Chapter 189 - [Bonus ] Possessed By A Workaholic Spirit

"Okay, rest well, Sof!" Claire mumbled and did not linger longer in Sofia's place.

After Sofia excused herself, Claire sent a brief chat message in their group chat informing her friends that Sofia will take a rest. Then, she shut the door of Sofia's unit and went back to her place.

Jing Jing was the first to arrive among the other members. She easily located Claire's apartment and knock on her door

"Ms. Jing Jing, come in! Sofia said she will rest. Hehe, let's play again!" Claire excitedly said. She had been playing with Jing Jing and was very satisfied with her gameplays. Sometimes, Jing Jing would also guide her on a better way to counterattack whenever there is a clash.

"Haha, she finally decided to take a rest! She had been handling everything from the school work to the business planning and the tournament. It must be very exhausting!" Jing Jing commented as Claire guided her to the living room..

"Sofia is too cool, right? Hehe, earlier, there was also the contest that she joined. I think it really made her exhausted," Claire stated. Then, she thoughtfully took a cup of tea and offered it to Jing Jing.

"Thanks," Jing Jing said and smelled the aroma of the tea.

"I did not even know how she managed to do it. The Sofia that I know was too immersed in the game and just stayed in her place for an entire day. This Sofia now had too many errands to do!" Claire mumbled.

"Hahaha, well, she might really find her passion in business and also in gaming. Anyway, her effort would be very advantageous for your group in the future," Jing Jing replied with a small smile on her lips.

"It is, Ms. Jing Jing. But, I also have a weird feeling that Sofia is possessed of some workaholic spirit! Is that even possible?"  Claire pouted but her eyes conveyed warmth on it.

"Workaholic spirit?! That really a unique was to say but I also want to be possessed by it!" Jing Jing joked.

The three boys finally arrived and overheard their discussion. 

"What workaholic spirit?" Joey inquired as the three of them sauntered inside. Just like Sofia's place, they had already accustomed to hang out in Claire's unit that they did not wait for Claire to invite them. The three casually sat on the couch.

"We are talking about how awesome Sofia could multi-task in different aspects," Claire responded.

"Oh, I'll go check her first. You guys play," Stephen suddenly spoke.

"She is probably asleep. This is my key to her unit. I've locked it," Claire spoke and casually trhow a key in Stephen's direction.

"Thanks, Claire!" he caught the key and left.

"EHEM! EHEM!"

"EHEM! EHEM!"

The group deliberately cleared their throat loud enough to tease Stephen. But their teasing was ignored as the boy almost disappeared from their sight in an instant. 

Then, without any delay, they decided to log in to their gaming account and find a random match.

Meanwhile, Sofia curled her body in her bed while countless scenes started to play in her mind. Perhaps, the incident in the auditorium hallway had triggered some memories she had in the past that kept flashing in her thoughts. 

She was hugging her pillow tightly when she felt a hand gently massaging her head. She casually turned around and looked at Stephen's worried face.

"What's wrong? You are trembling," Stephen commented. Sofia did not even realize that her body was slightly shaking until the boy mentioned it.

"Nothing's wrong. I want to rest," Sofia vaguely responded as she sat up.

"I told you I would come to attend the academic contest. You said there's no need. Now, you are like this," Stephen murmured.

"There is no connection with my rest and the contest. I just felt like I need some sleep," Sofia pouted. The need to sleep was her decision to clear some heaviness of her emotions. But her mind was really not cooperating with her.

"It's just so unlikely for you to be like this. It felt like you are distancing yourself," Stephen stopped giving her a massage and scratched his head instead. There was point in denying it when he could really sensed that something was off even to Sofia's tone.

"Ohh? What is so unlikely of me? It's normal to get tired. It's why I am taking a rest. Don't push it," Sofia coldly said. Somehow, Stephen's intuition was right. Her mood was totally off.

Stephen secretly sighed, unable to process Sofia's attitude. He furrowed his brows and put his hand on her forehead. "You don't have a fever either. Well, I'll go to the convenience store to get something."

Sofia stared at his retreating figure before she decided to lay down and really sleep. Didn't they plan to play? How come Stephen is idling around her unit?

For some unknown reason, she could not understand why she also felt irritated. 

After a while of tossing and turning around her bed, her brain was still awake. "It's better to get a shower," she muttered.

But the moment she jumped out of her bed, she noticed  tiny yet distinct red stain on her sheets. "AHHH," she sighed again and gently smacked her forehead.

This time, she finally realized why she felt so irritated. It was some hormonal reasons that girls encounter every month.

Sofia swiftly went to her toiletries only to realize that she had run out of sanitary pads. Without thinking too much, she opened her phone and dialed Claire's contact number.

"Sof, I am in the game. I'll call you back after---" Claire's rushed voice connected on the line after the first ring. And before Sofia could speak, the call was already disconnected. She just wanted to borrow some pads to her!

'Aiyyaa... gaming is life! This friend did not even bother to listen!' Sofia lamented. But she would also probably do the same thing if she was in the middle of the game.

The next contact number that she dialed was Jing Jing. She assumed that the lady was in Claire's place and was also hanging out with the members of the Chronos squad.

When Sofia heard the first ring, the voice operator followed to speak stating that the line of Jing Jing was busy. Jing Jing actually ignored her call!

'What the heck!' Sofia bitterly chuckled. Perhaps, the match that they were playing was really intense to the point that they had not paid attention to her phone call!

She then remembered that Stephen was in the convenience store. For a moment, she contemplated. Do boys would buy those stuff if they were asked? She did not know. Sofia also felt kind of awkward to ask him but who else could she rely on in this situation?