Ping!

A notification pops up on Amesh's computer screen, a message request from Gamer420.

Gamer420: "Hey MangoBoy2k! I found this game that I thought you'd enjoy. It's called Mango Life, right up your alley! Anyways, here's the link, give it a go!"

The boy sitting in front of the computer opens the chat box and types out his reply.

MangoBoy2k: "Thanks! I'll check it out. Are we still on for PewPews tonight after dinner?"Gamer420: "Wouldn't miss it even if the world came crashing down around me. Haha."MangoBoy2k: "Alright. See you!"Gamer420: "Bye."

And with that the boy logged off and put his computer to sleep. He spun around in his chair only to come face to face with his older sister standing in the doorway of his room.

"Hey kid, dinner's almost ready. Are you done chatting with your little online friends yet?" The young adult woman spoke as she looked down at the boy still sitting in his limited edition mango gaming computer chair.

Amesh scrunched up his lips into a discontent position as he stood up. In his mind it was useless to try to explain anything to his older siblings, none of them would understand anyways. And it's not like they were all that present in his life to begin with. "Yeah. I'm going there now, Karin. So you can run off to Naji and Timin and tell them about dinner too." The boy mutters as he pushes past his elder sister and down the hallway to the dining area.

The boy's steps echo through the long hallway. The sparkling clean wooden floors provided the only colour in a stark comparison to the plain white marble walls and smooth white ceiling. Nothing lined the walls of this hallway, it would only add unwanted clutter. Stepping out into a large room with a twenty foot tall ceiling, Amesh entered into the dining area. A large mahogany wooden table stood in the centre of the room and donned a regal red silk cloth. The walls were the same clean white marble that the hallway held, but the ceiling consisted of a platinum frame holding glass panes; and in the centre above the table, a stained glass masterpiece of the PowerHouse logo completed the glass ceiling.

The bright light of the dimming sun shone through the stained glass and projected the emblem over the dining room table. Father Suriname sat at the end of the table per his usual spot, in his hands he held the latest and greatest Mango Tablet. He was so incredibly caught up in the breaking news and various articles that spawned within his device that he failed to look up or even acknowledge his youngest son arriving at the table. Amesh pulled his chair out, his whole family had their own spot at the table that they preferred, and sat down. His gaze fell upon the empty dinner plate as he waited for the others to arrive. Aside from the occasional mutter from Father Suriname, the room was silent despite its large and echoey space. The air was chilled, even though the ending day had been one of the warmest and brightest of the season. The space was cold and sent shivers running up Amesh's bare arms. His eyes scanned the room, Father Suriname prohibited the use of clocks in the dining area. Family time was family time, and there should not be any reason for one to rush out from the family meal time.

After what felt like an eternity of silence, the clamouring of voices grew from the halls as Amesh's three older siblings entered into the dining room. Momma Suriname followed soon after with the night's dinner in hand, still smoking from being just taken out of the hot oven.

"Ah, so you three finally decided to show up. Where's your brother?" Father Suriname spoke, looking up at his three eldest children as he put his mango tablet away.

"Father, he's right there." Karin pointed at Amesh who sat still and silent in his seat. "Hmm." Father Suriname grunted as dinner was finally served.

Once all were seated at the table, Momma Suriname gave her blessing of the meal and then began to serve the food. The night's dinner hosted a free range organic common fowl over a bed of luscious and silky white grains. Dressed nicely with assorted greens and a drizzle of creamy alfredo sauce. Better known as: chicken and rice with vegetables.

The dinner went on as any other night's events: Father and Momma Suriname were busy probing the three eldest children about their adventures, and the triplets didn't mind keeping the spotlight all to themselves. Amesh moved his fork along his plate, "playing" with the few grains of rice that he had left over while mindlessly listening in on the stories his siblings told. "Today," The eldest brother Naji began his tale. As he went on, his voice and the others' voices began to blur in Amesh's mind. The boy could feel his boredom begin to set in. Being the youngest of the three top heroes in the world was amazing when he was a child, but now that Amesh was a teenager it was no longer as cool. His mind drifted as he thought back to the new game that Gamer420 wanted to show him, he felt the excitement rise in him as he could only imagine what the game could hold while he sat trapped at the dinner table. Maybe this was the game that he could use to escape from his famous family and be his own hero. But did he really want to be a hero? Wouldn't he just be compared to his siblings who are greater than him in every aspect of his life. Even if this was just a video game, Amesh craved the chance to be more than just the shadow of his siblings. He yearned to be more, to be something they could never be. He decided to become a villain.

Determined, the boy snapped from his daydream and stood from his seat, only just realizing that he was the only one left at the table. Everyone had left him without a word, he wasn't even surprised at this point. Taking in a gulp of air, Amesh pushed in his chair and then made his way to his room. It was Mango Life time.

Sitting at his desk, Amesh opened his computer and navigated to his messages with Gamer420. His online companion was offline, so he thought he'd check out Mango Life while he waited for Gamer420 to come online. He hovered his cursor over the link and clicked. His screen illuminated with bright lights as audio kicked in and the game appeared. "Welcome to Mango Life! Your all expenses paid vacation from the real world is now at your fingertips!" A cheery voice called from the speakers as the title of the game flashed onto the screen. "Here you can be whatever you want to be! It is as easy as one, two, three! Give it a go!" The voice faded as the game's upbeat music kicked in and the menu appeared. Amesh maneuvered the screens, customizing his character to his preference. His character had indigo coloured hair, tanned skin, and green coloured eyes. His clothing choices were coloured black with white skulls and spiked accessories. He was going to be the baddest bad guy he could ever imagine. And the only way he knew how was projected by emo aesthetics as they were a stark contrast of his clean and proper family of heroes. Amesh clicked the confirmation button and his character came into existence. Mango Life seemed like a normal daily life simulation to the boy, he was free to do anything and everything. At first he felt mildly unhappy with the gameplay, but the more he played the more he felt drawn in and attached with the game. With every achievement he earned, the more satisfaction and dopamine he acquired. His mouth curved into a tasteful grimace as the many computer graphic civilians ran from his very presence in the game. And then the screen went red as the game's heroes arrived to fight him. Now scowling, the boy furiously attacked his keyboard as he digitally fought against the Mango Heroes. But after every encounter, he remained unsuccessful in his want to win. Amesh released a low grumble from his flesh body as his fists and jaw clenched. He was determined to overcome these boss fights and get the victory he yearned for.

With his tired and drying eyes glued to his computer monitor, not even the morning sun peeking in through his window covers could pry him from the game. That was until a loud banging on the other side of his bedroom door startled him from his seat and he spun ninety degrees in his chair.

"I'm up! I'm up." Amesh called out with a groggy voice, taking his headphones off and putting the computer to sleep. He then opened the door to see Karin, his sister, leaning against the wall in front of his room."That's good. Because you are late for school." She looked at him coyly and then stood up straight. "Do you want a ride to school or are you good on your own?""Uhm," Amesh paused for a moment to think. "No thank you, I will catch the city bus. But thank you for the offer, don't you usually have a call around this time anyways? Why waste time with me today?""We do, but things have calmed down as of late in the city. Naji and Timin are busy dealing with an out of town threat at the moment so I am hanging back to keep an eye out here." Karin responded with a relaxed tone as she crossed her arms. "If you change your mind, I'll be in the living room." And with that she turned and walked away, her shoulder length auburn hair flowing unnaturally behind her leaving a trail of sparkles where she had been."Will do." Amesh closed his door and began to get ready for school.

As he stood on the bus, he was oblivious to the media all around him. The news broadcasts always showed his three older siblings as they fought against the villains that threatened harm against the innocent. And this time was no different. Except, the villain Naji and Timin were going fist to fist with looked rather familiar, though Amesh did not pay any attention to the news media and kept missing the scenes that starred this villainous character. School was no different, chatters of the amazing Powerhouses spread to every corner of the place. Amesh was so used to these mindless comments that he instinctively blurred them from his mind. Completely missing the tales of how Naji and Timin remained undefeated against this new indigo haired villain dressed in black with skulls and spikes.

After eight long and gruelling hours of learning, Amesh was finally free and went home to play more Mango Life. He truly enjoyed the game and was excited for what new adventures he'd go on. The boy pushed open his door and then closed it again, but gently, you do not slam your door in Momma Suriname's house lest you wish for an early grave. A shiver ran through his upper arms to the back of his neck as he recalled the gruesome punishment Timin experienced after he refused to join family dinner and slammed his door right after. He still has the shoe mark permanently imprinted on his lower back as proof of his consequence for insubordination against Momma Suriname. From that moment on, he'd never forget that she brought him into the world, and that she could just as easily take him out of it.

Amesh sat down at his computer and booted up Mango Life. Today he was definitely going to defeat the game's boss - the heroes of Mango World.