Drama Novel
Chapter 246
Chapter 246
In the chaotic whirl of the eSports world, Lia found herself the youngest of the bunch. The rest of the team, seasoned veterans of countless digital battles, had never encountered a teammate who had to dart back to exams midway through a season.
Karl broke the silence with a light tone, "Hey, don't sweat it, Lia. We're in the thick of gaming season, that's the only reason you're behind. Once we clinch the championship, you can hit the books again. Worst comes to worst, we'll get you a tutor to brush up, and you'll ace those exams!"
Cordelia accepted a slice of cake and settled into the couch, taking a bite before responding, "...But the perfect score is three hundred."
Karl, sitting across from her, chuckled, "Then aim for two fifty, no sweat!"
Waller and Clay exchanged bewildered glances before shooting Karl a look that said, 'Really? A perfect score is three hundred, and you think two fifty is doable? And doesn't that sound a tad insulting?'
Realizing his blunder, Karl hastily corrected, "What I meant was, scoring a hundred and fifty would be pretty impressive!"
Cordelia had recently come to the realization that it wasn't fair to hold others to her own high standards. In her mind, scoring a hundred and fifty on the math test was indeed an achievement, so she nodded, "Yeah, I think so too."
Karl blinked in confusion. Back when he was in school, even with a hundred as the perfect score in each subject, he managed to scrape by with eighties. Lia's casual dismissal of a hundred and fifty baffled him.
Quickly, he lowered the bar again, "Actually, hitting a hundred would be great!"
Cordelia's reply was lukewarm, "... That's a bit low."
Karl, trying to save face, laughed along, "Yeah, that would be disappointing."
Yates, who had been quietly observing the exchange, couldn't help but smirk. How could they underestimate Lia? A score of 288 was business as usual for her.
He scoffed at their ignorance. It was clear they lacked the vision and poise he prided himself on. He coughed slightly, puffing out his chest in a display of maturity, a stark contrast to his usual exuberance.
Floyd just shook his head, recalling how Yates had forgotten their past exploits at Greenmeadow International School, especially the time they rallied behind Cordelia during the student council elections, manipulating the outcome in her favor.
After the cake was finished, it was time for their scheduled practice matches. Five grueling hours later, with Clay and the top-laner feeling the strain, the pair opted for some physical therapy.
Yates, freshly inducted into the professional league and eager to make his mark, was itching for more action. "Hey, bro, Lia, how about we queue up for a trio?"
Cordelia was game, always looking to hone her teamwork skills.
Floyd hesitated, feeling the ache in his shoulders, but then smiled, "You two go ahead. I've got some things to take care of."
Yates, who had left the running of the club to Floyd after buying it for a hefty sum, was more at home in the virtual world than in management. These past few weeks had been the happiest of his life. "Alright, make it quick. We've got some synergy to work on!" Yates waved him off.
Floyd nodded, "Sure thing."
But as soon as he stepped away from the practice room, his demeanor changed. Sweat beaded his forehead, and his hands trembled slightly... The coach eyed him with concern, "You holding up okay?"
With a determined gaze, Floyd assured, "No problems here."
The coach sighed, "I've got a physical therapist ready on the third floor. Go up quietly, get treated, and come back down."
As Floyd made his way upstairs, the coach couldn't help but ask, “You should've retired last year. Why are you still pushing yourself?"
Floyd, the stoic pillar of their team, had always appeared distant from the club's highs and lows. The only time he'd ever shown anger was a protective outburst over Yates.
The truth was, Floyd had been
enduring pain since their
championship win a year ago, his shoulder no longer fit for the rigors of eSports. Yet, he'd chosen to continue, hiding his suffering to avoid burdening his team.
The coach had planned to reveal Floyd's condition before the
season's grand finale, urging the team to step up. But then the accident happened, and those plans were shelved. Floyd was more than a player; he was the heart of EW Club.
After a torturous session with the physical therapist, Floyd returned downstairs, only to find Karl lurking near the entrance. "What's up?" Floyd asked as Karl shushed him, nodding towards Cordelia who was on the phone, discussing her exam results. Floyd only nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.
Clay, Waller, and the top-laner gathered, whispering about how to cheer up Cordelia if the news was bad. Suggestions ranged from flowers to a lively hotpot dinner to lift her spirits.
Karl, ever the worrier, fretted over his past behavior towards Lia, "I was such a jerk to her when she first joined. What can we do if she's upset?" Yates, overhearing this, couldn't help but feel puzzled. With Lia's capabilities, there was no reason for concern.
Waller was in a quandary, "Look at me, single for two decades, my only relationship has been with my keyboard. I've never even been close to a woman!"
Clay scratched his head, "You say that as if any of us have. I mean, has anyone here ever been in a relationship?"
Amid their collective brooding, Cordelia approached, pausing slightly at their apparent discomfort, “What's up?” Instantly, Clay stepped back.
Waller and the top-laner followed suit, each taking a step back.
Yates and Floyd, who had arrived a bit late, stood at the back. With the trio stepping back, Karl was suddenly at the forefront, looking puzzled.Belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.
Karl glanced back at his teammates with a glare, then turned to Cordelia with a smile, "Hey, Lia, how did your exams go?"