0 3 | c h e s s

0 3 | c h e s s

🎶 Shape Of You - Ed Sheeran 🎶

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"Bye! And Jocelyn give me a call later! "

I beam at Emily as they bade their byes and left. Asher didn't spare me a single look after whatever happened in my room.

Somehow it hurt.

I shut the door and Mom sighed. "I'm glad they came over, " she says. I just hum a response and drop my weight on the couch.

Something makes a noise under my butt and I jump with a scream.

"What! " Mom asks concerned.

I shook my head and pulled the pillows apart to see what the object was. It was a phone. I turn it on in curiosity.

It wasn't just any phone. It was Asher's phone. And the bigger shock is that the lock screen is me!

"What the hell!" I yell but luckily Mom has gone into her room to probably sleep as it's already dusk.

My eyes were still wide in shock. Then, I saw an unread message. It made sense now why the phone startled me. Since I could view messages from pop-up notifications, I wanted to check but I restrained myself.

He wouldn't like it.

Because I also wouldn't like it.

I quickly rushed out, hoping to see their car in view. I would return the phone. Their jeep was gone. I sighed and retired back to the couch.

Someone knocked on the door and I stood up to get it.

"Hey! " Ethan practically yelled, pulling me into a hug. I retired into his body. I've missed him.

"You were mad at me? " he asks putting off his shoes after pulling away. I let him come in.

I smile, "Not really. We had guests over so I was also busy. " I skipped whatever guests I might've had. Ethan knew about Asher. I told him about everything because he was somewhat of a childhood friend. He lived next door though he went to another high school.

"I wouldn't have liked it if you left your business for me, love" I felt a pang of guilt deep down as I said 'love' but I left it at the back of my mind.

I continued to play with my hair as I watched him glance at his phone for a second.

"Okay, it's fine. Work didn't allow me to spend time with you so now we're going to the park right now. "

"Sounds great. I'll just grab my phone. " I rush upstairs, leaving Asher's phone on the couch.

Immediately I entered, the strong cologne of a certain person filled my nose as I took my phone from the bedside.

I frowned, remembering what he said back then in high school and what he said while we were in the room earlier.

I hate you and your horrible aura.

Don't you want to know why I did it?

I tried not to let it get to me so I changed into a denim shirt and pants and reapplied some makeup before I rushed back down again. Ethan stood up when I came. He smiled at me.

"I'm sorry I don't look my best. " I murmur admist panting.

"Well, not at all" he moves closer. "You always look good. "

I smiled and let him kiss the knuckles of my left hand. He stares at something and then suddenly picks up the phone I left behind.

Shit!

"Huh..." he mutters turning it on only to be met with the picture of a fifteen-year-old me on the lock screen.

"Who owns this? " he stares into my eyes with raised brows. I fidget with the sleeves of my jacket before shrugging.

"I don't know. Maybe mom's? " I refused to look him in the eye.

"Your mom doesn't -"

"Oh, just forget it, Ethan. Let's go quickly before they close the park! " I tug at his arm and pull him with me. He chuckles and briefly kisses the top of my head. I sighed having successfully evaded him.

I glanced back at Asher's phone and quickly locked the door behind me.

"Have you informed your mom? "

I wave a hand, resting my head on Ethan's arm as he's taller. "She's probably asleep. She's had a long day discussing with the guests. "

"Oh. Who were they? "

I stiffened. "Um, just some distant relatives."

"You sure? " he asked and I looked up to see what expression he was holding, only to see him cackling. I sigh.

"You look pale! I'm sure it's some naughty kids! " he laughs and I pretend to laugh along.

It sulks to fake-laugh.

"Okay, let's be fast, love, " he says, pecking me on the lips. I forced a smile and we climbed into his car he parked, in the garage, a stone throw away from my house.

Ethan owns a diner and so he's the one with the higher income. I had a car too but it's a fairly used one I bought two months ago.

We arrived at the park and had lots of fun. We rode the horse and buggy giant wheel. Ethan even got a teddy for me after shooting the bull's eye in a darts competition. He was pretty good at it. That was his favourite game to play. Mine is chess but he is bad at it so it's been months since I've touched a chessboard.

After the park, we decided to get some snacks at a restaurant not far from it. I was having a great time not until I received a call.

I glance at it to see it's Emily.

I picked it up without a second thought as I walked hand-in-hand with Ethan to the restaurant.

"Baby, I'm sorry. I left my wallet in the car. " I nod in approval for him to go and blow him a kiss as he jogs away.

"Love you!" I said on impulse.

"Is that your pathetic boyfriend? " a deep male voice yelled from the other line. It dawned on me who the owner of the voice was. I tried not to be shocked.

"Why the hell are you with Emily's phone, Asher? " I yell back with matching anger.

I heard some noises before he spoke again, "You're with mine. "

"No. You left it. "

"Accidentally, " he corrected.

"And I didn't take it. As I said, you left it, " I state firmly.

He heaved a sigh. "Okay fine. I quit. I left it there because Arlee was playing some games on it- Wait, you left it means you've seen it. "

I shut my eyes and cuss at myself. I just gave it away.

"Now, would you bring it with you when you're coming to our place? Mom is expecting you next week. "

"Okay," I reply. "I will. By the way... my regards to Arlee. "

"Yeah, and do you know where you have to come."

No. But I don't want to look like a fool in front of him. I should've asked Emily.

"I'll just send the address to the phone." He beat me to it.

"And how am I supposed to check it when it's locked? "

"Wait, you've turned it on! Why in the fuck would you do that? " he partially yelled.

I rolled my eyes to the back of my head and drew in a long exasperated breath. "It's not like that's not normal, okay? At least I would know who owns it by doing that."

"We're talking about courtesy here. You must've seen it with me earlier."

"Well...beats me. How about we talk about why you even used my picture back in high school, " I snap before quickly covering my mouth. Oh no. I slipped.

He was silent.

"Asher? "

Ethan was already coming towards me. He was smiling so I also put up a smile and turned away from him.

"Okay, fine. The password is your favourite game. "

The next thing I heard was a beep. I sighed, maybe disappointed. Just in time, some hands were wrapped around me.

"I love to hug you like this, " he mutters into my ear. I didn't feel anything. No electricity, no 'heart beating fast' unlike when I was with Asher in my room.

Damn. Why am I comparing them? Ethan is my fiancee, Asher is someone I hate and would forever. He's nothing to me.

I turn around and let him kiss my temple.

"So what would you like? "

I immediately giggled pushing away whatever Asher thoughts I had at the back of my mind.

When it was five in the evening, Ethan dropped me home and he tried to kiss me but I didn't know why I pulled away.

He was shocked but let it go. He just kissed my forehead and walked back home as he already parked his car in the garage. I whispered goodbye and rushed inside. I turned on the lamps as it was dark and there, I spotted Asher's phone. Cold and untouched.

I bent over to it and picked it up while sitting on the floor. I unconsciously smiled as I saw the picture of me. It was of me in the uniform, holding a novel in hand while I bared my teeth. I figured it should be taken while I must've been walking with Mia to the football field. What I don't understand is when and why he took this picture.

Anyways, true to his words, he sent the address but I needed to unlock the phone before I could view it.

Then, what he said replayed in my head. The password is your favourite game.

I held my breath. With shaky hands and a fast-beating heart, I typed in chess.

It took mere seconds before the phone got unlocked. I let out the breath I was holding and collapsed against the couch's arm.

He was using my picture as a lock screen and then my favourite game as his unlock password!

Why on earth would he do that? He hates me! And I thought the feeling was mutual.

He has a picture of fifteen-year-old me and knows my favourite game. Where is this going?

However, I couldn't help the smile that crawled up my face at the end.

It only meant one thing and I'm beginning to wonder if that was even possible.

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