Aggravation -

Elias felt the heat rise to his neck. "That was completely unnecessary. You had another move that wouldn't have bumped me."

"It’s frustrating to start over," Elias said quietly, looking at his lone marble back at the start.

"Six!" Maya chirped, sliding her red marble out of the starting gate. "Watch out, Eli. I’m coming for that shortcut." aggravation

The game continued, the frustration replaced by a steady, focused rhythm. They bumped, they jumped, and they started over—learning that the "aggravation" wasn't a wall, but just a reason to keep the dice rolling.

"You’re playing too fast," Elias muttered, shaking the dice cup with rhythmic intensity. "Strategy wins this, not speed." He rolled. A four. He moved his marble safely into his row, exhaling a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Elias felt the heat rise to his neck

Elias grunted, his eyes fixed on his blue marble, currently sitting three spaces away from his 'Home' row. He had been playing conservatively, avoiding risks, while Maya played like a chaotic whirlwind.

But the peace lasted exactly ten seconds. Maya rolled a five, landed squarely on Elias’s second marble near the center, and with a delighted clack , sent it tumbling back to the Base. "Aggravation!" she cheered. They bumped, they jumped, and they started over—learning

Elias looked at the dice. He realized he’d been spending more energy being annoyed at the "clack" of the marble than he had on the next move. He picked up the cup, gave it a single, sharp shake, and let the dice fly.