Istriku Tak Menarik Lagi

     “Normalcy is almost like a luxury for celebrities, like me.” 

     Surrounded with strangers and ordinary people, this is as normal as can get. Nervous chuckles and curious murmurs can be heard as they waited for the door to finally reveal their fate.

     The door to the arena slowly lifted, unveiling a crowd of people gathered in the middle. The spectator’s reactions went from disinterest to sudden awe and amazement. Women lips parted as their jaw dropped seeing as such a fine man in flesh. Men looked him up head to toe, looking for anything that can prove he’s not better than them.

     The man causing the commotion with his presence, smirked. “Never seen an Adonis before?” Zayden thought as he raked his hand through his well-styled hair causing gasps and giggles. 

     “Isn’t that Zayden Jaxen Flynn?” a woman from the crowd asked.

     “The famous actor from the series Venganza?” another woman replied.

     “Yes! That’s him! I can’t believe he’s taller, sexier and more handsome in person!” the woman exclaimed.

     More words of appreciation, flirty giggles from seductive women, and hidden insecurities from men echoed among the crowd. However, soon enough the diversion provided by Zayden vanished as everyone heard the alarm resonating all throughout the arena.

     People looked around, confused as to what the alarm meant until they heard a conversation from above the floor they’re in.  It was visible since everything in the arena is made of transparent glass. Two men can be seen in a rather troubling situation. One of the two was holding a gun, as the other staggers back in fear, wanting to run but couldn’t.

     “Escape from here!” was his last words before he was shot to his death.  The man fell from above right into the middle of the gathered crowd with a loud thump causing them to separate, circling the fallen body. Silence ensued for a few seconds and then frightened screams resonated throughout the whole arena.

     It’s a dead body.  People stared, terrified and stunned as they watch his blood oozing out of the hole in his forehead, his eyes remained unclosed.

     A series of claps and loud cheers was suddenly heard. “Attention everyone! This year’s event has finally commenced! What you have just witnessed is our heartfelt welcome to all of you so do not be scared. Rest assured that you won’t share the same fate as him.” The man who seemed to be the host of the event spoke.

     The crowd reacted differently. Some were relieved and easily believe what the host had said, others cried, still shaken from what they had witnessed, a few felt excitement thinking that this will be a challenging, terrific experience.

     Zayden knew that was utter bullshit. His composure remained unfazed as someone who expected the worse.

     “Now listen carefully, for in the next few minutes you will be grouped into six.  Your group mates will be your ally in every game throughout the whole event.” He paused.

     “What?! Can’t we just choose who we want as our members?” A man from the crowd voiced out his concern earning nods of agreement from others who are also with their own group.

      "That is stupid!” Several others said the same thing but their opinion is unheard as the host started calling the names of each group member.

     “When you hear name, please step forward. For the first group; Karla Venturillo, Vince Perez, Derrick Camerron, Harold Gordon, Lenard Lopez, and AJ Rovalle.”

     They stepped forward and soon started acquainting themselves with each other.

     “We’re gonna rock this!” The guy, Lenard confidently said. He’s a buff guy. The kind you know who gets sick for even a single absent to the gym.

     “Totally!” supportive AJ agreed, glancing at the other members of their group offering a friendly smile.

     “For the next group, please step forward; Yekaterina Nadia Vierra, Andrik Aleksandro Fyodor, Blaize Pyry Flynn, Teivel Ahrio Vizcarius, Toffer Jade Woods, and Zayden Jaxen Flynn.”

     After they had all step forward, Blaize offered his hand for a handshake towards Zayden who thinks the action was unnecessary yet he accepted the handshake.

     “I’m looking forward to getting to know more about the superstar.” Blaize jokingly said with a lopsided smirk, but his expression seemed to be cold and distant. He is a tall guy, with a lean body frame. His eyes seemed to be as dark as the night sky but sparkled like the stars in the moonlight when reflected with light.

     Zayden, thinking he is another fan boy of him, ignored his remark. An awkward silence followed as the rest of the group expected the same formal treatment from Blaize but he completely ignored them.

     Sensing that was the end of it, Yekaterina, the woman with beach waves, brown hair and a small innocent round face, cleared her throat and said, “I hope we get along. We’re on this together.”

     They simply nodded as a response. As a group, they seem to stand out among the rest but the atmosphere between them is as cold as a gush of wind in autumn. It looks like they won’t be getting along at all.

     After the host finished teaming up everyone, he congratulated the players for their new companions and started giving out instructions.

     A podium slowly elevated on the stage with different sets of keys with numbers on it.

     “Here are the keys to your respective rooms. There’s only one woman in each team and she will be your leader.”

     “A woman for a leader? That’s stupid!”

     “They’re just going to make us lose the game!”

     Series of more misogynistic remarks followed as the women felt nervous about being given such a huge task.

     The host then interrupted the commotion. “Your leaders will serve as you informants about the games and they will be the one who will assist the team.  They will also be given separate rooms. Leaders, grab your team’s keys and hand it out so they can go to their rooms. And you are instructed to remain here. You will gather here again tomorrow. “He ended his instructions and bid goodbye to the players.

     The women, as the leaders, get the keys and handed it to their teams as advised. The players then moved to their rooms but not without complains about the instructions.

     Complains that they thought were relevant at the moment not knowing what awaits them...