"But we're only five..." Zeb objects.
"So what?" Mika faces Zeb. "The first set—I and Saint vs Damien and Todd and set two—Todd and Saint vs Damien and Zeb. Both you and me will be referees respectively. That way we'll also be able to play."
"I don't have a problem with that," Zeb restate. "Alright boys take position."
Mika gives me a thumbs up saying, "I want you to win Saint."
"Woah... you're supposed to be on my side Mika!" Damien exclaims in surprise.
"And let's flip!" Zeb flips the coin. "Head for team A—Damien, tail for team B—Saint."
The coin stops spinning as the head comes first. Damien grins, jumping on his feet to serve the ball.
When it flies to our side I tackle it with both of my hands. Mika bounces on his feet to receive the ball. "It has nothing to do with this game Boss. Perhaps it'll be fun to watch you being ordered around by Saint."
Todd leaps through the sandy air with a ferocious glint in his eyes and his now tanned veiny arms girls the ball with a fierce throw.
I quickly spring up with moist hands aiming to grasp the ball. Suddenly I feel a pull in my leg's muscle as the ball hits my chest before hitting the sand.
"Shit! Saint!"
Ugh... I haven't played any sports in the last 4 years. And if I lose today I'll have to be his slave. Why did I even agree to this?
"Foul! He touched the antenna," Zeb points at Todd.
Mika sprints to me. "You okay?"
I rub at the spot. "How will we win?" I sigh. "Look at the score... 13/11."
Damien's expression harden. When he catches me staring he looks away. He looks upset. What did I do again?
••••
For the next set Todd walks to this side. I pull Mika to a side for a minute.
"What's the matter?"
"I don't want to play anymore Mika. I just want this to end quickly. I don't trust Todd. He never liked having me around," I voice my doubts. "What if he betrays me and helps Damien win?"
Mika puts his hand on my back. "It's just a game Saint."
"Is it?" I tremble at the thought of Damien grinning at my defeat.
"Todd can be a bit gruff but he takes games seriously. In short, he won't betray you as he'll be in your team for this round."
"What are you two plotting there?" Zeb calls out to us.
"Oh and I don't trust Zeb either. Damien too."
"So you trust me then?"
I find a bit of tease in Mika's voice. "Maybe I'll give you the benefit of doubt."
••••
The next 20 minutes happen so fast that it feels all blurry. Every second my heartbeat rises. Their team's winning! Todd gives me a frustrated look. "What are you doing Saint Angel? Do you really want to lose?"
"Do I look like I'm enjoying this? I'm at my limit!" My palms sweat with trepidation as I glance at the board again. 26/24. Damien's eyes hold a vicious firmness which conveys that he won't go home without ending the game. Damn you Damien Frost!
I swat the ball high. As it bounces Todd swings it hitting their court. Damien and Zeb both jump up hands reaching out. Suddenly I notice a small plastic ball from nearby rolls to their side. Okay now whose is that? They can trip if they don't see it.
As soon as the thought passed my head Zeb tripped.
"Ugh! Fuck this stupid ball!" Zeb groans kicking the ball out of his sight.
So this is it...a last chance. We just need two points to turn the tables.
"You okay?" Damien asks.
"Just a little... I need a moment." Zeb asks, "Guys why don't we take a short break? I'm gonna bring us some cold drinks."
"Great! I can use some. The sun's too harsh today I agree," says Mika allowing Zeb to toddle off.
Mika strides to me when he sees me standing apart from the others. Damien eyes are warily as he pulls me a bit far from them. "What are you doing Mika?"
"Saint I'm worried about you. Just one more go... If you can't settle the score..."
"You don't have to tell me twice," I say glancing at Damien.
"Why not distract your sweet rival to win?" He quirks his eyebrows. "Zeb's accidental trip will make Boss more cautious now."
Out of the corner of my eyes I see Damien sticking out his tongue at Mika. "Yo... Don't get too carried away with your schemes."
"We're just talking about how great you are Boss," Mika grins sheepishly.
That demon's gaze burns a hole into my skin. Why's he looking at me like that? It's intimidating... "What's his deal?" I ask with caution.
"He can't digest me talking to you like this..."
"Huh? Why's that?"
"Oh Saint...my friend...don't overthink."
"What do you have in mind?" I appeal, "I can't lose Mika..."
"Well..." He whispers the plan in my ear making me squirm.
"What? Is that really necessary?"
He pats my back. "Oh it is."
"How do you..." I cringe awfully. "...know it'll work?"
"Cause I know something you..." He quickly covers his mouth with his hand.
What's that? But before I could ask Zeb returns with our drinks.
••••
Here comes the last minutes of the game. Todd keeps Zeb occupied.
"At your left Saint!" He roars.
"It's now or never," Mika's reminder makes me rethink again. Ah..am I really... My heart races manically as perspiration trails down the back of my neck. It's getting hella exhausting! Focus Saint. You got this.
Damien's smug expression annoys me. "I've got a list of things to make you do Saint Angel."
"Dream on it Damien."
Mika cheers for me. Damn it... I don't know why Mika told me to do something like this.. "It's too hot today," saying I pull up my shirt. Few girls who were merely spectators of our game whistles loudly. Now more girls gather. Well it's embarrassing. I've never got half naked like this in a beach before. Seems like they're already in some kind of fantasy world. Damn it Mika.
But something has changed. Damien's eyes quiver, his shirt now drenched in sweat. I serve the ball with a powerful thrust. It bounces up in the air swiftly heading towards Damien.
"Boss!" Zeb sprints to the left aiming for it. "Make him regret playing with you."
His face contorts as he leaps through the air in a last attempt to throw it back but it slips right out of his hands. Everything happens so fast that I can't fathom if it's real or not. It bounces off of the court touching the ground. Those girls hysterically screams in joy. We...I won! I can't believe I won!
Todd literally shakes my upper body laughing and yelling at the same time.
"And team B wins," Mika announces. Then scrambling to my side he pulls me in a sweaty hug. "You did it Saint!"
"No we did it." I wipe off the sweat then toss my shirt back on. Mika joins others while I remain close to the waves.
Damien's defeated eyes linger on my cheerful face. The crowd gets thinner. Damien waves at me. "What now?"
I don't answer. It's 4.30pm. I wistfully stare at the setting sun—the vermillion submerging with the whites whole throwing smooth sanel pebbles in the open water. I'm getting some melody there.
I take out my phone to record my voice. "An accident that cost me my sleep/ you're invading my dreams..."
"Practicing by yourself hm?" He stands close with beaming eyes.
When did he approach me?
As if reading my thoughts he adds, "You looked pretty engrossed there."
"I didn't want to stop you kids from picking shells and burning fireworks. After all you're simply here to have fun?"
"Well... I'm also here to have some peace of mind...to get inspiration. You're here for the same reason right?" He now sits beside me with his hands on his knees.
"You played good today. If only you didn't..." He hesitates.
"I didn't what?"
"Nothing." He hands me a soft drink. "Anyway why don't we practice?"
I slurp the drink. "You do know that you still have to do whatever I ask of you right? How do you act so casual and happy?"
"I have to say I was a little surprised when you said you'll claim your prize later. It doesn't matter though. I gave my word before the game started."
The next 60 minutes we try practicing the song. The other two were making barbeque in the meantime.
Damien sings his heart out that's for sure.
He looks up at the sky then vus eyes drift lower, towards me.
"W-what?"
"You have a smooth voice Saint Angel. I bet we'll do just fine."
There were many people who complimented me the same way he did when I was in high school but something about this snarky self-obsessed idiotic mischievous face makes my stoicness melt for a moment. Maybe my brain acknowledges his words because he's the band's leader or maybe because our start didn't have all butter and milk like most people.
"What's your little head's cooking again? Don't tell me back then Mika gave you some ideas about what to do with me if I lose." His hand extends towards my chest—his fingers tugging at my shirt.
This little activity of his gives me a frission of mixed excitement. "Your thoughts are wicked, Damien. You attract danger pretty neatly," I remark hinting at the Josh Martin topic.
"Danger is hella hot. Wicked is sexy. Whoever fell for a good guy for the first time? It's the wicked one they all love." He gives me a very cocky grin.
"You are boastful...and remorseless." I roll my eyes.
"Josh deserved that iron man punch," he says nonchalantly snapping his fingers. "See? Still have some scars left." He holds up his hands showing me.
"Seriously...why didn't you tell them what exactly happened? You didn't have to take it upon you if he's guilty."
"If?!" He kicks at some sand. "That rascal is the one who should be! But it's also a matter of Frost family's reputation which I drowned by the way even though it's not too big. But it doesn't bother me in the least knowing I tried my best to save my goddamn father's reputation."
The veins in his neck pop and I notice burdened hatred and frustrations emanating from him.
"So that night you said you had a fight with your father..."
"Yeah...about that... His new wife's previous husband's daughter got pregnant by a freshman asshole."
"You mean she...with Josh Martin..." So Kennedy Frost did remarry. But a woman with a daughter. His step sister huh... But I show no overly surprised reaction. Well I'm not here to be his judge or anybody's.
He takes a deep breath gazing at the waves. "She and Josh were seeing each other in secret—he didn't make it public for the time being. But when she gave him the news—not wanting an abortion... He threatened to reveal some photos of her he took secretively if she didn't leave him alone with his new chick. I had to step in." He sighs raking his hand through his hair. "I had to step in right where I shouldn't... Anyway I don't have regrets now knowing my step sister loves me a lot."
"So the problem was solved or..?"
"Dad handled it. And so did his father," he answers.
"Dr. Martin?"
He nods. "Josh's gonna marry her since it has already come this far..." He says with a neutral face. "Otherwise he'll be deprived of his father's property."
"And?" I ask cordially, "How's she taking all of this?"
"She'll be fine. She needs some time."