Chapter 5 5

In the game of love, losing is never an option, and winning is never a possibility. The Winner's Curse, a theory in economics, reflects a Pyrrhic victory where one wins and loses simultaneously, paying more than necessary.

I've always managed to win in the game of love, never losing even a piece of my heart. The winner's curse has never touched me. So when Ethan shared that he fell in love once, with that turtle named Lily, I felt a sense of deprivation. For 27 years, I've never fallen in love. That's why I envy Ethan. At least he knows how it feels to have those annoying insects in your stomach.

After downing my Margarita, I considered calling it a night. I wasn't in the mood for flirting. Thoughts of my cheating mother haunted me after my conversation with Ethan. I wondered how powerful love is. Is it potent enough to make parents abandon their children? Love is indeed a mess.

I put on my coat and left the bar. It was chilly tonight, nearing Christmas. I thought about calling Ethan so I could cuddle with him, but I didn't want to sound clingy. We don't have a relationship anyway.

Besides, I grew tired of Athan. I tried seducing him a couple of times, but it seemed to have no effect on him. Maybe because I'm too petite for him, and Leria is quite tall. Well, it's his loss. This phenomenal face should not be neglected.

My phone beeped with a Twitter notification, and I quickly checked it.

@PhenomenalAko Missing you Summers.

I smiled immediately and called him. Hopefully, Ethan wouldn't think I missed him too much. It's not like we haven't seen each other in ages. I'm not like him, always flirting. He should have just texted me.

"Hello?" I said, bored. I heard rustling on the other line.

"Babe," he greeted. I grimaced at his endearment. Disgusting, this playboy's flirtation.

I heard a female voice in the background. My brow furrowed. "Where are you?"

"Avvi..."

"Don't 'Avvi' me, you jerk. Do you have a girl with you right now?" I accused. I heard him laughing.

"Yes, Avvi, we're just talking. In fact, you can come here and have dinner with us, babe," he said. I narrowed my eyes and quickly went to my car. Ethan told me his location, and I hurriedly drove there.

All eyes were on me as I entered the diner. I held my head high. I don't care if I'm wearing a skater skirt and a white midriff top while the other ladies wear dresses. I can wear a sack and still look phenomenal. They're like tilapia compared to me, just dressing up. They're not like me.

I scanned the room to find that flirt. I saw him in the corner, grinning at me. I walked towards him, making sure my legs looked great while walking. I couldn't help but smile when I saw him gazing at my legs.

"Babe," he greeted me. He stood up and kissed my cheek, then turned to the girl next to him.

"What are you?" I asked, pointing at the girl. She widened her eyes while looking at me.

The girl stood up and extended her hand. I just stared at it and didn't accept.

"I-I'm Lily. Lily Racini," she said softly. My eyebrow twitched upon hearing her name. I pushed Ethan to take a seat and followed. Ethan sat beside me, and she sat on the other side.

"What is she?" I pointedly asked the girl. She gasped and looked at me, terrified.

The girl stood up and reached her hand towards me. I just stared at it and didn't accept.

"I-I'm Lily. Lily Racini," she said softly. My eyebrow twitched upon hearing her name. I pushed Ethan to take a seat and followed. Ethan sat beside me, and she sat on the other side.

"What is she?" I pointedly asked the girl. She gasped and looked at me, terrified.

She extended her hand to me, and I just stared at it. "I-I'm Lily. Lily Racini," she said softly. My eyebrow twitched upon hearing her name. I pushed Ethan to take a seat and followed. He sat beside me, and she sat on the other side.

"What are you?" I pointedly asked the girl. She gasped and looked at me, terrified.

"I-I'm Lily. Lily Racini," she said softly. My eyebrow twitched upon hearing her name. I pushed Ethan to take a seat and followed. He sat beside me, and she sat on the other side.

"Why are you here with Ethan?" I asked, a bit snarling. I saw Ethan laughing.

"Well, actually, I came to talk to Ethan because Iñigo threw me out of his condo. He doesn't want to marry me, so I thought maybe you--" she started to explain.

"You're flirting with him now? Seriously? After what you did to Iris, you think I'll take your side?" Ethan retorted sharply. I lowered the used tissues Lily had and stared at her mascara-stained eyes, now tinted black. I hope the tissues worked. Maybe she'll get cancer. She's such a flirt.

"I did not do anything wrong! Why are you all siding with Iris? Don't tell me you like her too, huh?" Lily asked. Ethan just laughed before shaking his head.

"I'm a victim here too, Ethan. No one likes me anymore..." she said, tears in her eyes. I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Maybe it's because you're a turtle, and nobody likes turtles." I teased. She shot me a sharp look.

"I'm not talking to you."

"I'm not talking to you either. I didn't say you're the turtle I was talking about, though. Why? You're not a turtle, are you?" I continued to tease. Lily frowned before bowing her head again.

"Iñigo loves Iris because, compared to you, Iris is better. So don't cry because it's not fitting. I might poke you with chopsticks. You think you're so pretty crying in front of Ethan." I said, still annoyed. Lily glanced at Ethan, clearly pleading.

"She's maltreating me. Harassing me. Why are you allowing this?" she said like a child, pouting, which didn't suit her at all. I narrowed my eyes. August once mentioned something about girls trying to look cute but ending up looking like idiots. What was that term again? Oh, "pabebe." Yes, Lily is a pabebe turtle.

"Avvi's just telling the truth, Lily," Ethan calmly said and stood up. He walked ahead while I continued to stare at Lily.

"You'll get cancer from your eyebrows. Turtle," I muttered. I stood up as well and quickly followed Ethan, who was waiting outside.

That pabebe turtle deserved it. Damn, I look so good.

Ethan was actually waiting for me in front of his car. When I saw him, I immediately jumped. I wrapped my legs around his waist and kissed him passionately, with tongue and everything.

"You are mine, Falcon. You better remember that," I warned him before kissing him again.

"You are one heck of a woman, baby," he huskily said. I shook my head before kissing the tip of his nose.

"I know. Because I am phenomenal."

Really, I won't lose in this game.