The Game Of Quadruplet Mates
(Bk 2) Chapter 35

It seems I will be having a difficult time sleeping for the entirety of the Games as I stared at my ceiling the entire night. I watched as the shadows danced there until the sun chased them away and a new morning came. But the morning brought only one thing... the reminder that my time at the Games was close to its end

In a matter of minutes, I had to face the reality that it was my last day.

My last chance to replace someone, anyone.

Anyone at all.

It would be just like the original Games for me. Twenty four hours to replace the one.

I kept thinking about Mister W's visit. The way he looked, how distraught and also unfeeling he was... his ruined clothes. And then his cryptic words that I couldn't understand. Did he mean it positively?

Did he mean it badly?

Was it over? Was that it?

It was so hard to understand.

And he left just like that without another word, leaving me to toss and turn and dissect the short conversation we had like I was going crazy.

I like Mister W and with the way things are going with everyone else, he was the one person I was hoping for right now.

Truth be told, I do not care for whatever rank he inherits or whatever position he had or even the famed beauty he has.

I wanted to choose him because out of everyone else, he and I, there was an understanding there. We spent time together, we won things together... we worked well.

And right now, that's better than nothing.

Because I had nothing

Thinking about O physically hurt and thinking of my guard only made me laugh because that was just impossible.

When the first bell rings, I roll out of bed and stare at myself in the mirror. My eyes were so swollen and there were dark circles under them. There aren't any obvious scars on me, but my body felt heavy from lack of sleep and just the emotional turmoil that's been going on for almost five days.

I suck in a deep breath and try to shake off this feeling.

Today was a mission and I was going to do my very best to complete it.

After a quick shower, I stood in front of my closet to choose from my remaining dresses. I pick a short silk dress with puffy sleeves, finishing the look by tying a white ribbon to my hair.

There were no specific schedules today, meaning there were no special outfits required because today was purely to replace prospects among the other attendees

We were all required to be out in the gardens until the final party tonight.

And I intend on spending every last minute doing what I should have been doing since I arrived

With one final breath, I walked out of my room to replace my guard standing by the door, his face hidden by his cap, but even then I tell without ever needing to see him, that he hesitated at the sight of me. He wanted to say something.

He's fighting himself about it.

And somehow, I know that whatever it is, he wins his internal battle.

He twists to face me, his hand out and holding this beautiful bouquet of flowers.

I looked between him and the bouquet he reached out to me. It was stunningly beautiful, made of sunflowers and carnations and baby's breath with green eucalyptus decorating the edges.

It was honestly messily made, the flowers a little ruffled like he had been trying to decorate and redecorate them as perfectly as the flowers in the Games, but they were prettier and better than that, because I could feel and see the effort put into this. I could tell just how much time he has spent making this

And I loved it.

I loved it so much.

"Is this for me? You got me flowers?" I whispered, breathless.

He played it off coolly, but even under the shadows of his cap I could see the hint of red on his cheeks. "You told me that you wanted flowers and I wanted to give them to you before... this ends." Ends.

The word sent a ripple through my skin.

But I push it away, shoving it at the very back of my heart and mind. A genuine smile that I didn't know I still had in me spread across my lips. "They're perfect. I love them.

Thank you."

"They're a little roughed up." He admitted almost shamefully, putting his head down further. "I didn't know how the other staff do it but I tried-"

I couldn't help but quiet him with a soft kiss on his cheek, ducking under the cap to do so. My lips on his soft cheek had my head instantly spin and my heart palpitate like I had downed too much coffee. It was quick, not even a second long, but it felt like triple the effect.

And more.

So much more.

My guard stilled, didn't even breathe or blink as he was stone like, but the reddening of his cheeks said it all for me

He was... at the very least, okay with it.

The immediate need to kiss him again almost took over me and maybe place my hand on his face, trace the light stubble on his jaw.

My cheeks flushed as I felt a different kind of ripple go through me. "Thank you."

He was quiet, almost unresponsive, but then he wasn't, reaching down to interlace our fingers, the touch electric, making it hard to think. He takes my hand and brings it to his lips. This time, it wasn't just a second. It was almost a minute of feeling his lips on my knuckles.

His eyes were full of adoration, the emotion almost uncontainable in those sharp eyes that stared at me like I wasn't quite real

He looks at me and I feel like I'm his whole world. "

Anything you want, you will have it."

You. I wanted to say but I remember how he reacted the last time I teased him and I'm not so sure that I'm brave enough to push that again. "Let me get these safely into a vase with some water. I want them to last for as long as possible." "Never mind that. I'll simply give you more." He said, looking sure of himself and a little proud that there would be another time.

It felt like gravity was pulling me towards him. "More?

"Yes. Anything you want." He repeats, smiling down at me from under that cap of his.

I wanted to stay there with him.

After everything that happened, I just wanted to forget the Games and spend all day with my guard

But I know that's foolish.

I know I have things I need to do.

Things that don't just involve me.

Because it's Choosing day tomorrow.

"Any last advice for me?" I asked, resisting the urge to bury my face in the flowers. "It's the last day."

"Don't overthink it and let your heart decide." He says with an indecipherable expression on his face before stepping back to let me pass.

My heart is not reliable.

It never has been.

And so far, following my heart has only led me to reject almost the entirety of the Games.

I want to think that this isn't my year, that maybe next year I'll replace the one, but at the same time, my heart is telling me that this is the year I will choose. It was all so confusing that I fear in my panic, I might choose 0 without thinking. Immediately, I shook this out of me and to distract myself more than anything else, I started speed walking down the hall and quickly headed for the stairs.

It didn't take long for me to notice how everyone in the mansion seemed to be in pairs... how they were coupled up. Everyone that I passed by was either holding hands, in a heavy match of tongue fights or carrying hand made gifts in their arms. Frankly, it felt like Valentine's and everyone had someone except me.

But my eyes flickered at the shadow behind me and then back to the flowers in my arms.

It only got worse as I made it to the gardens. The energy was different today. There was this frenzy as people that were coupled, fought to stay coupled while the singles tried to replace their matches from other singles, while some tried to rip couples apart. "Miss X!" A few ran up to me, beaming and excited.

. "You

look like the one for me."

I gave them my best smile, holding my flowers close to my chest as I resisted the urge to sigh as I could feel that he wasn't right.

"Who are you choosing, Miss X?" They asked as I made it to the breakfast area. "Why don't you choose me instead?"

My guard shoves one away as I feel the guy's face inches from mine. He glowers loudly, pulling another away by grabbing the collar of his shirt, slightly choking the guy." You're kinda close, aren't you?"

I try to ignore the heat that goes to my cheeks as I leave them to sit down on an empty table. I busised myself by looking around for Miss A and Miss E. It was easy enough to replace A by the lake, nodding her head as she listened to a man profess his love for her and E replaces me soon after, smiling widely like shes won a million bucks.

"Great night?" I guessed, sharing her sudden happiness

She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "The best night."

I did not want to know why, knowing the details was probably a bit risqué for me, but I tipped my head in congratulations either way. "I'm really happy for you."

At least both the girls were having a better time than I was.

They deserve it.

And I'll be clapping along with the others once they announce who they're choosing tomorrow.

Without meaning to, I replace myself looking for 0 but he wasn't in the gardens which I already expected. He didn't want to be in the Games and I'm sure he didn't want to see me looking for someone else. But if he did come, I'm sure he would put Miss A's fanboys to shame with the number of girls that would be flocking to him.

I can already hear murmurs of his letter being asked around, eager girls looking for him.

I try to focus on my flowers instead, touching the waxy petals and fighting another blush from coming to my cheeks as I remember my guard giving this to me

But then I felt a pair of eyes staring at me and it wasn't the man that gave me flowers. Looking up, I see Mister W. miserable as ever, circled by girls who fluttered their eyes at him. The flattering thing was, he was only looking at me and it was filled with longing. It was hard to ignore how he looked so sad, sadder than when I first saw him in the Games and he was drinking excessively like he was before, both of his hands gripping bottles of liquor:

"Excuse me," I mumbled to Miss E, standing from my seat to approach Mister W.

His eyes widened at this and I could tell he was thinking about something.

I'm relieved when he breaks away from the group of girls, but this quickly goes away when he walks the opposite direction. To his benefit, he does look back to check if I'm following him before he nearly disappears in the direction of the maze.

Just as I lost him, a hand reached for mine and pulled me into the cover of the thick maze.

"Miss X," He breathed out, smelling so strongly of alcohol that it was almost dizzying.

"W.." I hesitated, seeing how red and glassy his eyes were.

"Is everything okay? Yesterday... you just came and left. I don't understand. What happened?"

He visibly swallows, looking around.

He was trying to see how far our guards were from

US.

But they were close.

I can feel it.

"I want to choose you tomorrow." He blurts out as if he didn't mean for it to happen. "You have to understand that I want to choose you so badly."

Why did it feel like there was a but?

Was it really like how it was with 0? Did he have an O too?

Is that what this is?

Or is it something else?

"Do you love her?" I found myself asking.

He stopped, the breath caught in his throat and as I waited, and waited, and waited, I realized he wasn't going to answer.

I wish he did.

I wish he would just tell me.

Because if he did, at least it would help me know where I stand.

"Why can't you answer me?" I pressed, feeling tired. "Why do I feel like you have so many secrets? I would try to understand, you know? I would... I would do my best to see your situation and accept it. If only you would tell me. If you would just explain." His jaw tightens, having hit a sensitive topic. "It's not that easy."

I was losing the will to fight in these Games. "Make it easy."

When he took a step back from me, it was clear that he was ending the conversation... and likely everything else." It can't be. I'm trying. I'm... I'm trying, but it's hard."