Library
Search
Home / Romance / A Game of Hearts / Chapter 8

Share

Chapter 8

Author: Fresh Gardenia
last update Last Updated: 2024-11-29 20:51:07
It turned out that Selena had known me for quite some time.

Back during the first day of the new semester, it had been raining cats and dogs. While waiting at the bus stop, I noticed a girl standing there, completely soaked. As my bus pulled up, I walked over and handed her my umbrella.

That was when Selena first developed feelings for me.

Later, when we crossed paths again, I didn't remember her. So, when we met at the bar, she had drunkenly clung to me like a mad woman and insisted on wanting to sleep with me. She did that because she had been secretly in love with me for all those years.

I understood the feeling of loving someone and not being able to have them—I had been there.

Right now, my heart ached for Selena as I looked at this foolish woman in front of me. Though they were best friends, she had no idea that Jessica and I had been an official couple. To her, it looked like I was just humiliating myself as I clung to her friend.

For five years, all she saw was the ugliest, most helpless side of me.

She had tried to stop caring about me, but one evening after work, she saw me again outside the office. I was standing in the cold, holding a thermos as I waited for Jessica. My cheeks were bright red, and I kept shifting my feet to stay warm, but I still wore a hopeful smile as I waited quietly.

When she saw me standing there, the feelings she wanted to discard came rushing back again.

She said that me treating her best friend that way proved I was a good person. And she had asked Jessica more than once if I was just a friend to her. Jessica had assured her that I was, so Selena believed that one day, I would turn around and see her.

Luckily, I did.

After being honest with each other, things between Selena and I became easier.

The more I got to know her, the more I realized what a great person she was—honest, straightforward, and considerate. Selena never lost her temper with me. She always listened carefully to what I had to say. Whenever we had a disagreement, we would have serious discussions.

Spending time with her made me really happy.

In the blink of an eye, two months had passed.

Selena had become a bigger part of my life. She started asking what I wanted for dinner, and would come by my office after work. After going grocery shopping together, we would prepare a meal, with me washing and chopping the ingredients while she cooked.

One time, she asked me for a spare key to my apartment, and I gave it to her without hesitation. As I handed the key to her, we both froze for a moment.

She looked at me and asked in a hoarse voice, "What if I moved in with you?"
Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Related chapters

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 9

    When I refused, she immediately responded, "I was just joking."Then, testing the waters, she hesitantly asked, "What about if I moved in next door?"I didn't answer.But to my surprise, just a couple of days later, she really did move into the empty apartment next door that had been vacant for two years.One night, she knocked on my door, asking if she could use my bathroom since she didn't have hot water yet. Later, she stood in my bathroom, her hair wrapped in a towel, and asked if she could crash on my couch for the night because her place was too messy to sleep in.She made sure to assure me that she wouldn't do anything, which made me laugh.She was a woman. Wasn't she worried I would take advantage of her?I ended up giving her my bedroom.The next morning, she woke up early and made breakfast. When I got up, I saw her wearing an apron, working hard at the kitchen counter. This was the kind of life I had been dreaming of for the last five years.In a completely impulsiv

    Last Updated : 2024-11-29

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 10

    In past years, it was the day I always spent with Jessica. I would take the day off from work and prepare all the ingredients for our meals. We would stay in the house together all day without going anywhere.I dropped everything just to be there for her. We would talk, watch movies, water the plants on the balcony, and make dinner. I would wait for her to finish eating, then drape a blanket over her and watch her drift off to sleep on the couch.Her mother's death anniversary was a day only she and I remembered. She never told anyone else—not even Selena.The impact Jessica's mother's suicide had on her wasn't obvious to anyone else. The rumors at the time said her mother had been unfaithful, almost abandoning her family to run off abroad with her lover.So, after her mother's death, Jessica continued on as usual. She went to work every day, showing no outward signs of being affected.But I knew.I knew Jessica was grieving. Every little movement, every gesture, even the smile o

    Last Updated : 2024-11-29

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 11

    After that, I didn't hear from Jessica for another week.But every now and then, Selena would mention that Jessica seemed to be fighting a lot with Cameron. According to Selena, Cameron was selfish and had an extreme personality. She didn't understand what her best friend saw in him.Honestly, that was my question too.For five years, I'd practically laid my heart out for Jessica, but in the end, she didn’t seem to care as she remained fixated on Cameron.As I listened to Selena telling me about my ex-girlfriend, I realized I felt no lingering sadness about her at all. I was strangely indifferent, so much so that I couldn't even understand it myself.One night, Selena asked, "Seb, our team is having dinner tonight, and everyone's bringing a plus-one. I was wondering... Would you come with me?"Selena was probably thrilled at the thought of me going. By now, we both thought of ourselves as a couple, even though we hadn't made it official.I was initially a bit hesitant, since I k

    Last Updated : 2024-11-29

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 12

    When the cab arrived, I slid into the passenger seat while the two women sat in the back.Suddenly, Selena turned to Jessica and asked, "Jess, why didn't you tell me you and Cameron broke up?""It's nothing. Just a case of seeing things clearly and cutting my losses. There wasn't anything to tell you," Jessica replied flatly.Her words made me glance up at the rearview mirror, and our eyes met for a brief moment.There was so much in her gaze—things I couldn't understand.Selena's voice broke the silence again, "Lena, you don't look so good. Are you feeling okay?"I turned back to see that Jessica was very pale. Her brows were furrowed and her head was lowered, silent as ever.After a moment's hesitation, I spoke up, "Is it your stomach? You should take your medicine when you get home."Jessica lifted her gaze and locked eyes with me, her stare intense and unreadable.I quickly turned away, ignoring her.It had been so long since I had thought about her, yet her eyes—sharp li

    Last Updated : 2024-11-29

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 13

    At that moment, I genuinely felt sorry for Jessica."But I do mind that you lived with Cameron," I quipped, cutting her off mid-sentence.With that, I ended the call.Jessica called back immediately, but I didn't pick up right away. It was only when she called for the twenty-third time that I answered.The moment I picked up, I snapped, "Jessica, just because I'm not yelling doesn't mean I don't have a temper. Stop testing my limits."Jessica let out a scoff. "Sebastian, I know you too well. You could never like anyone else but me.""We'll see how things go. If Selena finds out we lived together for five years, how do you think she'll react?" she added, her voice dripping with amusement."Jessica, what are you trying to do?" I demanded.She chuckled again. "Relax, I'm not going to spill everything right now. I just want you to face your own heart."She ended the call before I could respond.I held the phone tightly, trying to calm my racing thoughts. When I finally relaxed, I

    Last Updated : 2024-11-29

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 14

    It seemed like Jessica had really decided to latch onto me again. She kept calling me in the middle of the night. The moment I picked up, I could hear her sobbing on the other end.Annoyed, I tried to put some distance between us by coldly saying, "Jessica, I've started a new life. You need to go talk things through with Cameron and clear up whatever misunderstandings you have with him. Stop calling me in the middle of the night to cry. If you keep doing this, I'll block you!"Her crying stopped suddenly, and after a long pause, she sniffled and spoke in a shaky voice, "You can't be that cruel. You remember, don't you? When you were at your lowest, I was the one who helped you. I saved you, Sebastian. You haven't forgotten, right?"Those words hit me like a punch to the gut, dragging me back to when I was sixteen.I slumped down, feeling utterly defeated.If, over the past two months, I'd almost managed to forget about Jessica, this moment made it clear—I could never completely pu

    Last Updated : 2024-11-29

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 15

    Jessica's family wasn't anything extraordinary, but her cousin was a different story. His family was our school's biggest shareholder, so no one dared challenge him. Because of that, no one dared mess with Jessica either.I had just been shoved into the lake yet again when Jessica showed up.With her cousin right behind her, they kicked the chubby guy who had been holding me down. It was like they had lifted a heavy shadow that had been weighing down on my life."Where's this fat mutt from? Was your father planning to raise an animal instead of a son? Get lost already!"Jessica was clearly a girl, but her words were as powerful as any man's.I wiped the dirty water off my face and looked up at her, squinting my eyes to see through the light shining right behind her. The sunlight filtering in through the ornate windows cast a glow around her, making it almost seem like she was radiating light."Hey, are you okay?" she asked.I shook my head, wiped the water from my face, and pick

    Last Updated : 2024-11-29

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 16

    That night, I found myself going over so many memories from our younger days.I didn't sleep at all.The next day, I couldn't help myself—I asked Selena to stop by and check on Jessica. Selena stayed over there for three days. Each evening after work, I would bring over groceries and cook for us. After the three of us had dinner together, I would wait for them to fall asleep before going home.But the more I did, the more it seemed to make Jessica feel I wasn't over her.Once Selena returned home, Jessica started finding excuses to catch me alone whenever her friend wasn't around.It was too late for all that now. Late affection was worth less than dirt. No matter how much she regretted it, the feelings were long gone for me. Back then, I would bend over backwards to make her a full seafood feast and wait for her for hours, but she didn't even send me a single message.She was the one who had pulled me out of the dark in my youth. But later, she stomped on me like I was nothing.

    Last Updated : 2024-11-29

Latest chapter

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 51

    Just before boarding the plane, I was about to turn off my phone when I got a text message.The contact name was Lena.My hand trembled as I opened it, and there, in front of me, was a picture. I zoomed in—it was an invitation. Another message followed right after.Selena wrote: [Sebastian, I'm getting married. Here's the invite. If you're free, bring Jess and come.]I stood there stupidly, staring at the invitation.After what seemed like an eternity, I finally typed back: [Sure. I hope you'll have a lifetime of happiness.]Maybe by this point, the truth didn't matter anymore.-In the end, I attended Selena's wedding. I kept my distance, watching from afar.She looked stunning. Her wedding dress flowed out behind her, thirty feet of white silk embroidered with roses so lifelike, they almost seemed to bloom with every step she took. I remembered how she once told me that when she got married, she wanted to wear a dress covered in roses.She had made her dream come true.The

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 50

    It had been over two years since I last saw James. He looked so different now—much thinner, his face pale and sallow. The energy he once had was completely gone. As we spoke, I discovered he was gravely ill with late-stage kidney failure.Maybe it's true what they say—when people were near the end, they spoke more openly and honestly.He looked at me and said, "Sebastian, back then, I was the one who tore you and Selena apart. Now, I'm about to die. I can't stop you anymore. Why don't you go to her?"I stared at him, my lips curling into a cold smile. "There's no need. Things between us were impossible for a long time."It had been two years. Selena had probably moved on. Since I made my choice back then, I shouldn't bother her anymore.He looked like he wanted to say more, but I cut him off before he could, saying, "To love someone, sometimes you just have to wish them the best and let them go. That's all."James took a deep breath. "I really want to apologize to you. I know I m

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 49

    It wasn't surprising when we won the bid. The announcement felt like a natural progression, but it still left me buzzing with excitement.After the meeting, the CEO of Xeron Innovations, Luke Xeron, personally came to speak with me."I really admire your talent," he said, shaking my hand firmly. "I'd like to extend an offer for you to join my company as deputy CEO."I smiled politely and shook my head. "I appreciate the offer, but I have plans to start my own design firm."Luke's eyes brightened. "I respect that. You've got vision. To help you get started, I'd like to invest three million in your company."His offer was generous, and with his help, the funding for my design company was secured. But before I could focus on that, there was still one major project I needed to complete—working with the government to bring The Ashenford Eye to life.Once the project started, I spent every day at the construction site, and lunch was usually a quick sandwich grabbed between meetings.O

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 48

    Soon, it was my turn to present."Good morning, everyone. It's an honor to be here today at the Ashenford Design Competition organized by the government. I'd like to start by showing you the 3D model our team has put together."I gave a nod to the two team members who were with me on stage.One of them, Logan, clicked the remote, and the screen came to life with my design—a black and white, simple… ball? Inside it were images of Ashenford, but what was this supposed to be?There was a confused murmur amongst the crowd.I smiled and said, "I know this might look a little strange to some of you. Some might think it's a hot air balloon with pictures of Ashenford's scenery, circling the city every day and lowering different flags at various locations. Others might think it's a unique building that belongs on top of a tall building, a mountain, or even a tower."Or, some of you might think this is a massive ship, placed in the river, floating down the stream alongside beautiful bloomi

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 47

    Samuel was incredibly efficient—by the time the morning was over, everything was set up.I had a plan now. Regardless of whether I won the competition or not, I was determined to start my own design firm. To have more time to prepare, I handed in my resignation.I rented a small office across from Ashenford University to use as a temporary studio. After investing some of my savings into the necessary equipment, Samuel, his students, and I got to work.The students, full of energy and enthusiasm, dove right in without hesitation, and we made steady progress. A week later, we finally finished our project. At the same time, the day of the Ashenford Design Competition's bid presentation arrived.As I walked to the venue, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the competition. Aside from our team—just a group of unknown designers—the other participants were established, well-known firms in Ashenford.But there was something about the students' youthful confidence that gave me hope. The

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 46

    After Selena left, I found myself with a lot of free time on my hands. I started staying late at the office and pushing myself harder at the gym.One day, I overheard a new hire talking to a colleague about wanting to join the Ashenford Design Competition but feeling like he wasn't good enough yet. He seemed disappointed about it.As if sensing my interest, he turned to me. "Director Grant, I think you've got some serious design talent."I chuckled and replied, "Honestly, I've always been pretty interested in design."He grinned, leaning even closer. "Then, you should enter the Ashenford Design Competition!"Before I could say anything, he added, "If I had your talent and skills, I would've started my own design firm by now, instead of working nine-to-five for someone else."He gave a small laugh, as if it was obvious. "Every guy dreams of being a boss, right?"His words hit me harder than I expected.This guy, fresh out of university, was already thinking about stepping up and

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 45

    The next day, Selena left the country. I stood at a distance in the airport, watching her plane taxi down the runway.As it took off, soaring higher and farther away, I whispered softly, "Lena, be happy. Be better. Be free."I turned to leave, only to find Jessica standing behind me. I didn't know how long she had been there."You clearly don't want her to go," she said, her voice steady but laced with confusion. "So, why let her?"I didn't meet her eyes. Instead, I looked back toward the sky where Selena's plane had disappeared."Because she deserves more. She shouldn't be held back by someone like me."Jessica looked momentarily dazed.After a moment, she murmured, "Seb, you really are… amazing."As she quietly looked at me, I caught a fleeting look of hope in her eyes. I smiled, but didn't respond to her wishes. Instead, another thought crept in, and I turned to her."Four years ago, you gave Timothy two hundred thousand dollars, didn't you?"Jessica blinked, startled. For

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 44

    I studied the item Selena held out to me. It was a piece of amber, clear as glass, with a tiny cicada perfectly preserved inside.The memory hit me immediately. I had stumbled upon it by chance during a company retreat, deep in the heart of an untouched forest, buried under layers of leaves and dirt.The night I gave it to Selena, she'd been spending New Year's with me.After dinner, I handed it to her and said, "In some ways, this is a prison for the cicada, a place it can never escape. But cicadas only live for about eighty days, so maybe this amber also gave it a new kind of life—one that lasts forever."Almost jokingly, I had added, "Take it, Lena. Someday, if you really need to, you can trade it back to me for a wish."At that time, I knew that Jessica had been my prison in my earlier days. Giving Selena that amber had felt like a promise to start over.But reality had a way of shattering dreams.Looking at Selena now, I knew the truth. No matter how much I cared for her, n

  • A Game of Hearts   Chapter 43

    To completely sever Selena's lingering hopes, I moved away. I also deliberately avoided any chance of running into her. During that time, Jessica called me frequently and even came to see me a few times. But I turned her away every time.I knew clearly where my heart lay—I loved Selena, deeply.Turning her down wasn't because I still had unresolved feelings for Jessica. It was because I wanted Selena to be free to chase her dreams without hesitation.At one point, I had considered going abroad with her, supporting her as she pursued her goals.But there was always James.He had made it clear—if I didn't let go, he would continue to threaten Selena.With my current abilities, I couldn't stand against James. Besides, he promised me that he would arrange for Christopher to receive the best medical treatment overseas. After making another call to James to confirm the arrangements, I got the news the next morning. Christopher had already left the country, accompanied by medical profes

You may also like

DMCA.com Protection Status