The next day, in the break between classes, all of us working together on the English Project gathered once more.
"So," Sebastian, seated on the stairs with his arms stretched out over his knees, much like a delinquent student, spoke up first. His chin propped, looking at Emily, he asked, "What did you have to tell us?"
"Right. I've actually known Mrs. Benson and her family since my childhood."
Emily began telling us about her connection with Mrs. Benson.
"I played at her home quite a lot; my parents were both busy working most of the time and left me there after school. Her husband had built this arcade with his friends, and they were very passionate about it. Something about how games had shaped most of his life."
Emily sighed and shook her head, as if to say she couldn't understand the sentimental attachment to a place.
"He passed away, right?" asked Lia. "Anna and I saw a picture next to a small altar. Buddhist, I think?"
"Correct. He passed away long ago… and her son has also been away from home for a long time."
"Away?" Eric asked.
"That's right. He had left to study for civil services, but then suddenly told her he had found a job. Eventually, he completely cut contact."
"Mrs. Benson doesn't seem like a bad parent, and if they are doing something as unconventional as an arcade…" Anna mused, and Emily nodded along with her. The son had not left because of Mrs. Benson; that was for sure. But perhaps there was something about their family dynamics that none of us could know or see.
"That's how it is. The reason she is so attached to this arcade is largely because that is all she has left. There is no one and nothing else left for Mrs. Benson."
"And those bastards—" Sebastian grunted. He was quite pissed about the people who had invaded her space and were trying to force her to sell the house. Sebastian seemed far more chill to me as a person, but it seemed he felt for others with quite a passion.
That said,
There was another dimension to all this.
I wondered if I should speak up about it, but before I could, Emily already seemed to have had the same idea.
"This is actually good," she said.
The others turned to her, while I nodded to myself.
"By all accounts, Mrs. Benson is struggling. The years have caught up to her long ago, and the arcade really doesn't have many customers."
"What do you mean it's good then?" Sebastian asked.
"Sebastian… how long do you think she would be able to survive like this? It is really necessary for her to move on and live the rest of her life in peace."
"Hey, are you judging people's happiness like this? If she's happy with the memory, I think that is a fairly peaceful life."
Eric shook his head. "I am not denying that, but for how long? She's struggling to make ends meet. At this rate, she will pass away before her time."
Lia crossed her arms. "Guys, when we were in the kitchen… I actually noticed a big box full of medication. Alongside a note that highlighted how many she had to take every day and when."
"She's already… not in the best condition," Emily said. "And I know for a fact that she is struggling to make ends meet. Honestly, half the reason I took everyone there was so that she could feel a little happier about having someone visit the arcade."
Sebastian and Eric both folded their arms.
"I think we should go there in our free time," Sebastian said. "The arcade is a fun place. And we have yet to finish our games, right Abel?"
"Yeah," I added.
"What else can we even do…" Sebastian muttered. "If she's really ill, then yes, perhaps selling the arcade is going to be the best option. It would give her enough money to look after herself at least."
"But she won't sell it either," Emily said. "It sucks."
"There is something we can do," Eric said. "I mean, we are just making assumptions about her son's condition, aren't we? Since he is not in contact, the reason could be anything—"
"—What do you mean?" Emily asked, her eyes a little wider than before. I pursed my lips.
It was almost as if she was waiting for someone to say this. The way she quickly pounced on it.
"I think we should look for him. If she finds her son again, she won't have to cling to the arcade so strongly."
Lia stepped forward at those words. "You are right. I think we can definitely do something if we put our heads together. If… if he wants to reconnect, that would be great for Mrs. Benson."
"And while that is happening," Anna added, "We can keep her some company too. I think this is great."
Everyone nodded and expressed their assent to that line of reasoning. Then Emily turned to me.
"What do you think, Abel?"
I smiled.
"It also makes for a fun story, yeah?"
This was good.
While they were looking for the son,
"Sure does."
I could look into the company.