The five of us had been playing Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide everything since we were kids. Whoever lost had to pay the price. But in twelve years, I had never won. Not even once. The night before our engagement party, they were playing again to decide who wouldn’t be allowed on stage tomorrow. I sat in the corner, and for the first time, I saw the truth clearly. Just before they throw their hands, Ethan Carter tapped his fingers twice on the edge of the table. In the next second, the other three threw Paper in perfect unison. I threw Rock. “Chloe lost again!” “Rules are rules, Chloe. You’re not allowed on stage tomorrow.” Ethan reached over, pulling my hands into his palms and rubbing them gently. “You really are unlucky. But don’t worry. I don’t mind.” If this were the past, I would have laughed and accepted defeat. But this time, I just stared at him. “Tomorrow is my engagement party, and I’m not allowed on stage?” “When you tapped your fingers twice, was that the signal for them to throw Paper?” The table went dead silent for a second. Hailey Vance let out a soft giggle. “You only just realized? We’ve had that code since high school.” “We didn’t tell you because we were afraid you’d be a sore loser.” Ethan nodded. “You’re too sensitive, Chloe. If we told you, you’d just cry again.” So, that was it. For twelve years, I ran their errands, picked up their bills, and gave up my seats for them. It wasn’t because my luck was bad. It was because they never intended to let me win. Slowly, I pulled my hand out of Ethan’s grip. “From now on, I’m out of the game.” “So go ahead. Pick another bride for tomorrow.” …
I turned and walked away. The VIP room door wasn’t fully closed, and a burst of laughter erupted behind me. “Ethan, aren’t you going to go after her and comfort her?” Ethan scoffed, not even bothering to lower his voice. “Just leave her. She begged me for over six months to get engaged. She’ll show up tomorrow earlier than anyone else.” The whole table laughed in agreement. I stood at the end of the hallway, wiping my tears before I walked out. The receptionist at the front desk looked up and naturally turned the card reader toward me. “Miss Miller, the total is five thousand dollars.” Over the past twelve years, I had lost count of how many times I had paid the bill at this restaurant. It had become such a habit that everyone took it for granted. “I’m not paying.” “From now on, the person paying won’t be me.” When I got home, the house was dark. I dragged my suitcase out from behind the closet. Halfway through, I saw the cream-colored gown hanging behind the door. This engagement party was indeed something I had practically begged Ethan for over the past six months. Every time I brought it up before, either Hailey was sick, or Hailey was moving. He had even told me once that he lost a round of Rock, Paper, Scissors. The penalty was that he couldn’t mention marriage for a month. Yet, the very next day, I saw his Instagram Story. The four of them were vacationing on a private island. He and Hailey were wearing a tuxedo and a wedding dress. Under their friends’ cheers, they exchanged rings. That day, with red eyes, I held up my phone and confronted him. He had only sighed helplessly. “Hailey and I grew up together. I’ve known her longer than I’ve known you.” “If there were really anything between us, would it even be your turn?” Seeing my silence, his tone had softened. “We were just helping her practice. She wanted to know what a wedding ceremony felt like.” At 1:00 AM, the front door opened. He walked in smelling of alcohol, stepping over to the bed without even taking off his shoes. “The flight lands at 5:00 AM tomorrow. You need to pick up Hailey’s parents from the airport.” “She’s the most important guest tomorrow.” Without waiting for my reply, he scrolled through his phone, remembering something else. “And don’t forget, you lost the game. Tomorrow, Hailey and I will be the ones taking the stage.” “Everyone knows you’re the bride anyway, so it doesn’t matter if you go up there or not. Just be good.” With that, Ethan looked up at me. There wasn’t a single shred of guilt in his eyes. “Oh, and don’t wear that cream-colored gown. You’ll clash with Hailey.” A sharp sting rose in my nose, but I forced it down. After a long silence, I finally spoke. “Ethan, let’s call off the engagement. I’m tired.” He froze for a second, then laughed out loud. “Again?” “Over that little thing from this afternoon?” He sat on the edge of the bed and took off his jacket. “It was just a game. The five of us have played it since we were kids.” “Is it really worth throwing a tantrum over?” “Besides, even when you lose, you just run some errands or buy some stuff. Who would actually want to make you feel bad?” The touch of sincerity in his eyes almost fooled me again. On the day we filled out our college applications, the five of us had crowded onto his apartment balcony. Ethan had made the final call, saying we should all stay in the city, and no one was allowed to leave. So, I crossed out New York University, the school I had always dreamed of attending. Later, Logan went to Boston, and Mason went to Chicago. Ethan and Hailey went to New York together. Only I stayed behind. At 11:30 PM, my mom sent me a Snapchat message. “Chloe, what time should your dad and I head over tomorrow?” “Don’t worry about us. We can just sit in the very back row.” “We won’t get in your way.” Staring at those words, a sharp pain pierced my heart. I opened the chatbox. “Mom, the engagement is cancelled tomorrow.”
I started typing more. “Mom, honestly, I’ve been so tired all these years.” But then, word by word, I deleted it. I only replied with one sentence. “I’ll tell you when I get back. I want to come home and stay with you guys for a few days.” Just then, Ethan’s voice drifted from the bathroom, loud and clear. “Chloe, if you keep acting up like this, don’t blame me if I actually call off the wedding.” The next morning, I didn’t go to the airport. My phone started buzzing with texts at 5:30 AM and didn’t stop until 9:00 AM. I didn’t open a single one of them. Suddenly, the bedroom door was kicked open. Ethan stood there, his face pale with rage as he demanded answers. “Hailey’s parents stood at the airport for four hours!” “I had to drive over and pick them up myself in the end. Are you happy now?” I kept packing my suitcase, standing quietly beside him. “I told you, I’m out of this game.” “Out?” He let out a cold laugh. “Chloe, do you think this is a game you can just quit whenever you feel like it?” Hailey peeked out from behind him, her face filled with grievance. “Chloe, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have asked Ethan to pick them up…” “How about I tell them to go back right now?” “Do you hear that?” Hearing Hailey speak, Ethan’s anger flared up instantly. “Hailey is already apologizing to you. What more do you want?” He snatched my suitcase and threw it back into the corner. “A loss is a loss. It’s been twelve years. Do you think you make the rules now?” Looking into his eyes, I remembered last year. Hailey had appendicitis and was hospitalized. We played Rock, Paper, Scissors in the hallway to decide who would stay to nurse her. Ethan lost five times in a row, laughing and accepting his defeat. In the end, he stayed by her side for three days and three nights, peeling apples for her with a scruffy, unshaven face. But last winter, when I had a fever of 103 degrees, we also played the game. I threw Rock, and the four of them threw Paper in perfect, silent unison. Ethan had laughed, tossing his car keys to me. “Rules are rules, Chloe. Call an Uber yourself.” That night, I sat in the ER alone for four hours getting an IV drip, and went home by myself. It turned out he wasn’t incapable of losing. He had just never lost for me. “So, what is it this time? How much drama do you have to make before you’ll stop?” I didn’t cry, and I didn’t say a word. But this time, I was truly exhausted. I just silently set my suitcase upright again. Ethan’s face darkened completely. “Fine, Chloe. You’re really something!” “Don’t bother coming to the engagement party today.” “I’ll tell my mom that the bride is sick and resting at home.” The door slammed shut with a deafening bang. When it opened again, it was a delivery driver holding a bouquet of flowers. White roses. Ethan and I had an agreement. Whenever we had a fight and went cold turkey, a bouquet of white roses meant the fight was over. The sender bowed their head, and the receiver offered forgiveness. Over the years, I had received seventeen of them. I didn’t know what to feel as I held them. Just as I was about to close the door, the delivery driver stopped me. “Wait, the customer paid extra and asked me to pass along a message.” The driver cleared his throat, imitating a young girl’s cute, mocking voice. “Chloe, you’re really being too immature.” “Luckily, Ethan has me to send you flowers on his behalf.” “Oh, by the way, all your flowers from before? I was the one who ordered them too.” The blood in my veins froze in that single moment. So, from the very beginning, this promise was nothing but a joke. So, for all seventeen times, the one who bowed her head was actually me.
Before I could even process this, Ethan’s mother called. Her tone was as arrogant and condescending as always. “Chloe, how do you still have the nerve to hide at home?” “My Ethan can get any girl he wants. How was he so blind to choose you?” “It’s bad enough that you didn’t show up, but you actually let your small-town, embarrassing parents come here and make us a laughingstock!” Right after she hung up, a photo popped up on my phone. I opened it frantically. It was the grand ballroom of the luxury hotel. The heavy double doors were open only by a tiny, narrow crack. My mom and dad were standing in the hallway outside, holding thick, heavy bags in their hands. With hunched backs, they tilted their heads, carefully and fearfully trying to peer through that tiny crack. They just wanted to steal a glance at their daughter’s happiness. Tears rushed to my eyes. I grabbed my jacket and bolted out the door. But by the time I rushed to the hotel, they had already been kicked out by security. They didn’t know the city. How did they manage to find their way here all the way from their small midwestern town? I didn’t dare to think about the struggles and the cold glares they must have faced along the way. With trembling hands, I dialed their number. It rang for a long time before my mom finally answered, her voice soft and hesitant. “Chloe…” She spoke very quietly, sounding incredibly tense. “We didn’t go in. We just stood outside for a little bit.” “Your dad brought two bottles of homemade cider. He said it was his first time meeting Ethan’s parents, and we couldn’t show up empty-handed.” “We wanted to give you a surprise, and to see your big day.” A lump formed in my throat, choking me. “Where are you guys? I’m coming to get you…” “Chloe, we…” Suddenly, a hand reached out from the side. My phone was violently knocked out of my hand and hit the floor. Ethan stepped on it with his leather shoe, cracking the screen into a million white pieces. He looked down at me, his eyebrows knitted tightly. “What are you doing here?” “Don’t you know today’s party is completely private? Walking around with your phone trying to take videos, what kind of stunt are you pulling now?” Before I could say a word, Hailey emerged from the hotel lobby, supported by Mason. With just one look, my heart was pierced. She was wearing a cream-colored, custom-designed gown. It was the exact same design I had hand-drawn and ordered three months ago. Last night, he had warned me not to wear cream because he was afraid we would clash. It wasn’t because he was afraid of clashing. It was because he had already put my wedding gown on another woman. Ignoring the dress, I stared dead at Ethan, my voice trembling. “My parents stood outside for the entire morning. Didn’t they even deserve a seat?” Ethan froze for a second, seemingly not expecting this to be the reason. He frowned, his tone turning dismissive. “My mom said she already arranged for someone to handle them, and…” “Arranged for someone to kick them out?” I cut him off, my eyes bloodshot as I glared at him. “They don’t know anyone in this city! What if something happens to them!” A flash of panic crossed Ethan’s eyes, and he instinctively took a step forward. But Hailey, right on cue, reached out and grabbed his sleeve. Her eyes were slightly red as she apologized in a sweet, fragile voice. “Chloe, don’t blame Ethan.” “I was just worried that your parents would feel out of place in their clothes inside, so I asked security to politely guide them out…” “It’s all my fault. I should have gone to pick them up myself.” With just those words, the worry in Ethan’s eyes vanished instantly. He turned to shield Hailey, scolding me with a cold face. “It was all for your own good.” “Can you stop throwing these tantrums regardless of the occasion?” My heart sank further and further into the abyss.
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