"Budi: Looting Dreams, Dodging Parental Drama"

"Budi: Looting Dreams, Dodging Parental Drama"

Part 1: Budi's Big Dream

In a small village where the internet signal disappears as often as an ex who can't move on, lived a young man named Budi. At 18 years old, he had the typical village boy charm—his smile could distract all the neighborhood moms. But don't be mistaken; despite living in the countryside, Budi had a big dream: to compete in the International e-sports PUBG Olympics.

"Budi, come eat! Stop messing around with that game!" his mother shouted from the kitchen.

"Okay, Mom! Just one more game," Budi replied, his eyes glued to his cracked phone screen, which looked as broken as a heart after betrayal.

Budi was different from other village kids who preferred plowing fields or flying kites. He excelled at dying early in Erangel and Miramar. Despite his limited resources—a half-broken headset, an overheating phone that needed constant fanning, and an unreliable internet connection—Budi's spirit remained full power, even if his skills were mediocre.

"What's wrong with you, Budi? What will your future be if you only care about games?" his father scolded one evening.

"Relax, Dad. I'm going to be an international champion. The prize money is huge—we could buy a whole herd of cows!" Budi replied confidently, even though his shots often missed.

His father shook his head. "What are you going to eat at that international competition? Fried rice from Erangel?"

Despite the complaints, Budi never gave up. One day, he boldly joined a local tournament at the village hall, where the internet connection depended on a BTS tower funded by the community. The competition was tough, but Budi stayed confident, even though he often panicked and pressed the wrong buttons.

The atmosphere at the tournament was lively, with villagers cheering for their favorite players. The aroma of fried snacks wafted through the air as spectators crowded around makeshift tables.

"Hey, Budi, if you lose, you're treating us to coconut ice, okay?" joked his friend Slamet.

"Dream on, Met! I'm a future pro player!" Budi retorted, though he was secretly nervous.

The match was intense. Bullets flew across the screen, and his fingers moved like a nervous love letter typist. Budi managed to survive the first few encounters, thanks to sheer luck and opponents who underestimated his noob skills. Unfortunately, his luck ran out when he jumped out of a moving vehicle by mistake and got knocked out.

"Oh, Budi, you're hilarious," laughed Slamet.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Budi grumbled, brushing dust off his pride.

Even so, Budi didn't lose hope. "Tomorrow I'll practice again, Met. I'll prove I can win!" he declared with determination.

Back home, Budi continued his training late into the night. The dim glow of his cracked phone screen illuminated his determined face. His mother peeked into his room and sighed.

"Don't forget to sleep, Budi. Dreams won't come true if you're too tired to chase them," she said gently.

"I know, Mom. Just a bit more," Budi said with a grin.

Budi was sure that one day he would make his village proud on the international stage. But before that, there was a tougher mission: gaining his parents' blessing.

"If I win the Olympics, the prize money can build a new house, Dad! Mom won't have to cook in a leaky kitchen anymore!" Budi persuaded.

His parents exchanged glances. "Fine, if you can prove it, you'll have our blessing. But if not, back to the fields," his father said firmly.

"Deal, Dad!" Budi exclaimed enthusiastically.

And so, with a cracked phone, unstable internet, and half-hearted parental approval, Budi continued his journey. Because for him, life was like PUBG: even if you often lose, with persistence and determination, Chicken Dinner is always within reach.