Her Captain, The Gamemaster

How Long Would You Stay?

I was scrolling through my WeChat moments when an old taxi pulled up next to the curb where I was sitting. I looked up and instantly a smile made its way to my face. I get up, dusting off the dirt on my white pants and run to the car, where a man got out of.

After a few feet, I leap onto said man and we crashed to the floor.

'Uncle!!!' I yell.

'Ah Li!!!' he yells back and my hug tightens.

'You're finally home!!!'

I nod, laughing into his shoulder.

'You've grown so much!'

I raise and eyebrow, knowing that I haven't even grown an inch in the past 9 months.

'...sideways,'

I punch his shoulder a little and walk to my luggage which was lying on the curb but uncle beat me to it and tucked it away into his trunk before I even took a step. I sighed.

'Who exactly is the athlete here?' I mutter and he laughs, opening the back door for me. I get in but before my butt is even touching the seat, another strange mutant collapses against me.

'Big Sis!!!'

'Xiao Lan!!!'

I pick up the girl who had clung onto my sweatshirt so desperately. 'You're so big now! How can I hold you?'

She laughs and hugs my lap and I pat her head, looking up to the driver seat where Ah Lan's father was seated, smiling into the mirror at us.

'How was Japan?!? You must've had so much fun without me!' the little girl complained.

'It was the same as last year but guess what?!?' I tickle her stomach gently.

'Umm you won nationals?'

'NO, WE WON NATIONA- wait yeah, how did you know that?' I squint my eyes at her, tickling her more.

'It's a secret,' she whispers.

I pout at her.

'I'm your big sis. You're not gonna tell me?'

'Ok fine. It was magic,'

I gasp dramatically. 'Really?'

She nods, smugly and I laugh with her uncle.

'She skipped school to watch your game live,'

'She what?!? Ah Lan, tell me you didn't skip school,'

She twiddles her fingers and avoids my eyes. I look up at her uncle, raising an eyebrow.

'Hey! Don't look at me like that! It wasn't my decision,'

'Really.' It came out more like an accusation and he sweats.

'It was the whole town's decision....,'

My mouth dropped as he continued.

'The whole town went up to the Town Center to watch your game on the big screen because your Grandma got the game live from your coach...,'

I bite the inside on my lip, trying to ignore the blush on my cheeks.

'How many times?'

'All your national games, all the first games of the each tournament and a few others...,'

My head drops into my hands. 'Ah Lan. No more skipping school, ok?'

'Aww but I hate school and I'd much rather cheer for you!'

'That's nice but your education is very important. If you study well, I'll take you to one of my games,'

'Big Sis, you know that school isn't my thing...,'

I sigh and pat her head.

'It's ok. I'll help you and if you can get a B on average next term, I will fly you to Tokyo,'

Her eyes lit up. 'Tokyo?!? I thought you were in Oinkiwi???'

'Okinawa,' I corrected. 'I plan on playing for Tokyo for high school,'

She pouted. 'So you'll be gone for another three years,'

I nod, but upon seeing her sad expression, I ruffle her hair. Meanwhile, the taxi pulled up to a familiar mansion and I smile as I walk past the tiled driveway and the stone pillars, running my hand over our marble porch. I pulled out my keys to unlock the door but before I even take out my keychain, the door had already swung open.

'My little girl!' came a yell and I felt the familiar vanilla-scented arms welcome me home.

'Grandma,' I say, muffling into her cardigan.

'Aiya, you are finally home. Look at how big you are now!'

'Grandma, I haven't grown and you're still way taller than me,'

Grandma is 5'9.

'Hush, child. Let me admire my beautiful granddaughter,' She puts her hands on my shoulders and rubs my arms.

'You're gonna get sick. Get in the stupid house,' 

I comply and as I step through the door, my eyes couldn't leave the sight of the beautiful marble welcome room that my grandma designed herself. I drag my bag in and line it up next to the couch, only to see that almost all my stuff had already been shipped from Okinawa.

I sigh, feeling a headache enter just from thinking about unpacking.

'Liling, come here, baby,'

I walk over to the kitchen where my grandma was cutting up fruit. I walk over to help her but she nudges me out of the way so instead, I go say goodbye to Uncle Bo and Ah Lan, who left with a smile.

'Now that you're back, we'll be seeing each other way more!'

'Yepp, now GO STUDY,' I laugh.

I walk back into the house to try and re-convince my grandma to let me cut the fruit but she kicks me out of the kitchen.

'Ah Girl, you must be exhausted from plane ride,'

'I'm not,'

'Then go unpack,'

And just like that, I was refrained from trying to help my stubborn 51 year old grandma.

She locks the glass and wood door behind her so I can only see her cutting so I take a few laps around the kitchen/dining room/living room admiring the large space. I eventually take a seat on the tiled floor, pulling a pillow from nowhere and snuggling on the carpet in front of the heater but before I could get comfortable, a phone started ringing. 

Groaning, I get up and walk over to the source of the noise. It was coming from my grandma's phone which she left on the dining table so I walk over there to take the call. It's not a problem seeing as I know all my grandma's colleagues and friends.

But something about this one was different. I don't recall anyone having this ringtone on my grandma's phone...

This is how all horror movies start.

I look at the caller ID but despite it not having a name, I felt numb. They didn't need to have a name for me to know who it is.

I look back at the phone.

''That boy' is calling....'

[Decline] [Accept]

I take a breath as I read through the Chinese words on the screen, trying to feel something.

[Decline] [Accept]

The ringing ended and there was muffling for a second before I finally feel something that let me speak?

'Ah Ba?'

Author's Note:

almost holidays and i cant wait even tho im drowning in assignments

thxx.