After finishing my meal, I made my way to the arena where the tournament was set to continue. The atmosphere was electric, the anticipation palpable as the remaining competitors gathered. I found a seat and settled in, waiting for the next round to begin.
Moments later, I noticed Lise approaching. My heart skipped a beat, and a wave of embarrassment washed over me as the dream from last night resurfaced in my mind. She took the seat next to me, her presence immediately making me feel both comforted and anxious.
"Hey, Eileen," she said with a smile. "What's up? You seem a bit off."
I cleared my throat, trying to appear nonchalant. "Oh, nothing. Just... a lot on my mind, I guess."
Lise raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying my vague explanation. "You sure? You look like you've seen a ghost."
I laughed nervously, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Just... tired, maybe."
