'He's here! Wait! Our date started? Is it after the award ceremony already? Why did I say 'after the ceremony'?! I don't know what to do!
OMG! I need Loe Loe! She would carry the conversation!' Meredith's inward monologue never stopped. 'Ah, but I can't let her talk in my place! He's supposed to be m-my b-boyfriend! Is that how it works?
Since we're about to go on a date and stuff... we're a couple now? That's it? I need to call Loe Loe!'
She stood at the table, picking up a snack. It was pretty awkward for her to be here, as she had already cut ties with her guild. In fact, all left was for her to leave the guild, provided the guild leader hadn't kicked her yet.
Meredith had returned just in time for the award ceremony. No longer in a dress, she wore a brown sweatshirt and short skirt. In Jake's eyes, this simple fashion worked wonders with Meredith's elegant hairstyle and beauty.
She was beautiful, but he could see hints of adorableness as she furtively peeked at him.
'He's wearing a black flannel shirt and jeans! Black looks so good on him!' Meredith thought. She didn't let anyone see through her thoughts as she slowly and carefully bit on a snack.
Jake noticed that a few Blue Union members were looking their way. He didn't even begin a talk with Meredith, yet someone else pierced through him with a glare.
Their expression appeared gloomy.
He ignored them.
"We could say that the first part of our date has begun," Jake said as he picked up a snack. "How's the mood?"
'Nervous! Nervous mood! I'm so nervous!' Meredith thought. "I'm no longer a part of Blue Union, so a lot of responsibility has been lifted off my shoulders. I'm okay."
Jake narrowed his eyes, "They just kicked you out of the guild because of a single loss?"
'He's angry for me!' Meredith squealed.
"Those idiots don't know what kind of a gem they have lost," Jake said.
'So angry! Hehe! It makes me so happy for no reason!' her heart thumped. "I'll be fine. The initiative came from me, to being with. I told them I would leave if we lost.
I don't make empty promises."
Jake leaned closer. "That makes it easier for me to snatch you to America."
Though he said those words with a straight face and voice, he quickly grew redder. It was pretty bold of him, but the sight of Meredith's cheeks ripping red was worth it.
Jake decided that he'd not bite his tongue today!
Of course, this declaration shook Meredith's heart.
'He wants to connect North America with Europe to snatch me! T-that's too much! We only met recently! You don't have to argue with your team for me... I can always somehow find a way... or make a new account in North America! Ah, that won't work, probably... maybe if I talk with a game master... but he's such a rogue, trying to steal me! Hehe~~ I can't be so happy!' Meredith turned her hazel eyes to him.
"You're getting ahead of yourself. You won the international tournament, not me."
Jake chuckled. "If our date is like a battle, I must have dealt a few damage already."
Meredith stared into his eyes. "Got a proof?" Inwardly, she was getting flustered, 'Stop it! Stop it! I'm making it more difficult for him! His confession was so honest! He got a second chance!
I like him! I thought about him! If I don't do anything, he'll feel sad and defeated! Should I throw myself into his arms and tell him to take me to America?! I-I-I can't!'
The single-use ticket will allow them to unlock one of their native respawn points and teleport to them. It's a single use."
Meredith narrowed her eyes. "How can I get those tickets?"
Kamil sneered. "Currently? Through me or other game masters. We're not so easy, though. I predict that teleportation between two continents will soon become a main prize. You'll have to count on your region's esports players or for other players to make your continent's main quest much more enticing for others to connect with your server." Explore new worlds at m,v l'-novelhall.net
Jake nodded. "This teleport sounds like a really lucrative prize. At least until someone connects the continents."
"Yeah... and it seems like someone has heard me spoiling!" Kamil raised his voice a little, forcing Bellamende to enter the conversation.
Soon enough, the other game masters introduced themselves to Meredith and Jake. It was nice to meet them all, but because of Kamil, everyone mainly talked about him and his chatty persona, which was full of spoilers. When Jake told them about Antarctica, Bellamende's glare turned into a demon's mask.
She took Kamil away.
The rest of the game masters also soon left Jake alone with Meredith.
It seemed like their date was about to go onto the next level.
Jake needed something to elevate their experience.
He looked at the dance floor and Shaw getting thrown around by Anna... it was quite a scene.
"Wanna try it?" Jake asked.
Meredith shook her head. "I'm not in a mood for dancing."
"Sounds like someone is trying to hide her weakness," Jake smirked. "I suck at dancing too, though. Never really had a chance to try it. I'd look more foolish than you."
"Not in a mood," Meredith replied.
"How about we take it upstairs... or even better, the roof? We can be clumsy over there," Jake asked.
Getting away from others' eyes sounded like a great idea. Meredith could see that her former teammates had something to say and were waiting for a perfect moment to get between them.
There were also people from higher divisions interested in them!
"Sure, let's head over there," Meredith said.
Alas, a foreign voice slammed itself into Jake's back.
In a broken English, Shiro called him out. "Jake."
Her eyes shone as she stared at him.
Meredith turned around and gazed at her. 'Who is she?! Why is she looking at Jake like that? She challenged him and lost, right? What did happen between them? I want to know...'
Her assertive self, however, said, "I'll leave you two alone."
Jake grasped her hand and squeezed it, "You ain't going anywhere."
'Yes, you rogue!' Meredith squealed.