Seven Years to Ash

Under the dazzling lights, my teammates and I stood together on the championship podium that belonged to us.

My girlfriend, Nina Vale, walked toward me carrying a bouquet of flowers.

She had said that once I won the championship, we would go public with our relationship. Today, she had come especially to bring me flowers—roses, no less, the kind that symbolized love.

This was the first time she had ever given me flowers. It was also the first time she had ever looked at me with such gentleness.

I suppressed the happiness, nerves, and anticipation rising in my chest, my face flushing as I watched her step closer and closer.

I thought that the moment she handed the flowers to me, I would immediately drop to one knee and propose as a surprise.

Even though we had argued just yesterday because of someone else, what couple never fights?

My fingers trembled slightly as I grazed the ring in my pocket.

"Congratulations on winning the match and taking the championship," Nina said, extending the bouquet.

As my eyes lit up, I reached out to take it.

However, the flowers brushed past my hand and were placed directly into the arms of the teammate standing beside me.

Rowan Cross.

Nina’s childhood friend.

The smile on my face froze instantly. I stared at Nina, who was smiling at Rowan with unmistakable tenderness. After a long moment of shock, I suddenly let out a self-mocking laugh.

Of course, Rowan again. I should have known.

The childhood friend who, in Nina’s heart, would always matter more than me, her own boyfriend.

Yesterday’s argument had been because of him, too. Still, I never imagined that today, in front of everyone, she would give roses to Rowan instead.

Rowan was an esports star with hundreds of thousands of fans.

Did she really not understand what this meant?

I slipped the ring back into my pocket and stared numbly as the arena erupted because of her gesture.

Cameras flashed nonstop.

Before the awards ceremony had even ended, the internet was already flooded with videos of the two of them showing affection.

The pairing of a handsome man and a beautiful woman sent countless fans into a frenzy, enthusiastically shipping them together.

Rowan’s fans were already calling Nina his girl in the comments, and the atmosphere buzzed with excitement.

Since none of it had anything to do with me, I stepped off the stage with a bitter smile and returned alone to the lounge.

Watching the overwhelming flood of congratulations for the two of them on the trending page, I suddenly felt that it was all meaningless.

I was tired and did not want to play this game anymore.

I sent Nina a message.

"We should break up. I won't hold you back anymore."

The message had barely gone through when she called me, but I did not answer. I hung up, hailed a cab, and returned to the apartment to pack my things.

Nina and I had rented the place together. Now that we were breaking up, I did not want to keep living with her. I would leave it to her.

On the way, Nina sent several messages.

"What do you mean by breaking up?"

"I don't know what kind of tantrum you are throwing! You are a grown man. How are you more petty than a woman? Enough already. Everyone wants to celebrate. Hurry over. Rowan and the others are waiting for you!"

Eight out of ten of her sentences mentioned Rowan. She gave roses to another man, yet blamed me for being narrow-minded.

Without replying, I grabbed my belongings and left.

There was not enough time to rent a new place, so I returned to the dorm provided by the studio for professional players. They had all gone out for the celebration, so I was the only one in the dorm.

Out of habit, I turned on my computer and immersed myself in the game.