Jayden
But then, it clicked…
“Wait a minute, how did you get in here?” I asked Allison, confusion etched on my face. “I know I locked the door, and you certainly don’t have any of my keys.”
Allison looked up at me, a soft smile on her face. I looked back at her, and that’s when it clicked – something wasn’t right. This didn’t make sense.
Then, I gasped, opening my eyes to find myself in darkness. It took a moment for me to realize it was night already. Had I been sleeping since noon?
“Fuck,” I muttered, realizing it was all just a dream. Allison wasn’t even in my room.
I sighed deeply and switched on my phone. The screen lit up, displaying the time: 9 PM. I had been sleeping for hours.
I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the vivid dream. It felt so real, but I knew it was just my mind playing tricks on me.
I checked my phone and saw numerous messages from my family members, friends, and even acquaintances. My mom and stepdad had called me multiple times, and even Sally, who rarely spoke to me, had sent a message asking if I was okay.
I dropped my phone aside, feeling overwhelmed. I just wanted to rest, to escape the stress and anxiety that had been building up all day. I didn’t have the energy to respond to anyone, to pretend that everything was fine when it wasn’t.
That night, I packed some essentials into my bag and left the dormitory, dropping an Instagram post to inform everyone that I needed some time alone until the day of the match against Victor. I took my phone with me and headed to my mom’s place in a small town nearby.
The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed. I cleaned the whole house, laid down on the bed, and switched on my phone. More messages started pouring in as usual, asking where I was. I ignored them all, trying to find a way to focus on how I could improve my gaming skills.
I ordered a new laptop and other equipment, determined to practice intensively for the upcoming match. As I waited for my new gear to arrive, I couldn’t shake off the memory of the guy I played against at the game center with Tyler the other day.
I took my phone and messaged Tyler, asking him to send me his ID.
Tyler replied without asking any questions, simply sending me the ID with a message that said, “We’re expecting you.” I ignored it, focusing on my goal.
Soon, my gears arrived, and I opened the gaming app and searched for his ID. To my surprise, he was online. I sent him a message, asking for his help.
“What do you want?” Gamer Frozen asked. “Do you want to play a match?”
I hesitated for a moment before responding. “No, I was the guy you beat two days ago.”
His response was immediate. “I don’t remember.”
But when I explained everything to him, he understood immediately. “Ah, Gamer Pavilion. What do you want?” he asked.
I took a deep breath before asking, “I want you to teach me how to play well, if you don’t mind.”
“Hmm, well, no problem!” he replied.
With Gamer Frozen’s guidance, I learned new tactics and strategies that I hadn’t considered before. He taught me how to shield myself, how to anticipate my opponent’s moves, and how to stay focused under pressure. I thanked him profusely, feeling grateful for his help.
“I’ve never met you before, but thank you so much,” I said sincerely.
“No problem, maybe we should meet sometime.”
“Yeah, no problem,” I agreed.
With his teachings, I practiced intensively, honing my skills and building my confidence. Finally, I decided to take a break and grab some lunch. It was late, and I had skipped breakfast.
I slipped on my slippers and headed out to the nearby restaurant. As I turned the corner, I was taken aback by a familiar figure standing before me. Allison was standing there, tears streaming down her face.
“Allison?” I whispered, my eyes widening.
I rushed towards her, and she flung her arms around me, holding me tightly. I was too shocked to hug her back, my mind racing with questions.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” I asked, trying to process the surprise encounter. “How did you know I’d be here?”
She broke away from me, wiping the tears from her face. “I was really scared,” she said, her voice trembling. “I didn’t see you anywhere, I called you, I messaged you, and there was no reply. Then I thought you might be at your mother’s place, and I came… and I saw you. I’m so glad you’re here.”
I smiled, feeling a mix of emotions.
“Me too, I’m glad. But we really can’t be together right now. I’m trying to be alone for now, trying to focus.”
“Is it concerning the game?” she asked, rubbing her nose.
I simply nodded, my gaze softening.
“You can do this, Jayden,” she whispered, grabbing my shoulders. “Remember the promise I made to you if you won?”
I smiled, feeling my cheeks turn red. The fucking blow job! Why would I forget about that? I even dreamt about that last night, baby.
Allison leaned in and kissed me on the cheek.
“Okay, I’ll leave now,” she said. “But first, I need to eat. I’m quite hungry, and I haven’t eaten since last night and this morning because I was worried about you.”
I chuckled. “I was actually going to grab lunch at a restaurant nearby. How about you join me?”
Allison’s face lit up with a smile. “Yes, that sounds great.”
Together, we walked to the restaurant, enjoying the warm sun on our skin and the sound of birds chirping in the trees. Now, this was what a small rural life was all about. Even the air smelled so great and fresh. We stepped inside, and the aroma of delicious food filled us, making our stomachs growl.
After we finished lunch, I walked Allison to the bus stop despite her telling me there was no need to do so. But just as we arrived, I spotted Colby on the bench, waiting there.
“What’s Colby doing here?” I asked Allison, feeling a twinge of annoyance.
She hesitated before responding, “Colby actually assisted me. I couldn’t do this on my own, I was really anxious and scared. He thought I needed his help, so he escorted me here.”
I frowned, remembering my plan to keep a low profile.
“You shouldn’t have brought him,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.
“I’m really sorry,” she apologized. “But I promise you he won’t tell anyone anything. He’s my friend.”
“Your friend indeed,” I spat, fuming. “Your friend who likes you?”
“He doesn’t like me,” she whispered in a warning tone. “We’re just friends, that’s all. Why are you getting pissed?”
I ignored Allison’s words and walked up to Colby, who was smiling and standing there like some moron.
“Hey, Jayden,” he called, waving his hand.
“Don’t…” I warned.
Leaning closer to him, I whispered, “Do you like her?”
Colby’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Oh, shut up,” I seethed, clenching my jaw.
“I don’t know what you mean, dude!”
I leaned in even closer, my voice barely above a whisper. “If you’ve got those nasty bugs in your stomach, you’re better off vomiting them out.”
He stared at me, looking confused. “What do you mean, bugs?”
“Those aren’t butterflies in your stomach. They are obviously nasty bugs,” I said, glaring at him. “Long story short, you’d better not have feelings for my sister, or I’ll kill you.”
Colby’s expression changed, and he looked taken aback by my warning. Well, he’d better be.