Game Over.
The voice was flat and mechanical, but there was no mistaking the finality.
Cedric shot off the couch, eyes wide. “No way. Seriously?”
He barely managed to grab his controller before Ella’s character spun through the air, her axe gleaming. One perfect swing, and Cedric’s avatar crumpled to the ground.
He was out. Again.
He stared at the screen, mouth hanging open. “I can’t believe this. I died? Again?”
David glanced up from his usual spot in the armchair, raising an eyebrow at Cedric’s meltdown.
Cedric raked his hand through his hair, frustration written all over his face. “Ella, let’s go again. I’m not losing like this.”
Ella just grinned. “Sure thing.”
The second round started.
Barely two seconds in, Cedric’s voice exploded across the room. “What— No, no, no, how?”
Game over.
Ella didn’t just beat him. She wiped the floor with him.
Cedric was practically fuming. “Okay. One more. I’m not letting you have this.”
Ella’s voice was cool and collected. “You really want to do this? If you lose again, you’re dropping to Silver.”
That was enough to make Cedric pause.
He’d been a Champion forever. Losing to Ella twice was already humiliating. If he lost a third time, everyone would see his rank drop. And Ella definitely wouldn’t let him forget it.
That’s when David’s voice cut through the room, calm and deep. “Cedric, why are you making all this noise?”
Cedric’s eyes lit up like he’d just found a lifeline.
He rushed over to David, practically shoving the phone at him. “You have to help me. Please, play for me. You can crush her.”
David leaned forward, glancing at the screen.
So that’s what Cedric had been up to. No wonder he was losing so badly.
David didn’t even have to watch for long. Cedric barely lasted two seconds per round. It was embarrassing.
He remembered the first time he’d seen Ella play. Her reaction speed was unreal. She was fast, almost unnaturally so.
Still, David hadn’t planned on getting involved. Not after last night when she’d left without a word, just a torn scrap of paper with “Thanks” scribbled across it.
This morning, she called and thanked him again, this time out loud. But then she’d offered to pay him back, like it was some kind of deal. Like that was all they were.

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