LOVE 1.0

CHAPTER 4: Queen versus Primadonna

Everyone was just surprised as Kelsey just came into the restaurant without even informing Zach.

Then she spoke up, "So this is where you are hanging out most of the time, Zach! You even denied not liking another girl, but here you are exchanging sweet smiles with this messy-haired, oily-faced waitress."

Tita Gina, who just came in, heard that. And she was so furious, "Aba! Aba! Aba! Who is this pretty girl with a very stinky foul mouth?! How dare you describe my niece that way. Without your heavy make-up, she is definitely prettier than you."

Kelsey felt so angry that she wanted to slap Tita Gina's face. But Zach came between them and so her right hand landed on Zach's face.

Kelsey was shocked and speechless for a while.

Zach calmly called out Kelsey's bodyguards, "Guards, escort your boss lady home before I lose my temper and report this unbefitting behavior of hers to her Dad."

Kelsey was then escorted by her bodyguards to her car and they left.

Zach apologized, "I am really sorry for that Tita Gina, Geoff and Ella."

Tita Gina asked, "Who is she anyway?"

Zach answered, "She is the spoiled brat daughter of the Governor of the State of Sorocon, Tita. Our elders had pre-arranged our marriage when we were still very young. So she is following me around most of the time."

Tita Gina commented, "She has got a temper, I might say. How could your parents choose someone like her for you? She is exactly your opposite in attitude. If I am a voter in Sorocon, I would definitely not vote for her father for having an arrogant daughter like her."

Zach expressed his apology again, "That is why I am really sorry, Tita. If not for me, Ella would not be shamed by her and you would not get angry. She is just so jealous of every girl that she sees me with, most especially the pretty ones."

Tita Gina asked, "Then how will she react if she finds out that Ella will be part of your team?"

Zach answered, "She just had to live by such, Tita. Rest assured that I will protect Ella like a younger sister from Kelsey. "

Before Zach left, he asked Geoff for the CCTV footage of the incident with Kelsey. He recorded it on his phone and requested Geoff to delete it.

Zach decided to send the video clip to Kelsey's father and his parents from the time that his game with Ella was about to finish until

Kelsey was escorted by her bodyguards to her car with as message – The girl is just the younger sister of my best friend. Kelsey just come, barging unannounced, shaming this girl thus provoking her aunt. This kind of behavior is unbecoming of a Governor's daughter and of a future Belmonte daughter-in-law. I do hope that this will not happen again. My best friend and his family owned this restaurant. They are just simple, good, honest people from the middle class. No matter what their socio-economic status is, they don't deserve to be treated this way. I have already apologized to them and requested my best friend to delete this CCTV footage on their system. If this goes out to the public, then this will be bad for the reputation of the Marianos as well as the reputation of the Belmontes.

Because of that, Kelsey's father became so infuriated that he asked Kelsey's bodyguards to bring her home to their residence in Beaunne City, the capital of the State of Sorocon.

Governor Crispin Mariano castigated his daughter. "Zach sent me a video of you shaming the sister of his best friend. How could you do that publicly, Kelsey? What if these people are vindictive and release it to the media? Good thing Zach apologized to them and requested that the CCTV footage be deleted in their system. You just cannot go on shaming a girl just because she is with Zach. And you cannot just slap someone just because they had the audacity to respond to your shaming."

Kelsey tried to reason out, "He is exchanging sweet smiles with that girl, Dad! And that old lady also shamed me. Then you just want me to stay mum about it."

"You started it." Then the governor said, "Zach has focused on his studies since he stayed in Missi. He is behaving properly and not pursuing any lady because of the pact between our families. Now that he has graduated, he is focusing on his work and will pursue his MBA soon. This girl is just the sister of his best friend. As a true gentleman, he is just being cordial to this family. Zach's mother was also aware of your relentless shopping and partying day and night. She mentioned that to your mother this afternoon. It seems that Zach has so many disappointments with the way you are behaving there in Missi. You had barely passed all your subjects. I even hired tutors just to help you out with your course requirements and review you for your exams."

Kelsey reasoned out again, "I don't even like to take up management but you insisted on it, Dad."

The governor was getting more disappointed with his daughter, "You cannot be a professional dancer! You can dance all you want. You can take all the dance classes you want to take. But I cannot allow you to work as a professional dancer. That is not the life I want for you. So you better get your act together and be the lady that Zach wants his ideal wife to be. Focus on your studies and behave like a prim and proper lady just like his Mom."

Kelsey gave a side comment, "At least Tita Vi gets to do what she likes. Tito Alex allows her to practice and teach medicine."

Kelsey's father responded, "There is a big difference between being a doctor and being a dancer, my darling daughter."

Kelsey stood her ground, "What difference could there be? Medicine is her passion in as much as dancing is my passion. You are just looking down on professional dancers because they are in the entertainment industry."

Her father pointed out, "Exactly! And I am not the only person who thinks that way. So if you don't want me to cancel all of your credit cards, then you had better behave yourself. I will never allow you to ruin my political career with that temper of yours. If this happens again, then I will not allow you to go with your Mom to Paris."

Kelsey knew that when her father had already threatened her then he would definitely do it if she did not follow. So all she could do was to agree with him, "Okay."

June 4, 2012. Monday. At eight o'clock in the morning, D' ZINGERS were just one of many e-sports teams that officially registered for the V+ Tech E-Sport Tournament. But their team was only one of the few teams that registered for all of the three games.

After their registration, Ella drove their old car to get to Saint Thomas University for the registration for her chosen program – Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing.

Ella felt happy once her registration was confirmed. She just needed to return for enrollment by July.

In her mind – This is it! We need to win in all the levels of the e-sports tournament so that I will earn money. With my own money, there is a great possibility that I can establish my own digital comic platform and not just be an employee. I must do well with my studies, the tournament, my supplementary art classes, and my part-time jobs. Zach is already taken so I just have to enjoy every moment that I can be with him without wanting more. Being his teammate, his co-worker, and his friend will just be enough.

On the other hand, Zach, Irvin, Nate and Geoff had already been accommodated for their meeting at V+ Tech Company.

They did not expect that they would actually be meeting the CEO/Founder himself along with his programming team. After all the introductions and the pleasantries, they discussed business.

Callix Valderama spoke up, "ZING Technology. It seems that it was not just the combined initials of all your first names, but you also lived up to its meaning. All of you have the energy and enthusiasm of tech wizards, not to mention that you all have the educational qualifications to be called ones. Do you really have no intention of joining our company?"

Nate answered, "We all have great respect for you, Mr. Valderama. Just like you, we also want to succeed on our own."

The CEO said, "I admire all of you. You were not all just top students of your batch, but you are all top players of Cyber Wars, Blitz, and Battlefield as well. But you seem to be lacking the heart of your team. Where is Queen? Is she also a part of ZING Technology or just a team member of D' ZINGERS?"

Geoff answered, "She is my younger sister and only sibling, Mr. Valderama. I taught her everything she knew about the three world-class games from your company. She might not be a part owner of our firm, but she is our resident artist. So, that also makes her a part of ZING Technology"

The CEO spoke again, "You have mentioned in your formal letter that you are willing to have cooperation with our programming team for the improvement of Cyber Wars, Blitz, and Battlefield, but you did not want to be part of our company. Except from fulfilling your own dreams, are there any other reasons why you cannot join us?"

Irvin said, "We have no other reasons, sir. We just want to be able to do things in our own way."

Callix Valderama said, "So do you already have your plans on how to address the improvement of Cyber Wars, Blitz, and Battlefield?"

Zach finally had spoken, "Yes, sir. As players and programmers, we have already discussed all the aspects that need improvement. We also have discussed all the possibilities to resolve all of those issues on our list. So, if you will allow us, then our team is very willing to pitch our proposal. We are also looking forward to more future cooperation with V+ Tech Company. After all, our firm is just small and starting. All we just have are our ideals, skills, and dedication. And if you will allow us, we can already present a bullet presentation of our summary assessment as well as our suggestions."

The CEO had allowed that. He was very impressed with what the four young programmers had come up with. Even the details that he failed to notice in his own assessment were there. They were really quite promising but, "We have already received several applications for a new breed of programmers to our company. We also have received the willingness of other tech firms from around the world to work with us regarding the improvement of the three games. So we will have to hear from all of them first before deciding on what to do. As for future cooperation between our companies in some other projects, I would really be delighted to do that with all of you. For the time being, just enjoy the tournament. Make our country proud by defending your world rankings in the face-off battle with your opponents."

They responded in chorus, "We will try our best, sir."

After that, they returned to their office and started working on their first mobile game app. They also started working on the upgrades of the existing management systems of the clients they got on their soft opening. There had also been clients who had come to know about the food delivery app that Geoff made for their restaurant. More business establishments also wanted almost the same delivery app for the products they were selling.

By lunch time, the food they ordered from the restaurant of Tita Gina, though the food delivery app Geoff had created, had already been delivered. They had a working lunch. After lunch, Zach and Irvin left to purchase the stuff they needed for their practice den.

Zach also purchased his prize for Ella, while Irvin purchased the computer peripheral devices that he promised to give Ella.

The four of them convened again at Zach's place after office hours to assemble the furniture and arrange the equipment in the spare bedroom.

Before 7 PM, Ella arrived at Zach's place to deliver their dinner and to have their first team practice. While her four teammates were having dinner, she made some sketches of the possible uniform of their team.

Geoff asked his sister, "How was your registration, Ella?"

Continuing her sketching, she replied to her brother, "It was fine. I just need to return by July for the enrolment."

Geoff asked another question, "How about your drawing and painting workshop this afternoon?"

Still sketching, she answered, "The committee assessed my level and they had placed me in the group of artists with advanced skills already. I think that all the art classes that our parents had enrolled me in during my school breaks when I was still in elementary grade had really helped a lot. They said that they will teach me more oil pastel techniques, acrylic techniques, water color techniques, and digital painting. My classes will be from Monday to Thursday mornings. So I can do all the art jobs at the firm in the afternoon, then our team practices after office hours."

Nate then asked, "What are you doing, Ella?"

Ella answered, "I am sketching some styles for our team uniform. Tita had some suggestions. But we still have not figured out the colors that you guys prefer. So I am just using black and white for now with D' ZINGERS in red."

Irvin said, "You can already draw them using the newest drawing tablet that Zach purchased for you as your prize from winning over him yesterday, along with some art supplies and materials for your work and personal use. I also purchased the keyboard, mouse and headset that I promised to give you."

Nate added, "I already packed my manga collection. I brought the box here."

Geoff commented, "You are all spoiling my sister so much, guys."

Irvin voiced out, "As if you are not spoiling her! She deserves all of our combined support. We are asking so much from her by joining our team even if she is still a student."

After the dinner, they had already chosen the design of the uniform that they wanted the most and then they already practiced.

After their game practice, Geoff and Ella had already been home in their car. Ella had fallen asleep on their way home. Perhaps due to so much tiredness. In his mind – You are slowly blooming into a beautiful flower. But you are my sister and so I have to be protective of you at all times. Joining the face-off e-sports tournament will open up lots of social experiences and possibilities for you. But I will always be on guard until you finish your studies. After that I will be a little less worried.

Days had passed and the start of the tournament was getting nearer. Zach, Irvin, Nate and Geoff had all been busy with work and their team practices. On the other hand, Ella had been busy with her art classes, helping her aunt at the restaurant when possible, working on the art jobs for ZING Technology when the need arose, and practicing with her team mates.

One afternoon she decided to go to Zach's place earlier than expected. She had already brought their uniforms that had been finished by Tita Gina the previous night. She had already ironed them out. Her aunt also suggested that she prepares a home-cooked dinner for her team members to express her gratitude and so she did.

Ella was almost done preparing all the dishes when the doorbell sounded. She looked at the security monitor on the main door and she saw Kelsey. She did not know what to do and so she sent a message to the private group chat of D' ZINGERS – I went earlier to Captain's place to prepare a home-cooked dinner for all of us. His girlfriend is by the door. What shall I do?

Nate was the one who was able to read the message first. He informed everyone, "Ella is at your place already, Zach. She prepared home-cooked dinner for all of us. But Kelsey is by your door. She did not know what to do."

Zach, who was driving, said, "Tell her not to answer the door and that we are already on our way there."

Nate did that.

Zach, Irvin, Nate and Geoff encountered Kelsey as the elevator opened to the floor where Zach's condominium unit was located.

Kelsey said, "So you have just arrived! Why are your friends with you?"

Zach answered, continuing on walking towards his condominium unit with his friends, "We have some work to finish. We decided to continue it here at my place," and then he asked, "Why are you here?"

Kelsey responded, following them. "It will be the wedding anniversary of my parents tomorrow. I came here to personally tell you."

As Zach opened the door, they all entered. Geoff, Nate and Irvin immediately went to the dining area.

Irvin spoke, "What did you cook for us, Ella?"

Ella answered, "Each one of your favorites, to thank all of you."

Then they heard Kelsey shouting, "What is that girl doing here at your place, Zach? Why did she cook for all of you? Don't tell me that she has access to your residence, while I don't have. I will be your wife! Why are you allowing this girl in your home?"