Two years later, outside the largest venue in Switzerland, a sea of people gathered. Flags representing different teams fluttered in the wind, one black and one red.
Today was the finals of the most popular mobile game in the country, held abroad for added publicity.
Inside one of the women’s restrooms, Aliyah sat on a toilet lid, holding her phone and starting her first game of the day.
She had planned to collect some merchandise before entering, but nature called. After finishing, she checked the time; it was exactly six o’clock, and the game had started.
Her fingers itched to play.
However, things didn’t go smoothly. She soon got into an argument and cursed loudly.
The restroom was otherwise quiet, with only her voice echoing.
When Aliyah pushed open the stall door, still fuming, she looked up to see a little girl holding a pile of merchandise. The girl, about one or two years old and just learning to walk, stared at Aliyah in surprise.
In a sweet, childish voice, she said, “Miss, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop…”
Her eyes were clear and transparent. Though she spoke haltingly, she expressed herself well.
Aliyah felt guilty for letting such a young child hear foul language.
She quickly squatted down and asked, “Why are you alone? Where’s your mom?”
“Mommy went outside. I’m waiting for her here.” The girl seemed unafraid.
Aliyah raised an eyebrow. “What’s your name?”
“My name is Grape!” The little girl shared her name.
It was quite fitting. Aliyah couldn’t help but pinch her cheek. “I’ll wait with you until your mom comes back, okay?”
Grape shook her head. “I can wait by myself. No one dares to kidnap me here! Don’t worry, sister!”
Before Aliyah could recover from her shock, her phone buzzed with a message from Mollie: “Where are you? We’re going in.”
Just then, voices calling for Grape came from outside. Relieved, Aliyah waved at Grape. “I have to go now. Be good.”
“Goodbye, Miss!” The little girl struggled to pull out a light stick bigger than her hand from her arms and handed it to Aliyah. “A gift for you!”
It was a light stick. Aliyah chuckled; it seemed the girl’s mother was a fan here for the competition.
She thanked Grape and left, not noticing a slender woman who appeared and picked up the little girl. “Who told you to run off, Grape? You scared me!”
“Hehe, Mommy is such a scaredy-cat!”
Aliyah entered the venue and found her seat.
The competition hadn’t started yet; an opening performance was underway on stage.
Mollie briefed her on some important points. As she listened, she suddenly heard someone next to her say-
“Excuse me, could you please move a bit?”
The soft voice brought Aliyah back to reality. She looked up and recognized a familiar face-it was the little girl from the restroom, holding a milk bottle.
This time, she was being held by a young woman in a white dress. The woman wore a mask, but it was clear she was beautiful. She smiled gently at Aliyah. “Sorry to trouble you.”
Aliyah quickly snapped out of it. The girl in her arms recognized her. “It’s the lady who said bad words in the restroom!”
Aliyah smiled awkwardly.
The woman in the white dress looked surprised. “You’ve met this lady before?”