Foenix

Chap 2 - Ding!

Everyone around panicked, their voices overlapping as they watched Gennie in visible distress. The metallic clang of her bottle hitting the floor had amplified the scene, drawing even more attention. She felt their gazes searing into her, the weight of embarrassment growing heavier with each second.

Most mortifying of all was his expression—the familiar stranger. His face was a peculiar mix of shock and amusement, an eyebrow raised as if silently questioning her entire life's choices. Despite the apparent concern, his lips twitched in what seemed like suppressed amusement.

"How did you end up like this?" he murmured, his voice low, as if speaking to himself. But it wasn't low enough to escape her ears.

Her cheeks flushed. His thinly veiled amusement was downright infuriating. Before she could respond, he extended a hand to help her up. She shook her head, waving him off. "I'm fine," she muttered, determined to prove it. But as she tried to stand, her knees buckled under her, and pain shot through her leg. A wave of nausea washed over her, but pride kept her from accepting his hand.

The sound of hurried footsteps distracted her. "Genn-ie!" Lyla's panicked voice rang out, slicing through the murmurs of the crowd. "What happened? Are you okay? Where are you hurt? Can you stand? No—don't try, just tell me where it hurts."

"I'm okay," Gennie said quickly, though her trembling voice betrayed her. "Really, it's not that bad."

But Lyla wasn't buying it. Her concern morphed into outrage as she glared at the onlookers. "Have you all turned to stone or something? She's in pain, and none of you thought to help? Seriously, where is your humanity?" Her voice carried enough authority to make a few people shift uncomfortably.

Before Gennie could argue, Lyla stooped down, shooting a glare at the crowd.

Someone else—this time with genuine concern—offered a hand. Together, Lyla and the stranger helped Gennie to her feet, careful not to put too much weight on her injured leg.

Lyla was relentless. She practically carried Gennie to the car, buckling her in with the care of a mother strapping in a toddler. "We're going to the hospital," she declared, ignoring Gennie's protests.

"Lyla, come on, it's just a scrape—"

"It's not just a scrape! You're bleeding, and I'm not letting this get worse."

The crimson stains on her white shirt left little room for argument. Gennie relented, though she sulked all the way to the hospital, mumbling about unnecessary fuss.

The next few days passed in a haze of soreness, Gennie moving gingerly through her routine. A week later, the results of the internship were announced.

"Yeah, I got it," Gennie told Lyla over the phone, her tone nonchalant.

Lyla let out an excited squeal. "This is amazing! Now we can work together. Can you believe it?"

Gennie smiled faintly. She wasn't one for grand displays of emotion, but she felt a sense of relief knowing her best friend would be by her side. Lyla's enthusiasm often balanced her own reserved nature. Though she'd never admit it, Gennie couldn't imagine going through this without her.

The internship, as expected, was gruelling. The long hours drained her energy, leaving her little time to indulge in her one true love—Being Legends. Weeknights turned into battles of willpower as she fought to stay awake for just one game. Her solution? Compress her lunch break into five minutes and spend the rest gaming.

She planned it carefully, disconnecting her work laptop from the office server to avoid suspicion. Lyla's cautionary tale still lingered in her mind—getting caught watching The Office in the office was a story that IT never let her live down. Gennie wasn't about to make the same mistake.