Chapter 30: Out of the Frying Pan
Hanz had other plans aside from treating us to a failed boxing session, apparently. After teasing me and Audra, and Audra catching up to him, making him drop the camera by accident, the four of us removed our gloves, went back to the locker rooms, only to come out confused. Hanz was the only one who knew what would happen next.
Waiting for his signal, he told us. "I want to join a contest, guys."
"Not interested," Neil said. Neil looked bored at the idea. I mean, what contest was this?
But Hanz, steering us towards the exit of the gym, started to explain while moving his hands. "The ship is trying to promote a new store. It's a costume shop. And they're holding a contest to see who can go there and pull off a costume best."
Audra didn't say anything, though I did. "Really? What's the prize?"
"A trip to Bahamas for four." Hanz placed his arms above his head, making him look taller. "I know it's ridiculous," he continued. "We don't even know where we'll go from here, or after we leave the ship. We can't even contact anyone. But the trip is a few months from now. And I feel like looking forward to it gives me a lot of hope."
At this, even Neil appeared tempted at the idea. Hanz had made a good point.
Life for us had been so much difficult these past few weeks. It was a burden. And thinking of the sand, sea, and drinking fruit shakes at the Bahamas was enticing.
So enticing, in fact, that Hanz, certain that he'd already convinced us, pumped his fist in the air. "Are you game?" He grinned.
"I don't know," I trailed.
Neil touched his chin, considered. "Sounds like a pain, to be honest. But it will pass the time, for sure."
Audra still looked reluctant though. "You said the trip is for four," she spoke. "But will the contest be just for a single entry?"
"Actually, no." Hanz addressed while we started on the stairs. Above us, I could see some people, pooling on the deck, drinking in the sun. A few seconds more, the sunlight warmed my face. It was heavenly.
Hanz continued. "It's a contest with a partnership, which I think makes it trickier. But if one of our group manages to win, then all of us would get the prize."
Now Neil was rubbing his hands, it was making me nervous. More so when his eyes gleamed when he glanced at me. "Still sounds meh," he admitted. "But I'm thinking of a way to spruce things up."
"I don't like this," Audra remarked.
"But I do. And besides, female. . ." Neil shrugged at her. "Don't I dislike the idea of you hanging out with Leighton too? I mean, technically you owe me."
"I don't."
"You do," Neil insisted. "And one of these days, the two of you will break-up. I'll be laughing at your faces, of course. But until that day, I'm going to give you my shady remarks and you will learn how to deal with it. Period."
"Just get to the point, man." Hanz was giving Neil this irked look.
Which made Neil smile even wider. "The point is, I want to make everything as challenging as possible," he said. "To pass my time. To forget that her and her are together. Get my drift?"
I scratched at my neck. He really was being difficult about me and Audra. Though I could feel that somehow, he was not totally objecting. Which was good.
I mean, he would have done something more radical if he was objecting.
"Okay," I said because of this. "What's your challenge, Neil?"
"A competition," he answered. "Between the four of us."
"Is this even related to the costume contest anymore?" Hanz was scratching at his neck too.
"Of course. Of course." Neil rubbed his hands like a villain. Now the four of us were on the deck. "My condition is this. Since we need to be partnered up for the ship's contest, I want to make it into a mini game within our group. When two of us winsâ and I'm sure we will because we're incredible, the others will be servants for a day. No questions asked."
"What?" My eyebrows cocked at him. "No way!" I knew the direction this was taking. He'd partner up with Audra, and he'd do something to make them win. Afterwards, he'd boss me around. Make me jump off the ship or something.
Even Hanz looked like he thought that was a bad idea. "Just no," he supplied.
"But Audra!" Neil turned to her, irritated. He was just like a kid. Why hadn't I thought of this before?
Audra crossed her arms, seemingly lost in her thoughts.
Until a frustrated Neil started to elbow her. "Come on!" he protested. "When you became my best friend you said that we'd do everything together!" He glared in my direction. "Being together with Leighton is unfair!"
"So what?!" I snapped. "You expect her not to have a relationship? With anyone?!"
"Butt off," Hanz agreed, yet for Audra, dropping her arms only murmured.
"Okay. . ."
"Seriously?!" I threw her an accusing glare too. "How can you agree with Neil?"
Guilt flashed on Audra's face, but then she was reaching out to me, stopped short of touching my hand, then smiled and proceeded to take it.
Just for that alone, she scored a major point with me. But why did Neil have to come between us? That was ridiculous.
Audra, sighing again, squeezed my hand. "Let's just go with this, okay? It's not about siding with anyone. It's about not letting Neil bother us for the rest of this trip. And trust me, he will."
"Damn right," Neil agreed, bumping his hips on a woman passing by with her husband. He didn't even apologize, as if it was their fault that they were standing on his way. "You'll do well to know, Leighton, that I always get what I want."
I groaned. Of course. Of all people that Audra would be best friends with, it had to be him.
Neil smiled towards the sun as if he could already envision his success. "Let's start this," he said.
Audra didn't leave me entirely defenseless, to be fair. Upon returning to our room to have a short finalization, she had finally come with a plan to help. Starting with, "We need to pick teams first," she said.
"But I thought it's already decided." Neil acted surprised.
To which Audra, going to the welcome desk in our room, picked up a small pad paper. It was kind of like a post-it note. I didn't know what it was called, but the name of ship the was printed on it; Regal Sails, it said.
Afterwards, she tore a piece, proceeded to tear it further into four smaller bits, returned to us with a determined expression on her face, started rolling the pieces of paper while saying. "We do this the fair way."
"Alright with me." Hanz agreed. And part of me, while Audra rolled what she was supposedly making into a choosing stick, and while Neil was beginning to argue with her, wanted to protest too.
I mean, Audra was my girlfriend, right? Or no. But I wanted her to be my partner. I deserve to be her partner. Yet I knew that doing this fair and square would make it a better challenge. Audra was just doing it to be unbiased, and was doing a hell of a difficult job too.
"Who's going to pick first?" Audra had now tucked the papers in her fist, the edges of it sticking up for us to pluck. "Hanz?" she asked.
"This whole thing is my idea anyway." Hanz took a piece paper, but didn't show it to us. Instead, he elbowed Neil. "You next, man. Hurry."
"I don't like this," Neil grumbled, and was about to protest more when Audra gave him a deadpan look, which prompted him to follow anyhow. "Alright. Alright." He muttered. "I'm just saying that I'll still end up partnered with you, Audra."
Now, it was my turn. Neil had already chosen his paper, and was strategically not showing us his choice like Hanz. I bit my lip. The three of them were already looking at me. Especially Audra, who was giving me this small smile. If I didn't end up teammates with her, I was really going to lose it.
I picked my paper anyhow.
"Alright," Audra said, not opening her fist yet. "There are two short ones, and two long ones. Whatever you pick, you'll be partnered up with the person with the same length as your paper. Ready?"
"Let's get this over with," Neil said. While I didn't want to look at my own paper. I was beginning to lose the feelings on my legs.
"On the count of three," Hanz said. "One. . . Two. . . Show it!"
The four of us revealed what was on our hands.
"Oh my God!" Neil exclaimed. "Yuck!"
It was me who should be saying those words. How did I end up with him?
Hanz wiggled his eyebrows at me, but then groaned when he turned to a stoic-faced Audra. "I-I guess you're my partner, ma'am. . ." He gulped.
Meanwhile, Neil threw his paper on the ground, stomped on it. "Retake!" he said. "Leighton can't be my partner."
"Oh come on, man." Hanz from me to Neil. "It's not that bad, is it?"
Of course it was. I scowled at my paper. Luck had failed me. Again.
How the hell would I survive this? It was worse than being hit by an ice burg. I was completely sinking, and the contest hadn't even begun.
Audra cleared her throat. "Right," she said, sounding somewhat disappointed, somewhat amused. I couldn't tell which was which.
But then, she went to Neil, placed a hand on his shoulder, whispered to him. I couldn't hear what she was saying, but it was probably about me.
In a while, she was coming up in front of me, a satisfied look on her face. "I already talked to him," she murmured. "He won't give you any trouble. Now be a good girl and lose to me."
My eyebrows went up. What did she say?
Was that a challenge I was hearing? Was she somehow enjoying this as well?
The hairs at the back of my neck started to go up when she leaned even closer. "Imagine the things I would make you do," she whispered. "I never thought I'd say this but, just lose already, Pax."
"Enough flirting," Neil said, before I could retaliate. He'd been watching me and Audra, and from the looks on his face, he didn't like it.
Nevertheless, he proclaimed. "We will win, Leighton, no matter what."
The two groups played rock-paper-scissors right after, Neil and Hanz going for the kill. Hanz winning by a three on a total game of five.
"Alright!" Hanz said, turning to Audra right after the match. "I guess with this, we can choose our costumes first. Neil, Pax, you losers stay here."
"Fine. Fine." Neil waved his hand. "This will not erase the fact that I'm going to win this anyway. Me, Neil Rogers. Always on the top."
Hanz ignored Neil's confidence and scrunched his face at us. "Oh, before I forget," he said. "This is not your typical costume contest, alright? There will be a few seconds on stage where you have to act out the character that you're portraying. I think they got the idea from the Japanese cosplay or something. So don't just choose a costume that you can't really embody on stage. And the contest will be held at the atrium this evening. Six o'clock. Don't be late."
With that, he went to the door, Audra right behind him. And with a last wink from both of them, Neil and I were alone in the room. Oh boy. This was going to be a long day.
It took our competition two hours to choose their costumes. Two whole freaking hours; Of me and Neil trying to ignore each other's presence in the room. Of me and Neil, not even talking for a second.
That was why, when Audra came back, her hands busy with a box that had no doubt held her costume, I was like a spring jumping from the sofa to my feet, so glad to see her for so many different reasons.
"Hey," she said, depositing the box on the couch. "You okay?"
"Yeah."
"Good." She smiled. "I thought by now you would have killed each other. Thank God you didn't."
I second that. Neil was mostly looking outside on the balcony, keeping to himself.
Audra took that opportunity to cradle my face, search my eyes, which had been her past time last night too. Right when we were cuddled on the bed.
She was just leaning to kiss my nose, when Neil decided that it was time to join us. "Okay, lesbians," he said. "Enough of that."
Audra proceeded with the kiss on my nose, though, gave a longing sigh as she leaned away from me. I wanted her to go lower on my mouth. "Good luck," she murmured, looking it too.
"Thanks." I sighed. It was my turn and Neil's to pick out a costume.
Neil took the money from Audra before leaving, and with a yearning look at my favorite girl back in the room, I closed the door, proceeded to do what I should.
There were a lot of people in the store. Males. Females. Even grandpa's and grandma's. Each of them talking a different language, all the way to where we were standing outside.
No wonder we weren't even spotted by anyone yet. This place was a foreigner haven.
Neil was all business, of course, pointing to the store. "Okay, Leighton," he said. "I don't care what you think of me. And I don't care if you hate my guts. I just want to win this freaking thing. You do exactly what I tell you. No if's or buts."
I sighed. I knew he would say that. And I was prepared to give my own argument when he shook his head, touched my shoulders. One up me by saying, "Look. If you want me to respect you, you have to work hard at this. And if you want Audra not to be bored with you, then you'll do what I tell you to do."
Bored?
I gave him a confused look.
Meanwhile, Neil removed his hand on me, nodded his head. "You've seen the girl," he said. "You love her. And I usually don't backstab my best friend for many reasons, but Audra is all for flavors, and you're just. . ." He glanced at me from head to toe. "An unseasoned cabbage."
A what?
Neil's smile was wolfish, while I tried my best not to smack him. "No offense," he said. "I call it as I see it, Leighton. And right now, I'm doing you a favor."
This was not a favor. He was downright insulting me.
But then, his face softened, and he turned around, whispering, "Let's season you up then," before making his way inside. I didn't know what to think of it, but it was probably not that bad.
In his own, twisted way.