My eyes slide to the person sitting beside her, who is smirking. He has definitely noticed me drooling over him.
“The weather report says it will rain the day after tomorrow. So you won’t be able to use the chopper, you’ll have to travel by car. You’ll go to San Diego today, since it’s closer to LA, and will return after your event,” Ma explains.
“No problem, Ma. I’ll travel by car from here to LA,” I reply.
“It will take six hours,” Zoan adds.
I open my mouth to say it’s fine, but then I recall the three-hour drive with Roxion. The nausea is still as fresh as if it happened yesterday. But I definitely don’t want to go to San Diego with him.
I glance at Wen. “Will you come with me?”
She leans closer. “Do you want a third wheel?”
“I need a third wheel.”
She chuckles and winks. “Then you’ve got the best person for it.”
I grin and look toward him. “Fine. Wen and I will come with you.”
He narrows his eyes slightly, then nods. “We’ll leave tomorrow morning.”
Ma smiles and pats his head. “That’s best. It’s been a long time since you stayed here for the night. I’ll have your room prepared.”
Ma calls Wendy and asks her to prepare the room on the terrace, it’s Zoan and Leo’s room. The whole terrace is theirs.
After dinner, Pa and Zoan start playing chess, with Wen and I cheering from Pa’s side, while Ma cheers for Zoan.
Wen jumps from the armrest and gives a twirl, singing, “Zo is losing, lalala!”
Pa chuckles, leaning back. “Now, young man…”
“Accept the defeat,” I say, fist-bumping Pa with a grin.
He watches me with an amused smile.
Ma pats his shoulder. “Come on, close their mouths.”
Zoan smirks and executes a sharp counterattack, sliding his bishop diagonally across the board to put Pa’s king in check, cornering him unexpectedly.
Wen and I lean forward over the board, eyes wide as if witnessing something paranormal.
Pa nods with a proud grin. “That’s quite a move.”
Like everything else, Pa had taught Leo and Zoan chess. Ma always tells us stories of those sessions. Pa used to make Leo and Zoan sit together as a team, they weren’t allowed to speak but had to move in perfect harmony to win against him.
“Pa, show him who’s the master!” Wen cheers like an excited commentator.
With a smirk, Pa moves his rook, sliding it to trap Zoan’s bishop in a clever pin.
Wen and I jump, swaying our hips in round motions, shouting in excitement.
Everyone laughs at our over-the-top cheerleading.
“These girls have turned chess into football!” Ma chuckles.
We sit back down on either side of Pa’s single-seater armchair, still buzzing from the game.
“We are Pa’s fan girls!” I declare.
