An internet café opening early in the morning
A mischievous teen internet café
I knew the internet café was a long time ago
In eighth grade, I was already accustomed to going to the internet café
That year was when the café had just opened
You went to the café to play, I left home too
I only knew the café was located at Thủy Lợi
Since then, I’ve always remembered the way there
I don’t understand why, in my eighth-grade year, the phenomenon called “League of Legends” swept through every corner of the school. No exception for my class – where there were kids as mischievous as devils, eager to explore new things. Out of 18 boys in class, 15 had already started playing, except for me and two others (the good students). Even the girls were drawn into this “super popular” game.
Perhaps I wouldn’t have stepped into the Summoner’s Rift if my best friend hadn’t played. He played, found it fun, and then convinced me to join. But I said I still had to study. Seeing that, he immediately came up with a million reasons I found “extremely convincing”, from how gaming helps relieve stress, brings joy after tense school hours, to enhancing sharpness and decision-making skills, and even “Do you consider me your best friend?”
I didn’t want to play but couldn’t refuse. So, I ended up playing.
– But my home computer is “ancient”, how can I play? – I asked.
My friend laughed and replied:
– Just go to the internet café.
I pretended to refuse. Seeing that, my friend said it was fine, just go together for fun. After much persuasion, I finally agreed. But “where to play?”
– There’s a new internet café near my house, want to try it?
– Sure.
My friend and I sat down to plan. My friend’s parents were both government employees, so they weren’t home at noon. I told my mom that when school ended early, I would go to my friend’s house to study. Admittedly, being both smart and well-behaved, my mom believed me completely. How impressive!
So, one hot afternoon, when everyone just wanted to rush home to enjoy the cool air conditioning, two students in neat red uniforms sped off to the internet café on their bicycles. He led the way, and I followed. After nearly five minutes racing, the internet café appeared before us. It was quite small, with green walls, and a sign at the door saying “Grand Opening – 50% Off”. Inside, there were only about 30 computers, with equipment that could be considered decent. But anyway, who cares? Just play quickly and get home in time. But to play, I had to create an account first. I quickly set it up, then went into “Newbie Guide”. After a quick training match, time was up.
Before leaving, my friend asked:
– Did you find it fun? From now on, whenever we get to go home early or skip school, we should come here to play.
– Okay, goat.
From then on, my friend and I joined forces to dive into League of Legends.
Guys, going to the internet café, if anyone has ever been a “loyal customer”, besides the joyful moments with friends at the mouse and keyboard, there are also unforgettable memories with the café owner, right?
During the book and paper days, I went to the internet café with you
The owner yelled when he saw us from afar
When the owner yelled, do you remember, my friend?
The owner always called us into the internet café
The owner’s voice was so familiar
School ended early, we went to play at the café and didn’t come home
I was at the owner’s café, he taught me how to play
Taught me how to gear up, taught me the playstyle
Many game rounds made me pity the hard-working owner
“That guy! Be careful for me, would you?
Why haven’t you hit sixteen yet?”
At first, we often went to the internet café twice a week (because school let us out early two days). But later, rearranging our schedules, we decided to leave early for extra classes to squeeze in more internet café visits, about six or seven times a week. As we visited more, the café owner began to talk to us because we often sat at the two outermost computers, right next to his desk. At first, we were shy, only saying a few words before going silent, but later we got used to it, and many days we played while laughing and chatting. After about a month, we became close friends. Whenever we came, he would smile and say, “Come here and play, kids.”
– If not in your café, where else would I go? – I replied, as my usual response when I arrived.
One day it rained, but we still went. Overall, I felt like wet rats, and he exclaimed:
– Are you very wet?
Saying that, he quickly went to get a fan for us to dry off.
– Today is quite free, I’ll watch you play.
At this point, he realized I was just starting to play. He said he could tell right away that I was a newbie. He played League of Legends, and if I needed help, he would teach me.
– If you say that, how can I refuse?
So whenever he had free time, he would teach me how to play. He said to start with easy champions like Garen, Ashe, Master Yi. Gear up flexibly, don’t be too rigid, and adapt to each situation, needing “to know how to be creative but not ridiculous”.
Regarding playstyle, he taught me to gear up according to each matchup, when to roam, when to push towers, when to go back, and when to farm minions. However, his knowledge seemed quite profound, so for a newbie like me, it was hard to digest. I often built items based on my own preferences: Ahri with BF Sword for damage, Ashe with Electric Knife, Runaan’s Hurricane, and Nashor’s Fang for quick fire, Yi full AP with max W for extreme healing. So many times he scolded me for building poorly, and I couldn’t count how many sighs he let out when I fed.
I remember the fifth match I played Master Yi. Full AP, max W, mis-farmed minions, foolishly dove towers, and ended up with 0/16. I laughed, and he looked at me in disappointment, while my friend looked at me in contempt. It seemed he had figured out where my issues lay, so from those subsequent sessions, he focused on teaching me a specific part, “One skill mastered is better than many skills half-learned.” My friend also detailed his advice. With his correct teaching methods, his enthusiasm, and my friend’s support, alongside some natural intelligence, I gradually improved. After nearly four months of playing, I climbed up to Silver rank, matching my best friend’s rank. On the first-semester report day, I got to go home two and a half hours earlier than usual. When I arrived at his café, I immediately ordered three bowls of spicy instant noodles with poached eggs and sausages, and three bottles of Sting – the ultimate “premium” internet café combo. He found it odd and asked me:
– Do you have a new friend playing with you today, or why are you ordering three servings?
– Just do it, please.
When he brought it out, I handed him money and said:
– These two servings are for us, and one is for you. Thank you for teaching me to be who I am today.
He smiled.
– This kid… Alright, I’ll accept it. Luckily, I haven’t had breakfast yet.
From that moment, we became like a family. When we are happy together, it’s natural. And when in hardship, we still share and help each other; I felt this was like the bond of blood brothers.
The year my parents turned to dust
I was rich but suddenly became destitute
The owner helped me think of plans
Still steadfast, the owner firmly instructed me:
“You just play, your friends will pay
And if it gets too tight, don’t worry, I’ll let you owe
I trust you’ll pay me back”
At that time, our country was in an economic downturn. Small businesses like my family faced countless difficulties. Expenses were high, while income was low, forcing my family to tighten spending. If I usually had 50,000 VND for pocket money each week, now I had not a penny. My internet account was down to just over 10 hours, but gradually, it was running out. I had an internal struggle: “Play or quit?” If I played, where would I get the money? I was just an eighth-grader, unable to work, and if I did, my parents would definitely not allow it. But if I quit gaming, it would be like abandoning my brother and friends. Having bonded like that, I couldn’t bear to part ways. After much thought, I decided to confide in my friend and the owner. Hearing that, he asked my friend how much pocket money he had each week. But he only had fifty thousand as well. The owner said:
– Can you try to find a little more money? Like telling your mom you need money for books, or if the school organizes a charity program. You guys figure it out together. If it really comes to a pinch, I can let you owe me, but not more than two hundred, no interest, so don’t worry.
I immediately refused:
– But, sir, I don’t know when I’ll have money. Besides, you’re in business, lending me money is like creating a risk of losing your own money.
He smiled and said:
– I don’t meet you often; it’s indeed dangerous if you default. But I believe you’re not that kind of person; you’re a good person. I trust you’ll pay me back.
After saying that, he turned to the server and topped up my account with fifty thousand.
– Why did you top up my account?
– Thirty thousand is for the noodles and Sting from before. To be honest, I still feel a bit awkward about that, taking from a kid doesn’t feel right at all. And I’m not really in a dire situation that I need to ask you for this or that. The noodles and drinks, I’m returning it to you. And the other twenty thousand is my feeling for you. If you feel awkward, I’ll add another twenty for your friend, consider it a New Year’s gift.
I was choked up, only able to say thank you to him. When we have enough, we take what we have for granted, yearning for something new. But when difficulties arise, we realize the value of what we once considered normal. Perhaps, and it’s no longer a perhaps, we had become a family. A real family.
Whenever possible, we would go to his café together. Whether it was sunny or rainy, noon or evening, before classes or on early dismissals, we would visit his place. And if we came during “unusual” times, we would call him first to prepare. Even when it was crowded, he would make sure to save two spots for us. When I asked why he always reserved seats for us while the café was packed, he said that when he met us, he felt incredibly special, to the extent that he didn’t want anyone else to sit in our spots, even if that person could play all day if they knew we were coming. He treated us like brothers:
Then morning came, and the owner turned on the computers
Two computers, the owner always waiting
Two computers, where we stuck around…
Time flew quickly, and the day came for me to go study far away, to say goodbye to his café, to leave it all behind. But since then, the beautiful memories in me have never faded.
Looking back at life through the sunshine and rain
Nearly ten years have passed, even now
I still remember the days at the internet café
Turning on the computer and jumping into battle
Igniting the fierce war of the past
Igniting the heart of sharing joy
Reviving all the childhood memories
Oh how strange and wonderful – the internet café!
Those were the early dismissal days, me and my friend rushing to the internet café to play a game together. Those were the battles with mouse and keyboard igniting the flames of combat. Those were the times when money ran low, and my friends helped share the burden, uniting our strength to help me through tough times. Those were the victories, I was happy, my friend was glad, the owner praised us. Those were the losses, where we got pointed out our flaws by the owner to learn from. And that was also a sky full of memories, a time of youthful folly for me. All of that gathered in one place, where I thought it was just a business location, not a place for human feelings to be expressed. This place is called, with just two words: INTERNET CAFÉ.
Now I am studying abroad. I play at high-end cyber games, no longer at the grass patch café. My current setup includes a curved screen, mechanical keyboard, quality mouse, and powerful configuration, no longer the small children’s machine. I now have many friends to play with, not just my best friend from years ago. But despite that, I will never forget the café from years ago, with the owner and my friends.
Now I have gone to study abroad. There are hundreds of cyber options
Amazing machines everywhere, friends who play hard
But I still never fail to remind myself:
– Did you visit the café today?
-Detun Rest-