Simulated Love (2024)

Chapter 23

Elijah

The grand hall was filled with energy as everyone spoke about the event that was ahead. My heart raced as I walked towards the line with Chase's hand in mine. 

"This is so exciting," Chase's Aunt said as she, my parents, and Chase's cousin trailed behind us. 

"I'm so nervous," Chase said.

I smiled at him. "We got this," I said as I tried to hide my nerves. 

I was confident in our game, and I was sure that it was gonna be a hit. However, I was more worried about what my parents might have thought when they saw it. 

I turned to them as they walked with a sense of pride. They held their heads high, and their outfits were well put together. My dad was in his suit and my mom was in her curve-fitting dress dripped out in her best jewelry.

You would've thought that they were going up on stage.

Meanwhile, Chase's Aunt and his younger cousin followed closely, their excitement contagious. His Aunt clutched her VIP badge like someone was gonna take while his cousin was swinging hers around.

The check-in area resembled an airport terminal with ropes guiding the crowd, signs directing to different queues. Since our family held VIP badges, they were granted access to the fan lounge and priority seating.

"Remember," Chase's Aunt said to him, "smile, nod, and let them think you're a prodigy. The key is confidence."

Chase chuckled. "I'll try my best, Aunt May."

Not expecting anything from my parents, my momma leaned in, her perfume floral and sweet. "And you, Elijah, don't forget to breathe. You've got this."

I smiled and hugged her. "Thank you. And thanks for coming. It means a lot."

"Alright. This is where we say see you later," my dad said.

"Yeah, see you guys."

"Nice meeting you, Chase," my dad said as he extended his hand out for Chase.

Chase shook it. "Nice meeting you too, sir."

My dad held a big grin from Chase calling him sir. I'm sure he felt so important by Chase's basic pleasantry.

As our families split, Chase and I walked together to the creator's lounge where we just like everyone else, had to go through security and had to verify we were creators.

The Creator's lounge smelled of margaritas and warm food. Other game developers huddled in corners as they rehearsed their pitches. The instructor, a bespectacled woman named Lin, stood at the center, clipboard in hand.

"Elijah, Chase," she said. "Welcome."

"Thank you," I said.

Lin handed us laminated badges that had CREATOR in bold letters. "Backstage is off limits until your turn. When the judges call you, walk confidently. Explain your vision. And remember, passion sells."

I nodded. "Passion. Got it."

As we waited, I looked around at all the other teams. A girl with neon hair spoke about her game which involved some kind of dancing pandas. A guy in a leather jacket presented a noir mystery romance set in a cyberpunk city. Another girl who had an anime shirt spoke about her romance that took place in hell and there were so many other interesting concepts that I overheard. I was shocked by the diversity.

Meanwhile Chase and I stuck with a pretty basic story line. That basic storyline coming from a book I wrote. I had never felt like my work was trash until that competition. Seeing and hearing what I was up against in the flesh was an eye-opening experience.