Sweet Things Needs to Be Teased

9:00 A.M.

Registration for the competition has now unofficially started. The actual for it was at 10 o'clock, but upon realizing the future traffic the site would have, the administration opened up the website without informing the public; that way, the more excited players will not join the traffic later, and the official start will have even just the tiniest bit of decrease in traffic.

Gerard noticed this, for he constantly checked out the sites every half an hour. This also goes for Chris and Zy.

After the registration, they were given an e-receipt that they would present at the venue.

The venue for the competition is not one prominent place but will take place in many venues; this will be for the preliminaries.

The company of Banzrant set a threshold of 10,000 players to be eligible for the competition. Having ten thousand players in one venue isn't possible, and the price of buying computers will be enormous.

The company decided to rent a hundred gaming shops to act as an intermediary for the players; this way, the cost will decrease, and the threshold can be achieved.

Gerard was set to take the preliminaries at some computer shop north of DoubleZ Gaming Shop. He checked the map and found it was approximately 1 kilometer from his apartment.

"I didn't know that a gaming shop was located there, even after the one year I spent in that district," Gerard said as he thought about it. The fact that he had no idea that some shop was located there was normal. Gerard was busy making ends meet. He had no time to loiter around or be attracted to gaming; such action is a stupid thing to do.

It might be good luck or bad luck that Zy will be together in the shop in the north. Zy was quite happy since he hadn't seen Gerard play the game. It would mean that there was now one player out of her way.

If Gerard knew her thoughts, he would be speechless. The world is really unfair. Sometimes it would be best to be deprived of knowledge, for knowledge is both a blessing and a curse; an example is Pandora's Box.

On the other hand, Chris was quite shocked about the venue he would be in. He's pretty destined with this shop. He wouldn't need to go out anymore; this shop is also a contracted gaming shop by the Banzrant.

After registering for the competition, they returned to practice and played the game. The official match would start an hour after lunch, around 1 P.M.

Gerard didn't play another game since the shop was starting to fill, albeit slowly. At this time, Bandit put a notice at the front of the door, which said, "This store would help the Banzrant community in facilitating the prelims of the competition, so those that will not play for the event will not be allowed to enter. This will be to have organization and to avoid overcrowding. Thank You."

The players checked the notice before nodding and returning to their computers. They plan to register to extend their computer usage, even for free.

At around 11 A.M. Gerard asked permission from Bandit to go out and apply for leave for two days, today and tomorrow.

Bandit smirked, "You thinking you'll win the prelims, eh?"

"Not just the prelims, if that's what you're asking me," Gerard replied with a smile.

Bandit also smiled and allowed Gerard's absence while also saying that he would not decrease Gerard's pay since, at one point, Bandit also wanted to play for a competition but did not since, in earlier years, there was no competition for those who were not pro yet.

Gerard was already thankful that Bandit accepted his 2-day leave. He didn't imagine that it would also be a paid leave.

He bid farewell, leaving Bandit to face his customers.

Gerard was now in a dilemma about where he would eat for lunch. He should have transferred a small amount from his stocks to his bank account; he currently needs money to spend on his lunch. His 90 million cash is in the reserves and couldn't be used to pay because he doesn't have a smartphone.

At this time, he regretted not buying one. Gerard couldn't help but sigh.

Amidst his dilemma, someone patted his back. It was Chris together with Zy.

"Are you now going out to eat?" Chris asked.

"Yeah"

"Let us join you. We are now headed to eat also."

"You got a job?" Gerard asked.

"No, I'm underaged, remember. Can't get a job even if I find one."

"Don't tell me you're living off of her?" Gerard said as he pointed at Zy.

"Don't make it sound so weird; Zy asked her parents for me to be a caretaker of their house."

"Hmm...You're staying under the same roof as her?" Gerard teased as he made out Chris' reaction. Zy, in response, blushed, and Chris defended very quickly.

"As I said, don't make it so weird, man. Her parents didn't want to agree at first, so she said that she'll just be living in a dormitory to appease her parents. Her parents didn't want Zy to live in a dorm since they already had a decent house. Her parents propose that we be watched 24/7."

"I wanted to decline at first since it would be quite weird for Zy to be always followed around by men; I, for one, don't have anything against it. She then said that if I was fine with it, she would too." Chris said this as he looked at Zy with fondness.

"So...are you a thing now?" Gerard pushed forth his question.

"Nevermind that, so where will we eat." Chris changed the topic.

Seeing that Chris will have no intention of backing down, he said, "No fun, Well...I don't have any money in me; I'm broke. Plus, I don't want to intrude on your lovey-dovey moments."

"What lovey-dovey moments? And didn't you pay when I went the day before yesterday? I thought you were rich."

"What do you mean? I said I lived a secluded life in my dirty apartment for a year, remember? I still haven't paid Bandit for your usage and clothes, to be honest."

Chris remembered what Gerard had said that day. They were alike. How could he forget?

"Isn't that the more reason you need to join us? Zy will be paying, hehe."

Seeing how Chris introduced her, she couldn't help but sigh and whispered, "I'll get you later."

Chris gulped, but he knew Zy also wanted to help Gerard as she helped him. All was good as Gerard would like to eat at something other than a fancy restaurant.

"Is that so? We'll eat there if you ask me for a place." Gerard didn't back out from the offer. He would just pay Zy twice the money Zy use in total.

"Where?"

"I'll show you."

After several walks, Zy stopped and uttered, "Isn't this Bel's Cuisine?!"

"You mean that fancy restaurants that cost hundreds of dollars to eat?"

"Yeah, why are we here?"

"To eat, of course," Gerard responded.

"I only have 1000 dollars as my savings for this month. We're not spending it all here." Zy refuses to eat at Bel's. Who in their right mind would pick such an expensive restaurant when borrowing someone else's money.

Zy wanted to faint.

"Can we pick another place to eat?" Chris requested Gerard.

"We're already here. Why not?" Gerard really liked the place. The food was delicious, as were the service and the atmosphere.

"Just wait here." Gerard went inside

Chris and Zy were worried for Gerard as the staff might throw Gerard outside.

Inside of Bel's Cuisine.

"Is it true that those who have eaten here can avail of the Pay a day later policy?"

"Yes, that's true, but it's a one-time only offer per month. Would you like to avail it, sir?"

"Yeah, I'll call on first, my companions."

"Sure, in that time, we'll check if you have already eaten here. Can I have some ID, please?"

Gerard gave the staff his national ID and called for his two companions outside.

Seeing Gerard safely go outside, Chris and Zy were relieved, and Chris said, "Thank goodness, you're alright. Let's go find another place before they change their mind."

Chris tried to pull Gerard, but the former didn't move.

"Why are we leaving? I just got approval that we can eat here." Gerard was thankful that what he had seen some time ago was real and that they were really that kind of policy here.

"You what? How is that possible. You said you don't have any money?"

"Who said I'll be playing?" Gerard asked.

"Who suppose will pay? Me? I don't want to waste my 1000 dollars." Zy wanted to cry.

"Just follow me, and we will be able to eat."

Seeing how resolute Gerard is, they decide to follow him. The worst that will happen is that they're thrown onto the streets.