"Clean your room, take out the dog, mow the lawn, do the laundry, take out the trash, mop the floor, clean the bathroom, mow the lawn, do your homework, wash the dishes."
That's all I could hear. And it only got worse to the point where I was practically doing everything… like a second mom.
I wished I could be free from this hell. I had no time for myself, no time to chase my own dreams. Every day felt like a never-ending loop, a cycle I couldn't escape.
Finally, when I was old enough, I moved out. But even then, it didn't end. I was still forced to do everything for them. My mother. My father. Though, at this point, I wished I couldn't even call them that.
I was breaking.
I was at my limit.
I wanted it all to end.
As I stood atop my apartment building, the rain fell harder, the thunder roared louder, yet the world itself felt silent.
"All I want is to be free."
I murmured the words to myself before taking a step forward.
Beep beep.
A phone call?
I glanced at the screen, my face falling even further. Father.
Before I could answer, a voice called out.
"Nika, you don't have to do that."
That voice… it was beautiful.
I froze, my body stiff, before slowly turning around.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"Me? What about you?"
I was taken aback by that response. Who was this… fairy-like creature? And what did it want from me? What about me? What is there about me?
A whirlwind of thoughts spiraled in my mind.
"Don't be mad," the figure said gently. "I'm sorry for not introducing myself. I am Hope a fairy."
I chuckled softly, shaking my head as I stood up.
"A fairy? I must be imagining things…"
My phone buzzed again.
"Oh crap, I didn't answer my father's call…"
I hurried to pick it up, but before I could press accept, the fairy spoke again.
"Nika, you don't have to answer, you know?"
I paused mid-motion.
"Go away!" I snapped.
The fairy remained unfazed. "Nika, you were about to end it all. I can only assume so why bother?"
I froze. The truth hit me harder than I expected. Why am I doing all of this?
My gaze drifted downward. Below, people laughed, cheered, danced living their lives freely, without chains.
"You're a fairy, right? Then I wish… I wish to be like those people."
The fairy smiled, tilting its head.
"Woah, I can't grant wishes, but… I know someone who can." The fairy's voice was gentle yet enticing. "You see, I chose you. If you defeat 9,999 others in games of wits, you will be granted any wish you desire."
I turned my attention back to my phone, staring at the name on the screen. My grip loosened.
The phone slipped from my fingers.
Fell.
Shattered.
I turned to the fairy, eyes burning with newfound determination.
"When do I start?"
As Nika stared at the gameboard, filled with conviction, pain, and determination, she thought to herself, I can't let that guy ruin what I've built. I'm finally free. I won't let him take that away from me!
"Hmm… let's see… How about I move my dot to D7?" the yellow dot player said firmly.
Yakou analyzed the board, his thoughts sharp and precise. So, he plans to deny the space, forcing White to retreat. Based on Pink and Red's actions, I can deduce who this woman is scheming with. This isn't just a simple war there's much more going on here. I know it. That's my warrior's intuition.
Nika thought to herself, Now, Pink will likely go back to trapping White even further. That will buy me time to tighten my control and completely crush the bottom of the board.
The pink dot player was about to place their piece on H7 when Yakou suddenly tapped her shoulder, stopping her.
"Before you do that, could you do me a favor?"
"Huh? What do you want?"
"Move your dot down one square."
"Tsk, are you stupid? Why would I listen to you?"
Nika cut in, irritation lacing her voice. "Hey, just let her play, will ya?"
The orange dot player chimed in, "Yeah, you gotta stop with that, yo!"
Ignoring them, Yakou leaned in, whispering something into the pink dot player's ear before calmly returning to his place.
Referee sir, I spoke up, eyes locked onto the board. "I don't know what Yakou just told her, but she'll definitely play H5. Besides, Yakou has now confirmed what I figured out earlier Nika and Meruki are working together. He also confirmed that the Orange player is part of their scheme. And based on his intuition, I'm sure he suspects the Red player is involved too, even if he isn't 100% certain. If the Pink dot player moves to H5, it's over for Nika she'll have no choice but to reveal her schemes."
The referee smirked slightly before responding, "You're certainly right, but this isn't the end. You can't predict Nika's next move. Her options will become limited, but the game can still be balanced."
The pink dot player stood frozen expressionless, speechless.
"Hey, are you alright? What did he say to you, Liri?" Nika asked, her voice calm and concerned on the surface. But inside, she was rattled like a deer staring into the eyes of a predator.
"That can't be… No way. All those people… are cooperating?"
Liri's face went pale, drained of all color, yet inside, her emotions raged like a storm of colors a rainbow of betrayal, confusion, and despair.
All this time, I thought I had finally found a friend. I thought Nika actually cared about me… but in the end, I get the same treatment? Betrayed? Again?
—
I never had friends in school. Not in elementary, not in middle school, not even in high school. I was always that girl the nerd, the outcast, the one people whispered about and laughed at behind my back.
I thought I could change.
Before college, I forced myself to be different. I went to parties, got high, took drugs, drank alcohol. I dyed my hair pink, dressed in cool clothes became someone new.
I picked a college where no one from my past would recognize me. A fresh start.
Right?
Right?!
I wish.
At first, everything seemed fine. I made friends. I laughed. I felt included.
But deep down, I knew the truth. I was just being used. I wasn't special. I wasn't anyone.
Then, a spark in the darkness.
I fell in love.
He was hot, kind, and popular. We dated for a while, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I mattered.
But then, she came.
One of the girls in my class, someone I thought was my friend decided she wanted him too.
She told me to back off.
I refused.
I should have said yes.
She spread rumors about me called me a slut, a drug addict. The one light I had in my life burned out. And so did I.
I sat in my room, empty, staring at the world outside my balcony.
"Please… I just want to be like everybody else."
Silence.
I sighed, glancing at my reflection in a shattered mirror one I had owned since I was seven.
I smiled.
And then
He appeared.
A soft voice. A gentle tap on my shoulder.
"Can you do me a favor?"
"A favor…? What… who are you?"
"I'm here to redeem your wish."
What Yakou had whispered to Liri wasn't anything special.
"Nika is scheming with the Red, Blue, and Orange dots. Do what you will… but I'll ask you one more time for this favor."
That was it.
He wasn't even convincing. Hell, he wasn't even trying.
And yet
That tap on my shoulder. That feeling.
I felt it again.
Fine…
"I'm moving my dot to H5," Liri announced.
The Red dot player had no choice his only move was to E5.
The White dot player followed, moving to G7.
And now, the Black dot was trapped, caged like a prisoner. He hesitated, then glanced at Yakou.
"Hey… if I move my dot next to you, will you promise not to capture me like Minowa?"
Yakou met his gaze.
"I will capture you."
"Tsk… I knew it."
The Black dot player gritted his teeth.
"I already know Meruki would capture me if I try to run… so what do I do??"
He clenched his fists.
"Screw it. If I'm gonna lose, I'd rather have you win over Meruki anyway, Yakou. I've lost to that bastard once… this is karma."
And with that, he moved his dot to F2.
Nika was sweating. Frustrated. Panicked.
"What the hell is going on?! How is he making everything fall in his favor? Is he a magnet? What kind of insane luck is this??"
She quickly signaled to the Orange dot player.
C4. Move to C4. We can still trap him.
The Orange dot player followed her silent command, shifting his dot to C4.
And now, it all came down to Minowa.
"Minowa," Yakou said, his voice steady. "I don't mind if you capture me. In war, I take risks. And trusting you was one of them.
Will you take the same risk?"
Minowa was still shaken from the previous round.
His mind screamed at him to capture.
And yet
He hesitated.
Then, with a deep breath
He moved his dot to C2.
Silence.
Then
Yakou exhaled.
"Sorry, everyone," he announced.
"It seems… The first capture is mine."
With a single move, he took over the Black dot, securing the first capture.
Then, with his extra placement, he set his dots on F2 and G2.
And with an extra turn in hand
He overlooked the board.
Like a god.