Chapter 3
I never managed to solve that endgame position.
But she still negotiated with my mom, bringing me to the Shaw family to become one of the many chess students.
On my eighteenth birthday, she promised me that if I solved the endgame position, she'd take me out for tiramisu to celebrate.
I sat in front of the chessboard all day. Just before midnight, I cracked it.
I ran excitedly to Seraphina.
She hugged me, producing a tiramisu and a cake decorated with our portraits.
She whispered in my ear: "Brent. I like you. Will you be with me?"
I agreed.
That day was probably the happiest moment of my life.
In a daze,
I think I heard Seraphina's voice.
I mumbled pitifully,
"Seraphina, I want tiramisu, I miss you."
When Seraphina came to my house,
I was still lying in bed, groggy and confused.
My body felt completely drained.
She shook me awake: "Melody. Didn't you say you wanted tiramisu?I
Her voice still echoed in my dream-like state: "Seraphina. Seraphina."
My words were choked with tears.
She sat on the bed, holding me, patting my back.
"Melody, why have you lost so much weight? Won't you get up and eat something?"
I thought to myself, the Seraphina in my dreams is so gentle. So different from the Seraphina I saw on the field today.
"Don't be upset anymore, just apologize to Brent. Okay?"
I suddenly snapped back to reality.
Sitting up straight, I stared at her, realizing this wasn't a dream.
She had just called me.
I answered and said I wanted tiramisu.
My tone instantly shed all previous emotion, becoming ice-cold.
"Seraphina, wanting me to apologize to Brent? That's never going to happen in this lifetime."
She saw this side of me.
Her tone also took on an unfriendly edge.
"Brent. This isn't a joke, Brent's the one who's been wronged. You've already won the game, what's wrong with apologizing to him?"
I viciously threw the tiramisu she brought into the trash can.
I will not apologize.
Seraphina was furious. She kicked the trash can."Brent, don't make me lose my temper."
"You know I'm one of the judges for next month's finals. That gambling incident with chess is enough for me to revoke your eligibility to compete."
What the hell? She knows damn well how badly I want that Chess Grandmaster trophy.
Feeling weak, I cough angrily from the edge of the bed.
Under the bright bedroom light.
I've coughed up blood all over the floor.
"Brent. What's wrong?"
I smile bitterly, unable to speak.
Seraphina finally shows some concern, patting my back. She hands me a glass of water.
"Melody, let me take you to the hospital, okay?"
I slap her hand away.
"Get lost."
Annoyed by my reaction, Seraphina pins me down on the bed.
Her feverish body heat seeps through our clothes onto my skin.
I'm uncomfortable being trapped beneath her.
What is this? Am I just her fuck buddy?
"Melody, be good. I can't refuse the arranged marriage between the Frost family and the Shaw family. Can you please behave?"
Her tone even carries a hint of pleading.
She gently kisses the corner of my mouth.
I clench my fist and push her away.
"You disgust me." Seraphina, you disgust me.You use that mouth of yours, who knows what you've been saying to Brent.
Seraphina, I hate you.
My words enraged her completely.
"Brent. Would it kill you to soften up like you used to? Isn't it good for us to just love each other like this?"
Her body was still pressing down on mine.
It hurt, it hurt so much.
She lightly nibbled on my neck with her lips, leaving tiny marks.
"You don't know how happy I was when you told me you wanted to eat tiramisu. I thought you'd finally come around."
No, it's not good.
But I'm in so much pain.
Seeing that I didn't respond, she propped herself up, intending to kiss my lips.
Suddenly, the phone rang.
She hesitated for a moment.
I looked down and saw the caller ID.
It was Brent.
Seraphina still answered it.
"Seraphina, weren't we supposed to finalize the wedding plans tonight?"
Brent's voice carried a hint of disappointment: "How come you left in the middle of dinner after getting a phone call?"
Seraphina looked at me with hesitation.