Chapter 63 Clean Sweep
Phoebe
I refused to talk to Hayden.
Adonis stepped in and explained my mood, and Hayden finally backed off. I was mentally drained today, and all I could hope for was that I’d feel better tomorrow.
Under the warm stream of the dorm shower, I tried to wash away all the stress. I stayed in there so long my fingertips wrinkled. I even found myself enjoying the citrusy scent of the shampoo Tyra picked out when we were out shopping at the Livingstone minimart.
At first, I didn’t want it—I’ve always preferred minty scents like the ones back home. But damn, she was right. That fresh lemony smell hit differently, like it cleared out my whole brain. Even when I dried my hair with the hairdryer, the scent still lingered.
When I stepped out of the bathroom, Zion was already sitting on my bed, his right leg crossed over the left. He smiled big when he saw me, opening his arms wide as he flipped the book he was reading face down on the nightstand.
“I’m gonna change real quick,” I said, tossing my towel on the side of the wardrobe. “Didn’t know you were the reading type.”
“Just killing time while waiting for you to finish.”
“Go ahead, keep reading. I’m gonna crash soon anyway. Today totally drained me.” I flopped onto the bed beside him.
“Hayden talk to you yet?”
“I told him to wait. I’ll talk when I’m in the right headspace.”
“Cool. Get some rest. I’ll head out once you’re asleep.”
I nodded. Not long after, Zion’s familiar scent lulled me to sleep.
We left at 8 a.m. for the Mobile Legends: Nexus Rising Championship. Our team, Divergent Howls, was up against last year’s runner up, BlackReign. The pressure from sponsors and the media lately had been crazy, and tension was thick in the air. I tried to stay cool, but nerves crept in like unwanted guests.
Backstage, I adjusted my headset and gaming chair. My adrenaline was spiking—until I saw her in the crowd.
Honey-blonde curls. Slim frame. White cardigan.
Lily.
Hayden’s ex. Sitting pretty in the VIP section with that smug-ass smile. She crossed her legs like she owned the place. And she looked straight at me. Dead in the eye. Like she knew exactly who I was.
“Are you good, Phoebe?” Adonis asked from the seat next to me, stretching his fingers.
I nodded, but my throat felt like sandpaper. I prayed she wasn’t here to stir shit again like yesterday.
My palms were sweating on my phone. I couldn’t focus. Everything we’d practiced all week vanished from my brain.
The match started.
BlackReign came out swinging—total aggression. They invaded our jungle early, baited fights way ahead of tempo. I was supposed to carry as the core marksman, but I froze. Played too safely. Got caught out of position more than once.
And then the worst—
I died like a noob. Didn’t hit Purify in time when their assassin dove me.
“Phoebe! Come on, focus!” Zion snapped through the headset, frustration raw in his voice.
I tried to lock in, but I couldn’t shake Lily’s ghost from my head. Her smug face. The things she’d said. The way she looked at me was like I didn’t belong.
We got wrecked.
2-0. Clean sweep.
Backstage, it was dead silent. No one said anything, but I could feel their eyes on me. I stood up and left before anyone could open their mouth—before Zion or Adonis tried to say something.
“Phoebe,” Hayden’s voice stopped me in the hallway behind the venue.
“I don’t want to talk right now,” I muttered.
“Just… five minutes. Please.”
He reached out and grabbed my hand, gently, and I didn’t pull away.
He led me up to the rooftop. It was quiet and cold up there—just the hum of the AC units and the muffled sound of the next match playing in the background.
“I know you saw Lily,” he said.
I looked up, already pissed.
“You invited her?”
“Of course not. I’m done with her, Phoebe. She has no right to mess with me—or with us.”
“You sure about that?” My voice was sharp. “Then why the hell is she here?”
“I don’t know. But if she pulls the same crap as yesterday, I won’t just sit back. I’m not leaving you. Not even if my dad’s against us. Not even if the whole world knows who you really are. I’m still here. With you.”
His words chipped at the wall around my heart. But it still hurt.
“You don’t get it, Hayden. I’m pretending to be a guy just to survive this sexist-ass scene. If anyone finds out I’m a girl, I’m screwed. I’ll be kicked off the team. Probably banned from Livingstone. I could get blacklisted from the game forever.”
“I do get it. That’s why I’m not letting anything happen to you. I’ll protect you. No matter what.”
His voice softened, and he reached up, cupping my face.
“If you’re mad, then be mad. Yell at me. But don’t question how I feel about you,” he said, then leaned in and kissed me.
Warm. Gentle. Real.
But then—
The sound of high heels clicking on concrete snapped the moment like a slap.
Lily.
“Aww. How sweet,” she said, her voice dripping with fake charm. “Guess my gut was right. It would be a real shame if the world found out who you really are, Phoebe.”
My blood turned to ice. I pulled away from Hayden.
“Lily, stop!” Hayden snapped. “Leave us alone.”
“Oh? I’m just being honest with the world. A star male gamer who’s actually a girl? What a juicy little scandal.”
“Get the hell out of here. I’m done with your drama.”
“I’m not finished yet.”
Suddenly, Adonis, Finley, and Zion stormed through the rooftop door.
“What the hell’s going on?” Adonis demanded, eyes locking onto Lily.
“She knows,” I whispered.
“Hayden, are you serious?” Adonis stalked forward, voice rising. “We’ve been busting our asses to keep Phoebe’s identity under wraps, and you let this chick find out?”
“I didn’t let her do anything!” Hayden said defensively. “I didn’t know she followed me.”
“That’s not the point! It’s about Phoebe’s safety!”
Tension exploded. Zion tried to hold Adonis back, and Finley just stood frozen, staring daggers at Lily.
“Enough,” I said, raising my hand. “I’ll handle this. I’m not scared anymore.”
Lily looked at me, half mocking, half impressed.
“Well then, Phoebe. Let’s see how long you can keep playing this little game.”
And with that, she turned and walked away.
I looked up at the night sky. The match was over, but something inside me was still trembling. I wanted to pretend like nothing happened. But deep down, I knew this wasn’t over.