LOVE 1.0

CHAPTER 3: Hail to the Queen

When the online gamer Blaze suggested an actual e-sports tournament for Cyber Wars, Blitz, and Battlefield that Friday afternoon, a lot of online gamers all over the world agreed with him. So V+ Tech Company immediately took action.

Cyber Wars is a cyber security competition that challenges players to solve a variety of IT tasks to hack their way into a server to steal data. Blitz is a massively multiplayer online role-playing (MMORPG) video game. Battlefield, a battle royale game, is an online multiplayer video game that blends the survival, exploration, scavenging elements of a survival game with last-man-standing gameplay.

June 3, 2012.Sunday. Zach, Irvin, Nate and Geoff had met for their morning meeting at Zach's two-bedroom condominium unit. That condominium unit was a senior high school graduation gift from his maternal grandparents, while the luxury midsize SUV he had been using was a senior high school graduation gift from his paternal grandparents. For his college graduation, his grandparents from both sides of his parents opted to give him a cash gift worth one million. They were just so proud of him because he graduated with the highest Latin honor, as Summa c*m Laude. Never did it occur to them that Zach would use such cash gifts as a startup capital of ZING Technology.

Geoff brought breakfast for all of them. While eating, they had a casual conversation.

Zach started with, "I had just read the newest post of V+ Tech Company's online games platform before you all arrived. They will already host an e-sport tournament all over the world. There will be three levels: the national championship cup which is slated this entire school break, the continental championship will be scheduled from September to October, and the world championship will be scheduled from November to December. I think that our online gaming team should join the actual e-sport tournament."

Irvin expressed his agreement, "I had already read that post before I came here. Yes, we should join in. This will also be an avenue for us to promote ZING Technology."

Nate also expressed his affirmation, "Yes, I am also in. This will be very exciting! We can battle it out with other gamers face to face."

Zach noticed that Geoff was silent, "Why are you silent, Geoff? You started this e-sport tournament comment in the online games platform of V+ Tech Company. Why don't you seem excited?"

Geoff spoke up, "If we decide to join, then Queen will also have to be with us."

Zach, Irvin, and Nate chorused, "Definitely!"

Geoff expressed, "I am not sure if she will be up for an actual e-sport competition. She is just eighteen years old. Her weekdays will be occupied this entire school break. Then she will also start with her collegiate education as the school year commences this August.

Although she is already of legal age, we still need to ask the permission of her legal guardian."

Nate stated, "Then by all means, you must convince her and her legal guardian for her to join us. We are a team! We cannot go on without Queen."

Irvin seconded, "Yes, you must really convince her, Geoff."

Then Zach said, "Why do I have a feeling that Queen is your sister?"

Irvin and Nate also realized, "Is Queen really your sister?"

Geoff finally divulged, "Yes."

Zach, Irvin and Nate all exclaimed at the same time, "Awesome!"

Irvin was just so amazed that he could not seem to contain his excitement, "She is just a monster in Cyber Wars, Blitz, and Battlefield. She is just so great!"

Geoff shared, "It just started with me teaching her the games so I will have an actual opponent whenever I play. I also did not expect that she would be like a sponge in absorbing all the instructions and strategies that I had imparted to her. Her eyes and her fingers are just so quick. I might say that she is really faster than me. Her APM is comparable to that of Zach."

Nate then asked, "But why did you keep her real identity from us?"

Geoff said, "It was her preference. All of you very well know that my sister can be a bit shy at times. Tita Gina and I also want her to focus on her studies. We have already enrolled her in a Drawing and Painting Workshop for this school break. She has already decided to take up a bachelor's degree in creative writing at Saint Thomas University in Palmaine City this coming school year. She will already process her registration tomorrow. She also wants to enrich her talents in drawing and painting and so we decided for her to take more art workshops in her future school breaks."

Irvin suggested, "With the four of us as his support system for all things computer-related, you advise her to take her workshops on computer graphic arts that focus on the artistic and technical areas of 2D and 3D animation film production. Anyway, she is the resident artist of our firm."

Nate also made a recommendation, "She may also take comic art classes. Digital comics, manga, webtoon and the likes are gaining so much popularity these days. With her innate artistic skills complemented by all the things she will acquire from her creative writing degree, then she might have a great future in digital comic creation."

Geoff said, "Yeah, I think that is her goal. It is the reason why she decided to take up creative writing for her bachelor's degree."

Zach voiced out his commendation, "Then the more that you must convince her to join us in this e-sport tournament. Prestige, medals and championship cups are not the only things that we can receive if we win. There is also a large cash prize, which could help her out in all the finances involved in these additional art classes and workshops. She will also gain more social experience that might help her in some story development and characters' prototype creation. I noticed that she is fond of sketching faces, costumes, outfits and many more in her notebook. In addition, she will gain more confidence, a wider network, and a huge fan base in these competitions. Honestly, I am a fan of her gaming skills. Anyway, you don't have to worry about her studies and her protection from potential suitors. We can all help her out with her school requirements and we will also be her bodyguard in all of our possible travels for the competition. Also, the games are all scheduled for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. So she can look for class schedules that will not involve Fridays."

Irvin seconded, "Very much true! You and Zach will be in charge of the tutoring. I and Nate will be in charge of warding off those suitors."

Zach even offered, "If you want, we can help you convince Ella and Tita Gina after our meeting."

Geoff approved of it, "Yeah, that will be nice!"

After the breakfast, they discussed all the aspects that they felt needed improvement on the current version of Cyber Wars, Blitz, and Battlefield and on how they could resolve all those issues. Zach had already divided their work among the four of them. They were also the current employees of ZING Technology. So they had to do all the workload by themselves except for the artistic portion which Ella was in charge of. Gradually, they would fill in all the five departments of their firm with employees. These departments include: administration, art, planning, programming, and testing.

They were also in the process of creating their own mobile game app aside from accepting jobs involving custom-made mobile and website app development, management and monitoring system development, security access control system development, embedded system programming for small, medium and large enterprises, web and digital design, and software upgrading for existing programs and systems for clientele.

Before they ended their meeting, Zach had already received an email from V+ Tech Company asking them to come at its headquarters for a meeting on June 4 at 9 AM.

Zach informed his friends about it, "Just in! V+ Tech Company is asking us to come for a meeting tomorrow 9 AM at their headquarters."

Geoff said, "Wow, that's fast! It seems like being a top player is really paying off."

Irvin voiced out, "But there is also a possibility that they might want to absorb us into their company."

Zach agreed, "That is one possibility. I know that our firm is just new and you might all be tempted to join a much bigger company which could offer bigger benefits. And I will not blame all of you should you jump ship."

Nate immediately expressed, "I won't abandon you."

Geoff seconded, "Me too. You have sacrificed a lot just for a common dream of ours. We will not leave you."

Irvin added, "Sworn brothers forever!"

All of them were honor graduates and ace coders and programmers. Geoff graduated as Magna c*m Laude while Irvin and Nate graduated as c*m Laude. Geoff, Irvin, and Nate all belonged to the lower end of the middle socioeconomic class, while Zach belonged to the upper socioeconomic class. They all bonded at the start of their first day of classes as first year computer science students because of their common dream to establish their own technology firm and be known on their own. Zach's aspiration to fulfill such a dream heightened because of Geoff, Irvin and Nate. He was willing to defy his elders for that dream.

Then they all boarded Zach's SUV and headed to Geoff's place.

It was almost lunch time already. They immediately ordered lunch upon arriving at the restaurant of Geoff's family.

When there were not many customers already, they talked to Ella and Tita Gina regarding the e-sport tournament. With them laying out all the benefits that she could have from agreeing...

Ella's initial reaction was, "Why did you tell them that I am Queen?"

Geoff answered, "I did not. Zach figured it out and I had no way of denying it."

Irvin then asked again, "So what do you think, Ella?"

Ella stated, "I am not that comfortable around so many people, let alone a crowd who would be watching me, us. I might not be able to perform to my fullest capacity."

Nate told her, "We will all be there for you. You don't even have to look at the crowd. Just pretend they are not there and just focus on the monitor. You are the only one in the team who is not in for this e-sports tournament yet. It will provide all of us with more opportunities. Plus, you really need to overcome that shyness, Ella. We will all be part of your support system, studies or game-related. We will all be your protectors. Win or lose, we should be one."

Tita Gina said, "They all believe in your skills, Bri. You should give it a try. They are not willing to get a replacement for you. You will gain a lot from this experience. You need to spread your wings, sweetheart. Your brother and I will not always be around for you in this life. I will even watch your competitions if you like, and I can customize your team uniform for your comfort. No pants for her, guys! I will make a female version of the team uniform that you will decide on."

Zach said, "By all means, make our complete team uniform, Tita."

Geoff then asked his sister, "So what do you say, sis?"

Ella had finally agreed, "Okay, I will join."

Nate shouted, "This calls for a celebration! Bring out your laptops, guys!" He even teased Ella, "I feel like I will be lucky this time in beating Queen!"

Ella tried to banter, "You wish!"

Nate cowered, scratching his head, and then said, "For once, let me win, Ella. I will give you all my manga collection. I will even buy you new ones."

Irvin teased Nate, "Of course you should give Ella your manga collection coz you have already grown out of them," then told Ella, "Don't let him win, Ella. I will buy you the newest gaming keyboard, the best gaming mouse, and the most posh gaming headset. But let me win, okay?"

Zach could not help but smile with the antics of his two other best friends, "So the name of the game now is bribery! Aren't the two of you even ashamed of yourselves?! You should buy all those stuff for our Queen as a graduation gift as well as a welcome gift."

Nate then asked Zach, "And what will you give her as as welcome gift, Captain?"

Zach said, "I will provide her with a copy of my personal e-book of gaming strategies. I will also buy each one of us V+ Tech newest lightweight gaming laptop in preparation for our training. We can set up our practice den in the office or at my place."

Geoff said, "It will be much better at your place. The office will be too crowded for such."

Zach decided, "Then I will have the other bedroom converted as our practice den."

Irvin then announced, "So let us now have our first ever bonding session. I want to see how our Queen plays in person."

Nate seconded, "Me too."

The first one on one battle was between Queen and Shark.

Ella asked, "What game shall we play, Cyber Wars, Blitz or Battlefield?"

Irvin decided on the game, "Cyber Wars."

And so they started. The game was so intense but, finally, Ella emerged victorious.

Nate commented, "You are not just a monster, Ella! You are the most powerful female beast ever! To think that you are not a computer science major and you just sponged all of Geoff's teachings. What more if you sponged all of Zach's gaming strategies."

Zach said, "Stop comparing her to a monster or a beast. It is not applicable to her appearance."

Geoff then said, "The only description fit for a Queen is..."

Zach finished for Geoff in as serious note, "Goddess."

Such had made Ella's heart flutter. She felt so good inside.

Geoff scratched his head and expressed, "I am supposed to say fairy like what her nickname Ella means."

Nate said, "But Ella also means 'Goddess' in Hebrew."

Irvin added, "Then her full name Briella means 'God is my strength' in Hebrew."

Nate then announced, "It is my turn now. Let us play Blitz, Ella."

Nate was ahead a little in the beginning, but Ella overtook little by little until she finally emerged as the winner.

Nate bowed down to her, and then said, "Hats off to you, Queen! I will have my manga collection delivered to you, including the new ones."

Then Zach declared, "It is my turn now. I want us to compete in all three games, Ella. I want to see how we can still improve your skills. Geoff was right when he said that your eyes and your fingers are very quick. You are also very focused when you play. Irvin, you had better buy her those gaming headsets with noise cancellation features, the quietest gaming keyboard, and the best gaming mouse which will not put strain on her shoulder and wrist. She needs to avoid any form of distraction whenever she plays. No wonder why she didn't like playing before a crowd. She will be distracted. Good thing, someone had requested that the games be played within a sound-proofed glass enclosure. The crowd can still watch and cheer live, but the players will not be affected by the noise from the audience. With this game environment set, then Ella can perform to her full capacity."

Zach and Ella first played Cyber Wars. It lasted for a long time. They were head to head but eventually Zach won.

Geoff commented, "Zach just won because he is a little faster than you, sis. Guess, all my teachings are paying off."

Irvin remarked, "You are indeed the most awesome goddess of online games, Ella! Who would have thought that you had absorbed all of your brother's tricks. If he only has the same speed that of Zach, Geoff could beat Zach fair and square."

Nate stated, "That is the very reason he is the Vice-Captain of our team. He has good leadership and he is a master game strategist and analyst."

Zach agreed, "That is true!" Then he asked Ella, "Shall we play Blitz next, Ella?"

She just uttered a simple, "Okay."

So they started playing Blitz. It was a very tight match. Their scores were most of the time on a deadlock. But Ella eventually won.

Zach expressed, "Is that a new tactic that you taught her, Geoff?"

Geoff bragged, "Yes. I told you she was like a sponge. So, if you teach her all your strategies, then our chances of winning the championship will be higher."

Nate remarked, "She is just extraordinary."

Irvin then asked, "Which is your more dominant hand, Ella?"

Ella asked, "What do you mean?"

Irvin rephrased, "Are you left-handed or right handed?"

Ella answered, "I can write, draw and paint well with either of my two hands."

Zach said, "It seems that our Queen is ambidextrous. She has the ability to use both her hands with equal dexterity. Then she is gifted with a speed almost the same as mine. She will really be a force to be reckoned with. She looks so innocently pretty from the outside. Our opponents might just mistake her as our team's muse," and then he asked Ella, "What prize do you want should you win in our last game, Ella?"

Ella's answer was, "I will just let you decide about it. I'm just fine with anything."

Zach responded, "Okay. So let us now play Battlefield, Ella."

She responded, "Yeah. Let us start, Captain."

Geoff, Irvin and Nate were just all eyes on Zach and Ella as they battled it out head to head. Ella just won by a point.

Then Kelsey suddenly appeared at the restaurant.