My life was bought by renting out Charles Delgado.
I had a rare blood disease, and the only thing keeping me alive was a transfusion every month from my best friend, Eugenia Vance.
In return, she needed Charles to pretend to be her boyfriend, to hold off her mother's pressure to settle down and marry.
Charles agreed.
"As long as you give Summer Chase her transfusion on schedule every month, I'll help you."
Eugenia gripped my hand.
"Please, please. My mom's lined up more than twenty blind dates for me. I really can't take it anymore."
I was in no position to refuse. All I could do was nod.
For the next three years, on every single day Eugenia needed a boyfriend, Charles would leave me behind.
I watched the photos on Eugenia's social media, the two of them flaunting their love.
I watched them slip into easy affection in front of their parents.
The hurt went numb.
Until today, when Kay Vance issued her final ultimatum.
"Eugenia's already thirty. When exactly are you two getting married?"
Eugenia was about to refuse.
Charles spoke first.
"By the end of this month. Eugenia and I have already talked it over."
The next instant, the whole table erupted in delighted cheers.
Only I kept my face down over my bowl, not making a sound.
So it turned out this whole fake-couple act had only ever been my one-woman show.
I opened the surgery plan the doctor had sent me seven days earlier.
My eyes settled on the last line.
"The success rate for this procedure is only ten percent."
I typed back.
"I'll do it."
This time, I chose to leave it to fate.
...
Everyone at the table besides Charles and me was part of Eugenia's family.
They were all overjoyed about the happy occasion to come.
"Is one month enough time to plan a wedding?"
"Have you two settled the betrothal gift and the gold jewelry?"
The Vances chimed in one after another, fussing over the wedding.
Eugenia flushed, bashful.
Charles set a peeled shrimp into Eugenia's bowl, answering their questions as he went.
"The wedding planner and the venue are already booked."
"A hundred grams of gold jewelry. Eugenia's going to pick the styles herself."
"The betrothal gift is eight hundred eighty thousand. It's already in Eugenia's account."
His tone was easy, as if he'd had the answers ready for a long time.
I lifted my eyes to Charles.
His gaze rested on my face for a single beat, then he turned the osmanthus cake I loved toward me.
Eugenia noticed the gesture.
She passed me the shrimp she'd already peeled in her own bowl.
"Summer, you're not strong. Eat more."
Charles said nothing. He just picked the gloves back up to peel more shrimp for Eugenia.
Then Kay turned her head toward me.
"Summer, now that Eugenia's getting married, why don't I introduce you to someone too?"
Charles spoke up out of nowhere.
"She doesn't need that."
The moment the words left him, everyone wore a startled look.
Eugenia hurried to explain.
"What Charles means is that Summer's health is poor, so dating wouldn't suit her."
Realizing where he was, Charles quickly nodded.
"Right. That's what I meant."
I nodded along.
"Thank you, Mrs. Vance. I'm not planning to date anyone right now."
For these three years.
I had been waiting. Waiting for Charles to come back to my side.
I'd thought the act would end soon enough.
I never imagined the ending would be the two of them getting married.
Back in the car, I sat in the passenger seat, staring blankly at the seven characters in front of me: "Reserved for Miss Eugenia."
This had once read my name.
Two years ago.
Charles said he was going to meet Eugenia's parents and was afraid of giving the game away, so he'd swapped the sticker out for the time being.
