Chapter 2

I wanted to tell Naomi that I had no idea what she was talking about, as I didn't even know how to play checkers and certainly wouldn't know chess jargon.

Naomi, however, didn't seem to notice and excitedly told me about everything going on between her and Carl.

At first, I would listen to her patiently, but that patience eventually grew thin as I sensed things changing ever so subtly, and there was nothing I could do to change it.

I once complained about it to Naomi, only for her to tell me, "He's a prodigy. He's different from normies like you."

Indeed, which was why she found a kindred spirit in him, while I remained a normie.

In fact, I lost interest in watching the Spring Orchid Cup final when I found out that Carl was Naomi's opponent.

However, our parents didn't know and even called me home to watch it, so I had to.

As they sat on their couch and the emcee announced the third round, I was on my phone, utterly distracted and only looking at the TV occasionally.

Soon, I heard Steve grumble unhappily, "What is Naomi playing at? Is she throwing the game for that boy?"

Surprised, I looked up to see Naomi blushing as she eyed Carl, and she then lowered her gaze for a while before making another move.

Carl was in turn smiling at her adoringly, not hesitating in his moves at all.

I really didn't know much about chess, but judging from my father and Steve's reactions, Naomi wasn't playing well nor playing to her full potential.

That left me bemused as this wasn't the Naomi I knew.

She loved me as much as she loved chess and had always shown integrity in her passion, treating every practice session and review seriously.

Even when she had to play with me, it was just checkers and not chess because chess was that sacred to her.

And this… was a first.

Soon, I heard Steve groan, "That was the seventh round! Is she even taking this seriously?! Why is she trying so hard not to win?!"

Seven rounds?

She let Carl win that much against her own principles?

And for someone who wasn't me?

I was left clenching on my own sleeve, a burning sensation flaring over my chest, suffocating me.

Wanda noticed and patted my back. "Don't worry about it, Andy. Nana's probably trying to give the kid a chance so he won't look too bad."

I pursed my lips stiffly and nodded. "I'm fine, Mom."

Even so, I knew full well what it meant: a certain person was quietly drifting away from me.

In the end, Naomi did beat Carl and win the Spring Orchid Cup, so the Wilsons and my family decided to go out together for dinner.

After arriving at the restaurant, I called Naomi on video, but she soon declined the call.

Stumped, I forced a smile as I awkwardly put away my phone and said, "I guess she's busy, so she couldn't answer."

Steve snorted. "No, I think she needs a proper beating. Hanging up on her boyfriend? Just watch, Andy—when she comes home, I will properly straighten her out!"

I smiled, shaking her head. "It's no big deal, and it's not the first time she's won—she's probably talking to the press and the afterparty could drag on, so I'm used to it. I wanted to call her to tell her that we're celebrating too, but I guess this means she can treat everyone to a feast when she's back!"