I followed him to his office, and read his schedule for the day. "Also, in two weeks there will be a Strategic Planning Session that will be attended by all the executives and important department representatives. The President's secretary informed me that our team and their team also have to present our project proposals for next year."
"He just informed you that?" Axel's eyes narrowed as he looked at the email on my phone.
"Yes, I just got the email," I replied, scrolling through the details.
Axel exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. "Our company has never done that before; I think Ethan is asking us on purpose to embarrass me in front of everyone."
"Really?" I tilted my head, catching his frustrated expression.
He let out a groan, sinking into his chair. "Can't we be absent from that meeting?"
"No way, it's one of the most important executive meetings every year." I met his gaze, firm but encouraging. "You're the vice president, remember?"
He slumped, giving me a reluctant nod. "It's okay, Axel; we'll work on this together." I'm nodding as I talk, to show him that I'm confident about this, "I'm sure we'll do this job well, even better than the President."
Axel glanced away, jaw tight. "You see, Cora, it's like a suicide mission. The fact that he's presenting too means all the employees will compare us. He wants to remind me that I'll never be able to compete with him."
"Don't worry," I said, giving him a confident smile. "I'm the master of presentation."
He laughed softly but looked unconvinced, drumming his fingers on the table. "But the problem is, brainstorming ideas for a project is the real challenge for me." I expressed my thoughts honestly, but in the next second I got rid of my concern so I won't make him more worried.
I leaned closer, "But there is you Axel, You're creative. I believe we can"
6 PM
Can you guess where are we now?
It's a bowling center. For today's challenge Axel took me bowling.
'Stupid Axel' I typed it to the bowling name register, after I was done, It's Axel's turn to register my nickname. We agreed to name each other.
Axel looked at the screen, "Is that the best you've got?" He protested his 'stupid Axel' name.
"And what did you call me?"
He pointed to the screen, looking proud. "The Legend of Cora."
"The…what?" I looked at him, puzzled.
"You've never seen Avatar?" Axel asked in disbelief,
"Oh, you mean the blue Avatar? Yeah, I did." I nodded, a bit confused.
He rolled his eyes. "Not that one. I meant the cartoon Avatar."
"Oh, the bald kid? No, I haven't."
"Well, there's a character called Korra, similar to your name."
"See the Leaderboard there?" He pointed out to the leaderboard proudly,
"I have been on the 5 rank for three months straight."
I scanned the leaderboard, "You are the 'Sexy Striker'?" I teased, suppressing a laugh.
He laughed, a little embarrassed. "My friend… he's the one named it, not me."
"Sure, sure, 'Super Sexy Striker.'" I teased, watching him squirm. "Now it has become weird."
"Because you protested, it looked like you named it yourself." I teased him and laughed in his discomfort.
"For today's challenge, you have to beat me," he said, smirking as he picked up a bowling ball.
"Okay, I'll beat you, Super Sexy Striker." I couldn't resist adding a playful edge to my voice.
"Whatever," he replied, shrugging, "but don't you think it's a little unfair to compete against an expert like me?"
I tilted my head, raising an eyebrow. "I guess?"
"That's why I'll only play with my left hand," he said confidently, spinning the ball in his hand.
"Wait, really?" I asked, genuinely surprised.
"Are you really right-handed?"
Upon hearing my disbelief, he shook his head, "You're the most skeptical person that I have ever seen," He showed his right hand, "Of course I am, That's why I go with my left hand so you still have a chance to beat me."
"Well, thank you for your thoughtful mind, sexy striker." I gave my teasing smile,
We played the first round, even with his left hand, Axel is pretty good. And our scores are pretty similar, but I still can't catch his score.
"This challenge is not only one round right?" I grabbed my last ball,
"But I already won, didn't I?" he shot back, a smirk playing on his lips.
I huffed. "Nope, even with your left hand, I'm still just a rookie. Three rounds?"
He nodded confidently, clearly amused by my persistence. "Fine then."
Just then, I heard a familiar voice calling my name from behind us.
"Cora?" a man's voice rang out.
I turned, and my eyes lit up as I recognized the couple approaching us. "Dan? Brianna?" I greeted them, giving them each a quick hug. It was my old campus senior, Dan, and my classmate Brianna.
"It's you, Cora! It's been such a long time," Dan said warmly.
"I didn't expect to see you here," I replied with a smile, surprised by the encounter.
"Do you come here often?" Brianna asked, glancing curiously between Axel and me.
"No, it's actually my first time," I explained. Then, remembering my manners, I turned to Axel. "Oh, right! This is Axel," I introduced him with a slight nod.
Axel gave a polite smile, shaking Dan's hand. "Nice to meet you both."
"And this is Brianna and Dan," I continued, gesturing to my old friends. "We're from the same campus."
"Is he your–" Before Brianna could ask, Dan's phone was ringing, "Wait, let me answer this." Dan went aside to pick up his phone.
I don't get it, why are Brianna and Dan together?
"Are you still in contact with Dan?" I asked Brianna curiously,
"Yeah, actually we are dating now." My jaw almost dropped. "Wow, really? I had no idea."
She smiled, then looked at me,
"Remember how you used to like him, Cora? Since then I think that he is kinda fine, and yeah, we are texting each other on DM and we're together until now." She said bluntly to my face, and I knew Axel heard it too. Wow, Brianna is still the same like she used to be.
"And how about you? He's not your boyfriend, right?" Brianna scanned Axel from up to toe, which made me uncomfortable. I felt my cheeks heat up, and I noticed Axel shifting beside me.
Just as I was about to respond, Axel casually slid an arm around my shoulders. "Yeah, I'm Cora's boyfriend." He extended a hand toward Brianna, My heart skipped a beat, I don't understand why Axel said that,
His dimple is shown, he really looked like a proud boyfriend.
"Nice to meet you, Brian?" I almost burst out laughing, there's no way Axel forgot her name as Brian.
"It's Brianna." She grabbed Axel's handshake. Axel let go the handshake quickly and proceed to grab my shoulder again.
"Sorry about that," said Dan as he finished calling, "it's okay." I said quietly, felt so awkward to meet my campus crush
"Baby, He's Cora's boyfriend." Said Brianna proudly, I can't believe what I heard.
"Hello, nice to meet you." Axel shook Dan's hand, and Dan raised his eyebrows at Axel.
"Really?" Daniel asked disbelief,
"I know right." Brianna continued scanning me and Axel with her fierce eyes. I don't understand what she meant by that but I think it's not something good.
"So we just arrived, and the lane was full. Mind if we join your game? We can play a team match!" Just then, Brianna perked up with suggestion,
I tried to read Axel's expression, but he didn't look uncomfortable at all, "sure!" replied Axel excitedly
"Should we exchange the team? I will be with Axel, and Cora with Dan. How fun will it be?" The weird Brianna is back
A strange suggestion, to say the least. I cast a quick, uncertain glance at Axel, who raised an eyebrow, as if silently asking if I was okay with it. I gave him a small nod, despite my hesitation.
I couldn't help but feel awkward to be on the same team with Dan. As the game began, Dan and I surprisingly kept up with Axel's team, and I kept feeling something sting in my wrist. I massage my right wrist with my other hand to make it less sore.
"Are your wrists hurting?" Dan asked, noticing.
"Yeah," I admitted as he reached out, almost taking my hand but stopping short.
"I think it's because you keep swinging too much," he said. "Try swinging just once before letting go. It should hurt less."
I followed his advice, but my aim was totally off, I didn't hit a single pin. "Now I can't aim well," I said sadly.
"Try focusing on the red mark in the center," he suggested, pointing down the lane.
Taking a deep breath, I aimed at the red center and let the ball roll smoothly. It hit perfectly—strike!
"Finally! A strike!" I squealed, jumping up in excitement. Dan looked thrilled too, holding up his hands for a high five. I slapped his hands a few times, grinning like crazy.
"Well done, Cora," Axel called out from the next lane, though I noticed Brianna's smile falter as she watched me and Dan. Right—Dan was her boyfriend. I quickly reined in my excitement, feeling a bit awkward.
The game ended with our team ahead by five points over Axel and Brianna's.
"Let's do a love match: couple versus couple," Axel suddenly suggested, stepping beside me and taking my hand confidently, pulling me closer.
Brianna's face lit up. "Yes! Perfect!"
I turned to Axel, whispering, "I thought we were just competing?"
"Rules changed," he murmured with a slight smirk. "Can't just stand by while my 'girlfriend' plays with another guy. If we win, we'll call it your victory."
"Alright," I replied, trying to hide a smile that was threatening to burst out.
I held up my hand for a high five, but Axel took it and laced our fingers together instead. Startled, I looked up at him, and he leaned in to whisper, "They're watching."
At that moment, I could hardly think about Dan or Brianna anymore.