Enchanted

Chapter 8

Nicolette

The place was crowded.

The smell of delicious scones filled the entire cafeteria and the freshman were sitting on the bench eating with their group of buddies. Some were scrolling their phones, occupied in the universe of social media.

I used to be one of them, I thought. But that was a year ago, back in the high school in my old town- Crestwood High. I remembered I was eating my hamburger, which was apparently a welcoming gift from the school with the people I know around me. We were chatting and laughing because we have been together since 5th grade.

This year was antithetical. I was alone, anxiously glancing back and forth at the new environment, trying to find new cliques so I won't be a lone ranger. However, I was not in the mood to interact because I was caught in my own inferno.

I didn't move to South Lake for nothing. I moved her because of so many reasons and one of them was to put the distressing past behind me.

I finished my food and started strolling the hallway, peering through the windows to glimpse the classrooms that were set up with tables and chairs.

The first part of the orientation day was completed. We gathered at the basketball court and the principal and counsellor briefed us about the school rules and other stuff. I picked my classes and registered them at the office to get my sophomore timetable. I could have done it during the first day of school but my parents insisted I attend the orientation day so I would not end up in a chaotic situation on the first day of class.

The second part of the orientation day was when students are given the chance to roam around the school compound and enrol in clubs or just play some games hosted by the seniors.

I navigated myself through the busy group of students in the hallway and tried to find where the chess club booth was put up.

I was never a chess prodigy but I enjoy thinking hard and mapping out strategies to win the game. I took my first chess lesson in school when I was 12 years old. Pretty late. Ever since I laid my hands on those black and white pieces, I felt transported to a war zone in a fantasy world where I am the general who takes control of the army.

However, I was not selected for the school team so I wanted to give myself another shot. A chance to prove I can acquire this skill and a chance to gain co-curriculum marks for my future college application.

I clung to the decision I made after pondering for quite some time last night and went up to the booth.

"Hi, I'm Nicolette Evergreen, a sophomore this upcoming semester. May I sign up for the club?" I asked politely. "Of course. I'm Ninna, nice to meet you. Here's the registration form for you to fill out and you can just sit inside the classroom."

The classroom was still empty so I assumed I was the first entrant. There were words written on the whiteboard- 'Welcome to chess club' in bubble font with some chess pieces doodles at the side.

The chess pieces were arranged neatly on the boards but I have no one to play with.

The seniors were out there trying to grab the freshman's attention and I just looked at them through the windows. Booths were put up at the side of the entrance door to the classrooms and students that were interested in joining any extra activities can just sign up.

A girl walked in at that very moment. She looked around the classroom like she had never been in one before she noticed my presence. "Hi, I'm Nicolette, a sophomore this upcoming semester." I tried to give a wide smile as reassurance.

"Sabrina Chen."

"Nice to meet you, Sabrina." "Do you want to play a game?" I asked, thinking we would be bored and embarrassed sitting here.

We took a seat at the centre of the classroom and I swiftly chose the white piece because it will hopefully give me a higher chance of winning.

Sabrina was a competitive player. From what I know after the orientation day, she had been representing her old school in multiple chess competitions. Sabrina is also proficient at xiangqi, something I was keen on learning.

We started the game like how I played with my friends- typical Italian opening until Sabrina decided to use King's Indian Defense to build extremely strong protection around the king. I could tell my white pieces' position was weak and could be counter attack easily so I move my knights, bishops and pawns to protect each other.

Despite having the knight and bishop protect the king, Sabrina pushed her pawns forward and made full use of the other knight and bishop. I was caught in the midst of protecting my king or attacking her king because I knew protecting my king isn't going to help me win the game while attacking the black stronghold would be sending my pieces to death.

Think, Nicolette, think.

Before I could come up with a higher rate of conquest plan, Sabrina sent in her queen and destroyed the outer layer of my defence from the inside. In just a few more moves, she checkmated my king with the queen, bishop and a few pawns to block my escape.

I reached out my hand to congrats her but she barely shake my hand before retracting it. "Good game," I said while arranging the pieces back into the original position.

Mix emotions stirred in the pit of my stomach. Anger. Despair. Regret. Jealousy. Those that could kill you from the inside, just like what my parents would constantly remind me of. I could not accept the fact that I lost to someone younger than me and that tore my ego wide apart. I also hate that she acted so arrogant and the way she looked at me like I was not up to her standard made my blood pressure skyrocket.

Denying this game never happened or ranting in my mind about how bad I am at chess is never going to work. I have to prove to myself that I am clever enough to be selected for the school team.

All those times, I didn't like her. But a year later, the unbearable tension between two strangers just turned into something beyond acquaintance. Friendship.

"Don't judge the book by its cover," I recalled what I told Sabrina earlier in a monotone.

That sentence was not for Sabrina, it was meant for me.

She might be dressed in a dark edgy way but she was the opposite inside. I learnt that she is an amiable person and the way she cares for others is so full of love and patience. Although she faced trauma in her life and hardship in her family, she still projects warmth around people.

I, on the other hand, was a selfish person trying to gain what I want.

There was nothing to prove, I told myself. Why compete with others, with Sabrina Chen and live a life with no joy?

Walking down the memory lane made me feel bad about the ruthless attitude I showed Sabrina last Friday. This one week was the hardest to live by and I could not stop thinking about the last conversation we had. I lose focus in class and my eyes would just glance in Sabrina's direction, where she sat with her junior friends.

I did not play chess and I definitely did not feel like eating doughnuts in the fridge at all. Even mum was worried about me, how the colour on my face was drained and how I ate lesser every day. I would make the lame excuse of school stressing me out, apply thick makeup to cover my pale skin and carry food to my room to eat.

I have to set things right. Sabrina is my best friend and I don't want to lose her. She was never a friend with benefits but a true friend to me. A sister to me, just like Madeleine.

I may be concerned about Sabrina's past breakup and think history might repeat itself but I can't stop her from loving someone. Someone I hate. My enemy. Cedric Orlando.

If that is what makes Sabrina happy, then I will let down my guard. Stop being egocentric and just like what dad said, learn to forgive.