The moment they entered the arcade section, Cin's eyes sparkled. "Balloon shooting! Balloons!" she squealed, dragging Percy and Michael like an overexcited child.
Percy dramatically put a hand to his forehead. "Balloons? Out of everything here, you want to shoot innocent, helpless balloons? The tragedy of it all!"
Aries crossed his arms. "Relax, Shakespeare. They're balloons, not people."
Michael grinned. "You just don't want to lose again."
Before Percy could retort, Jay clapped her hands. "Alright, listen up, drama queens. Let's split into teams before the balloons fly away out of pity."
Three teams formed:
Jay, Adam, Sam, Michael
Keifer, Yuri, Percy, Aries
Angelo, Ion, Rafael, Tiger
The staff handed them toy guns with soft darts, and the war began.
"Winner gets to choose dessert!" Jay announced.
"Loser washes dishes!" added Sam with an evil grin.
Percy gasped. "Excuse me, what kind of barbaric rule—"
"—the fair kind," Jay interrupted, aiming at a yellow balloon and hitting it dead center. "Like this."
Keifer leaned beside her booth, smirking. "You really are dangerous with anything in your hands, aren't you, love?"
Jay didn't even glance at him. "Flirting won't make your aim better."
"Who said I'm aiming for the balloons?" he murmured low enough for only her to hear. "My target's already in front of me."
Jay's hand froze for a second — just long enough for Adam to yell, "Ha! Missed one!"
"Shut up, Adam!" she hissed, cheeks slightly warm. Keifer chuckled under his breath, clearly enjoying it.
Meanwhile, Percy had somehow managed to shoot a balloon that wasn't even part of the game. "See? My talent transcends boundaries!" he declared.
Aries facepalmed. "You just hit a light bulb, genius."
Ion and Tiger were snickering at them while Angelo's team hit balloons at lightning speed. "I think we've found deadliest trio," Adam muttered.
Sam: "We're so dead."
Jay:smirks "Then die like legends."
From the other side, Keifer's teasing voice echoed through the speakers.
"Correction," Keifer said smoothly as he reloaded. "The deadliest duo is right here." He glanced at Jay with that smug, confident grin that made half the crowd blush.
Jay rolled her eyes but smirked. "Keep talking, Mr. Watson. Let's see if your mouth shoots better than your aim."
"Careful," Keifer leaned closer, whispering with that devilish tone, "I might take that as a challenge — or an invitation."
The others groaned loudly.
"Please!" Sam cried. "Some of us are single here. Have mercy!"
Even Percy pointed his toy gun at them. "Public display of affection detected! Bang!"
Jay laughed, dodging his shot. "Nice try, Percy."
By the end, Jay's team and Keifer's were tied, balloons all but gone. The crowd around them — mostly their own friends — began cheering.
Keifer gave her a sly grin. "So, tie-breaker?"
Jay tilted her head. "What's the deal?"
He leaned in close enough that only she could hear. "Loser owes the winner one wish. Anything."
"Anything?" she raised a brow.
"Anything," he repeated with that dangerous smirk that made her heart do somersaults.
She smiled sweetly. "Fine. Don't cry later when you're calling me Captain Jay."
"Darling," he said, lowering his toy gun like it was a real weapon, voice soft and unforgettable,
"Even if you win the world, you'll still belong to me."
The words hit her like a dart — faster than any balloon pop.
And before she could respond, he took his shot.Pop!The last balloon burst right behind her shoulder.
Jay blinked. "You cheated."
"Maybe." He grinned. "But I still won."
"Arrogant snake."
"Your snake," he said with a wink.
Behind them, Percy sighed dramatically. "Can someone please shoot me next?"
Aries smirked. "Gladly."
Keifer: "My team's louder than the arena music."
Yuri: "You chose them."
Keifer: "I chose chaos. And her.
She twisted out, fired, and hit balloon with most point
Jay stepped back with a wink.
Jay: "Guess you're dead, Snake King."
Keifer:smirking "Then bury me in your arms, Queen."
The line hit everyone like a grenade.Even Sam, from a distance, yelled,
Sam: "BRO WHAT KIND OF ROMANCE NOVEL LINE WAS THAT—"
Adam: "I FELT THAT IN MY SINGLE SOUL."
Michael: "That man is fighting for his own webnovel feature."
They fired at the same time -
Keifer leaned close, whispering near her ear,
Keifer: "Told you, I never miss when it comes to you."
Jay tilted her head, voice dripping with mock sweetness.
Jay: "Enjoy your five seconds of fame, because I'm getting a headshot next."
Keifer: "That's fine. As long as you keep looking at me like that."
From above, Percy yelled,
Percy: "OH MY GOD, CAN WE NOT FLIRT WHILE I'M BEING SNIPED AT?"
Aries: "That's their love language. Chaos."