After Ninety-Nine Challenges

When Seth Gibson told me his legs were crippled and that only snowmelt from a mountain's peak could cure him, I did not hesitate. I scaled the mountainside, climbing over 15,000 feet just to get some snow for him.

When I staggered back, bruised and scratched, cradling the snow outside the hospital room, I overheard cruel voices down the corridor.

"Seth, today's the deadline. Nevaeh still isn't back. Could she have died up there?"

"I heard that the mountain's pretty high. She might have gotten altitude sickness. What a shame! She's already risked herself for Seth ninety-nine times. This was supposed to be the last time before the game ended."

"Serves her right! She used to bully Janice, Seth's childhood friend, didn't she?"

I saw Seth through the crack in the door. He was standing at the window, his legs perfectly intact, and his expression ice-cold.

"Enough," he said flatly. "If she dies, the game ends."

I froze in disbelief until it finally sank in. Seth had been pretending all along.

A laugh nearly escaped me. What a relief! I could finally get rid of this weight on my shoulders.

I pulled out my phone and called his uncle.

"I'll marry you," I said.

After hanging up the phone, I dumped out the tap water I had collected while visiting the Sarikash Highlands.

I scooped up a bottle of murky river water and brought it to the hospital room instead.

Seth Gibson and his buddies all stared at me, their eyes wide with shock.

Seth looked pale. "Nevaeh, what took you so long to get back?"

I showed off the fake scratches I had drawn on my arms and said with teary eyes, "Seth, my body just wasn't strong enough. I had to take an oxygen tank with me to climb, and it took me a whole two weeks to reach the top.

"This is the snowmelt from the mountain peak. Drinking this should heal your leg."

Right after I spoke, I heard giggles and gasps. "You really climbed a 15,000-foot snow mountain all by yourself?"

"Look at those bruises and scratches. It must've been a painful journey!"

"Nevaeh, you must really love Seth, huh?"

I blushed and nodded shyly. "I'd do anything to see Seth's leg get better."

Seth looked at me with mixed feelings, took the bottle of 'snow water', put it aside, and hugged me gently. His voice was soft and caring. "Nevaeh, you're too good to me.

"Don't worry. Let’s schedule our engagement for next week, and I'll make sure it's a day to remember."

I felt my cheeks warm up. "Seth, when can we go look at engagement rings and wedding dresses?"

Annoyance briefly flashed across Seth's kind eyes, and he sounded a bit dismissive.

"Don't worry, Nevaeh. I'll take care of everything for the engagement.

"Sweetheart, you must be tired after all that traveling. Go get some rest."

I nodded obediently, then sneakily pinched his thigh. I looked up at him with big, innocent eyes.

"Seth, after all this time, can you feel your legs yet?"

Seth's face went ghostly white. I could not tell whether it was from pain or something else.

"No, but the doctor says they're improving."

I nearly burst into tears of happiness. "Really? Then, you should make sure you rest enough. Don't overdo it with your legs. I'll go make you some healing chicken soup."

I rushed out of the hospital room. As soon as the door shut, laughter broke out from inside.

"Nevaeh is so easy to fool. I've never seen anyone so naive before."

"Seth, you're not seriously going to propose to the girl who bullied Janice, are you?"

Annoyed, Seth massaged his leg and casually lit up a cigarette, tossing the bottle of snow water into the trash.

"Do you think she's worthy of becoming my wife?

"Next week, I'm getting engaged to Janice.

"I want her to come in a wedding dress to watch me and Janice get engaged. Make sure to get a good shot of her face.

"I want to make her the laughingstock of the entire internet!"

I could no longer stand it and kicked the door open.