Chapter 2215
The reminder caught in Cecilia’s throat.
She had said that. She believed it, too. But this wasn’t exactly a friend. He was a stranger. He could’ve softened it just a little.
“Fine. You’re right,” Cecilia conceded.
Calvin’s grin returned instantly. “Then let’s keep playing.”
He slipped into the empty seat, his hands moving confidently over the controls. Within minutes, he’d won back every token the flustered girl had lost.
Before Cecilia could gather her winnings, Vivian reappeared, dragging several overstuffed sacks brimming with plush toys.
Gasps rippled across the arcade. Kids tugged on their parents’ sleeves, pointing at Vivian like she was Santa in the middle of July.
“That lady won so many toys—she’s amazing!”
To everyone watching, Vivian looked like a claw-machine genius. In reality, she’d just poured a small fortune into the machines.
The praise only widened her smile. She loosened one sack, crouched down, and spread the plush toys out like treasure. “Go ahead—pick whichever one you like.”
The children swarmed her in delighted squeals, clutching their new stuffed prizes tight against their chests.
Behind the counter, the owner’s expression darkened.
At this rate, today’s profits were dissolving into cotton stuffing.
Vivian straightened and called out cheerfully, “Sir, could you refill those claw machines? I’m just getting started.”
“Of course, of course,” the owner replied, forcing a smile that barely held. He gestured stiffly to an employee to restock the machines, trying not to imagine the numbers bleeding from his ledger.
Vivian returned to the glowing machines, determination blazing brighter than the neon lights around her.
Madeline, meanwhile, remained locked in combat with a single stubborn plush, working the joystick with fierce concentration.
Across the arcade, Lucille bounced from one game to another, her laughter trailing behind her like confetti.
Cecilia stayed beside Calvin, matching him move for move, fingers flying across the buttons.
With Calvin steadily feeding tokens into the tray, she played freely, never once worrying about running out.
Neither of them noticed the stranger lingering near the doorway, phone raised, camera aimed squarely at them. A few quick snapshots—and their carefree evening was captured in pixels, preserved for someone else’s purpose.
Hours slipped by in the neon-lit arcade, dissolving like water through open hands.
Near the counter, the owner finally saw his chance. He signaled to a clerk and whispered something practiced and urgent: it was closing time.
“Already eleven?” Cecilia gasped, glancing at the glowing clock on the wall. “That went by so fast.”
She rarely had an evening just for herself, and realizing it was over felt like losing something small but precious. If only I could stretch this a little longer.
Calvin crossed his arms, though reluctance flickered in his eyes. “It’s late. We should probably head back.”
Even so, he wasn’t quite ready to give up the night.
Then he pointed to the gleaming pile of tokens stacked beside the register, silently reminding the clerk they still held value.
“Shouldn’t these be exchanged before we leave?” he asked, his tone calm but firm.
“If you’d like,” the clerk replied brightly, “we can store the tokens for you. You can use them next time you visit.”
A few feet away, the owner began blinking wildly at his employee—frantic, exaggerated winks that bordered on painful.
The clerk mistook it for encouragement and smiled even wider, unaware the owner very much did not want Calvin coming back.
Calvin stifled a yawn with the back of his hand. “That won’t work. We were just passing through. We don’t live anywhere near here.”
“Our arcade is a nationwide chain,” the clerk replied smoothly, enthusiasm clearly rehearsed. “You can use the balance at any branch.”
Calvin’s shoulders tightened. He didn’t care much about the small refund—but he disliked the store’s evasiveness.
Seeing the tension building, the owner hurried over, bowing slightly, sweat glistening at his temples. “I’m so sorry—my employee spoke out of turn. Please, come with me. I’ll handle the redemption personally.”
Calvin gave a single nod and followed without another word.
As they headed toward the exit, Cecilia noticed Madeline still planted in front of a claw machine, oblivious to everything else.
“Maddie, we’re leaving,” Cecilia called, her voice echoing through the dimming arcade.
Madeline didn’t budge. Her eyes were locked on a lone plush wedged deep in the far corner of the glass box. Her hands gripped the joystick as if it were fused to her skin.
“I have to win that one,” she whispered, resolve sharpening every word.