Chapter Four: The Bet.
1428 Words
I took a quick glance on my wristwatch to check the time. I gasped in shock when I realized that it's almost lunchtime!
Doctor Nishikawa and Mika might be back anytime soon!
I was already walking at the sandy beach while I was holding unto my bicycle. As soon as I reached the main road, I faltered on my steps when I heard one, irritated voice.
"Would you cut it out?"
I frowned, while thinking that the voice sounded familiar... I discreetly took another step to see what was going on.
There were four boys throwing stuff to each other,while laughing out loud.
And there's another boy watching them with a resigned expression on his face.
"Oh! You're the newspaper boy!" I suddenly blurted out loud, and my voice made them look at me. They all stared towards my direction.
The newspaper boy frowned at me, and it was clear that he didn't like the way I interrupted their "fun." ( If you would like me to put it that way. )
"S-Stop right now or else--!" I tried to threaten them as I pretended to be brave.
"Or else what? Who the heck are you, by the way?" the burly boy looked at me from head to toe.
I gulped nervously, but I didn't want to show him that I was scared.
"I-I'm Nao Nishikawa. And if you don't leave him alone,I'll call the police!" I said to them.
All of the bully boys looked at each other.
"Y-Youre the adopted daughter of Doctor Nishikawa?!" the leader asked me, as his face became pale.
"Hey, isn't this bad? If my mother learns about this, I'll be a dead meat! My mom is Doctor Nishikawa's patient!" cried the smallest guy in the group.
"Oh, crap! Let's go!" the burly guy commanded. Afterwards, they rode on their own bikes and pedalled away...
Once they were all gone, the newspaper boy and I just stood there motionless, while gazing at each other. Just like what happened this morning, I was the first one to pull away from his magnetic stare.
The newspaper boy audibly sighed, as he started picking the vegetables and puts it back on the grocery bag.
"What the heck were you thinking?" he suddenly barked at me.
"It's obvious, isn't it? I just did what I think is right!" I defensively answered him.
"Oh yeah? A girl trying to fight four big boys? And I ended up being a wimp!" the newspaper boy sarcastically shot back.
"It was your fault, not mine!" I roared at him.
The boy's lips twisted into a mischievous grin.
"You should have seduced them instead..." he said, out of the blue.
"What?" I exclaimed, in a bewildered manner.
"Y'know, just showing your panties will do the trick to stop them..." the newspaper boy grinned.
I was speechless for a couple of seconds after I heard his outrageous idea.
I quickly picked up a tomato which was left on the ground and threw it right into his face.
The tomato juice splattered on his face.
"You pervert!" I shrieked at him, and then I rode on my bike and pedalled away without looking back.
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Later that evening.
"Is there something wrong, sis?" Mika inquired,while looking worried.
"Huh?" I absent-mindedly mumbled at her.
"Why do you look so angry? You've been poking on your hamburger steak with a knife since we started eating dinner.And you were mumbling something..." observed Mika.
I looked down on my plate and I saw the buger patty getting all messed up.
"Oh...I'm sorry." I apologized.
"That's alright,dear." Doctor Nishikawa spoke.
Mika went back on telling her plans for the summer vacation, but I wasn't listening to her. My mind is flying elsewhere...
"Why didn't he try to fight them? And why are they bullying him? He doesn't look weak to me..." I secretly wondered, still thinking about what happened with the newspaper boy few hours ago...
====================
Another morning came.
I craned my neck up while looking at the wall in our garden. I can see some students from Naha High School who were all walking their way to school...
I decided to water the plants as I discreetly waited for the newspaper boy to appear. He was really getting into my nerves, and yes, I'd really want to get back at him...
I didn't notice that Mika was standing behind me, while curiously watching me.
"You're drowning the plants,Nao!" she suddenly said, while poking my arm.
"Huh?" I said, as I looked down at the plants. True enough, the flowers are starting to wilt because of too much water.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry!" I screeched.
Damn that newspaper boy for messing ip her mind!
======================
One week have passed, but I never saw the Newspaper Boy again.
I don't know what I've gotten into me, but here I am, hiding behind a tree which was infront of the ever-famous snackhouse that is owned by the newspaper boy's family.
And coincidentally, she saw my dear little sister, Mika..
Mika got off from her bicycle and went inside. She greeted a certain boy who was
wearing an apron... Mika sat alone at a certain table at the corner. The boy who
was wearing an apron sat beside Mika.He leaned foward,and he was almost too close to my sister!
I stifled a gasp because of shock.
"T-That's too close!" I exclaimed.
I quickly walked towards the snackhouse and went straight to Mika's table.
"What the heck is going on here?" I demanded.
"Nao! What are you doing here?" Mika was
obviously pleased to see me.
I narrowed my eyes on the boy, and then glanced at Mika.
"I just thought I'd keep an eye on you." I haughtily answered, as I took a seat.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Mika probed,in a bewildered manner.
"Nothing...Anyway, let's order. Where's the menu?" I inquired at the boy who was watching us with interest.
"H-Here's the menu." the boy nervously stammered, as he laid down the menu folder on the table.
I opened the menu and randomly picked an order.
"Give me a Hula Twister drink!" I finally decided on my order.
The snackhouse suddenly became silent. The students from the other table stared at me, with shock expression on their faces.
"Wait, are you sure?" Mika blurted out, while wincing.
"Is there something wrong with my order?" I gave Mika an inquiring look.
The boy decided to speak again.
"I wouldn't really recommend that drink." he said, while grimacing.
"---What's going on here?"
My blood pressure suddenly rose when I heard that familiar, annoying voice again.
It was none other than the newspaper boy.
"Ah,this is a surprise! It's nice to see you again!" the boy announced with a stupid grin on his fave.
"You two met already?" asked Mika, while looking pleasantly surprised.
I gave the newspaper boy a fake sugar-coated smile.
"Sure,we did... Want me to tell everyone the details?" I pronounced, wanting to tell everyone on how a certain girl saved a helpless-looking boy from a group of bullies.
"That won't be necessary,isn't? You're one of our customers today, so what's your order?" Van abruptly changes the subject .
"I want a Hula Twister drink." I answered, while pouting.
"Oh, that drink? I guess you're up for a challenge, huh? Okay, why don't we make a bet?" Van suddenly suggested.
"Count me in." I don't know what he's talking about, but I decided to accepted the challenge because I wanted to get back at him.
Van nodded approvingly.
"Okay, here's the deal... If you finish a tall glass of Hula Twister drink without throwing up, you'll have a free "Eat-all-you-can" stub. But if you give up in the middle of the challenge or if you threw up---" Van's words hung in mid-air as he smiled at me with a wicked gleam on his eyes.
"Oh,please!Enough of your cliffhanger!" I barked at him.
"----If you throw up... You'll have to go on a date with me!" Van continued.
"The nerve of this guy!" my mind screamed after I heard the game rules.
Mika was trying her best not to laugh.
"Sure, why not?You'll lose anyway." I confidently accepted the challenge.
"It's settled then!There's no turning back now!" Van enunciated.
He excused himself to prepare the infamous "Hula Twister Drink."
Meanwhile, Mika suddenly leaned towards me.
"Don't blame me after this, sister. I already warned you." Mika whisperes at me.
"Oh, come on, Mika. It's just a drink and not some kind of poison..." I shot back at her.
- Writer
