Seven Years to Ash

The day I won the championship in the pro gaming league, my girlfriend, Nina Vale, said she was coming to bring me flowers.

Standing on the awards stage, I pulled the ring from my pocket, thrilled and ready to propose to her in front of everyone.

However, instead of handing the bouquet to me, she turned and placed the flowers into the hands of her childhood friend, Rowan Cross, who was standing beside me.

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

Rowan’s fans tagged me and mocked, "Classic simp. Seven years of licking boots, and you still end up with nothing. Did you congratulate Rowan and Nina yet?"

I replied calmly, "Respect and blessings. Enjoy being locked in forever."

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