Maybe

Chapter 16 Win-win

_Third person_

"Chess," he said with a confident grin.

"Chess?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "I thought you'd choose something more challenging."

"Just play," he replied calmly, "then you'll understand."

"It's easy," I retorted, feeling a surge of confidence. "I know how to play, maybe even better than you."

"Okay then," he said, his expression turning slightly amused. "Let's see." With that, he set up the board, each move a silent challenge between us, the tension building with every placement of a piece.

As we played on, nearing the endgame, he declared "checkmate" for the second time. I maneuvered my king, contemplating the implications. It struck me suddenly.

If I win, he might stop coming around, no more late-night talks or calls. But why did it bother me? After all, he has a girlfriend, right? Maybe. Yet, if he wins, I'd be at his beck and call. What if we tie? What if it's a draw? These thoughts swirled in my mind as the game hung in the balance.

"Ahem... I have a question," I stammered nervously.

"Go on," he replied, glancing up from the chessboard.

"What if the game ties? Like, what happens then?" I asked, uncertainty coloring my voice.

"We don't allow ties; we'll keep playing until someone wins. It's rare for a chess game to end in a tie," he explained, his eyes focused on the board.

"Damn... What do I do then?" I muttered to myself, feeling a mix of determination and nerves.

"Okay, then," I said reassuringly, ready to resume our intense match.

I'm torn between not wanting to lose and not wanting him to win. Pick one, Nina! Just one thing. Either win or lose... Damn it... Fine. I'll intentionally lose the game. I know him well enough; he wouldn't ask me to do something like that.

I conceded the game deliberately, and as expected, he smirked triumphantly and locked eyes with me, silently acknowledging our unspoken understanding.

"See, it's a win-win situation for me," he remarked confidently. "I knew you'd lose on purpose."

"What? Lose on purpose? Why would I do that? Who does that?" I shot back incredulously.

He stood up and shrugged on his jacket.

"Where are you off to?" I demanded.

"Let's go on a date," he declared casually.

"What the heck?" I exclaimed.

"I won the game, so now you have to do whatever I say," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Oh, damn," I muttered under my breath.

"Are you coming or not?" he challenged.

"Fine, ugh, I'm coming," I reluctantly agreed.

I quickly got ready and joined him outside.

"So, where exactly are we going?" I asked cautiously.

"We're heading to a park. I heard there's a new one nearby," he replied with a hint of excitement.

"Okay," I replied, still trying to process the unexpected turn of events.

We decided to go to the park and wandered around aimlessly. Surprisingly, it wasn't dull at all with him by my side. It felt as though we had been close friends for ages. As we spent more time together, I found myself craving his company even more. Little did I expect that I would eventually fall in love with him.

Days passed in a similar fashion, filled with moments that seemed to fly by. Then, a few days later, he came over to my place to hang out. I welcomed his visit eagerly. We ended up playing video games for hours, laughing and teasing each other as the afternoon turned into evening.

Meanwhile

[News](Not necessary)
Tesla will raise the price of "Full Self-Driving," a premium driver assistance option, to $12,000 in the U.S.
The company will also raise the price of FSD subscriptions, which currently cost $199 per month for most users, but Musk did not specify by how much.
Tesla has never reported the take-rate for FSD, i.e. how many customers opt to buy or subscribe to use the advanced driver assistance technology.

Aiden lay sprawled on the couch, half-listening to what he deemed boring news updates. Suddenly, amidst the drone of updates, one headline snagged his attention:

"Currently, Michael Rogers has emerged as the foremost businessman globally, second only to Harry Smith. His success has captivated hearts worldwide, securing him the top spot. Meanwhile, his friend Anthony Stephane has climbed to fifth place. Congratulations to both. Mr. Michael Rogers, any words for our viewers in this live survival show?"

"Absolutely... With a kind heart and a positive mindset, anyone can achieve anything they set their intentions on."

"Thank you so much for this. I really appreciate you coming—"

"Money... the allure of money... That jerk stole my money! Anthony and Michael took everything from me and became the biggest businessmen. They've put Ethan and his damn sister's names on everything!" Aiden muttered furiously to himself. His anger surged, and he hurled his glass against the wall. It shattered, a shard grazing his cheek and drawing blood. He instinctively touched his face, feeling the warmth of his own blood.

"I want to witness their downfall, to see them grovel at my feet. Who do they think they are? I couldn't care less about them; this is merely a game I'm about to play. It's a win-win situation for me," he chuckled darkly. "Just wait, Dad—you'll see that I'm better than you ever imagined. And as for Harry Smith, he won't know what hit him."