Cold currents

CHIARA

"Actually, somebody called Xander sent me here. I'm Alex." He stretched his hand out to me. I scanned the man from the head to the toe. Why would Xander send him for such an important mission? He was as good as dead after this party!

Keeping my questions aside. "Hey Alex, I'm not interested in knowing you. Just make sure we win. Okay?" He stepped back, his eyes weary of me. "Ye—yes." Ugh, I must've done it again, that thing with my eyes. It wasn't my fault.

"The first competition will be partner push-ups! You are required to do ten push-ups with your partner on your back. Now let's see if you have made the right choice picking the partner that you have." Said the DJ.

Loud gasps erupted. Others gave up before even trying after looking at their partners. I looked at Alex and was glad he was very much capable of carrying it out. "I got this, don't worry." He uttered. "Who said I was?" I rolled my eyes.

Only a few couples remained on the floor.

"Now gather up and let's get started. I'll count from one to ten for the rounds you'd go." The DJ said. We all got into position. Alex readily gazed at me. I was about to get on his back when Carmelo whistled. I paused and looked their way. The blue head was already on his back as though she was planning on staying there forever. "Are you sure he is going to win for you?" He said with a smile spreading on his face.

"Why don't you just focus on yourself?" I hissed and got on Alex. Both of my legs crossed on his back like one would sit on the ground. And my hands held onto his shoulders to brace myself. Unlike how the blue head sprawled on Carmelo's back, with arms wrapped around his torso.

"Ten push-ups, gents, here we go. One! Two! Three! Four!" With every number he mentioned, the so-called gents went up and down. Some trembled because there was no rest, and some fell and were disqualified midway. And others did it with ease.

My gaze landed on Carmelo. As his neck was flexing along with his arms and shoulders, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. "Seven! Eight!" His eyes creased at such a dangerous level. So seductive, so confusing, so enchanting. I couldn't look away even if I wanted to. What the fuck was he doing?

"Nine! Ten! Hell yeah!" the DJ exclaimed, breaking me from my trance. I looked away only to find myself looking back at him again. And I found his gaze waiting for me. My breathing hitched when he winked at me, before getting up.

"Yes! You did it, baby!" The blue-headed woman jumped on his arms, and he carried her, laughing, and twirled around with her. Baby? I felt uncomfortable watching them, so I turned back to Alex, who was about to hug me, but was met with my index finger pressed in the middle of his chest. I was so angry and I didn't even know why.

"I know Xander sent you, and I know why you are here. But you will not touch me unless I permit you to." I said in a low voice between the cheering chaos around us. "I won't repeat myself." I pressed. "You got it!" he nodded.

*****

We did a variety of games like saying I love you to someone without using the three words. Which ended up with me getting kissed by Alex on the corner of my lips because he couldn't think of words. As much as I hated what he did, we did win for the next round. "For peace?" Alex handed me a glass of wine and I just took it and nodded in response.

"Coming up next and the last game for today, which will include only the three remaining men, and then we'll determine the one true winner. Brace yourselves for a Jet Ski riding game!" He announced. "The rule is to reach the heart balloon right over there, untie it, and return here as fast as you can. The first one to arrive would be the winner. Everyone, please get to the top part of the deck for a better view." I followed the crowd and sighted the heart-shaped red balloons floating about ten kilometers away from the cruise with something holding them in place under the water.

Alex, Carmelo, and the other man stood by the lower part, where they would be lowered down to the mini boats below the cruise and take their jet ski each. All dressed up in their life jackets and goggles. I looked at the balloon again and then at Alex. My heart was restless, so I stormed right where he was.

"Step back, I'll do it." Alex's eyes enlarged, "What? No, I can pull this off." He uttered.

I emptied the glass of wine before handing it to him. "I wasn't negotiating." I moved him aside and held gazes with Carmelo. I took off my dress only remaining with my pair of green bra and underwear. My chest rose and fell. I ignored the pair of eyes that bore holes on my body and grabbed the other life jacket and wore it.

"Ok, things are getting interesting! This couple decided to switch for the last game. Teamwork!" Praised the DJ along with other people. I got on the Jet Ski like the others and braced myself for the rising thrill. Speed has always had that effect on me; I couldn't explain. Just when we turned to the racing direction, my head started to throb. I groaned, pressing my temples.

"Are you okay?" The other guy asked me, and I only replied with a curt nod. I didn't know what was wrong with me either. "Go!" The DJ uttered. And we all raced away. While I was in the middle, my vision started to blur, so I reduced the speed and shook my head, not knowing what was happening to me.

Then the energy started to leave my limbs, so I stopped in the middle of the lake, watching others who were already at the balloon stop and were coming back with them. My heart was pounding, and my breath came ragged. Carmelo and the other man passed me on either side at such full speed that I dropped down like a sack. A shriek tore from my throat before it got swallowed by the water.

Cold seeped into my chest then my body started to go down. I felt like someone was pulling me. I couldn't move to save myself. Water invaded and buried me. I couldn't see, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't hear a sound apart from the sound of my own pleas as I screamed for help in my head.

Was this how I was going to die? No!

Fear struck me further, and I fought for a movement. What about my mother? Would she live like that forever? I still have to kill and make Antonio pay for everything.

Tears prickled me despite being underwater. Then dark spots attacked my vision, breathing stopped, and I was out.