Love At First Game

2.

"Why'd you have to go
and make things so complicated?"
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Author's POV-

Lila stood in the center of the practice room, her gaze sweeping over the high-end gaming setups, the screens flickering with vibrant animations.

She still couldn’t believe she was here, standing alongside Kian Arora and his legendary team. Her fingers twitched at her sides, eager to prove she belonged.

The door swung open with a soft thud, and Kian strolled in, his usual laid-back confidence radiating from every step. His eyes scanned the room, locking onto Lila. A smirk played on his lips.

"Ready to lose, Ember?" Kian teased, tossing his jacket over a chair and leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.

His gaze held a challenge, and his smirk deepened, clearly enjoying the competitive tension.

Lila met his gaze head-on, her expression determined. "Lose? I didn’t join this team to play second to anyone, especially you." Her voice was calm but had an edge of competitiveness that made Kian raise an eyebrow.

Just then, Mason popped his head into the room, his usual goofy grin plastered across his face. "Ooh, I smell tension! Are we going to have a duel here? 'Cause I’d pay good money to see Kian get his butt handed to him."

Kian rolled his eyes, pushing himself off the wall. "In your dreams, Mason."

He looked back at Lila, his grin returning. "You think you're good enough to take me on?"

Lila shrugged nonchalantly, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. "You talk a lot for someone who's about to be dethroned."

The team members gathered around the two, sensing the competitive energy in the air.

Sophie, the team strategist, sidled up next to Mason, watching with mild interest.

"This should be fun," she remarked, her tone dry as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

Kian walked over to his station, settling into his chair with a casual grace. He threw a quick glance over at Lila. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Lila smirked as she took her seat across from him.

Her hands hovered over the keyboard, her fingers ready to fly. “You might regret challenging me.”

As the match began, the atmosphere in the room shifted from light-hearted teasing to intense focus.

Kian’s brows furrowed in concentration, his lips pressed into a thin line as he made swift decisions.

Lila, on the other hand, had an unwavering calmness about her, though her eyes flicked back and forth across the screen with sharp precision.

Mason, standing behind Kian, leaned in and whispered, “Dude, she’s fast. You sure you didn’t underestimate her?”

Kian didn’t respond, his jaw clenched as he focused on countering Lila’s aggressive moves.

Despite his experience, he found himself struggling to keep up with her unpredictable strategies.

The room grew silent as the game drew closer to its conclusion.

Kian had Lila cornered in a last-minute move, but just as he was about to finish her off, Lila executed a flawless counterattack, flipping the entire match in her favor.

Mason let out a low whistle. “Well, damn.”

Kian leaned back in his chair, his eyes wide in surprise, but then a slow grin spread across his face. “You got lucky, Ember,” he said, though his tone was playful, not bitter.

Lila smirked, leaning forward with her elbows on the table. “Luck had nothing to do with it. Maybe you should practice a bit more.”

Sophie chuckled from her spot across the room. “I think we’ve found Kian’s match.”

Kian shook his head, still grinning. “Alright, you won this one. But don’t get too comfortable. Next time, I won’t hold back.”

Lila stood up, brushing off her jeans. “Next time, I’ll be even better.”

As she walked out of the room, Mason sidled up to Kian, clapping him on the shoulder. “Looks like you’ve met your rival, buddy.”

Kian watched Lila’s retreating figure, a glint of admiration mixed with challenge in his eyes. “Yeah,” he muttered under his breath, “I think I have.”