.
Roy was sitting right in front of me, looking like he'd seen a ghost. Bodyguards were everywhere, and they all looked pretty shaken up too. Right next to me, Ishika was clutching my hand so hard I thought my bones would snap. Actually, my leg already felt like it was broken. I had tried to bolt a few minutes ago, but she went totally berserk, throwing everything in sight. One bodyguard tried to step in and she took a perfect shot at his face with a pastry. Hit him right on the nose. Everyone was terrified of her now.
"So, brother," Roy started, his voice trembling a bit. "What have you decided about the tournament?"
"Obviously, my brother isn't going," Ishika snapped before I could open my mouth.
Roy whispered back, "Don't you think he should show his talent? Besides, he won't have to show his face. He can go in as a hidden player. Lots of pros hide their identities."
Ishika glared at Roy like she wanted to set him on fire. "I said NO. He isn't going."
"Can't you talk a bit more nicely?" I chimed in, trying to ease the tension.
She put a hand on my shoulder, her grip tightening. "Big brother, it's better if you just stay quiet. I'm telling you to stay calm for your own good."
Then she turned to Roy. "First, tell me exactly what you want with him. Then I'll think about it and probably say no anyway. Speak fast, I'm tired of listening to you people."
"You're as serious as you were when we were kids," Roy sighed. "Like I said, the players in this game are monsters. I need Rio. My company needs two players—one is already picked, the second has to be Rio."
"You have plenty of options," Ishika countered. "If you're betting on my brother's luck, Roy, he's going to lose."
"You've got it wrong," Roy said. "I could play myself, but the game mechanics are built differently. It's slow. If we push too hard for extra points and lose our character's life, there's no second chance. I need a lucky, patient player. I need someone who can play the long game."
"Stop calling him 'lucky'!" Ishika yelled. "He's worked hard. I won't deny his luck is good, but he wins because of effort. If you mention luck one more time, I'm punching you in the face."
Roy flinched. "Why are you so angry? Why don't you just go then?"
"I can't go," Roy muttered. "I have too much work. And if I play, my style is too aggressive. I challenge the algorithm instead of following it. But your brother? Everything he does makes the algorithm think it's his own natural effort. It works with him." He looked at her. "If I allow this, will you stay away from his life for a bit?"
"Never," she said. "But give me something as valuable as him, and maybe we can talk."
I was just sitting there, listening to them trade me like a piece of meat. "Roy, watch your mouth," I warned. "Don't make a mistake."
Roy pulled out his phone and signaled the guards. "Blindfold him. Turn him around."
"Don't show them any weird photos of me!" I yelled as a guard tied a cloth over my eyes. Their voices became a blur; I couldn't hear a thing. After a few minutes, they took the blindfold off.
Ishika's face was glowing. She looked happier than I'd ever seen her. "This might actually hurt you," she said to Roy, but she was smiling.
"Don't worry," Roy replied. "I've planned for that too."
"You won't have a problem, right?" Ishika asked Roy. "I don't want anything happening to my brother's best friend."
I blinked. "Since when did you start calling him your 'best friend'?"
"Big brother, shut up," she said instantly. She was talking to Roy with a smile—something that almost never happens. Then she leaned in close to my ear. "I love you, brother. I'm ready to pay the price for hurting your leg. Tell me what you want. Anything... as long as it's not staying away from me."
I jerked my head back. "Keep your trashy dialogues to yourself!"
She pouted. "Your face is all red again. Are you thinking about something 'creepy'?"
Roy was just staring at us. Finally, he spoke up. "Ishika, we should talk somewhere else."
"Yeah," Ishika agreed. "I don't want my brother knowing our secrets."
They both walked out together. "Wait! Where are you going?!" I shouted.
"Secret meeting!" Ishika called back. "About our wedding! I need some time."
They left without another word. I looked around at the mess on the floor and the guards who were just staring at me. A staff member approached me. "Sir, do you need anything?"
"Nothing."
"Then please, sir... leave." It felt like they were trying to kick me out.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Ishika: "Big brother, you can go on a date with that woman today."
I typed back instantly: "Are you joking?"
She replied: "You can go."
Me: "You're definitely messing with me. This is revenge, right?"
Ishika: "Brother, please go. I won't give you this chance again."
Me: "I don't trust you. You're going to punish me for this later."
She didn't reply. The staff was still hovering, so I stood up and limped toward the exit. My leg was killing me. The guards opened the doors, and the cool air hit my face. I looked up at the sky. Peace at last. Now, I just need to get home.
Suddenly, a black Rolls-Royce pulled up right in front of me. A lady stepped out from the hotel and said, "Sir, please get inside."
I opened the door and saw Ayesha sitting there, wearing sunglasses. I immediately closed the door and stepped back. Must be a dream. I opened it again, and she was still there, looking at me. "Rio? What's wrong? Why did you close the door?"
"I didn't think you'd be here. I thought you'd be... I don't know, not here."
She smiled. "I was mad, but I know why your sister is the way she is. Because of what happened in your childhood, she clings to you. But interestingly, she messaged me. She apologized and told me to take you out because you've been feeling down."
I sat down next to her, stunned. She wasn't sticking to me this time. "I'm sorry for how my sister acted," I said.
"And I'm sorry for being too forward," she replied, sliding closer. "So, where do you want to go?"
"I wanted to go home, but since I'm with you... somewhere quiet. No noise."
"I know a spot," she said. "A park we used to visit as kids. Nobody goes there anymore."
As we drove, I looked at her. "I haven't said it, but... you've become really beautiful."
She blushed. "Are you trying to impress me?"
"Just telling the truth. Anyway... want to come to my house next Sunday?"
She looked surprised. "I can't say for sure because of the match, but I'd love to."
We reached the park and got out. She grabbed my hand. "Let's walk like this."
The sun was low, casting cool shadows through the trees. Dry leaves crunched under our feet. The air felt fresh. "I missed coming here with you," Ayesha said. "Everything has changed. The memories are there, but our old friends are gone. Everyone changes with time."
"When did you get so emotional?" I teased. "Your family is famous for being cold and cunning."
"Hey! Don't make fun of me. Do you know how hard I worked to become friends with your sister? We were in the same class for three months and she didn't speak to me once. It took me six months just to get close to her because of you. She used to just glare at me back then... now she just says it to my face. It's shocking."
"You're the shocking one," I laughed. "You're still the same. I liked you back then... and maybe I still do. It's hard to say in what way, though."
Ayesha stopped walking. "Rio, I need to tell you something important. I know you, your sister, and your family will eventually say yes to this tournament. But my brother didn't tell you the whole truth. This game uses advanced tech—you can't play it from home. You'll be inside a device for seven straight days. It's a three-month grind to level up, and then the challenge phase starts. Being inside that thing for so long... it can break your mental health. I can't afford to see you get hurt."
"So that's why everyone was acting so weird," I muttered.
"My dad has a lot riding on this," she continued. "He trusts your luck. But it's a double-edged sword. I'm scared for you."
"Why was I even chosen for this?"
Ayesha looked into my eyes, leaning closer. "I didn't want to believe it either, but my luck always seems to stop at you."
"What is it with you and your family and my luck?" I asked.
Suddenly, she leaned in and kissed me. Right at that moment, a bright flashlight blinded us from the side.