I'm With You | Falling Into Your Smile Oneshots

02 | not as much as my heart

Lu Si Cheng knew he was an arrogant man.

He was constantly reminded the fact by the little dwarf in the house.

He never denied. Nor did he validate it.

It was a fault of his that had never caused him much trouble in his past six or so years of being an e-sports player. Rather, his silent arrogance and calm stature was considered a strength to him. It got him to where he is now: successful, the shield for his team, and a capable leader.

But little did he know, his own pride would become his downfall.

The last major controversy ZGDX had involved Tong Yao and the show girl.

Tong Yao made front page news, top search, and trending all under a couple minutes. It's a record that had nearly beaten the Spring Playoffs controversy of the fight involving Lu Yue.

Si Cheng did get angry. He did get frustrated. At what? He didn't know. It was one of the rare occasions where he didn't know what move to execute. Who should receive the punishment? What would be a fitting punishment? How would he keep his team afloat? How could he protect the image of ZGDX?

All he knew in his cluttered, pressured mind was that she was the source of everything wrong at the moment.

So he ignored her.

It wasn't by choice at first. He was too muddled with "what to do's" to even think about her. And as usual, he needed the space to think.

And in that space, all he thought was about her.

Tong Yao made a mistake.

Tong Yao was trying to defend us.

Tong Yao caused us another scandal.

Tong Yao costed us time and resources.

Tong Yao thinks I'm angry at her.

Tong Yao hasn't eaten yet.

Lu Si Cheng was prideful. He had already begun the ignoring match between him and Tong Yao. He didn't exactly want to back down.

Pettiness aside, he talked to her through his strict lesson in their team room for her to become a better professional gamer. For her to follow after him and learn from everyone's mistakes to become stronger.

"You have seven minutes to tell me why I shouldn't give up on you."

It was harsh.

But it was necessary.

Yet Si Cheng's heart cracked when he saw the shock scribbled all over her face and the question she had to ask in order to clarify:

"Under which identity are you speaking to me as?"

He swore he never felt a pit so big in his chest since that question. To think she thought he was speaking to her as anyone else but as her captain, as her leader, rubbed him the wrong way.

Since as her leader and her teammate, he wanted her to grow under the hardships of such career-threatening experiences.

But as her friend and hopefully her future lover, he would never leave her. Or even think about giving up on her. He believed in her too much.

So when a scandal erupted regarding Tong Yao's surprise gift and toxic fan, he felt the world stop when Tong Yao suggested breaking up after he had foolishly ignored her once again.

So yes, Lu Si Cheng was prideful. He was too full of himself. He got visibly angry and upset that he hadn't gotten his way, and that Tong Yao wasn't playing besides him during their championship match.

At that time, nothing mattered except that his suggestion of keeping her on the stage and forgoing her suspension wasn't being supported by his team. He was their leader for fuck's sake! His words should be considered more thoroughly!

What should have been his priority was his girlfriend, his teammate. His MVP partner who got hurt because he couldn't protect her well. He let his guard down and she got injured in the process, and he refused to accept it. He let his arrogance and anger cloud his judgement. He was about to lead her to the stage with no regards as to what could happen to her if it wasn't for her rationality and decision to let Lu Yue play in her place instead.

So as he's currently looking down at the crying girl encapsulated in his arms, it finally dawned onto him his faults as a leader and as a boyfriend.

How can he protect his team when he couldn't even protect his own girlfriend? And twice for that matter?

Tong Yao's finger may be hurting.

But not as much as Si Cheng's pounding heart.

•••

here's a better chapter!