0.42 A Hasty Meal
"Wh-What?" Jared blinked severally at Ariana who just subtly announced that he was going to be his partner in a contest he had no intention of participating in.
"No time for dilly-dallying. Let's go put our names down," Ariana walked down with determined steps but Jared ran down to hold her back.
"Wait! We need to talk about this! I have no idea how to do this, I have never done something like this before!" Jared tried to steer her away from the crazy idea but Ariana wasn't one to relent so easily.
"You think I have done it in my life? No, brother, but there is always a first time to everything so no qualms!" she dusted his shoulder with a wide smile that did nothing but add to his anxiety.
He knew that when she had put her mind on something, it was nearly impossible to dissuade her from it but he also just couldn't join a contest where they eat food from God knows where!
"Is this part of your death list? Because we never discussed this," Jared asked with raised eyebrows.
"No, it isn't but I have the sudden urge to win against that guy," Ariana pointed and as Jared followed her finger, he saw a hugely built man with a paunch belly standing by the booth, about to register for the contest and his eyes bulged out.
Was Ariana really in her right senses to think she could beat a man who looked like he ate for a living?! When does she look like a toothpick when compared to him?
He turned to Ariana with an incredulous look.
"Miss Ariana, we don't have to do this, I don't know what the gentleman did to you but this is not the way to get back at him, you will only end up punishing yourself!"
And me.
Jared wanted to add as he tried to convince her not to go ahead with what he saw as a foolish plan.
"Let's go, Jerry," Ariana grabbed his wrists and pulled him down past the crowd to get to the colourful booth.
Jared sighed and scowled all the way as he prepared his fragile heart and stomach for what was about to go down.
"Hello, we would like to register for the contest," Ariana smiled at the lady sitting inside the booth who looked up at the sound of her voice.
"Uh...you?" the lady eyed them both from head to toe, it was obvious from her facial reactions that even she deemed them an imperfect fit for such a contest.
Not only were they dressed formally, but they also looked too posh for such an event.
"Yes, us. Now, where can we write our names?" Ariana ignored the lady's look of scrutiny.
"Uh, here. Your names and signature please," She pointed and Ariana took the pen to write down her name and Jared's before she signed.
"Sign here, Jerry," Ariana handed him the pen which he took begrudgingly to sign.
"Is that guy also going to participate?" Ariana asked the lady as she handed her the folder.
The lady peered out of the booth to peek at the man Ariana was gesturing to.
"Yes, he is. He is also a winner of our previous contest so I doubt anyone would be able to beat him," the lady nodded her head.
"We'll see about that!" Ariana gritted under her breath before she whisked away as Jared trudged behind her.
Minutes later, Jared found himself seated behind a large bowl of pasta and meatballs next to Ariana who had an eager look on her face, contrary to his.
"Ladies and gentlemen, clap your hands for our contestants!!!" the organiser of the program came up with a mic as the crowd that had gathered around the place gave them all a round of applause.
"Woohoo!!" Ariana slammed her fork on the table as she hooted.
"So, these contestants here are going to have to finish the enormous bowl of pasta with meatballs without a single thread of food left and two bottles of soft drinks in just five minutes. The winner gets to take a cash prize of a thousand dollars home, aren't we excited?!"
"Yayy," Jared snorted under his breath.
"We have three teams here who will be participating so please keep cheering them on as the winner emerges!"
The crowd let out another round of applause as more people began to flock toward the scene.
Jared wished for the ground to swallow him just right this minute because never once in his life did he imagine himself being in such a place.
It seemed nothing ever went the way he wanted with Miss Ariana.
"I am going to beat that frogface and show him that he doesn't get to step on people's feet and walk off as if nothing happened," Ariana hissed under her breath as she glared at the man next to them.
Jared perked up when he heard what she just said.
"Wait, so you're saying you are doing all this because the guy stepped on you and didn't say sorry?!" even saying it out seemed ridiculous to Jared.
Was she going to let him go through this just for something as meagre as that?!
"I wouldn't have done anything if he just walked away but no, when I confronted him, he had the nerve to give me a dollar to buy new shoes, what insolence is that? A dollar wouldn't even be able to buy the heel of my shoes," Ariana hissed with agitation.
Jared slumped down in the chair, having no energy to reprimand her for her childish behaviour. They were already in the contest and backing out now would only make them look bad so he was going to sit without a word said.
"Okay, dear contestants, are you ready for the fastest meal in your life?" the host teased as he hovered his hand over the stopwatch.
"On the count of three,"
Jared gripped the fork tightly in his palm. He had no other choice but to go through this so he might as well try to win.
"One,"
"Two,"
"Three," the whistle blew as the participants dug in the food.