"And so? What does this have to do with me?" Kite asked. Although he had a rough idea of what could've happened, he still wanted to make sure.
"Uhmm, pwede ka bang maglaro para... satin?" Leo answered, his voice trailing off on the last word.
"I've told you, right? I am not playing Dota anymore. Besides, ang dami namang players sa block natin ah. So don't count me in."
"Pero..." Leo seems to be hesitating. "Could you think about this for a while before giving us your decision?"
"Why? No matter how much time you give me, it won't change my decision," Kite said firmly. He was waiting for Leo to concede when he finally asked out of curiosity, "Why do you insist?"
"Kasi..." Leo paused for a while, and then continued. "We told them that we would win because we have an amazing player in our team."
'Haist. Just as I thought.'
"So this player that you're talking about is... me?" Kite asked.
"Well, undoubtedly."
"But did you tell them who I am?"
"Uh..."
"Let me guess... you didn't, right? Based on your desperate call right now, they thought you were exaggerating and didn't even ask who that person was," Kite deducted. "I supposed it isn't just me whom you've asked, right? I'm probably your last resort, considering you even called me this late in the night."
"Well, you were right on the first part, and so-so on the second," Leo contemplated. "That's exactly what happened. They accepted our challenge, and so... We were forced to find someone to justify our claim."
"..."
"I've said it's only so-so, because we indeed have asked everyone, but that was before the declaration," Leo seemed dejected. "We asked our blockmates about their ranks, and only one have reached the Legend rank. Yung karamihan Archon... haist."
Kite knew who that person was. "Then why not ask her? Why not go for Rachel instead of me?" he asked.
"Because even Rachel speaks highly of you! Tapos di lang 'yun..." Leo confessed." Jeremy is also a Legend and most of his friends are Legend players."
"Di ba pareho lang naman kayo? Sakto lang yun! Rachel is a Legend, and that Jeremy guy too. They're basically on par. Tapos yung mga classmates natin mga Archon, one rank lang naman yung agwat eh, pwede na yun. And correct me if I'm wrong, Legend ka din, so anong problema?"
"Well, even if it's like that... we haven't won a single game against them before," Leo lamented.
"So? Aren't you just unlucky? Well, anything could happen in a battlefield. You don't really know who will win unless you fight. Maybe now, you'll be lucky and win for the first time!" Kite tried to comfort the sullen Leo.
"Well, you're right. Maybe..." Leo admitted. "Sorry for disturbing you this late in the night."
"Don't worry. Anyway, I'm only curious, when will the match be?"
"Tomorrow, after school."
"Ah. Okay, thanks."
"Thank you too. I'll hung up."
"Yeah. Yeah."
"..."
When Leo finally hung up, Kite looked up at the sky with longing eye.
"How I wish I could play with you guys."
———
The next day, Kite woke up late and hurriedly went to school.
When he arrived, he saw that all of the class are seated and their professor was already in front.
Kite immediately went to his seat at the furthest corner.
After having seated, he felt an inscrutable glare coming from Rachel every now and then.
'What? Did I do something wrong?'
After the discussion, they finally have a vacant hour for themselves.
With this, he saw Rachel marching up to him with her hands on his waist. Apparently mad about something.
"Good morning, MC!" Rachel greeted him in a tone that's different from her words.
Suddenly, murmurs could be heard.
"Ano raw? MC? My Crush or Cutiepie?"
"Isang araw palang may call-sign na sila?"
"Wow, galawang Kite ah! Papaturo nga ako mamaya."
"Bakit, magaling ka bang mag-Dota?"
"Ba't sigurado ka bang yung galing niya sa pagdo-Dota yung ginamit ni Kite?"
"Eh ano pa ba?"
"Hand seals."
"T*ng ina mo!"
Kite felt his collar tighten, adjusted it then said, "Ehem, good morning din."
Rachel dragged a vacant seat in front of him since the owner and some of the students decided to spend their vacant hour somewhere aside from their room.
Kite noticed that Leo is somewhat averting his gaze from them.
"Tell me, why did you decline Leo's proposal?" Rachel started.
Kite looked at Leo.
'Ah, so that's why. That explains why Escanor seems uncomfortable.'
He blinked then faced Rachel. "Why? Am I obliged to play? Even if it's against my will?"
"Of course! The honor of our block is at stake!" Rachel exclaimed as she spread her arms.
"Kayo lang nag-iisip niyan."
"Of course not! All of us in the room right now knows it! Lahat kami may pride as a gamer," Rachel said proudly and then turned to face the others. "See, they're even willing to help me out in recruiting—" Rachel hurriedly closed her mouth to stop herself. But it's a little too late though.
"Ha! Kaya pala. Sabi ko na eh marami pang bakante sa cafeteria kahapon. Tapos nung dumating ka bigla nalang napuno... Haha. Shuta!" Kite crossed his arms.
Rachel scratched her head, her threatening aura has disappeared, "Hehe. Yup. Ganun nga nangyari... Pero past is past! Di yan yung importante ngayon."
Seeing her changing the topic right away, Kite couldn't help but smirk. "Magkano binayad mo sa kanila?"
"Singkw—teka! Di na nga yan yung pinapag-usapan natin ngayon!" Rachel growled.
Kite couldn't help but laugh at her frustration. "Hahaha! Sigi sigi. Sabihin mo na yung gusto mong sabihin," he raised his hands in the air.
"Bakit nga di ka maglalaro?" she asked.
"Sinabi ba sayo ni Esca—ni Leo?"
"Oo."
"Then sinabi niya na rin sayo dapat yung rason. Why ask me again?"
"Kasi..." Rachel hesitated. "I'm not strong enough yet."
"Talaga? Masakit nga yung suntok mo sa braso ko kagabi eh," Kite joked but immediately regretted as it gained a lot of gasps and murmurs again in the audience.
"Wow! Nagpasuntok pa siya kay Miss Rachel? Ano pa kaya yung sunod?"
"Slap me hard senpai!"
"Yamete kudasai!"
"Hahahaha!"
Kite ignored them then cleared his throat, "Ehem. I'll make this clear again. As I've said to Leo, I am not playing."
Rachel frowned and then asked, "Sure ka na ba talaga diyan?"
"Yup."
Rachel sighed then said, "May gusto lang akong itanong sayo."
"Ano yun?"
"Do you think I can win?"
"Sabi ko nga, nothing's certain in a battlefield."
"Pero gusto ko yung galing sayo. Based on your judgment."
"It's hard to say since hindi ko pa nakikitang maglaro yung Jeremy. Pero one thing's for sure..."
"And that is?"
"Nothing's impossible. So you gotta give it your all."
Rachel fell silent then finally said, "I see."
Kite was surprised that Rachel has conceded already. He was expecting some nagging from her.
"Pero pupunta ka naman di ba?" she asked.
"And why is that? Wala naman akong gagawin dun ah," he said.
"I hired you," she retorted.
Kite sighed then said, "Wala rin naman akong magagawa dun eh, laban niyo yan. It will be unfair para sa kalaban. You don't want to win an unfair match, di ba?"
"Basta punta ka lang."
"Why?"
"Because I feel strong kapag nandiyan ka..." Rachel wanted to say those words but decided to keep it to herself. She eventually went for, "Moral support."
"Haist."
"I'd still pay you."
"Deal," Kite smiled.
Rachel snorted at the smiling Kite. Afterwards she said, "Basta mamaya, sa FNG. 6:30pm. Huwag kang mahuhuli."
"Yes ma'am!" Kite saluted.
"Che!"
———
At the FNG computer shop.
Rachel and her team consisted of herself, Leo, and three other Archon players on their class, has seated themselves with their enemy team on the next row of PCs to their right. Both parties are separated by 2 meters of distance.
"Do you really think na mananalo tayo?" Leo asked.
"I don't really know," Rachel confessed then she turned to look at the other team. "But one thing's for sure, we have to give it our best."
After logging in and familiarizing themselves, someone went to their side. A tall tanned man with a goatee.
"Okay, yung pangalan ng lobby ay 'XVid', yung password '1469'," he said. "Dahil di naman to pustahan, 'All Pick' lang tayo. Toss coin nalang kung sino yung dire o radiant. Okay, heads or tails?"
"Heads," Rachel answered.
Jeremy tossed the coin and then caught it with his hand. He opened them to show the result.
"Heads."
Jeremy smiled and then turned to Rachel, "Looks like you're lucky Miss Beautiful. So san kayo, Dire o Radiant?"
"Radiant kami, Mr. Pangit," Rachel retorted.
"Ooh!" the crowded snickered at her remark.
"Ha. Tingnan lang natin kung maging masungit ka pa pagkatapos mong matalo," he proclaimed. "Baka lang umiyak ka mamaya. Hahahaha!"
Rachel wanted to say something again when someone called her.
"Miss... Chaser! Sorry... na-late ako. Nagsimula... na ba?" Kite asked while catching his breath. "Pasensya na. Ang tagal maluto ng mga bilog na isda eh."
"Bilog na isda?" Rachel asked.
"Fishballs."
Pft.
"T*ngina mo Kite! Upo ka na dito sa likod ko!" Rachel told him.
Jeremy heard the commotion then glanced at the new arrival, "Ano to, Sixth Man niyo? Siya ba yung 'amazing player' niyo?" he mocked while emphasizing on the 'amazing player'.
This angered Leo. He was about to retort when Kite answered Jeremy's question.
"No, no! You're mistaken. Hindi ako yung 'amazing player'," he smiled then pointed at Rachel. "Siya yung magaling sa kanila. Nandito lang ako para mag-cheer sa blockmates ko."
"Hmmp!" Jeremy snickered. "Well then, let's start."
"All pick!"
———
The Radiant side, Rachel's team, has Necromancer, Pudge, Lina, Ursa, and Shadow Shaman. With Rachel on her Lina, Leo on his Ursa, and the rest on their teammates.
The Dire side, Jeremy's team, has Tiny, Skywrath Mage, Outworld Devourer, Faceless Void, and Vengeful Spirit. Jeremy controlled the Outworld Devourer, and the rest, his teammates.
In the early game, Rachel's team decided with a trilane. This secured them 3 kills on the Tiny with the Hook, Shackles, and Fury Swipes synergy. Even when Pudge was roaming, Leo managed to kill the Skywrath Mage with the help of the Shadow Shaman, when it decided to visit bottom. They have a very nice early game and has put a great pressure on the enemy's offlane.
Their offlane, the Necromancer, although dying two times due to the harasssment of VS and the constant Concussive Shot from the Skywrath Mage, was able to put enough pressure with the melee carry of the enemy's team.
With Pudge roaming around the map, they were able to secure a few kills from the enemies on both the top lane and bottom lane.
Everything was going well for the radiant team. Kite thought that they should have a 60% chance of winning now.
But it all changed when Jeremy and his Outworld Devourer entered the scene.
Rachel apparently weren't able to shutdown Jeremy's OD. On the other hand, she's a level gapped compared to him. It looked like she's had a hard laning phase against him.
When the enemy's team started smoke-ganking Rachel, it finally showed her team's greatest flaw. Experience. Experience in playing together. Late responses, random wardings...etc.
After this, the momentum changed for good towards the other team.
As Jeremy's OD started ganking, Rachel's team started falling apart. They just couldn't deal with the synergy among the other team. The almost-perfect executions proved that they have been playing together for quite a while now.
This reminded Kite of what someone has said to him a long time ago.
"Dota, is a 5v5 game. It isn't 1v1. It was never meant to be played alone."
The dire knew that they have to shut the cores down. They decided to hit on Leo's Ursa. Although Leo wanted to unleash his fury and kill them all, he just couldn't do anything without reaching his bkb timing. Whenever he's Swapped and uses Enrage, he'll just be Astral Imprisoned by Jeremy.
And Rachel, well, her Lina couldn't do anything against the Chronosphere of Faceless Void. At one point, they even managed to commit the Chrono onto everyone in the Radiant team, then Swapped the Lina out to kill her. Apparently mocking her and her team.
After killing her fast with the duration of Chronosphere still there, Jeremy dropped the Hammer or Sanity's Eclipse on the other four. Rendering their life so low that they only needes a few skills to finish them off.
Rachel's team almost managed to kill Jeremy in a smoke gank attempt with the Reaper's Scythe, Laguna Blade combo and the hold from Shackles. But it wasn't just enough to burst him before his teammates reached him and Swapped him to safety. His tankiness due to being ahead both on items and level made their effort useless. The dire team, eventually killed them all with the Radiant's key skills on cool down.
Had Rachel's team manage to kill him successfully, they would've still had a chance to hold, and maybe...win.
But that was the last straw for them.
The Dire won.
The game was okay, as far as Kite was concerned. However he couldn't help but frown when Rachel was the only one left alive yet they didn't even kill her yet. They just surrounded her then attempted to attack her super low health, but would eventually refrain from doing so. They repeated this so many times until Rachel managed to get to the fountain where she thought she would be safe, just for Jeremy to dagger in and drop the Hammer on her.
Afterwards, they mocked her and the team on the 'All' chat channel with their flamey words.
"Ano? Pweh!"
"Yun na yun?"
"Ano na AMAZING PLAYER?"
"Asan na miss Beautiful? Iyak!"
"Iyak!"
"Bobo niyo!"
"GG na sila... So sad T_T"
"Hahahahha! Practice pa kayo mga ungas!"
These words were sent all throughout the game.
For Kite, this was all normal because these are Filipinos.
He turned to look at Rachel. He thought she'll be okay because she's a very strong girl based on her straightforward and nagging personality. Plus she annoyed him almost much of the time. But he was surprised to see her holding back her tears. He never expected her to be this sensitive.
He wanted to say something but doesn't know what. So he decided to stay quiet in the end.
After the game ended Jeremy and his team went to Rachel's team's row. Then they continued their mockings. They saw that Rachel's eyes are red and almost had tears on them.
"Oh, pasensya na Miss Beautiful ha, pinaiyak ba kita?"
"Sensya na mga bobo hahahahha!"
Jeremy touched Rachel's hair then looked at Leo, he said to them, " Kahit sino pa yung kunin niyo, hinding-hindi kayo mananalo. Kasi, mga bobo kayo! At ikaw Miss Beautiful, umuwi ka na kasi baka umiyak ka pa dito eh. Sumbong ka nalang sa Tatay mo. Hahahaha!"
This made Kite snap.
Jeremy tried to touched Rachel's face when Kite stopped him. Kite grabbed his arm then threw it down.
"They'll play again," Kite said.
"We are?" Leo asked, confused.
"Oh? Talaga? Para ano, magpatalo na naman? Baka lalo pang umiyak si Miss Beautiful nito. Hahahhaha!" Jeremy mocked.
"Bakit? Natatakot ba kayong matalo ng isang babae?" Kite retorted.
"Kami? Matatalo? Hahahaha! In your dreams!"
"So, pumapayag na kayo?"
"Walang problema samin, pero sa kanila baka meron," Jeremy pointed at Leo and their team. "Madali lang naman silang durugin ulit eh!"
"Walang problema sa kanila," Kite declared.
"Wala?" Leo asked again.
"Oh, then game! Wag lang kayong uuwi ng luhaan ha? Hahahhaa!" Jeremy laughed.
"Para may thrill, mag pustahan tayo," Kite said which startled Rachel and the others.
"Ano bang sinasabi mo?" Rachel whispered to him.
"Basta," Kite winked then smiled at her. "Trust me."
"Aba'y sige ba! Magkano?" Jeremy asked with the air of sure-win.
"Kayong bahala," Kite answred. "Kahit magkano yung gusto niyo, okay lang. Ibibigay namin kapag manalo kayo."
"Oh, then 1500!" Jeremy's smile broadened to a grin.
"Okay, on the pretense na manalo kayo. Pero kapag kami ang manalo..." Kite walked up to him grinning and then said, "You and your team willl say sorry to them, specially to her, and you'll admit thay you're a lowlife who's not even trained by his parents how to respect other people because they never loved you. Also, that you're still the noobest at Dota, faggot."
Jeremy was taken aback by this. His mocking demeanor changed to rage. He frowned and raised his voice while saying, "Anong sinabi mo? Ano ka sinuswerte! Sino ka ba sa akala mo para gawin ko yan?"
"Kalaban niyo lang naman," Kite shrugged then continue to mock him. "At saka, pustahan to. Hindi ko kayo pinipilit. Well, pwede rin naman kayong umatras kung natatakot kayo."
"Ha! Kami? Natatakot! P*tangina niyo! Gumawa na kayo ng lobby at nang madurog na namin kayo ng purong-puro! I'll show you who's lowlife!" Jeremy stomped as he and his team went back to their seats.
Kite smiled as he saw Jeremy raging back to his seat. He was quite happy with the small victory. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a pull on his sleeves.
Rachel was beaming at him. "Thank you... pero you don't need to do this—"
Kite put a finger on her lips to stop her from talking. "Save that for later. At saka, baka magbago pa yung isip ko."
"Seryoso ka ba talaga?" Rachel and Leo blurted at the same time.
Kite went to one of their teammates then asked to change seats with him. Which gave way without a second thought.
Kite seated himself then turned to the both of them. He saw their eyes full of excitement. He smiled then said, "Yup, I'll play for you."
###