"Come on Sara, let's play this game," Sweety called out, tugging her sleeve.
Vicky watched her and thought, 'This girl is dangerous. I don't know how I'm going to survive living with her.' But he was smiling anyway.
"David sir, join us for this game!" everyone cheered.
David glanced at Sara once, then stepped into the circle. Sweety, Vicky, Sara, David and the rest formed a wide ring. Stella and Jake stood in the center as coordinators. Music blared. The ball flew from hand to hand. Everyone was buzzing with excitement.
One by one, students got out. When the music stopped, whoever held the ball had to sing, dance, or tell a story. Some sang. Some danced. Some told bad jokes and ran off the circle.
Soon only Vicky, Sweety, Sara, David, and three others were left.
The music cut off. The ball landed in Vicky's hands. Everyone screamed, "Dance! Dance! Dance!"
Vicky cleared his throat. "I'll sing instead."
"No, Mr. Senior!" the crowd booed. "You have to dance. Not solo. Couple dance. Pick a girl!"
Vicky hesitated. His eyes swept the circle. Then they stopped on Sara.
David saw it coming a second too late. He shot forward and grabbed Vicky's wrist. "I'll dance with you."
Sweety's eyes lit up. 'I knew it. He still loves her. Wow.' She barely held in a gasp.
Sara and everyone else stared, confused. David's eyes were sharp, cold as a blade. Vicky met his glare. "Sir, I was about to ask Sara. Why did you interfere?"
"Because I knew you would," David said flatly. Then he turned to the crowd. "Anyone have a problem if I dance with him?"
Silence. Then everyone shook their heads, half-shocked, half-entertained.
"Alright then. Shall we, Vicky?" David offered his hand.
Vicky had no choice. The music started. Vicky and David began dancing. Awkward. Stiff. Painfully slow.
"God, I can't watch this hell," one student whispered. "One's my favorite senior. The other's my favorite lecturer. Take me away, please."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Sweety doubled over, laughing. "Sara, look at them! I can't breathe!"
Sara shot her a glare. "Sweety, that's enough. I can't believe my eyes either."
'David, why are you doing this? It's over between us. But you still…' Sara scolded herself internally, heart twisting.
Vicky couldn't hold David's gaze. David's eyes said it clearly: 'If you ever go near Sara again, you're dead.' Vicky shot Sweety a murderous look. 'This is all your fault. You set me up.'
He flashed back to 10 minutes before the game:
_
"Jealousy always works," Sweety had whispered to him. "The way he looked at you when you asked about Sara? He loves her. But we need proof."
"Proof how?" Vicky asked.
"If you get the ball, ask Sara to dance. I guarantee he'll jump in and dance with you instead."
Vicky's voice dropped. "You want me to die?"
Sweety grinned. "If I get the ball, I'll ask David to dance with me. Deal? Let's see who catches it first."
Vicky nodded, resigned. 'I'm doing this for you, Ms. Junior. But you're getting payback when we're alone.'
-
Vicky snapped back when Sweety screamed, "Wooo! Come on, Mr. Senior and Mr. Handsome! We love your dance guys!"
Vicky glared at her, jaw tight. The dance ended. He didn't wait a second. He dropped David's hand and walked off.
The music started again. Game on. Final three: Sweety, Sara, David.
Sweety accidentally lost on purpose. Everyone told her to sing. She grinned and launched into Taylor Swift's 'Lover':
"Ladies and gentlemen, will you please stand?
With every guitar string scar on my hand...
....
Can I go where you go?
Can we always be this close forever and ever?"
The crowd erupted. "Woohoo! We've got a singer! What do you say, Mr. Jake?"
Jake clapped. "Yeah. She's got it."
"Okay, last round. David vs Sara," Jake announced.
The music stopped. The ball fell from David's hands. Sara looked at him. The crowd chanted, "Sing! Sing!"
David hesitated. "I'm not singing. I'll tell a story instead. Okay?"
"YES! Tell us!" everyone shouted.
David's voice went low. "There was a prince who ruled a kingdom. He never cared for any girl. His parents arranged his marriage. He felt nothing for the bride. But one day, he met a girl from his kingdom. A commoner. He fell in love with her. More than his life. He'd do anything for her.
"Then his father forced an engagement with another woman. The girl he loved misunderstood. She thought he betrayed her. So she left the kingdom. He searched everywhere. When he finally found her, he begged her to listen. He apologized. He begged her to come back. She didn't hear him.
"Now tell me… what should the prince do to get her back?"
Everyone sided with the prince instantly. "He loves her so much! How could she leave him? She's wrong!"
Sara's eyes narrowed. She glared at David. "How can you say the girl is wrong? Maybe she loved him just as much. Maybe he broke her heart by obeying his father. And now he shows up, asking her to forget everything? Do you think she can love him the same way again?"
The circle went quiet. David looked straight at her. "But he tried to get her back, right? Why can't she see the love in his eyes?"
"Because she doesn't love him the same way anymore," Sara replied, voice steady.
David flinched like she'd stabbed him. Everyone felt the tension snap between them.
Sara turned and walked back to the tent. David stayed frozen, his eyes full of regret. 'I never wanted it to end like this.'
Jake cleared his throat. "Sara wins the game. Everyone, back to your tents. Zipline and rope course tomorrow. Get some rest."
Everyone scattered. David stayed behind at the empty camp, sorrow written all over his face.