Maybe it was a bit unfair from me to say yes to the invitation. I wasn’t playing pro, but it still was considered unethical to take part in small LoL tournaments when you were a Challenger player and basically better than 99,986% of the casual player base. My friends of course didn’t really care about the fact that I never enjoyed competitions or that it was almost cheating if I played, because they all were blinded by the shiny new GoPro given to the winner; And I, as a good friend, only said no three times before giving in and finally consenting. …And honestly, I had fun. It was nice to get out, get away from the family drama and just worry about things I actually enjoyed and cared about. Those things being my friends and the game I promised to win for them.
We ended up getting the big prize, but I swear it wasn’t because of me - most games I didn’t even play my main or played some easily counterable support hero… Or at least that’s what I told myself as I said goodbye to the guys who didn’t really want to socialize after the whole event went down. Unlike them, I enjoyed talking with people and not just having an online life. The second team seemingly had no problem with me joining them for a late lunch and we easily found common things to talk about.
- So… – I say to the girl sitting next to me. Her name was Jessica. I couldn’t forget it because well, our nicknames were completely identical. It was just the of us sitting at the table, as the two other guys decided to stand in lane to order our food; And honestly, that was biggest sacrifice they could have made for us, as the queue’s end was almost outside the building and it didn’t really move since we arrived. - …It was a good game.
It really was. I tried to remember who she was playing but it just didn’t click to me and I decided to not ask, she could have thought I had bad intentions. - I heard you study at Columbia. What do you learn? – I ask with real curiosity in my voice. – I was thinking about going there for a long ass time but I decided that with Cornell I can at least get away from the family.
I wasn’t lying. That really was my main motivation when picking where I wanted to continue my studies: I just wanted to get the hell away from Fito and Mom, and all the shit that went in the family as soon as I could. Even if it was pricey to move so far away from NYC, I decided it was worth for me to get in student debt, if that meant some years alone in a new city and environment. Maybe I could finally learn how to live on my own.
Before she could answer it comes to me: I totally forgot to introduce myself to her. She could have heard my name, just like I heard hers, but still... – I’m sorry, I’m Jesse. But you can call me Jess, I bet it will much easier to remember – I say smiling and giving her my right hand for a shake.
Most of the times I volunteer as a tribute to take part in a competition, but sometimes it’s not my own idea. This occasion was the latter. It had sparked out from Crazy Joe’s mind who still believed that it was his crusade to be my mentor in the world of e-sports. I could have argued of course (and most of the times I did), but this time was different. I just wanted to have fun for a couple of hours and if I had to take part in a League of Legends competition to make it happen then so be it. At the end of the final round my team had earned the second place in the competition’s final ranking and it was fine. Neither being a professional esport player nor LoL interested me. So, this time it didn’t bothered me that I couldn’t get the Number 1 spot. All that mattered to me was that I enjoyed the game, my teammates were friendly and I even got the chance to play as one of my favorite champions, Ahri. Moreover, it got me in the mood for getting a new skin for this character, one which was still missing from my collection. Later, I remind myself as after the announcement of the results my teammates had decided that we should celebrate our second place with a “lunch” at one of the fast food restaurants. – Indeed, it was – I bow my head a little towards the boy, who decided to join me in the quest of founding a free table inside the restaurant and wait there while the others stay outside and in the queue towards the cash register to order food for all of us. Instead of being in our team, he was from the one which won the competition, but it didn’t bother us to let him join. He was a really good opponent, after all and furthermore, he seemed to be a friendly one. – I saw how you played your champion – I said to him, with a little smile on my face, as a mean of admiration. – In fact, you even got me killed at some point during our game. In the jungle, near the mid line. I think I was a victim of one of your multi-kill’s. Because I wasn’t near as good as him in this game. His champion and techniques surprised me and got me killed. But during the game my character died a few more times, so I wasn’t complaining about that one specific time. On the contrary, it amazed me, a little. – Computer science – I answer his question honestly and with a bit of pride. I liked my major and even more, talking about it. – Programming, coding and a little bit of designing. It’s all about computer codes, algorithms, how you make a program on the computer or an application for mobile… And stuff like that – I try to explain it to him, but it is very difficult without my computer. Now I only have my hands and drawing in the air with them, as some kind of demonstration, is not much of a help. But I try. – Well, you’re right. It’s not the university which is right in the next neighborhood… But not if you have Floo Powder! With that you could save time, just make sure to have at least two fireplaces at different locations and don’t let your parents known about it and boom! Your problem is solved – I joke, throwing a tiny Harry Potter reference into our conversation. But of course, looking into his eyes, I can see that he means it. And as I like to help others in need, especially if it is in connection with studying or things that I love, I happy to help him. As I made up my mind to aid him, I open my mouth to say it, but he precedes me with the speech and I let him talk. – Oh, I see you already know my name – I am surprised by this fact. I know that in the game he could saw my in-game nickname, Jellyalien, the name which I use on the internet and in games. And I also know that at the result announcement they said all of us names, but sometimes I have difficulties to remember someone full, proper name so I gave them nicknames to remember and identify them in my mind. (And they aren’t combos of some letters and numbers – How silly and cruel this from someone to do it to another human being, am I right?!) – Then it is nice to meet you, Jess – I smile at him and shake his hand. Now I will definitely remember his name. After the handshake I let go of his hand. I clear my throat as now I have the chance to say what I wanted to say. – It is not easy to get into a university, especially into one like Cornell. There are couple of things which you need when you will send your application… So, what major are you thinking about applying for? And how good are your grades? Your GPA? Test scores? – I ask a few questions. I hope it is not rude of me to ask them. Some can be angry easily if I ask them these questions or similar ones, in connection of studying and school. (For example, a few of my siblings.)
I loved League, sometimes even more than my own family (which honestly wasn’t that hard) but I could never for my life make a good profit out of my skills. I didn’t want to go pro and try to play for a team because well, they payed absolute garbage. I could try streaming but it would take many-many months for my channel to even take off and I absolutely wouldn’t have time for College beside that. And to be completely honest, I didn’t even know how I would bring the news to my mother if I choose a carrier in gaming instead of a stable one in engineering. I would probably be dead and six feet under after that conversation. - Oh, Warwick? He is kinda been my main in this past season. I decided to ditch him after that match though, it was a bit unfair – I say with a confidence of a buffoon, smiling through the whole sentence. – You’re a good Ahri, what rank are you? Low diamond? High plat? I cared about her answer because I cared about the game itself. Okay, maybe I had some ulterior motivation and wanted her to ask me what rank I was on so I could just flex myself… but if anyone asked, I was simply just a curious and kind guy - just as usual. I sit back and relax a bit while I listen to her answer about Columbia. Mom wanted me to go there and study but I simply couldn’t be bothered; I told her Columbia asked for a higher GPA in my chosen field, she told me I should still try and I told her I would… But honestly, I did not want to. I never imagined myself as someone learning and living in New York City in my entire life. Maybe it was a life for some, but I dreamed about moving away, maybe to Europe or to some far away state. The first step towards this was going to a college which was far enough but still close to the family’s material support. Without them I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to pay my own tuition alone. - That sounds interesting – I don’t lie or exaggerate, I simply found stuff like this… fun? Or at least not as boring as history or the more elusive subjects. – I was always interested in this kind of stuff but I could never build more than some basic html or css websites; And even that was hard so I can’t imagine how it is with real programming language. I guess in a year I will find it out too. To the Harry Potter reference (which I absolutely didn’t get at first) I just raised my eyebrows. I had to piece together the words she was saying like I was learning English for the first time and it still took me a few seconds before I lightly gasped, now knowing what Jess meant. – Oh yeah, the Floo Powder! – I nodded acting like I understood everything from the beginning. – Honestly, I only saw maybe the first three Harry Potter movies so I’m not that big of a nerd in that field… I know about the houses and stuff but the rest is a big mystery. I’m more of a Star Wars guy, fantasy not really that impressive for me. And I never planned on changing this aspect of my life, as I found nothing impressing in the adventures of a teenager fighting for how much, like seven books? When all off his and the world’s problems could have been solved by a gun and a good aim. I guess I could just never move past the many plotholes in a universe so big and rich as one with real world wizards imposed. - Yeah the guys told me – I nodded towards the door, where the other teammates off Jess were waiting for our food. – And it’s always easy to remember a namesake’s name. I was also good with names… I generally was good with people. I found myself more of an extrovert, who found joy and happiness when surrounded with people rather than a dude who would rather sit in his room all day long and wonder where his life might have gone wrong. I liked making friends and for people to like you, you had to remember their name first. It just looked silly if after days or weeks spend together you were still just guessing how they were called. I’m not saying I never called anyone “bro” or “mate” for an extended period of time because well, that would be a flat lie. – Nice to meet you too! – I say with a bright smile. - I was thinking about mechanical engineering… If I was actually good in chemistry I would consider chemical engineering but maybe later for a masters when I have a slight grasps on how things are done – I explain to her and just start to laugh lightly when she asks me the rest of the stuff – I guess they are good, I have a 4? 4.2 GPA? I honestly don’t remember, I just go with the flow. If I can’t go to Cornell I just go to another college and that’s all. Aaand this was the mentality that all my family hated. I just couldn’t be motivated to care about this stuff more than I already did. I wanted good education, I wanted good grades and I had high hopes but I didn’t have the right mindset. I knew I wouldn’t feel fine if I didn’t get accepted to Cornell, but I acted like I didn’t care at all, because well… Why should I? My life will go on even if one of my dreams is broken. - I don’t think I have a problem with getting into a uni… it’s more about where I get into. But we shall see what the future brings – I smile careless, once again. – What was your GPA for Columbia if I can ask? I mean it’s quite impressive that you got into Columbia!
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