Chapter 6

Early next morning, as soon as Sinead came downstairs, she ran into Nelson. He was sitting on the sofa with a dark expression on his face, his voice hard and cold. "Sinead!"

She could tell from his tone that he was in a very bad mood. She still had no intention of calming him down, though, and her attitude was anything but warm. "Oh. Morning. I'm just about to go out on a date with my boyfriend, so I won't be keeping you company. Make yourself at home."

The anger Nelson had been holding back for days finally snapped. He rose to his feet and grabbed her wrist, his eyes stormy. "Since when did you get a boyfriend?"

Sinead did not answer, and there was no fear on her face.

His temper flared, his grip tightening without him noticing. "Are you a mute now? Say something!"

Sinead tried to pull her wrist free, the skin already red under his fingers as her tone remained cold. "How's that your business? Aren't you being a little too intrusive?"

Just as the fight was about to blow up, Liana came downstairs and quickly pulled them apart. "Oh, she's just sulking. She's swamped with work right now, so how could she find the time to date anyone? If she's going to fall in love, that can wait till later. You two grew up together, so there's nothing you can't talk about. Stop arguing, alright?"

With Sinead's mother there, they both calmed down and sat down.

After Liana left, Nelson realized he had gone a little too far. Once he had cooled off, he thought back over what had just happened and frowned. Had Liana just said Sinead was too busy right now? What was going on? What was she so busy with that it had to wait until later?

He had no idea, so he asked Sinead. "So… You were lying to me just now?"

Sinead glanced at him and went to sit in the corner. "Do you need something?"

Seeing her dodge the question, Nelson knew she was trying to mess with him. He let out a slow sigh and moved on to what really bothered him. "It's my birthday tomorrow. Why aren't you coming?"

"I'm busy, and I can't find the time," Sinead said nonchalantly.

Her coldness made Nelson's anger surge again, and he raised his voice. "What are you so busy with? What could be more important than my birthday? You used to be more eager than anyone else to celebrate with me."

Sinead took a sip of water, her voice still calm. "Things are different now. You already have a girlfriend. You should be saying that to Irene, not me. I'm just an outsider."

For some reason, Nelson felt a sharp pang of discomfort when he heard the word 'outsider'. He crossed one leg over the other and laced his fingers together. "I don't care. You have to come this year. Do you remember a few years ago, you promised me three wishes? First, you'd knit me a scarf. Second, you'd climb that snowy mountain with me. You've already done both. Now, I'm using the third wish. You have to come to my birthday."

This time, Sinead did not snap back at him. Instead, she lowered her head. Her silence made Nelson feel even more stifled, and his voice turned colder. "Have you forgotten why you agreed to those three wishes in the first place?"

Of course, she remembered.

Three years ago, they had gone to the seaside, and they had been caught in the rising tide. She had gotten a cramp in her leg and had been swept out into the deep waters.

Nelson had jumped in after her without a second thought, dragging her back to shore. By the time they had made it to safety, he was so exhausted that he had almost drowned himself. She had cried herself almost unconscious at his bedside and had even thought about wanting to die with him.

When he finally woke up, he had gently wiped away her tears, his tone soft. "You're crying so much, someone might think I'm really dead."

"Despite how much I care about you, you're still talking like that!" Sinead was so angry that she had hit him once, and he had begged for mercy while trying to comfort her.

"Alright, alright… If you really care about me that much, then grant me three wishes…"

Sinead became quiet again as she reminisced about the past. The room stayed quiet for a long time before she finally gave him an answer. "Alright. After I fulfill the third wish..."

A phone's ringing cut her off.

Nelson picked up the call as he stood up and walked out. "So long as you agree, that's enough. You have to come tomorrow."

Watching him disappear through the doorway, Sinead finished the rest of her sentence. "Then we can stop contacting each other."