𝚂𝚃𝚄𝙲𝙺 𝚒𝚗 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢 (𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚃𝚠𝚘)

Important! This is the second book in a trilogy. If you haven’t read the first one yet, I really recommend starting there first.

Link to the first book: https://www.inkitt.com/stories/1503353

I was slouched in my gaming chair, my eyes glued to the glowing screen in front of me. I had no idea how many hours I’d been sitting there, but my pounding head and burning eyes told me it had been way too long. I knew I should’ve cleaned up. Around my feet were clothes, schoolbooks, and empty snack bags. In the armchair in the corner sat a plastic bag stuffed with crushed energy drink cans.

Out of nowhere, I was ripped out of my game world when my bedroom door slammed open. Mom stood in the doorway. Not again. Her hands were planted firmly on her hips, her face set in that look that never meant anything good.

“Trym, how many times do I have to remind you to clean up after yourself? Your room looks like a bombed brothel!” she snapped, pointing toward the cage on top of my dresser. “I even feel sorry for Steve, having to live in here! I mean—your hamster.”

I let out a heavy sigh. “It’s a guinea pig,” I muttered. “I’ll clean it later, Mom. Promise.” Without waiting for her response, I turned my gaze back to the screen.

Before I could dive back into my match, I heard the sound of light footsteps shuffling down the hall. Lars peeked curiously into the room behind Mom.

“What are you playing?” he asked, sneaking closer.

“Fortnite,” I replied without looking away.

His eyes lit up. “Can I try?” he asked, already sliding into the chair next to me.

“Yeah, of course!” I said. “It’s way more fun when we’re two!”

Mom sighed as she left, no doubt realizing cleaning wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

Reality Island had been a break from this room. But now, back in the safety of my own mess, it felt strange how life just… carried on. The fame, the chaos, the adventure—it all faded like some blurry dream melting into the grayness of everyday life.

Lars and I were quickly deep in the game, strategies flowing, and the map under our control. But then my door flew open again.

“Whoa!” I shouted as long arms wrapped me in a sudden bear hug. On the screen, chaos erupted into defeat while I scrambled to keep my controller alive. “Seriously, Inge! Can’t you see I’m in the middle of something here?”

“I still can’t believe it, man! It’s so weird having you back home!” Inge’s voice was loud, vibrating with excitement, as his grip tightened to the point where I could barely breathe.

“Yeah, thanks, I almost forgot,” I groaned.

Inge loosened his grip a little, but he still held on tight. He turned his head toward Lars, who had paused his game.“So, how’s it feel having big brother home again?”

“It’s great!” Lars said honestly. “But he’s always busy FaceTiming with Ida, too.”

“FaceTiming with Ida, huh?” Inge said with a sly grin. I tried to shake off his comment and wriggle free from his death grip.

“Let me go, Inge. You’re squeezing the life out of me!” I gasped. He laughed and finally released me, but—like the idiot he was—kept grinning from ear to ear.

That night I went to bed earlier than usual. I lay flat on my back, staring up at the ceiling. Sleep was impossible with Steve making those high-pitched squeaks. He only did it when he heard footsteps on the stairs—already spoiled by Mom, who gave him a piece of cucumber every time she passed by.

My room was pitch dark, except for the faint glow of my PC screen. I still felt restless, irritated. Dinner hadn’t exactly helped—Lars and I had argued, Mom had taken his side, and of course, she’d told me to “shape up.” I was already sick of being home.

Then my phone lit up. I picked it up, and the sight of a tiny mosquito emoji on the screen instantly made me smile. Only one person used that.

“Hi, Trym!” Squito’s cheerful voice filled the room. “I just wanted to call and say goodnight. How are you?”

“I’m fine,” I mumbled. But that was far from the truth.

“You know what?” she continued, still bubbling with energy. “Today I saw this cat that totally reminded me of you! It was lying right in the middle of the road, looking like it couldn’t care less. I had to move it, though—I didn’t want it to get run over! Oh my God, I even took a picture, I’ll send it to you later. It was sooo cute!”

A lump rose in my throat. That was so Squito—random, silly, and somehow perfect. And I loved that about her. But right now, I wish I didn’t feel this way. Because missing her hurt so much, it felt like my chest might explode.

“Trym? Are you still there?” she asked softly, a hint of worry in her voice.

“Yeah, yeah… I’m just tired,” I replied.

“Maybe you should sleep, then,” she whispered gently. “I miss you like crazy. I love you.” Her voice cracked at the end.

“Love you too,” I whispered back, before ending the call.

The second the line went dead, the dam broke. Tears streamed hot and heavy down my face, and I buried my sobs into the pillow. Missing Squito hurt so badly that it was almost physical pain.

The next morning was Sunday, and I dragged myself to the breakfast table where the rest of my family was already seated. The smell of freshly baked rolls hung in the air, but for some reason, it didn’t tempt me at all.

“Good morning, Trym,” Mom said with a cautious smile. “Do you want some eggs and bacon?”

I only shook my head and muttered, barely audible, “No thanks.” Then I sank into the chair and stared blankly at the plate in front of me.

Knut cleared his throat. “You need to eat something, son. Skipping meals isn’t good. Your doctor’s already warned you more than once—you’re underweight.”

Irritation surged instantly. Why did they always have to bring that up? Couldn’t they just leave me alone? I stabbed my fork half-heartedly into a slice of cucumber, but I couldn’t bring myself to lift it to my mouth.

With his mouth full, Lars broke the silence. “What’s wrong with you, Trym? You look like you’re about to cry.”

“Shut up, Lars,” I mumbled, fighting hard against the tears threatening to spill.

Mom laid a gentle hand on my arm. “Do you want to talk about it, sweetheart?”

That was it—the drop that broke the dam. Tears began streaming down my cheeks, dripping onto the plate. “Shit,” I muttered, burying my face in my hands.

Lars’ eyes widened. “What’s going on? Why are you crying?”

“Lars, can you please go to the living room for a little while? We need to talk to Trym alone,” I heard Mom say. “You can have some ice cream from the freezer after.”

“For real?” Lars exclaimed happily, already leaping up from his chair. A moment later, the kitchen door slammed shut behind him.

Mom leaned closer to me. “What is it, Trym?” she asked softly.

I fought the sobs like a madman, but it was impossible to stop them. My eyes stung as I lifted my head. “I…” My voice cracked. “I miss Squito so damn much I can’t take it anymore.”

I could feel my parents’ eyes on me, but I couldn’t look at them. Instead, I stared down at my clenched fists, gripping them so tightly my knuckles turned white.

“Oh, my boy,” Mom whispered, stroking my back.

“It’s like… like someone ripped out a part of me,” I choked, my voice breaking between sobs. “Every single day without her is torture. I think I see her everywhere—in my dreams, at the store, in a crowd. But she’s never there. She’s just… gone.”

Knut leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Long-distance love is tough, son. But you have to remember, you’ll see her again.”

I shook my head, frustration burning. They didn’t get it. “It’s not just that. It’s… it’s like I don’t even know who I am without her. She made me better. She made me laugh, made me care about things. Now I just feel empty. Angry. Like nothing matters.” I wiped my face on my sleeve, my chest heaving. “I know it sounds stupid, but… I think I’m completely addicted to her. And it scares the hell out of me.