I Lost The Game But Won In The End Chapter 03
When I woke up the next morning, my fever was 103 degrees Fahrenheit.
My mother came to call me for breakfast. The moment her hand touched my forehead, her expression changed.
“Why are you burning up?”
There was a doctor traveling with us on the yacht.
He took my temperature, examined my throat, and prescribed medication.
“You probably got chilled last night. Get plenty of rest.”
My father poured me a glass of warm water.
“You heard him. Stay in bed and rest.”
I nodded, took the medicine, and fell asleep again.
When I woke, the room felt unbearably stuffy.
My throat felt as though I had swallowed razor blades.
I put on a mask and went outside for some air.
I had barely reached the corridor when I saw Julian coming down from upstairs carrying a gift bag.
There were two wrapped boxes beside my parents.
Even Ethan’s parents were having people carry gifts out onto the deck.
I froze for a few seconds before remembering.
Today was Zoe’s birthday.
I had actually prepared a gift too.
A vintage watch.
Last month, when we were shopping together, she had stood outside a display window staring at it for a long time.
She liked it, so I remembered.
I went back to my room and opened my suitcase.
The gift box was tucked beneath my clothes.
I held it for a long time, then shoved it back inside.
I didn’t want to give it to her anymore.
I had just closed the suitcase when I heard footsteps outside.
Ethan came down the corridor from the other end, carrying a can of peaches.
I stopped short.
There was everything on this yacht.
Imported fruit, desserts, snacks. Even the chef had been specially brought along by the Sinclair family.
But no one would go out of their way to stock an ordinary supermarket can of peaches.
So the moment I saw it, I knew Ethan had bought it before boarding.
Whenever I got a fever as a child, I lost my appetite.
I wouldn’t eat congee or regular meals. The only thing I could manage was a few bites of canned peaches.
Ethan used to tease me about it when we were kids.
“Everyone else eats congee when they’re sick. You insist on eating something sweet.”
Later, every time I got sick, he would buy a can and leave it by my bed without my ever having to ask.
My resolve, which had hardened the night before, softened despite myself at the sight of that can.
So he had worried I might get sick even before we set sail.
Ethan saw me too.
“Why are you out here? Didn’t the doctor tell you to stay in bed?”
“It’s stuffy inside.”
My throat hurt, so my voice was quiet.
“Don’t stay out too long. Take your medicine on time.”
Then he carried the things downstairs.
He didn’t give me the peaches.
By noon, my throat hurt so badly I could barely swallow water.
I lay in bed staring at my chat with Ethan.
After hesitating for a long time, I was just about to ask where he had put the peaches when a birthday song suddenly started outside.
“Happy birthday to you…”
I went to the door and saw a table full of food downstairs.
Zoe sat in the middle. Everyone was there.
And the can of peaches I had thought was for me was sitting right in front of her.
Zoe’s eyes turned red.
“You still remember?”
Ethan sat beside her.
“Didn’t you tell me about it in college?”
“When you were little, your family didn’t have much money. Every year on your birthday, your mother would buy you a can of peaches.”
“Later, once you could afford anything you wanted, you could never find that same taste again.”
So that can had never been meant for me.
Then everyone began giving her gifts.
Julian gave her a camera.
Ethan’s mother pushed a gift box toward her.
“You’ll be attending more formal occasions in the future. You’ll have use for this.”
My mother handed over her gift too.
My father smiled.
“I heard that recent project of yours went very well. It’s impressive to see a young person with real ability.”
Ethan’s father nodded too.
“The only thing this girl lacks is family background. Otherwise, there’s no telling how far she could go.”
Zoe sat in the middle of them, surrounded by gifts and smiles.
And I stood at the top of the stairs in a mask, like the one person who didn’t belong.
My mother noticed me first.
“Nora, why are you out again? Don’t come down.”
“It’s Zoe’s birthday. Don’t pass your cold to her.”