Journey to the Centre of JoNO

“Shit! I swear I’ll come back for you someday! I SWEAR IT!!”

With my gaze still affixed on the prize; a silent promise was made. I had decided to return to this very same game shop when I have the means to purchase Fatal Frame III.

A week later, I had honoured my commitment to that decision but it wasn’t as easy as I’d thought. Then again, nothing worthwhile ever did come easy. The hobbits had a helluva time carrying that ring to Mount Doom Their epic journey was filled with obstacles. Had they passed by a pawn shop en route to destroying the cursed item, the movie would be a lot shorter. The temptation to sell that fucking ring and to take a fantastic voyage into the lucrative business of selling sneakers to their people would be too great! But that's a story for another time.

The point is having a clear goal and commit to it with moxie in the face of adversity.

Saturday 5:08 p.m.

Megan accompanied me on my foolish quest to securing a copy of one of the most elusive games in the market. I’d tried many EB in the city but none had one. Alright! Good thing I found one in a non-EB! A copy that beckoned me with the sheen on its cheap shrink-wrap, mounted high on the wall behind the counter; kinda like that freaky looking Fertility Idol in the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark!

We arrived at the corner of Yonge and Bloor by about ten to six. Not the best timing ever but I’m determined that we’d make it before 6pm. That's when the store closes. We hauled ass down Yonge and made a hard right toward the shopping centre where the gaming emporium is nestled, but someone had already beaten us to it.

The super of the building was just locking up and refused to let anyone in. I couldn't believe this shit! Although, I was cock-blocked but I wasn’t beaten.

If I know my Metal Gear Solid as well as I should, then I know there’s always a 2^nd entry point. I raced to the other entrance with Megan in tow and smashed into another brick wall. The doors had already been locked! Cock-blocked by the gatekeeper again! Is this it? I’ve tried so hard and get so far in the end it doesn’t even matter?

I was crestfallen and felt responsible for dragging the Megster down here for a fucking PS2 game! Why couldn’t I have just settled for a used-game of the same genre somewhere else? Something to tie me over until I have forgotten all about this little obsession. That’s how it’s always been anyway! It’s nothing more than just a passing fancy! Can you believe all that swam through my head within two seconds?

I was seriously considering to buy Condemned 2: BloodShot instead, but I couldn't, even when it had a very attactive price tag. Time and time again, I would settle for much less because it is the path of less resistance, as such I had learned to cower away from the first sight of challenge instead of mastering it.

Well, I refuse to live this way anymore. I could not abandon my commitment and effectively rendered a real promise to myself worthless. It would defeat the purpose of this exercise. So I made another decision right there and then. I am entering this building especially since I know the shop is still open! In that very same moment, I remembered zipping by a photo-lab that’s connected to the complex on the adjacent street. Hope had once again been restored to my body, like when Superman recharged himself with our Sun after being shanked by Lex Luthor with a piece of Krpytonite. I picked myself up and resumed my quest for PS2 GOLD!!

The sheer elation I felt dashing toward the photo lab is comparable to attending the San Diego Comic Con and running into Mark Hamill. Megan and I joined hands and artfully ducked into the photo-lab and successfully infiltrated the building without being noticed. I’m happy to report that I managed to keep my word buuuut lack the courage to play this fucking game in the dark....