Jade never thought of herself as a "gamer." Sure, she loved playing, but her skills weren't exactly professional. She wasn't the fastest, and she often struggled to keep up with the competition. But the game was an escape, a way to unwind, to connect with others people like Ruii
Rui was the kind of player who dominated every match he entered. His precision, his reflexes, his strategies they were unmatched. It didn't take long before Jade found herself drawn to him, not just because of his skills, but because of something else. He had a quiet intensity that intrigued her. And when he suggested they team up, she couldn't refuse.
It started with casual games. At first, it was just about improving, learning from each other. Rui was patient, always giving her pointers, pushing her to get better. Jade admired him he was serious, no-nonsense, and it felt like he was always a step ahead of everyone else, including her.
"You're doing better," Rui would say, though his praise was never over the top. He had a way of making her feel both challenged and supported, and that was what kept Jade coming back. They exchanged contact details, and soon their interactions went beyond the game. Texts, messages, small talks. Rui was always direct, never one for idle chatter. Jade, however, couldn't help but keep reaching out. She needed his guidance, his expertise. And somehow, the more they played, the more they connected.
But something wasn't quite right. Jade couldn't shake the feeling that Rui was pulling away. He was still helping her improve, but the distance between them had grown. It was subtle at first a message left unread, a response delayed. Jade didn't know what was happening, but it felt like something had shifted.
The last thing he'd said to her was blunt, as always:
"Hey kid, you still have a lot to learn."
She'd left that message unanswered, but the words stuck with her, gnawing at her insides. What did he mean? Why did he say that?
Days passed. Then weeks. Rui hadn't reached out. Jade, anxious and confused, tried texting him again, but his replies were short, distant. The warmth she once felt from their chats was gone, replaced with a coldness that left her questioning everything. Had she done something wrong? Was it her?
She tried to push it all aside, telling herself it didn't matter. But it did.
Months went by, and their silence lingered. Jade kept playing, but the game didn't feel the same without him. She missed their conversations, the little things he'd say, the way they used to laugh over their missteps in the game. But now, it was like Rui had disappeared from her world.
By 2023, Jade had almost given up on reaching out. That was until she decided to send a simple message one evening:
"Hey, how've you been?"
Rui replied quickly, his tone surprisingly warmer than it had been before. Maybe he had just needed space, Jade thought. Maybe he wasn't as serious as she'd thought. They started talking more openly, this time without the formal distance that had once defined their conversations.
Despite the five-year age gap Rui was 18, and Jade was 13 something between them was changing. They began spending more time together in the game, laughing, chatting, even sharing personal stories. Rui wasn't the same serious mentor anymore. He was kinder, softer. The connection was real. And as the hours they spent together grew, so did Jade's feelings.
One evening, as they played together, Jade felt her heart flutter. Rui had invited a few of his friends, and the group had a blast joking around, making jokes, and competing. But in the midst of it all, Jade realized she was falling for him. Was it just the excitement of the game? Or was it something deeper?
Confused and unsure of what to do with her emotions, she turned to her friend Naylo for advice. Naylo had always been there for her, and Jade needed guidance now more than ever. Jade explained everything to Naylo the way Rui had softened, how he'd become sweet to her, and how much she'd started caring for him. But Jade didn't know if Rui felt the same.
"Maybe I should tell him," Jade said, her voice trembling. "But I'm scared. What if he doesn't feel the same way?"
Naylo smiled softly. "It's scary, but if you don't take the chance, you'll never know."
Naylo, too, was in a similar situation. She was in love with her mentor, Cesar. But she hadn't had the courage to tell him yet.
"So, why don't we both tell our mentors how we feel?" Naylo suggested, after thinking for a moment.
Jade hesitated. "What if we get rejected?"
Naylo shrugged. "Then at least we'll know."
So they both wrote their hearts out in messages to their mentors. Jade hit send, then immediately froze in fear. What had she done? Her anxiety spiked, and before she could second-guess herself, she blocked Rui, unable to wait for his response.
She ran back to Naylo, panic rising in her chest. "I blocked him! I can't do this. My heart's racing. What if he hates me?"
Naylo looked frustrated, but her voice was gentle. "Why did you block him? You have to wait, Jade. You can't run away from this."
Reluctantly, Jade unblocked Rui. At the same moment, Naylo got a message from Cesar. The words weren't what she hoped for. He rejected her. Jade's heart ached for her friend, but she also couldn't help the flood of relief that washed over her when she saw Rui's reply.
At first, it was awkward, unsure. Rui didn't quite understand what Jade had meant in her message. But then, slowly, his words became clearer:
"I like you too, Jade."
Jade's heart skipped a beat. She stared at the screen, feeling like the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. But her joy was tempered by Naylo's quiet sobs. Jade smiled, though, trying to stay positive.
"You're not alone," Jade whispered to herself.
Naylo looked up, giving a small, sad smile. "At least you got a response."
Jade smiled, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. She was happy, but she couldn't forget about Naylo. Yet, despite the pain, she knew this was a moment she would cherish. "Thank you for being there," Jade said, her heart swelling with gratitude. "For everything."
Naylo nodded, wiping her tears away. "Just don't forget about me when you two become a thing."
Jade laughed softly, "I won't."
And with that, Jade found herself on a new path one where love and gaming collided in a way she hadn't expected. It wasn't just a game anymore; it was real, and so was her heart.