A New Ship Is About To Sail
Congratulations were heard around the gaming floor when the screen showed them winning. The two tables had an exact opposite reaction. As the opponent table showed dejected faces from their players, Grand's team was celebrating.
The losing team had forced smiles on their faces as they extended their hands for the commendatory handshakes after the game.
The cameramen who were covering the game turned all the cameras to the winning team. Miss E has a designated camera focus on her. Apparently, fans who were watching the live coverage of the game had their eyes on her.
It was clear online that they were quite interested since the pre-game interview. She was trending on all of the biggest social media platforms in China.
Not just because she was the only girl member of the team in the WIZ but also because everyone agrees that she has a pretty face, doesn’t matter that she has a perpetual disinterested expression on her face.
CTF fans love her sarcasm. Which she found ironic. She has been sarcastic all her life but never did anyone like her for it.
“Miss E, eyes in here, please.” A man with a professional-looking camera dangling in his neck called for her attention. “Thank you,” he said after taking tons of pictures of her stoic face. “My name is Zero, by the way.” he grinned.
Ellise’s curled the corner of her mouth and arched her eyebrow at how the photographer was acting. She was expecting the man to get insulted or something, but instead, he laughed and lifted the camera from hanging on his neck and took more shots of her.
The other cameraman and photographer on the floor all laughed and took so many photos of her face that her eyes were already twitching with the number of camera flashes right in front of her face.
“Enough of that.” Mr. Wan finally stepped in and led Ellise back to the group.
“Mr. Wan, how about a group photo?”
Other photographers echo the same request. Mr. Wan kept his poker face but deep inside he was celebrating.
Never in the more than five years of his team where they got this amount of attention unless it was a national level or worldwide competition. The game they won was just a small competition.
But Ghost already sent him a message in WeChat, informing him that a popular gaming app wanted to sponsor their team. To say the least, he was ecstatic about what was happening.
Yet, he kept the poker expression on his face. He was not known to be smiling around in photos or in any event.
He grunted and in a voice laced with annoyance, said, “Okay take your photo. Then, let my team go. They needed to rest.”
He was about to step behind Seven when Miss E leaned over his side and whispered with a chilly smile, “It’s annoying how happy you are with this circus.”
He was taken aback that Ellise could read him like an open book. He shook his head in amusement. He always forgot that Ellise was never like any other kids on his team.
“Smile,” Grand grabbed Ellise by the shoulder and whispered. “Let’s pissed off Asya. She has been watching you like a hawk.”
“And why would I waste my time doing that?” she asked in between clenched teeth.
“Isn’t it fun to annoy another girl? Especially if that girl was after the same guy you want?” he wiggled his eyebrow at her. But she just gave him a blank expression.
He rolled his eyes at her, “Fine! I want to piss DT off!” he spat.
He was surprised when for the first time, Ellise laughed.
The cameramen went into a frenzy. Like a bunch of piranhas that smelled blood.
Mr. Wan stepped in the middle of the crowd with his hands in the air, trying to stop the cameramen's excitement over seeing Ellise laughing with Grand.
He grabbed Ellise’s shoulder but the casanova Grand who seemed to always know the best way to handle the situation especially if there is a girl involved — threw his team jacket over Miss E’s head to shield her from the non-stop flashing of all the cameras that were aimed at her face.
But it was too late. They already got enough photos of her and Grand that would flood all the online sites. And before that night’s end, there was a new couple born.
DT didn’t join them for the team dinner. He stayed in his room to the amusement of Grand because he got what he wanted.
He only came out of his room when Mr. Wan called them for a meeting after dinner.
“We will discuss the team evaluation of the game today tomorrow. The meeting today was more on the future of our team. Especially Grand’s team.” he threw Miss E an apologetic smile.
“The game was of course a success. We all know that. But the biggest turn of events was Miss E’s interview.” Ghost started explaining.
The members of the team turned their heads to Miss E who had her arms folded across her chest, showing boredom.
“You will be getting more practice games with other teams because we got a sponsor!”
Excitement was all over the boys’ faces that Ellise leaned over to Grand’s side and asked, “Why is that a big thing? Didn’t we do that even before?”
“The training that we are doing isn’t enough. Other teams trained more. Mr. Wan try to supplement our training by killing us on the game floor here, but training with other teams as opponents is more effective.”
“Then why don’t we just do that?” she whispered again.
“It costs money. And we don’t have that amount of money. Thus, Mr. Wan was working his ass off to get us some sponsorship.”
“I see,” she nodded. After hearing Grand's explanation, she decided to forgive Mr. Wan a little for using her for media promotion. She is familiar with that app that Ghost said is their new sponsor and it is a big company. It would indeed be a great help for the WIZ.
“Tomorrow, I will meet our new sponsor together with our lawyers. You all discussed tomorrow the game today and I want your report once I get back.”
Mr. Wan scanned the group and his eyes landed on Spirit. “Watch our team’s online presence. And all of you,” he scanned the group again, “Be careful with things that you post, comment, or whatever online. You understand?”
“Yes, boss!”
“Okay, dismiss!” he waved his hands in the air. “Grand and Miss E, stay. We have things to discuss.”