CHAPTER 9

ASHLEY POV

I haven't gotten a restful night's sleep in the two months since I began my training, ugh. I only get five hours of sleep a day because we must get up early and go to bed late. Even the definition of rest escapes me.

I massaged my shoulder while leaning back in my chair. My muscles are so stiff from overtraining, ugh. To alleviate the ache, I'm making a circle with my shoulders. “Hey, are you alright?” Danielle, who had just returned from the meeting asked.

I lied and said, "I'm fine, I'm just a little tired."

“How about you? How was your meeting with the ominous CEO?” I questioned him, and he laughed. He pushed a chair across and took a seat next to mine. He responded, sipping his soft drink, "Everything is OK, save from getting reprimanded by him.”

“Why? Is there something wrong?" I'm perplexed. We exhausted ourselves during training, and we were doing our hardest to get better, so why in the world did he get reprimanded? He sighed but managed to smile, "Nothing really, it was just me getting out of control from a fan." I don't understand. "Educate me,"

He laughed again after doing so. Am I that humorous? He explained, "Well you see, we have been exhausting ourselves with the training, we don't get enough sleep.”

 “So?" I kept inquiring.

"When I was out eating lunch with the president, a fan was pestering me to take pictures, so I complied. However, that fan obviously wasn't happy and followed me out of the bathroom. Exhausted, I erupted. Our president witnessed me yelling at her to leave”, he said. I fake smiled as I stared at him.

Why must they chastise him for that, I don't understand. Undoubtedly, the fan was to blame. He was worn out!

 He chuckled, "Questions are written all over your face, ha-ha." "Once you decided to be a public figure, you should also know the consequences of it," he said, leaning in closer and grinning at me. “Both being exhausted and angry are impossible. You must serve as an example for them,” he said. "Me, yelling at them wasn't appropriate. He patted my head while grinning. “That was our fate,” he said.

So you're saying that I have no choice but to maintain my composure under such circumstances?” I disputed his assertion.” You know, I don't have a very good temper.“ He laughed. "Yeah, I know ha-ha," he replied. He reflected on the past and stated, "I could still remember how you punch Blaire when he doesn't stop making fun of you ha-ha." 

I smiled unconsciously as I recalled that incident. Blaire, a brazen youngster who enjoys tormenting me, never fails to irritate me. He'll always come up with a way to make me angry. Then, after he damaged the dress my mother had hand-sewn for me, I had had enough and snapped. He has a bruise on his face from the blow I gave him. After that, I was confined. It was great to have some memories of the past, ah. 

"How have you been during the last twelve years?" When I heard Danielle, it brought me back to reality. “Hmm? Me? Almost nothing. I received a degree in political science and then I played. boring, huh?" I laughed at that. He grinned. "Mine was tediously boring ha-ha," he remarked. I noticed him and smiled, saying, "Let's hear it."

 "Are you certain? These are a waste of your time, “he spoke.

"Try me!" I said with a smile. He sighed and leaned back. I could say that he began to remember his history right away. I bet he was struggling, based on the expression on his face.

He began, "Well, unfortunately, I never had a chance to finish college. I give myself over to hearing him. "I play on the computer shop's playground the majority of the time. When my parents sacrifice everything to send me to school, I am aware that what I did was terrible. But when I'm playing, I feel alive. It feels like... Me," he responded, with a dejected expression. I pay close attention to what he says. I believe he needs someone to whom he can express his resentment.

"Mom and Dad learned about it. For parents to be furious about it is normal. They held me down and battered me. even at school, watching over me. But no matter what they do, I always find a way to escape and play. They forced me to choose between the game and school, do you know what I chose?", he bemoans. "I selected the one that enables me to be who I am, and I decided to live with my dream. I select games," he remarked, feigning a smile.

His suffering will never make sense to me because my parents have never interfered with my decisions. However, I believe I could identify with his sorrows. All he wants is to be himself. But in order to do it, he had to crush someone's dream. Parents simply want the best for their kids, but in the process, they occasionally forget what the kids actually want. All they want is for their child to succeed and have a promising future. I can’t say who’s right and who’s wrong.

He continued, "And I think I pushed Blaire into it, I think I pushed him to do what I do." I scoffed and shook my head. Knowing his stubbornness? I bet not. I can tell that he truly enjoys playing games. He likes what he does,” I continued.

 "You believe so?" he asks. I grinned. “Of course! He was even playing without anyone's permission, ha-ha," I remarked, laughing, which caused him to do also. “Then at least one more issue has been fixed, “ he remarked, laughing.

“But did you regret it?” I questioned him. His grin started to wane. Have I posed the wrong query?

“I did. I should have paid attention to what they wanted me to be,” he continued, feigning a smile. “But don't you think you should have just proved to them that you chose the right thing? I mean, isn't it embarrassing to choose something you can't even be proud of? " I remarked, drawing his attention. He continued to look at me intently as I added. Did I say something wrong? Have I interfered too much? I believe I did. I questioned him in many ways.

Just as I was ready to apologize, he suddenly gave me a hug. Although I was stunned, I didn't put any malice in it. He said, "Thank you," in between hugs.

“To what?” I inquired bewildered. He replied, "Thank you for making me understand what needs to be done.” Did I? When? I'm still perplexed but refrained from asking. I don't want to come out as being slow. "Well, you're welcome?” I said in question, which made him giggle. He loosen up the hug and gave me a pat on the head.

"Wowowowoooh, what's going on here?” I overheard Blaire ask together with the rest of our teammates, they were welcomed by Danielle, who got up. “ Where did you all depart, leaving Ash alone?" He said, changing the subject. Oh, I didn't even realize they were gone.

“We attempted to wake her up earlier, but she's in deep slumber, so we bought some stocks for a month," Jay said. “Are you playing?", he queries. I responded by nodding.

“It's our day off today, so Ashley, you can take a rest,” he added. “What? No one told me!" I grumbled.

Sean remarked, "Jay mentioned it yesterday while you were so caught up in the fight with some random man.” I was perplexed. I just wasted my day off playing on my computer since I was so absorbed in my game that I didn't care what was going on around me. Ugh!

I hastily removed my headphones and hurried upstairs. They only gave me a bewildered stare. I quickly changed into new clothing and walked downstairs. They are still where they were when I left them. “Hey, where are you going?" they echoed. “Make the most of the time I have wasted,” I added as I turned to face them then hastily walked away.

The other members of my team just shook their heads without saying anything.

I saw that I only have six hours left when I glanced at my watch. I must make good use of it. Where should I start, I wonder? Ashley, are you kidding me? Is that a question at all? Let's go to the mall!

In that moment, I grinned and jumped into the first taxi I saw. Let's go!

I couldn't help but hum in the taxi since I was so excited. I just have the feeling that today will be wonderful!

I hurriedly headed to my favorite store, which I had a less-than-pleasant memory of, as soon as I arrived at the mall. I certainly hope that never happens again.

I entered gleefully, eager to try my favorite kind of ice cream!

-=-===- end of chapter 9 -=-=-=-