Chapter 6: How well?

Previously...

"Camp counselors! Give them our next objects!" she commanded them.

Ms. Gill and the other group's leader gave us 'the main object'.

I looked at Rhyss' hand and saw a...

"A rock, paper and a scissor..."

We all looked at Nathalie.

"I thought you're lying but I guess you were not," Rhyss said.

"Rock, paper, scissors, and blindfolds. Those are the objects needed for our first game!"

We all looked at each other.

"Our first game is Hide and Clap! Now, players, are you ready?"

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Nini

"This game will be easy as pie guys, trust me," Rhyss said behind me as we take our positions in the circle.

"It's not that easy as you think, Rhyss," I replied.

I looked at them all for a moment as I sat down on these soft, warm, gentle green grass.

"I have to agree with Nini," Nathalie spoke.

"Hide and Clap is not easy as you think. For us all to win, this game requires good communicating skills to identify other people," she explains.

"We can do that! Nini and Gavyn are both nerds, remember? I can determine which is which!" confidently he said.

I can't help but facepalm.

"Uhh, correction!" Gavyn said and stepped into the conversation.

"I may be a nerd but, not everything I know, especially this kind of thing. This is something beyond my knowledge and I still need to study hard for me to understand how this works," he explained.

After Gavyn said that, I agreed with him. He has a point to be honest, even though everyone calls him a "nerd" or "smarty pants" it doesn't mean he already knows everything. That does not how it works.

I looked at Rhyss and saw the stress on his face. He took a deep breath first before speaking.

"Who else can I count on? Obviously myself, yeah, what am I even thinking," he said and averted his eyes from his eyes.

This overconfident boy!

"Alright players, don't worry, this game would be very easy for you all."

"But of course, it would be very easy for both teams if y'all listen to my instructions and enable to work as a team!" cheerfully Miss Addi said.

"Here's how it goes, for you all to play hide and clap, we must choose the seeker by playing rock, paper and scissor," Miss Addi explained.

I quickly analyze her very first instruction to us. I looked at Rhyss and saw how serious he was.

We can't just rely on Rhyss capabilities when it comes to some games like this.

"Those who gets the numbers one and two will play rock, paper, scissors and who ever gets the least points will be the 'it'. Our 'it' will put a blindfold and have him or her positioned in the middle of this circle, while the rest of the players are going to scatter and find a hiding spot within the circle."

"Since we have two groups here, if the 'it' is from the group 1, the remaining 3 players from the group 1 should play and one player from group 2 should join."

I couldn't help but be surprised by what she said.

"As for the players hiding from the 'it', you are all required to clap your hands when the 'it' shouts first clap, second clap and third clap. A little reminder for the 'it' that you only have three chances, do not waste your claps to find other players!"

Wait, what?! Why does this game has so many twists?

"I don't get it, Miss Addi. What's the goal of the seeker?" a girl from the other team asked.

"The goal of the 'it' is to capture the 'impostor' of the group, without taking the blindfold off. If the 'it' capture his or her teammate then no points for them," Miss Addi answered.

"And how will the 'it' know that he or she found the impostor or not?" Rhyss asked.

"Simple! He or she will be the one to determine whether he or she catches the impostor or not!"

That's impossible! How can you determine if that's your teammates or not if you're blindfolded?

"But wait, what will happen if you waste all your claps?" I asked myself.

"So first, we must use wisely our three claps then, follow those sounds to find the players hiding. But there are so many players, how can we determine which is which?This is pure luck!"

"Really? Pure luck? I don't think so..."

My forehead frowned even more.

"This game will test how well are your communicating skills from the people around you, what they mean and want to convey to you."

"This game will also test how well do you know your teammates even if you spend a few minutes, hours, days, weeks, or months with them."

Compare to the other team, I hate to think but, we already lose in this round. We barely know each other and even though we introduce ourselves earlier, it is still not enough for us to win this game by doing a good communicating skills.

Based on what Miss Addi said, Gavyn may be right but, what if?

What if that is just a clue? I looked around me to spot Miss Gill and there I saw her staring at me while smiling.

What do you want to tell me, Miss Gill?

I was even more confused when she did something to her hands. I don't understand what she means, I don't get what she wanted to tell me. Is it a clue? Is she telling me the tactics of the other group to win?

"Alright my lovely players, I won't ask you if you're ready or not, let's go and let the game begin!"

We're doomed!

"Let me remind you guys again if the 'it' guesses correctly, their group will get a point then proceed to the next numbers to play rock, paper and scissors. But, if the 'it' guesses incorrectly, the impostor of the group will get the point and proceed to the next numbers to play rock, paper and scissors. Remember, there will be 8 rounds, okay?"

"Also while the 'it' is trying to determine whether you are a teammate or not, you are not allowed to talk or say a word, if we caught you, you and your team are automatically disqualified. Be careful and enjoy!"

I raised my hand immediately to ask my question.

"Umm, Miss Addi, can I say my opinion please?" I said and she nodded.

"Sure, what is it?"

I was hesitating at first to talk, the last time I told my opinion to somebody else they...

"Dear? Is there any problem? Miss Addi asked.

I shook my head as an answer.

"T-there's none, umm... just forget about what I've said earlier, please. We can continue the game," I answered.

I still can't tell my opinion, because the last time I did, everyone judged me.

"You're such an opinionated person, Nini. Can't you just keep your opinion?"

My heart shattered after hearing those words. I wanted to cry but I stopped myself.

"She's right Nini," she said.

"S-sometimes..."

"What do you mean sometimes, Chie?! She's always like that and I can't take it anymore!" Shienna shouted.

I can see Chie flinched after.

"Y-you are undeniably smart, Nini. We all know it but, we can't take away the fact that you are being opinionated and selfish."

I bit my lip and looked at them while smiling.

"I... I understand... thank y-you for telling m-me the truth, Chie and Shie," I said while holding back my tears.

"We're sorry Nini, it's just that..."

I didn't let Chie finish and ran away. My tears fall, my heart is aching too much. I cared too much for both of them because I love them. I treated them both as my best friend.

I snapped back to reality when someone touches my shoulder. I looked at who it is.

"Nathalie..."

"Whatever you are thinking, don't overthink it too much. It's in the past, let it be in the past, okay?"

I removed her hand from my shoulder.

"You don't know anything about me," I said.

"Alright kiddos, so the numbers who will play rock, paper and scissors are one and two!" Miss Addi said cheerfully.

I'm number two so I suppose the guy who's walking towards to Miss Addi is the number one.

"Justine and Nini, are you ready to play rock, paper and scissors?"

He looked at Miss Addi and smiled.

"Absolutely Miss Addi!" he answers then looked at his teammates.

I felt a grip on my shoulder, so I turned to see who it was.

"You better win this," Rhyss said.

I know and felt how annoyed he was when he said those words.

"R-rhyss calm down! Don't fight here please!" Gavyn whispered.

"Awww are you scared already?"

Both Gavyn and Rhyss looked at my back to see who was speaking while me, I just stayed in my position and didn't say a word.

"And why should we be afraid, Maria?" Rhyss replied.

They're all competitive and yes, he's pissed.

"Why you said? Ah, I know! Because our group will easily beat you in this game," teasingly she says.

I just kept listening. Suddenly, Rhyss pushed me aside to get closer to Maria. Gavyn tried to stop Rhyss immediately.

"Hehe, don't mind us here, w-we're just talking, yeah, friendly talk," he excuses.

Wow, what a believable excuse.

I looked around me while Gavyn is still trying to calm down Rhyss.

Everyone is busy talking or maybe betting who's going to win this game. They didn't even bother to see if some participants in this game are fighting.

"Rhyss please, this is not the right time," he whispered.

"The game isn't over yet, Maria. Don't jump to conclusions," pissed he said.

"Even if the game isn't over yet, Rhyss. We already know the result, don't we?" someone said but I'm sure it's one of Maria's teammates.

"Huh? Don't be too cocky will-"

"Now! Are you all ready?"

I immediately turn my gaze around as I heard Miss Addi talk.

"Let's go back, Rhyss. Let's not pick a fight," Gavyn said.

"Tsk!"

"Looks like everything's ready, okay we just need to do this one game before we officially start," Miss Addi said.

I walk towards where Miss Addi and Justine are. There is a table, a two chairs on each side, and a wooden barrier on the middle of the table. I sit down on one side and place my rock, paper and scissor.

"You will be given a 10 seconds to think which object will you choose for each round. Once the 10 seconds is up, you will both say rock, paper, scissors shoot and then touch your picked object. I will lift this barrier up to know who's the winner. Peeking is not allowed, okay?" she explained.

Both me and Justine nodded after.

"3 rounds are enough, whoever get the least points will be the 'it'. Are you ready? Ten seconds starts now."

Justine immediately looked at his objects, I don't want to get accused by peeking on which object will he choose so I divert my attention on mine. 

Now, which of this objects should I choose? Does this simple game has a strategy? Arrgh, gosh Nini! Why are you overthinking much?

"Ten seconds, done." 

Great! Now we're doomed.

"Nini, Justine. Round 1 starts now."

I can't help but be nervous.

Gaaah! Which one will I choose? Umm... the rock?

"Rock..."

No, no, no! That seems too predictable! Come on, think Nini!

"Paper..."

This is just an objects, this is just a game, an activity to play with but, why am I so nervous?

"Scissors..."

Why does everybody look so competitive?

What will happen if we win? What will happen if we lose? All those feelings will be forgotten after many days so what's the deal?

I looked around and it feels like we're in the middle of a big fight or something. Everybody, including me and the other teams, will do everything to win every game. I can feel the tension, I can feel the excitement.

It's like they are willing to do everything to win this game, and when I say everything I mean even if they hurt each other's feelings.

Why is this so necessary?

"Shoot!"

I gulped as I can feel my hands shaking. I never dared to look at other players in this circle but I could feel their cold stares at me.

Even though it's just a stare, I could feel they're already judging me.

Wow, thanks pressure.

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To be continued...