Chapter 5: Hide and Clap

Previously...

"It's just the three of you, I can and will lift this team to win. You still need to practice," Rhyss said.

"And here are the first two groups that will play!"

Please not us, please not us...

"Come on stage, Emerald group and Sapphire group!"

I feel like cold water had been poured to me from what I heard.

Oh my gosh, please tell me I heard it wrong.

I turn around and saw my other groupmates. We are all looking at each other.

"This isn't gonna end well."

---

Nini

As we walk towards the activity area, I hear Rhyss repeatedly say the word 'no'.

"No, no, no..."

Oh, come on!

I stopped walking and look at him. I took a deep breathe first before speaking.

"Your 'no' doesn't gonna do anything, Rhyss. They won't change their decision that we're the first one to play," I told him.

He looked at me and saw the disappointment on his face.

"That's the problem, we'll be the first group to play and it would be better if you guys were good as me and can keep up with my skills, but no! Instead, I have to be with you all, and the worse? Play with you all on my side," he replied to me.

Wow, does he think he's the best of all kinds of sports? 

He walks past me.

"Oh, Rhyss, look on the bright side, you know maybe Nathalie and Gavyn have a hidden talent in sports," I said to him so he stopped.

He turn around and looked at me in shock.

"Hidden talent?! Them?" can't believe he says.

Gosh, does he ever think of what the other feels when he started to compare himself to others? I bet not.

I smiled and nodded.

Guess I have to explain things to him, again.

"Yup! You know the saying that don't judge the book by it's-"

I could not continue what I was about to say when he approached me.

I could see in his expression that he was no longer happy. He's pissed.

"Do you know what you're talking about?" he asked me.

I smiled again and nodded in response.

"No!" he said to me making my smile fades.

"No, you don't! We have to win, always, at everything. And not in all cases you should tell me that don't judge the back-"

"The book." I correct him.

"The book or whatever it is!"

Gosh, why is he so pissed? It's not like I said anything bad, right?

"Do you see what group are we against with? When we lose, do you know what will happen?"

"Uhh, I don't know what group are we against after this but, to your second question, yes, we will sleep in our tent and the rest will stay in the camp hotel room, that's what Ms. Gill said," I happily replied to him.

"It's not about the tent, Nini," he said while facepalming.

"Then what is it all about?"

"It's about our team's reputation, they'll tell everything bad to us, to our team when we lose, and even you won't like it," he explained to me.

I just stared at him for seconds. I smiled and patted his shoulder.

"You know Rhyss, it doesn't matter what they say to us or our group. What matters is that we work together," I said and walked past to him.

I was about to speak again when someone took my hand, I turned my back and saw Rhyss.

Did I say something bad?

"You don't know the feeling of how hard it is to be a competitive person, Nini. I have to win, always. I have to be number one, I have to make her proud, always! And, make sure I never disappoint-"

He suddenly stopped by what he was saying. My eyebrows met and can't help to frown.

Her? Who is... her?

"Y-you know what? Never mind! I'll just do everything to keep this team winning," he said and walked past by me.

"He likes winning," Gavyn said as Rhyss walked past him.

When we got to the activity area, we instantly lined up in our respective groups.

There we saw that the two camp counselors holding two boxes.

"Emerald and Sapphire group, inside this box, is the game you will play today," said Ms. Addi and pointed the box number one.

"Inbox number two are the badges you can get when you win."

I looked around, there was no other equipment here.

"We'll give you 45 seconds to look around and guess what we're going to play today."

45 seconds, huh?

I looked around again, I only see the other groups and camp counselors.

What is our game?

"It's hide and clap."

I looked behind me when I heard someone speak.

"Nathalie?"

"Look at the circle that's surrounding the field," she said and looked in its direction.

We looked there too.

She's right! There's a big circle carved into the field,

You just can't see much because of the grass.

"How can you be sure that's the game we are playing?" Rhyss asked her.

She removed her headset and looked at him.

"Ms. Addi lied to us, didn't she give our schedule earlier?"

We nodded in response.

"Then why do we need to predict our game today if we have a schedule?"

I immediately looked at her.

"Meaning, all of them planned this and intend to distract us," she added.

"But, why? Didn't Ms. Gill told us what our game is before coming here?" Rhyss asked confusedly.

"Because Ms. Addi likes surprises and traps," I replied to him.

He looked at me.

"It was planned from the beginning, many players here are so excited that's why they set a trap by telling each group a different game."

Rhyss frowned.

"Why would they do that?" Rhyss asked again.

"When they told us our first game, what are you thinking after?" Nathalie asked.

"Our plan to win the game, of course."

"Then that's it," she answered.

"After telling each group some random games, of course, they will come up with a plan on how to beat the other team."

"But what if they know that they're playing a different game than they are expecting?"

She's good at this kind of thing!

"The plan that they make will be nothing and they will start thinking all over again," Gavyn answered.

"Exactly," she said and put her earphones on her ear.

"The schedule is just a trap, it has nothing to do with our game every day,"

I said.

If they knew that the game changed they will come up with another plan, but of course, before doing that.

The game will automatically be started. Meaning, each group will come up with no plan and play.

I looked in front of me and pointed to box number one.

"That box, it's possible that the games aren't in there."

"So you mean, our main clue to each game are the things around us," Gavyn replied.

I nodded in response.

"I see, so we have to be alert every time."

I looked at Nathalie who silently listening to her music.

She is a good observant, she is good at finding clues even in small things.

I looked behind her and saw Ms. Gill.

She knew this all the time.

I looked at the other team and say they're planning something.

"They're planning something, what should we do?" Gavyn asked.

"Relax, nerd. I can lift this team even though they had a plan," Rhyss answered.

I looked again at Ms. Gill and our eyes met.

What are you planning, are you testing us?

"Alright, everyone! 45 seconds is up! Players, I want you to stay where you are, your camp leaders will come to you and provide you blindfolds," she said.

Blindfolds? What for?

I saw Rhyss look at Nathalie.

"I thought hide and clap is the game?! Why do we need to put blindfolds this instant?" Rhyss asked her.

She did not answer and Ms. Gill came straight away to us.

"Alright Sapphire Group, the game is easy, I know you can handle it!" she said as she blindfolded Gavyn and Nathalie.

"Ms. Gill you lied to us!" Rhyss said.

"Sorry, Rhyss. It's all part of the plan."

I couldn't help but be nervous after she said 'the plan'.

There's something wrong with her.

"Don't worry, I'll guide you to the area," she said after putting the blindfold on Rhyss.

She then looked at me and approached me.

Slowly placing the blindfold over my eye.

"Don't remove this until I say so, okay? Trust me."

After she said those words I slowly felt her move away from me.

What is Ms. Addi's planning?

"For our first pair, please assist them on their corresponding circles," I heard Ms. Addi said.

Corresponding? Is there a possibility that?

"What do you think is happening there?" I heard someone asked.

By that voice, I'm sure it's Gavyn.

"I don't have any clue," I answered.

"This is kinda freaking me out, what if this was all a trap and they all left us already?" panicking he said.

He has a point but, Ms. Gill told me not to remove this blindfold.

What if it's a trap? She lied to us earlier, what if she was lying all along? 

No! This can't be their trick, this is no way to be a trap.

But, I never heard those people who brought on stage and what they are doing.

They all like surprises and mysteries!

Why make these groupings if they're going to make things complicated anyway?

"Nini."

I flinch as I heard my name being called. That doesn't sound like Ms. Gill at all.

"Nini."

Gradually, my breathing quickened.

"Sorry but, I don't talk to strangers. Please leave me alone."

"HAHAHA!"

My forehead frowned after hearing its laugh. I can't tell whether I'm talking to a girl or a boy.

"That's why you have no friends! You're not trying, now you're alone here and everyone has left you," it said.

"T-that's not true, not everyone left me. I still have my t-teammates here."

My heartbeat is getting faster and faster.

"Oh really? Why don't you take your blindfold off and see for yourself?"

"Ms. Gill told me not to take off my blindfold until she says!"

A moment of silence filled between us.

"You're an obedient child, aren't you? How long can you follow what you've been told?"

Calm down, Nini. You're just imagining things.

Come on, wake up!

"Leave me alone, please. I don't know who you are and what you need from me."

"Do you want to meet me?"

I remain silent after hearing its question.

"Oh, you will see me again, Nini. Soon."

"But for now, enjoy your game with your teammates..."

I came back to myself when I felt a touch in my hand.

I instantly avoided my hand.

"Please, leave me-"

"Nini, it's me."

I stopped speaking.

"It's okay, it's me, Gill. I'll take you on stage, okay?"

Will I believe what it says? What if that person or whatever kind it is fooling me?

"Everything's fine, Nini. Believe me."

"How can I trust you?"

She didn't answer for about a second.

"That necklace of yours, that came from your mom, you said in the tent that every time you feel down you looked at it and you feel your mom is in your side always."

"Your mom died after giving birth to you, Nini. That's what you told us in the tent earlier."

I'm still hesitating but by what she said, I slowly gave her my hand.

She hold it and tightened the grip.

"It's fine, when I'm here nothing bad will happen to you," she said as she guided me along my path.

"Shuffle everything first then pick, okay?" I heard she say.

Shuffle?

I felt something in front of me.

I examine it first, based on its texture and shape it's a box.

I shuffle first just like what she commands me and took one paper inside.

"You may now take your blindfolds off," I heard her say.

I immediately removed it and I could see the surroundings.

I looked in front of me and was inevitably nervous.

I looked at the paper I was holding. Two, what does this means?

"Alright, Nini. Go where your team is," Ms. Gill said.

I turn around and look at her.

"Which team is mine, Ms. Gill?"

She didn't answer but look at me as if I say a confusing thing.

"Nini, your teammates are still the same, silly. It's still the Sapphire group."

I couldn't help but be surprised, all this time this nervousness is for nothing?!

"Those numbers have a purpose, just wait until Ms.Addi said the instructions."

I just sigh, all of my thoughts just for nothing? Gosh!

"Geez, Ms. Addi sure likes to make people think," Rhyss said.

"I'm sorry if you all need to wear blindfolds, I just like to see your reactions," she happily said.

"But of course, I wouldn't do such things that have nothing to do about the games!" she said again.

What does she mean by that?

"Camp counselors! Give them our next objects!" she commanded them.

Ms. Gill and the other group's leader gave us the next objects.

I looked at Rhyss' hand and saw a...

"A rock, paper and a scissor?"

We all looked at Nathalie.

"I thought you're lying but I guess you were not," Rhyss said.

"Rock, paper, scissors, and blindfolds. Those are the objects needed for our first game!"

We all looked at each other.

"Our first game is Hide and clap! Now, players, are you ready?"

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To be continued...