ugh. SEARCH NIYO! Hindi kayo mags-sisi. HAHAHA.

Anyway, what happened to my first try on this game?

Ayun kung ano-anong pinagpipindot habang si Nic tawa nang tawa sa tabi ko habang nagpa-panic ako dahil pinapatay ako ng mga minions ng kalaban. Nasa bottom lane ako pinagpractice ni Nic dahil doon nga yung pinaka-chill na linya. Pero early-game palang pakiramdam ko mamamatay na ko! HAHAHA. Si Ahri 'yung pinagamit niya sakin.

"Okay ba?" tanong niya sakin nung maubos ko na 'yung minion nung kalaban at nagiintay pa ng iba at umiikot ako sa jungle.

"Okay naman," I answered, clicking the mouse in a rapid pace to move the character.

"Hindi ka nahihilo?"

"Nope."

"Good." Napasandal naman si Nic doon sa upuan niya.

Mid-game started and Nic said to push this lane. Hindi ko naman alam kung anong ibig sabihin niya nun pero pinalipat niya ako doon sa middle lane at nag-gank. Nung Early game naman napagpraktisan ko 'yung character ko at kung paano gamitin 'yung mga ability niya at skills kaya nung Late game na, medyo konti nalang yung hindi ko natatamaan. Minsan paikot-ikot 'yung character ko kasi ayaw kong matamaan pero sabi ni Nic normal lang daw talaga na matatamaan ka doon sa laro.

In fairness naman naka-kill naman ako, halos pantay nga lang 'yung kills at deaths ko. HAHAHA. Not bad for my first game daw sabi ni Nic. Kaya ayun naglaro pa ko ng dalawang laro. Isang nasa Top at isang nasa Mid. Mukhang nakakaadik nga talaga yung laro, kaya naman pagtapos ko binalikan ko 'yung cellphone ko.

Mga limang oras din tinagal nung page-explain at paglalaro ko ng LOL. Sabi ni Nic, sa susunod daw subukan ko naman daw yung ibang role sa laro tulad ng Jungler at Support. And the next time, alamin ko daw yung iba pang characters at kung saan ako magiging komportable sa paggamit.

It will take a lot of time and effort at probably sakit ng ulo kasi ilang oras akong haharap sa PC para lang matutunan ko ng mabuti yung laro. Pero tuwing naiisip ko yung effort ni Nic sa page-explain sa'kin para lang mapasok ko din yung mundong kinasasayahan niya, hindi ko na maalala yung rason kung bakit hindi ko gugustuhing subukan.

For Nic, everything would be worth it.