My Pixel Heart (BxB)

Chapter 1: The Tryout

Sweat trickled down Dan's forehead as he muttered, "Hail a taxi? No way," his voice burdened with exhaustion. The weight of his bag pressed against his weary arms, begging for relief. With a stretch of his shoulders and a tilt of his neck, he hoped to ease the tension coursing through his body. "There must be a tricycle or any kind of kuliglig around here."

Beside him stood JC Gutierrez, a close friend from Batangas. Sharing the same ambition of becoming an esports player, he accompanied Dan to Manila for a tryout. Thanked God JC had already been here thrice or more, at least he could guide Dan as a first timer in the city. "Kuliglig?  What the hell? We're gonna be late, Danskie. I'll pay for the taxi, if that's your concern."

Dan fished into the pocket of his worn-out jeans, retrieving his phone to check for the time. Only thirty minutes remained before the tryout commenced. Panicked, Dan entrusted his belongings to JC and dashed toward the crowded street, scanning for an available taxi. His eyes lit up when he spotted a vacant taxi pulling up to the curb. But, just as he stepped forward, another figure appeared from the corner of his vision and made a beeline on the same cab. Their eyes locked for a brief moment, both determined to claim it for themselves.

"I saw it first!" Dan blurted, his voice laced with frustration as he reached the vehicle almost simultaneously with the guy.

The guy's lips curled into a mischievous grin. "Slow hands. I guess you'll have to be quicker next time," he retorted, his hand hovering near the open door of the taxi.

Dan leaned down to speak through the window and bargained with the driver, "Sir, I'll double the price." Knowing that his friend would cover the taxi fare and being a genius, he didn't hesitate to reach into his pocket for his wallet. But in his haste, an ID card slipped out and fluttered to the ground, landing right in front of the guy.

The stranger picked up the ID card, a mix of surprise and curiosity flickered across his face. He glanced at the photo and then back at Dan, his eyes almost begging to remove his sunglasses. Did he know Dan?

Unaware of the commotion, JC arrived at their location and slipped the bag into the car, thanking the stranger for opening the door. "Let's go, Danskie?"

 "Quite a nosy taxi-stealer, aren't you?" Dan snarled at the guy as he snatched back his ID card and immediately got into the car. Dan sat next to JC, whose head was already leaning back, eyes about to close.

As the engine started, Dan stole a glance at the stranger through the rearview mirror. There was something about him, an  elusive aura that tugged at the edges of Dan's memory. Who was he, and why did he seem so intrigued by the ID card?

"So..." the driver mumbled, breaking the silence as he stretched out his arms to the steering wheel. "Double the price, Sir?"

"What?!" JC exclaimed, his eyes widening abruptly, jolting him awake from the verge of sleep.

***

As Dan and JC stepped foot into the e-sports bootcamp, their eyes marveled at the sight before them. It was a realm they had never experienced before, a place pulsating with the energy of passion and dreams. The air leaked with ambition as they view the gaming equipment and the walls adorned with posters of legendary players in the league. 

"Impossible!" JC exclaimed, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and excitement. "I must have been a saint in my past life to find myself in this heavenly place, don't you think, Danskie?"

Speechless, JC simply nodded, his eyes sparkling with a shared enthusiasm. As they navigated the halls, Dan's gaze darted from one gaming station to another.  The hum of chatters filled the air from the scattered swarm of players who would also take part of the tryout just like them. Every detail of the scene seemed to be surreal--the journey from their small hometown to this bootcamp felt like a sweet dream for Dan.