The next morning, the gaming house buzzed with unusual energy. Aarav walked into the lounge, where the team huddled around a big screen showing a live stream. On the screen, another team dominated the match with ruthless precision.
"Who's that?" Aarav asked, setting his bag down.
Zayn grinned. "Meet Team Vortex—the storm that's been wrecking everyone lately."
Aarav studied the players on screen. Their movements were sharp, aggressive, almost flawless. But one face stood out—a guy with a confident smirk and a headset tilted just so, like he owned the world.
"That's Kabir," Zayn said, noticing Aarav's stare. "Their captain. Charismatic, cocky, and annoyingly good."
As if on cue, Kabir landed a clutch play, wiping the enemy squad in seconds. The chat exploded with praise: 'Kabir the King!' 'Vortex supremacy!'
Aarav frowned. "He's… good."
"Good?" Zayn laughed. "He's a beast. And he loves mind games."
Before Aarav could ask what that meant, Rhea walked in, her expression tight. "Turn that off," she said sharply.
Zayn raised an eyebrow. "What? Just watching the competition."
"Don't give him attention," Rhea snapped. "That's what he wants."
Aarav glanced at her, sensing tension. "You know him?"
Rhea's jaw clenched. "We've faced him before. He's… complicated."
Zayn smirked. "Complicated as in he flirts with Rhea every chance he gets."
"Zayn!" Rhea shot him a glare, but Aarav felt something twist in his chest. Flirts? With Rhea?
Before he could process that, Rhea turned to the team. "Focus. Vortex is our biggest threat this season. Kabir plays dirty—on and off the screen."
Aarav nodded, but his mind buzzed with questions. Who was Kabir really? And why did Rhea seem so… unsettled?
Later that evening, Aarav scrolled through social media. Kabir's name was everywhere—clips of his plays, interviews, fan edits. One video caught Aarav's eye: Kabir at a press event, flashing that trademark smirk.
"So, Phoenix Strike?" Kabir said in the clip, voice dripping with confidence. "They're good. But good isn't enough. We're coming for the crown."
The crowd cheered. Aarav felt a surge of determination—and something else. Rivalry. He wasn't going to let this guy walk all over them.
Just then, his phone buzzed. A new notification: Kabir followed you.
Aarav stared at the screen, stunned. Seconds later, a DM popped up:
'Heard you're the new kid. Hope you're ready for the big leagues.'
Followed by a winking emoji.
Aarav's grip tightened on the phone. So this is how he plays his mind games.
He typed back slowly:
'I'll be ready.'