7
I turned toward the nurse, whose eyes sparkled with excitement, her enthusiasm almost contagious.
A helpless smile tugged at my lips. “You’re joking, right?”
“My hand’s wrecked. How can I compete again?”
“I’m serious!”
She quickly pulled off her mask, revealing a bright and delicate face.
“Look,” she said, holding up her phone. “I just started a new team, and we’re short a jungler.”
“Logan Hartman, I’ve been your fan for ages. Please, think about it. We need you.”
She showed me her phone, displaying information about her team–Bm E–Sports, fully funded by Brielle Whitmore.
I stared at her, stunned. “You really started a team?”
Her name sounded oddly familiar.
Wasn’t Brielle Whitmore the daughter of the Whitmore family, the real estate moguls?
“Your father’s Philip Whitmore?” I asked.
Brielle gave a shy smile and nodded. “Yes, that’s my dad.”
“Then why are you running a team and pretending to be a nurse?”
How much free time did rich people have?
She removed her nurse’s cap, looking a little embarrassed. “I’m not actually a nurse. I borrowed the uniform.”
“I heard about your accident and wanted to check on you, but I was worried it’d seem weird…”
“Besides, I started the team because of you.”
“I’ve admired you for so long, and I thought, if I could help you build your own team, you could take us to victory.”
“Join Bm E–Sports, Logan. I want this team to be yours.”
“And one day, you’ll lead us to the championship.”
She smiled and extended her hand toward me.
It was the first time anyone had been so straightforward and genuine with me.
The first time someone had chosen me without hesitation.
My emotions churned beneath the surface, but I tried to remain calm.
11:10 AM
<
“My hand… there’s no guarantee I’ll be able to compete again.”
“Don’t worry about that,” she said confidently. “If you join, I’ll get you the best medical team out there.”
“Besides,” she added, her smile radiant, “I like you–not just your skill. Even if you can’t compete, you could still coach the team.”
Her enthusiasm was infectious, lifting the cloud of doubt that had been hanging over me.
I couldn’t help but smile back, despite myself. Slowly, I extended my other hand.
“Alright. I’ll join.”
“Yes!”
Brielle laughed, gripping my hand tightly, her joy so overwhelming it brought tears to her eyes.
Suddenly, the hospital room door slammed open.
“What’s going on here?”
Vanessa Larkson stormed in, anger blazing in her eyes as she glared at us.
Her eyes were red–rimmed, as if I’d somehow wronged her.
“And who are you?” she spat, her voice sharp as she stared down Brielle.
Brielle calmly released my hand, glanced at Griffin Ashby standing behind Vanessa, and answered with a playful grin:
“Whatever you two are, we’re the same thing.”
She winked at me before striding out of the room with an air of confidence.
I chuckled bitterly, realizing she had deliberately provoked Vanessa.
Vanessa, fuming, turned back to me. “You’ll regret this. I’m reporting her to the hospital!”
After slamming the door shut, she turned to me, her frustration bubbling over.
“Logan, who was that woman?”
“A friend,” I replied, my tone calm compared to her outrage.
Vanessa opened her mouth to say more, but I closed my eyes, signaling the end of the conversation.
Before long, I heard soft sobs filling the room.
“Logan… have you given up on me?”
