14 - Clash of Vixens

Some hooted when she removed her sweaters without further ado. It died down quickly because she wore a white t-shirt underneath. Care nearly rolled on the floor with a good laugh. 

Hooray, idiots!

Marigold drew out next.

Let it be not X-rated, Ivy prayed zealously.

"Lap dance!" Marigold shouted followed by hoots from her perverted male fans.

"I volunteer as a tribute!" Roux butted in.

He appeared behind the bar counter, two of his upper shirt buttons were unbuttoned.

Ivy heaved a big sigh, one arm on her hip. She felt demoralized the second a sultry music played while the immorals, her sister included, started their indecent display. Roux sat comfortably on a chair while Marigold atop his lap grinded like a famous pornstar!

The ten seconds performance actually finished fast yet for Ivy, it was painfully long. She wanted to scratch her sister's face so she won't at least resemble her 100%, one of the problems of being identical triplets. 

"Iv, you're up!" Alder called her with a hint of excitement.

Carrying a heavy heart, she picked a block.

"Han... handcuffs? What for?" she asked.

An idea popped to her mind. She was conflicted whether to fret or rejoice.

"It means whoever you choose will be tied with you till dawn!" Alder explained, cuffing her right wrist in the process.

Caspian quickly came into view. His eyes were beaming. He might have just shouted to her to choose him. Well, everyone else assumed the same. Cheers and whistles filled the whole lounge as Ivy walked straight towards him. Teasing noises intensified when she tiptoed and whispered to him.

"Sorry not sorry!"

Then, she sprinted to the unwary Marigold.

As she saw Ivy fast approaching, Marigold felt her life flashing before her eyes. She realized late that Caspian was a mere diversion tactic. Before she evaded her surprise lunge, her sister grabbed her left wrist and cuffed it in a split-second. Her face lost color.

"No, no! Get away from me!" She protested.

"Aww, peace of mind at last! No more scandalous activities for you tonight." Ivy said, patting her head as though petting a dog.

It was Care's turn. Now she understood how pressured Penny was earlier. She took 'Hot Seat'.

"Only one question shall be entertained." Alder said.

Mandy raised her hand abruptly which Alder acknowledged, naturally. Care's stomach churned for a good reason. The girl was clearly bad news.

"Ramses Cooper... who is ---"

"Madelaine!" Lark cuts her step-sibling off.

Mandy wore a troubled expression but Care could see through the smile she barely tried to hide.

"What? Everybody is curious so as I was saying, who is Ramses Cooper in your life? That's cool to ask, aye? You won't mind, will you?" she asked without batting an eyelash as if challenging her.

Her tone laced with worry won't sell on Care. She bets Mandy is enjoying the show while rubbing salt on her emotional wounds... the ones that do not heal no matter how time passes by so when they hurt, they hurt so bad.

"Mad---" Lark tried to chastise his step-sister again, pushing her to finally speak for herself.

"It's fine, Lark!” She interjected, fully aware Mandy has no intentions of dropping the subject, “Ramses is my..." 

 As she searched for the right word to say, memories of Ramses resurfaced in her mind…

She lurked in the dark alley. Her hands resting on her lap still trembled regardless of how many times she shook them off. It must be due to the anxiety of waiting.

The trauma of her first visit in a community tempts her to crawl back to the wretched townhouse that kept her safe and at the same time imprisoned. However, her feet won't move. Her resolve deep down stands stronger than anything. She will bid farewell to a friend who accepted her while everyone else rejected her.

Upon spotting Ramses passing by, she was engulfed by relief. She grabbed the young boy's collar, almost strangling him through her bear hug. He resisted assuming he was being kidnapped. The rumors of abductors running wild in town did feed his fear.

"Ram-ram, it's me." she whispered immediately, halting his squirming.

"Why are you here? It's dangerous!" he berated yet returned the heartwarming embrace.

After moments of silence, they let go to face each other.

"Nu-uh, I already learned my lesson." she assured, undressing the black veil that covered her face.

Are there words that make a goodbye less painful?

Truth be told, there was none.

But how does one help it become bearable?

A lot of people might suggest: "See you again."

In her case, unfortunately, it is not an option. Her departure demands no coming back. When she goes, she leaves everything behind. Thus she told him, "Listen carefully. Thank you for being my friend. Don't ya climb up hill or climb our gates or look for---"

"What gibberish you talkin'?" he cuts her off.

Her eyes started to water. She could even feel the urge to cry because of the worsening thorns on her throat.

"Lemme finish first, Ram-ram! Create a wonderful life. Please, please take care! You gotta stop wandering in the woods, too."

"Hey, hey, wait! Are you moving? Why?! Your parents finally came? Where are they?"

She smiled at him filled with misery accumulated from many years of abandonment.

"Ram-ram… They'll never come nor will anyone so don't keep getting a beating from your father for me. I'm tied to my brokenness but you're different! Think of me as an imaginary friend. Forgotten, someday... I will not be missed."

She squeezed his hand, gesturing it was okay that she knew all along --- how Ramses was physically abused by his Papa for stubbornly venturing to the hills. He hid it well so she won't take the blame but guess what?

She had long accepted her existence as a sin. Another guilt burden was nothing new.

"Ram, where are you at? Ram!" a boy from nearby shouted.

"That's Eliseo. I need to show up before he sees you. Promise I'd be back quick!" he said then left in a hurry.

There's no next time, she thought yet nodded anyway.

"Bye-bye, my friend." she murmured letting the wind carry her words along.

Even with the sound of her heart breaking, she fled as fast as she could… liberated from the chains, free from her parents who never acted like parents, away from that cruel life!

"What? Ramses is what!?" Mandy pressed, instantly pulling her back to reality.

"You’re the last reminder of my past. I cannot cling to you nor would you want me, too. Let's be strangers like how it should be." she inwardly declared as she imagined Ramses standing in front of her before she gave Mandy the answer, "I mean, Ramses Cooper is our previous gardener's son. He's simply like that to me."

"Really! People were saying you were friends or perhaps, lovers."

This wench just won't stop implying, she thought.

"As expected of rumors. Cooper is exactly what I said he is. Nothing more, nothing less." she countered adding certainty.

"Enough, enough! Keep your nosy nose, Mands. It would've been more interesting to know more about the guy Care has her eyes on instead of discussing a delusional criminal who was obviously insignificant to a Caress Aragon, right-y?" Alder chimed in.

She forced a smile at best because she does not have the heart to agree. Stranger or not, she preferred not slandering Ramses in any way. It seemed easy to deny him with words whereas her feelings shall stay true until who knows when.

"Go, get your block, Mands." Alder urged.

She was about to step back when Mandy declared, "Yippee! Kiss a Friend!"

The rule states it must be on lips regardless if smack, French or what. Duration or with who does not matter.

"I volunteer as tribute!" Alder shouted, raising a hand.

"You're very thoughtful but... El!" Mandy outright called.

"He's here?!" Care mumbled, proceeding swiftly to search for him in the sea of people.

At a fair distance, he perched on a high bar stool with an unreadable expression as usual. He was alone, possibly just attended to observe how the party was going.

"El, if you wouldn't mind? I'd really, really feel comfortable if it's you!" Mandy pleaded, holding a microphone she stole from the pervy host.

Because more and more pips turned their attention to him, he rose from seat and placed down his fedora hat. Some girls gasped recognizing him as the SC(Student Council) president.

"Hah, what a big fat lie." Care grumbled under her breath.

How she ached to stomp her feet on Mandy!

Eli strides his way to the makeshift stage. He glanced at her which made her abruptly avert her gaze. For some reason, his pair of black orb eyes bore intensity tonight she seemed to melt for.

"I do mind if you feel forced. I can chug up a drink at your place. You don't have to kiss anyone. Right, Alder?" Eli offered with a serious baritone.

"Aw, y-yass! If you say so." Alder stammered.

Care relished the satisfaction of watching the prick lose composure for a split-second. 

“See, his charisma is on another level!” she inwardly praised.

"Eeh, Eli! All the girls did their dares. I don't wanna be the one who passes. Pretty please!"

"Go ahead."

Care stiffened, slow to process what his words meant.

Go... ahead?!

On the other hand, Mandy's eyes lit up too much; they outshine Sirius at the skies said to be the brightest star. In all honesty, what she did was a gamble between his chivalry and reservations.

Will he allow Mandy to be shamed upon the on-the-spot rejection or indulge her whim like a perfect gentleman that he is?

"Really!?" she exclaimed.

Her ulterior motive is as clear as crystal. Nevertheless, he casually nodded which earned noisy hoots from the crowd. Mandy wasted not a moment, tiptoeing in order to meet his lips.

Witnessing this live, Care fisted her knuckle ready to swing a punch to the wench. A fraction of second before their lips crashed, the enraged lady moved her elbow unkowningly. It knocked the middle portion of Jenga stacks behind them, resulting in a sudden domino effect to the hundreds of blocks above her. She stayed frozen while her eyes were transfixed on the Jenga blocks about to bury her alive!

"Oh no! The Jenga tower is collapsing!" somebody shouted.

Before the dreaded outcome happens, a calloused hand pulls her away. She sniffed the misty fragrance once she collided against the rock solid chest of the person who came to her rescue. It was the same scent left on the knitted scarf she slept together the past night. Only one name registered in her mind: Eliseo Manaloto.

When she looked up, her assumption did not disappoint her. His furrowed eyebrows greeted her sight and she wondered why. He looked like a father ready to scold a child. His brooding eyes even projected a darker shade.

"Don't just stand frozen every single time, Aragon!" Eli's voice boomed.

She jolted a bit, feeling his anger through the heat in his body resonating to hers. Then, she realized their position on the floor, she was on top of him!Contrary to Eli who was consumed by his frustration over the fact that she literally stood motionless earlier.

"I would've moved if you didn't pull me." she argued lacking conviction.

"I guess saving face comes first, hmm?" he hissed right next to her ear.

Alder faked a cough, breaking their ardent gaze to each other. And what a bad timing! They got a crowd gaping at them as though they were actors in a movie shoot. Both flustered, they stood immediately.

"El, let's resume where we---" Mandy tried to chime in.

"Eli! Come with me to the soda fountain! There's this cola caramel I'm dying to taste." Penelope interrupted.

Hurriedly, Penelope snatched him by the arm and they went away from sight. Care also turned to leave however Alder caught her arm then announced using the microphone, "I'm afraid we can't let you go, dearest! Not after you destroyed the Jenga tower."

Forbid me not to strangle Adler, she prayed. She made sure to put on a cheerful expression before facing the people who once gathered after frantically dispersing a while ago.

"Ready to endure the seven shots of retribution? "

"Undoubtedly!" she shouted trying to sound thrilled.

"Ladies, gentlemen! I present Caress Aragon, the brave, fierce and most importantly, unstoppable!" he declared, mimicking a boxing announcer.

He even raised her hand that garnered collective hoots from their crowd.

Begrudgingly compelled to play along, she lifted her first shot, "Here's to all freshies like me!"

"CHEERS!"

Playing the role of a pro drunkard, she chugged each drink after another with soda water as chaser. Bacardi, vodka, bourbon, cognac... She emptied the shot glasses in less than five minutes. It burned her throat but no big deal for her, at least. Some jaws dropped, others watched with eyes wide and a lot clapped with utter enthusiasm like some die hard fans.

Who says a woman cannot hold her liquor?