CHAPTER III

(TASTE LIKE YOU)

“COULD it be? I never expect that the Clayton Aims Wayneright is here.”

Overhearing as it is not an accident, but definitely, a play that fate in-store and a blessing from destiny. Andrea gasps, for that name rings its familiarity towards her. Looking back a cunning smile plastered to her face with the name that’s ringing and she immediately whispers.

“Clay.”

She giggles and more in secret. Jumping in place and thinking of how everything of she turns out to be a nightmare turns into a perfect one.

“Thank the heavens. Dear god, thank you for this opportunity. You never fail me, especially today. So, I will do everything in my power to make do of this gift that you gave me.”

With destiny finally siding her, she never expects to have the answer to her wish and wants. For the hero in this play is none other than the male leads fated one. Holding the thought of that name and the familiarity that it brings, a light snap unto her mind and memory. Looking at the two girls walking past in front of her, she rushes running to their side and curiously asking.

“Excuse me!”

The two ladies stop and back finding her with a smile.

She smiled back confirming. “I heard that you are talking about Mr. Wayneright, right?” with an act like a curious cat, the two ladies nodded. 

“So, your one of us then?” 

Somewhat teasing her, yet she knew what they mean. She nodded immediately, faking an excited tone claiming for a second to be a fan, and among the swarming girls who wanted the attention of the bachelor. She smoothly jumps into their circle ad where they spill the beans. 

“Well, you need to wait for a while, but if you want to see him, he's having a betting game of beer pong right now and right, over, there.”

The lady’s points to the direction she is very aware of. The game, and the only bet that is happening right now draws the uncanny encounter she never expects to have. The one, they knew is the same person that Sky’s facing and branded as his worst enemy right now.

More than winning the ultimate prize in a lottery, she smiles and thanks them immediately, waving her hand. Her mind for a minute, went into an exciting overload upon solving the puzzle piece from the once-in-a-lifetime chance destiny give her. Thinking deep for the coincidence falls to the inevitable, her worries are exchanged, with excitement.

“Destiny, you made me proud this time.”

“My lady, your drink.”

She then took the glass of apple cider and perfectly coming across the beer pong cups filled with drinks. Indicating for that the next round is about to start. Looking back at the drink she’s holding and down unto the beer pong cups, a cunning idea crosses her mind.

“I hope you can forgive later Sky, but believe me, it's all for your sake.”

She convinced herself, whispering, and looking around like a spy with the biggest scheme of the millennium. Before the waiter could come back to serve the cups. She throws the liquor into one of the cups intended for Sky. Pouring the apple cider in exchange for the beer, and back to its position. She quickly took a bottle of medicines, takes a capsule, and splitting it in the middle in two. She pours the powder into the same cup with the apple cider in Sky’s both favor and worst.

“Okay!” she cheered unto herself, knowing that before Sky could notice anything, he just drunk his prescribed medicine, averting them into more trouble she and her foolishness started.

Immediately went back, she whispers the words unto Bea, by which brows cross with a puzzling wonder and flooding questions for the 5W's and 1H all over. Shaking her head, she assures her of everything. Making sure that they didn’t look suspicious. She then made Bea walk away right after the next batch of the cup are arranged accordingly. 

“Round two!” the crowd echoes, cheering over and over.

Ian takes the spotlight, declaring it amusedly to the crowd's hype. Both tipsy and still at exchanging shuts and earning the same first-round point, in sync, but competitively. Sky and Clay slam the cup down in one go adding to the excitement and more to the crowd. 

But then a weird feeling like a different kind of heat is streaming up to Clay’s body. He shakes his head, throwing the thought out and he continue the game. “What the.” He whispers onto himself, cursing as his head is slowly starting to spin, and the heat is making him relentless. 

“You alright, Clay?”

“I’m cool.”

He immediately assures Dylan who notice something off not just to him, but also to Sky.

“Your turn.”

Dylan reminded. Immediately fixing himself, he throws the shot and hits Sky’s cup that is more than enough and too much for Sky.

“Tsk!” He grits his teeth and holds his ground when his pride is what makes him stand.

Even though he is already at his very limit, he still exchanges shuts as they both landed a cup on each other sides, it falls further into the corner beside his.

“Yes!” silently claiming her reward and just a second to celebrate before anyone could notice. Andrea carefully observes Sky drinking the specifically wanted cup she wanted to be nailed by Clay which he did. “Sorry, Sky.” Apologizing she sends the signal calling Bea’s phone, Clay and Sky simultaneously throw a shut landing on the winning cups on each side.

In a split second to the ever-heated rabble around them, gulping the cup and slamming it on the table, all the lights went out. Everyone is in shock, gasping and panting that echoes for a second and two. Counting a few in a hilt of the seconds and intervals, the lights went back on. To the confused crowd taking a sigh of relief, Bea acted her best taking the attention as she screams.  

“Sky!”

Both rushing over with Andrea in two to the drunken collapse Sky that is now laying on the floor, Ian’s ever loud mouth also calls out. 

“Clay!” The three of them aided their crashed friend laying on the floor and knocked out.

The crowd wonders and in disappointment awe for the result of the game was undetermined. Immediately standing up and smiling widely, reading the atmosphere, Ian takes his hyperactive front. Raising both his hands he announces.

“Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately from that sudden power interruption we couldn’t declare a winner, but to still call this a night, and to not spoil the fun. All drinks on me, continue the party!”

“Alright!”

Successfully listing the mood up with the crowd cheering and joining in with the wild music. The club once more become lively and even greater.  While both parties aided their players at hand. Helping both, with Ian taking Sky on the couch next to Clay, Andrea took her bravest ever front-facing Dylan. 

“We need to talk.” Andrea claims, standing seriously directly into Dylan’s eyes.  

Quite taken back, yet took quite an interest, he smirks. Not expecting for a bold girl to approach him with authority all over her.

“Do you think I’ll be interested?” teasing her for a bit, but wonders if he could hit on her or the other way as she is the one who wanted to be hit on by him. Adding by the facts of the unfinished game that just happened.

Andrea calm herself and straighten his mind. Click her tongue and look at Dylan with the facts that she’s screaming that what he is thinking is not what she is trying to say.  

“Tsk!” She immediately grabs his hand with the words of authority. “Come with me.” Didn’t care what he is thinking or even the slightest thing that is running on his mind. Her plan and destiny’s blessing in disguise, is the chance she cannot let it slip. 

“Wai---” Dylan wasn’t able to finish a word when Andrea drags him away, leaving the puzzled parties in place. 

To Ian’s nosy nose, who immediately took his move to chase after. He is swiftly stopped and warned by Kean’s threatening stare, leaving him in defeat hands up nodding in response and taking his seat beside Bea that draws an uncanny smile unto its face. Perfectly knew what is the deal, where she only took a glance and back to the two knocked sleeping enemies that’s life is about to change completely. 

“Listen!” Andrea’s authoritarian tone, pushing Dylan on the wall in a quiet secluded area of the club and blocking both sides with her arms.

Dylan is somehow taken dull for second-hanging, thinking for the familiarity of the scene that it brings. Only that it should have been the other way around.

He almost stutters and asks. “Just what do you think you're doing?” somehow taking the role of the heroine, he fixed his sight on the beauty who happens to be not such a lady he just found and realizes now, but a certified angsty goddess that is once in a lifetime. 

Andrea takes a deep breath out, taking her hand off and holding her courage and pride to ask for something out from the stranger that he will no longer be for the next while. Looking at its striking grey eyes by which she somehow in a split regretted looking out, she claims.

“I need your help. Skylar Ryker Ashworth, does it ring a bell?”

Thought of a warning, but not, the name hit a different target spot on his entire brain's map. Smirking with the need and the plan in two this week will never be the same as what they thought will be. 

“Now, are you ready to hear me out?”

Somehow giving the greatest treasure the world has to offer. But it is really what Andrea is thinking about. Her smile and conviction to make her plan work at all-cause, marks the awe, yet satisfaction that Dylan crosses into his eyes. 

With the turns out of events and the name that he hears he smirks. With the whispers that’s fading in the distance. 

“I’m…”