The next morning, Crea woke up by 5am, her eyes blinked twice before she crawled out of her bed. Next to her was Tristana, who lay sprawled on the bed.
She smelled like alcohol and sweat, snoring as she slept.
Crea snorted in slight disgust. If there was one thing she didn't do, and she thanked the heavens she didn't, it was drink.
"Must have partied too hard last night..." Crea said, looking at the wall clock.
She took of her sleeping shirt, leaving her in her sports bra.
The next thing she did was part of her daily routine. She walked to her wardrobe and picked up a pair of 20kg dumbells, doing some bicep curls and then dropped down for some situps.
Her body dripped of sweat, her pale skin shimmering with heat.
After what seemed to be an hour of workout, she looked at the clock and grunted...
It was about 6:00am on the dot.
Crea went to the shower to have a bath. Just as she was about to go in. A familiar ringtone sung from her phone...
She looked at the caller and smiled a little.
On her screen it read 'The Almighty'
She swiped the pickup button and placed the phone on her ear.
"Hi Dad"
-Hello little pumpkin, you woke up early today huh?-
Crea almost chocked on her saliva; her father was the only one who'd call her little pumpkin and she wouldn't bad about it.
"Mhmm! What's up"
-Oh I'm just calling... I saw your video on Utube... You looking good-
"Is that all you called to say?"
-Your mum saw it-
"Oh!"
Crea froze in shock. That was the person she didn't want to find her videos the most... Crea loved both her parents, but sometimes she felt that they were at odds.
Especially her mother. Her father was easy to convince, her mother on the other hand was a stronghold.
It was easier to boil a stone to make soup than to convince her mother to agree to a view contrary to hers.
And streaming was a big no no to her mother.
That's why she had to keep her videos secret to her mother. Her father did sometimes follow the stream, but in rare occasions.
"Dad, what did she say?"
Her father sighed, and what followed next was a shuffling sound, as if the phone was moving.
Crea froze again, knowing full well what her dad was doing.
The next thing she heard was a thin and cold voice coming through the phone.
-Hello, Crea?-
"Hi mum.."
Then there was silence, an awkward silence.
Soon her mother's voice continued to speak over the phone.
-You really don't know how to give up huh?-
"Can't we not have this conversation?"
- No. Not until you start acting like a mature person for once.-
Crea had to shut up and take her chewing up. At these times, she would let her mum rant as much as she wanted. But unlike usual, her mum said nothing afterwards.
Nothing at all
"Hello?"
-What were you expecting, it's not as if you'd listen to me anyway-
Crea was now stunned. She didn't know what to say or how to feel at this moment.
"You're not ... Mad?"
-Oh I'm mad, in fact I'm fuming right now. You're over 22 and a graduate and yet you still spend all your life on Video games that benefit you little...-
'Yup, here it comes'
-But... I've talked with your dad and... I've seen that you seem to like your job.-
"Mum? Are you alright?"
- Don't 'Mummy are you all right?' me. You know how I feel about this. Heck I can guess you're still single at the moment -
"Urghhh! That's not something I'm ready to go into"
A sigh came from over the phone, a sigh entailed worry and tiredness.
- I know, I know. Not everyone can love a tree log of a daughter like I do-
This time, Crea giggled over the phone like a kid. If there was another person who could make fun of her height and get away with it, it was her mother.
- But you're my only kid Crea. I have to do everything in my power to make to the best you are... So just... I don't know, grow up -
Crea sighed, understanding what her mother meant.
"Don't worry, I've gotten a day job now. I think I'll like this one more"
-Mhmmm. I hope it isn't some store receptionist or something?-
"Uhhhh"
- Crealix Larc, you'd better not have gotten another receptionist job again... You're using it as an excuse to keep streaming huh?-
"I'm not, it's just that it's harder to get jobs nowadays, we have to make ends meet while we look for something to do"
A deep sigh came from over the phone, a tired and slightly defeated sigh.
-Just do what you do best. At this point, I can't just stand in your way-
Crea almost fell over... Did her mother just silently approve of her.
'Whats going on? Who's talking over the phone? Did some aliens kidnap her mother when they weren't looking?'
-Hello, Crea? Crealix Mercy Larc can you hear me?-
"Huhh, s...s..sure, loud and clear mum"
-ok dear, how's your roommate Trissy?-
"She's uhm tired. She had a long night at work"
-Look at that. Well good luck on your endeavors. Just... Don't forget yourself ok love... And I kind of like the video, good job-
'She liked... The video...'
The phone beeped off as Crea went online on Utube and searched for CreatorW
u.
She had a Utube channel of her own, but sometimes, viewers would edit her videos and post, with her clearance of course.
The video that was most viewed was her solo killing DonkyDylan without taking damage at all.
The highlight of the video was the music used.
It was an old song her mum used to like in her younger days...
'Ah, so that's why?' she looks up to the ceiling. Just then, her phone alarm buzzed. It was 6:30am ...
'Shit, i'm late'
***
"Allllrighty then, keeping it straight up, your homeworks will be due by Friday morning next week and they'll score 20% of your total semester... Am I clear on that?" A female voice with a Scottish accent called from a podium in what seemed to be a large circular hall.
The woman was a small and robust, she wore a suit and skirt and held a tab under her arm.
Slowly, she waddled out of the class, her demeanor in contrast to how she had spoke a few seconds ago.
The class giggled, holding it in until she left the class.
"Quack!" Someone blurted out as she was about close the door.
"I heard that Lesley"
Instantly, the whole class burst into rounds of laughter.
"Hey Rex, we've got to get a move on" Dylan whispered to his friend next to him.
Rex, who was chatting with a girl next to him, grunted as he said "Oh come on, can't you see I'm busy?"
"But we're going to be late"
"Where you guys off to?" The girl asked curiously. She look small and thin, with a cute face and freckles on her dotting her face like a map of islands.
Rex blinked slowly, before answering with a blank look
"We're going... To play video games"
Dylan slapped his palm on his face, shocked about how his friend might just ruined his chances with this cutie by opening his big mouth.
"Oh cool, can I come?"
Now both Rex and Dylan were shocked. Rex had said that because he thought it would be funny, but her reaction took him unawares.
"Uhhhh. Is it ok?" Rex asked as he turned his face towards Dylan.
Dylan looked at the girl properly. She wore a crop top and a pair of jeans, her hair tied to form a ponytail. She didn't look like someone who spent her time watching people play games, or play them.
"I think so.... Just don't say too much." He grumbled under his breath as he whispered to Rex.
"All right, let's just go..." He said as he picked up his bag and pushed his glasses up his face. Rex followed, with the girl followed right behind.
Dylan walked down the steps of the class room and soon stopped and turned to the girl.
"Uhm, I didn't ask your name. My name's Dylan"
"And I'm his right hand man Rex..."
"Holdup, wait a minute... You didn't ask her name?" Dylan almost coughed blood.
"Sheila, nice to meet you" she squeaked out, her cherry smile stunning both boys, and the guys around.
Dylan pulled Rex over to the side and whispered.
"Bro, how the heck did you pull such a legendary babe?"
"I didn't, I just made up jest about Mrs Hilda. Then we started discussing about school stuff and here we are"
"Wait, you just met her today?"
"I am an eccentric romantic might I have you know"
"You've gotten laid yet"
"... No"
"Then shut up Mr Romantic" Dylan slapped the back of his head.
"Uhmm, guys?"
"Sorry Sheila, we're going to 12th avenue not too far from here"
"Oh, an Internet café, cool. I know a good place there" she said, almost geeking out.
Rex and Dylan turned to each other and nodded.
She's definitely a nerd...
***
An hour later. The Ramshackled Hub was almost filled with customers, only about 5 computers free.
Crea was wiping the desk in front of her, watching a few videos on the PC before her.
The door bell rang as three figures walked in.
She lifted a brow and sighed...
So he actually came?