Last Year of Seventeen

Chapter 12 - Orange Dress

The next and final event followed right after. And once again the guests are back to the viewing deck. August sat on her own this time since Royce will also be part of the game, although he's playing for the other team. I have changed my clothes to a more breathable polo shirt in the color of our team which was navy blue.

Dove strutted in front of me with Lancelot. "You really have to put that bitch in her place. She's getting on my nerves."

I scoffed, "You started it you know. She has every right to defend herself."

"Are you taking her side now?" Dove asked, clearly taken aback.

"No. What I meant was– you know what, it doesn't matter. Let's just focus on the match."

With that, I left Dove and had Philip march into the waiting crowd.

I looked for August once again before the game began. I found her quickly. Her dress is very hard to miss. She was talking with a woman who sat beside her and they were pointing in my direction. I squinted to try and see who that woman was and nearly fell off my horse.

It was my mother. August is talking with my mother.

If August had been born in a better background, if her parents had a more well-known name, if she had a higher social standing, then meeting my mother wouldn't be a problem. Although none of these things matter, at least not to me. At least not because it's August who is so much more than this. But if there was one thing I've been taught, been prepared for since I was young, it is to never meddle with people far beneath our status.

A rule so mindlessly, relentlessly broken by Sebastian Hughes, the golden boy, the favorite, the supposed-successor– my brother. It has been three years and father still looks at me as the spare-heir. A sad, inferior copy of Bash. And my mother cannot look at me without seeing the son she had lost over a girl much like August.

The game ended with a final score of 13-08, in favor of Royce's team. Admittedly, I didn't play my best.

I wanted to, really, but I kept looking at the audience, at August, at my mother. Thinking of all the things that could go wrong. Dove wasn't much help as well. She was obviously still angry that I took August's side earlier. She would ram onto me every time I'm about to hit a goal. I have to keep reminding her that we are on the same team.

The fact is, as much as worried about my mother meeting August. At least for now. August was right, my mother can just brush it off as one of my curiosities. Nothing as serious as what my brother put her through.

What troubles me is August meeting my mother. My mother is not what you call conveniently well. Her good days are so rare she's barely seen in public. Unless my father's here. I was afraid she's going to act in a manner that would make news. And if my father finds out, he'll find a way to blame it on me.

The winners were all announced right after Polo. Philip and I won the Show Jumping. We've won this three times in a row and if it hadn't for my mother, I would have been completely frenzied about it. A big trophy was given to the winners and a check will be written to our chosen foundation. Our photos will also be displayed in the hall of fame within the LPF's own Equestrian Museum.

Royce found me back at the stables where their team was popping champagnes and whisking it around. It was a friendly game and everyone was still in high spirits apart from Dove, who berated me for being out of focus. I was glad when she left. I really didn't need her fury right now.

"Gwen has the exact same temper as Dove," Royce said. "No wonder they don't like each other much."

"How can you put up with a girl like that?" I asked. I put up with Dove, yes. But only because I know I'm not marrying her. Unlike Royce who is actually betrothed with Gwen.