Twist me (shatter me x twisted series x cruel prince)

Chapter 6

Aaron

"You can't just take my pawn like that, they aren't even in the same square," I snarled.

"It isn't against the rules," replied Volkov coldly.

Our eyes met for a brief second, electricity seemed to crackle in the air. We've been playing an extremely intense game of chess for the past hour, neither of us willing to relent. Our skills were undeniable matched, our moves were going head to head. I was leading by a single pawn, well, not anymore at least.

Josh Chen tried to teach Kishimito and Greenbriar chess after convincing Volkov to play against me, they got bored of the game quickly and left me to play match against him alone, occasionally turning their heads to egg us on.

"I'll go refill our glasses," Rhys Larsen stood up subtly, Chen nodded cheerily as he resumed his conversation with a less-than-willing-Christian-Harper. As much as their annoying, I cannot deny their company is a good distraction for all the things that has gone wrong in life, for all the responsibilities we don't have any ideas to on how to uphold. It was bearable.

As I waited for Volkov to make his next move I glanced over at the girls. I've been looking over to check on Ella every few minutes. She looks really happy, her cheeks blushed prettily as she smiles her smile, so beautiful it was blinding. Her eyes light up as she curves her mouth at something one of her friends had said, definitely my  favorite curve. Her sunlit joy  was infecting. I want her to be happy, if anyone deserves it, it's her, she deserves all the peace and happiness in the world, and more, even if my stomach bubbles with jealousy every time I see her laugh with someone that isn't me. Still, if talking to those girls make her happy, so be it. If she's happy, I couldn't be happier.

I glanced over and shifted my gaze onto another somebody, somebody who was leaning on a table observing everything with a pleasant smile but a guarded expression, somebody whose name appears to be Jude Duarte. She was quiet, or at least less loud than the other girls, she looked like as if she wasn't keen on taking the centre attention, only talking on her que and adding her own remarks when necessary. Her voice was spirited and sarcastic. Definitely opposite to the redhead, Jules Ambrose, whom Chen had introduced to us earlier as his girlfriend, Jules talked animatedly as she did most of the speaking. She was sitting sassily on a table with a glass of wine in her hand, legs swinging and laughing louder than the rest. Jude had on a less bold stance, though she still held herself up with equal amount of confidence nonetheless. But unlike Jules, her confidence didn't look as if she was born with it naturally, the confidence Jude radiated looked much more well-disciplined and well practiced. Rather than boldness, her confidence radiates superiority and power, a confidence that can only be gained over time with experience.

I remain wary of her, she reminds me too much of myself for comfort, but it is exactly for that reason I cannot resent her.

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"You guys should totally hitch up a ride with me and Christian, seriously! We don't mind," the girl with black curls exclaimed warmly, I believe her name was Stella, or Stephanie, something of that sort.

"I'm a security company CEO, not a taxi driver, but okay butterfly,"  Harper retorted easily.

"Christian," Stella-Stephanie rolled her eyes.

"Nah it's alright, we'll call a taxi, thanks though,"said Kishimito while Ella politely refused a similar offer from Ava.

The night has come to an end, and the group was leaving Chen and Jules's house. I was witnessing Ella and Ava's overdramatic goodbye, even though all of us had agreed to meet the day after the next. Personally, I had no problem on ever seeing this party of people again, but it appears my opinion wasn't shared, except for maybe with Volkov. I turned my attention away from Ella just when Jules decided to join the farewell parade as well. I drew my focus onto the conversation Volkov and Greenbriar were having instead.