A portrait of the unseen [COMPLETE]

Hobby

While having massive amounts of time alone with Jess, I decided to help her start her own business. She opened a computer shop right next to mine, and I couldn't have been prouder. I even started a new hobby-playing online game. Jess and her friends introduced me to it, and I soon found myself spending hours immersed in this virtual world.

As I got better, my name climbed the leaderboards. One day, I received an email from a gaming team wanting to recruit me. I didn't respond; to me, gaming was just a hobby, a way to pass the time and distract myself from missing Lexa.

One afternoon, I was in Jess's shop, as I often was since I had employees managing my store. A group of women walked in, chatting animatedly. One of them came up to the counter to pay, and suddenly, her eyes widened with recognition.

"Ryu? Is that you?" she exclaimed.

I looked up, confused, and saw a woman looking at me with a big smile on her face. I didn't recognize her at first. me who has facial blindness, seemed even more lost.

The woman noticed our confusion and quickly introduced herself. "It's me, Yugen! We used to be friends back in the day. Remember?"

I blinked, and then the memories started to flood back. "Yugen! Oh my God, it's been ages!" I said, grinning.

We hugged, and the conversation flowed naturally. We caught up on each other's lives, sharing stories and reminiscing about the past.

"Wow, I can't believe you're here," I said, still in awe. "What have you been up to?"

Yugen smiled. "I'm part of a gaming team now. We're starting to bloom, gaining traction. It's been an amazing journey."

"That's incredible," I replied, genuinely happy for her. "I've gotten into gaming recently, too. It's just a hobby, though."

Yugen's eyes lit up. "You should consider joining us! We're always looking for talented players, and from what I remember, you're pretty competitive."

I laughed, shaking my head. "I don't know, Yugen. I've got my hands full with the shop and other things."

"Well, think about it," she said, handing me a business card. "We'd love to have you, even if it's just part-time."

I took the card, feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty. We talked a bit more before Yugen and her friends left.

That night, I lay in bed, staring at the card. Joining a gaming team wasn't something I'd ever considered seriously. But the idea lingered, and I found myself imagining what it would be like.

The next day, Jess noticed my contemplative mood. "What's up, Ryu? You seem lost in thought," she said, plopping down next to me on the couch.

I showed her the card. "I ran into Yugen yesterday. She's with a gaming team now and thinks I should join them."

Jess's eyes widened. "That's awesome! You're really good, Ryu. It could be fun."

"I don't know," I said hesitantly. "It's a big commitment, and I already have so much going on."

Jess shrugged. "You don't have to decide right now. Just keep it in mind. Who knows, it might be a great opportunity."

Days turned into weeks, and the idea of joining the team stayed with me. I continued to game with Jess and her friends, enjoying the camaraderie and the thrill of competition.

One evening, I received another email from the gaming team urging me to reconsider. They had seen my stats and were impressed, promising flexibility to accommodate my other responsibilities.

Feeling more confident, I decided to give it a shot. I contacted Yugen and agreed to try out for the team.

The tryout day arrived, and I was a bundle of nerves. Yugen and the team were incredibly supportive, making me feel at ease. The games were intense, but I gave it my all, and by the end of the day, I felt a rush of adrenaline and accomplishment.