Before Ashley could utter any word, Pedro stood up and grabbed her arm. Then, Pedro spoke softly that only Ashley and his group could only hear.
"If you joined our group... you won't regret it!" Pedro showed an emotionless confident smile. His actions astounded Loren, Sabrina, and even Aldo.
'Does big brother Pedro like this woman? Hehe...' Aldo chuckled as his attention was accidentally switched from Pedro and Ashley to Sabrina's hand that was gripping her bag.
'For some reason... I find this B@@CH annoying!' Sabrina's grip in her bag tightens as her stare to Ashley.
'Why do I feel like I'm sitting next to a tiger who was about to pounce its prey?!' Aldo wore a forced smile inwardly as his attention was shifted on Sabrina who was showing a forced smile. Although she smiles, the fury in her eyes showed the annoyance that she felt inside.
"Don't touch me! How dare you!" Ashley shrugged Pedro's hands and was about to slap him in his face. When her hand was just inches away from Pedro's face, Ashley's hands were suddenly stopped by someone.
They glance to the one who stopped Ashley's hand and it was no other than Sabrina who wore an exasperated look with her flaming eyes glaring straight to Ashley intensely.
'You dare hurt Pedro... I mean one of my groupmates!' Sabrina was filled with rage.
"Voicing out your personal views is fine... but to hurt someone... that's going way too far!" Sabrina's killing intent intensifies and her grip on Ashley's hands keeps tightening each second.
'Woa... didn't think the tiger was this fierce!' Aldo could only shake his head and wore an awkward smile inside as he watches Sabrina.
'Ha... Ha... Uhm... Sisy? what has gotten into you?' Loren was helplessly shocked and could only stare at the developments of the events. The Sabrina she was staring at, was not the quiet, shy and passive type Sabrina she knew.
'Ho ho...' The other two transferees were entertained and seemed interested in the current development of the events.
"Calm down Sabrina! There's no use for you to be angry! BESIDES... whether she joins us or not won't make that much difference!" Pedro placed his hand to one of Sabrina's shoulder as he spoke in a mocking tone.
'Oh... what am I doing!' Sabrina got back to her self and starts to blush out of embarrassment. Her grip to Ashley's hands begins to loosen.
When Ashley felt it was loosening, she immediately pulled her hand back and took a step back to distance her self from Pedro and Sabrina.
"How about this... Join our group for a month! After that, you can decide whether you stay or change groups... If you even die once due to te... Ehm... group activities, I'd compensate you with a hundred thousand Philippine Pesos!" Sabrina embarrassedly went back to her seat with Loren comforting her as Pedro makes an offer to Ashley.
"WHY SHOULD I?" Ashley retorted angrily as Sabrina glanced to her once again. Although Sabrina wore the still embarrassed look, her eyes showed a rekindled killing intent.
"Cause I'm also a Closed Beta Player!" Pedro sneered proudly as he places his hands in his pocket.
"What?"
"Huh?"
"Eh..."
Since the students were still gossiping lively in the arena, they barely heard what the conversation between Pedro's group and Ashley. However, the information that Pedro revealed had made Loren, Aldo and Sabrina's Jaw drop regardless of the mixed emotions they feel. Ashley was also astounded as she felt that Pedro was doing his 'desperate' measures.
'Looking at his group, there is a high chance that he is bluffing out of desperation! If he is really a Closed Beta Player... I need a confirmation that he is not lying!' Ashley stared to Pedro as she was in deep thought.
"Then let me check if you're not bluffing! Can you give me any proof that you're a Closed beta player?" Ashley smirked as if saying 'Let's see how long you could keep this act! Hehe...'
"Auction, three days!" Pedro replied in a calm and serious tone while gesturing 'three' to Ashley.
"..." The pinned forum announcement was only limited to Closed Beta Players hence Ashley could only grasp as she affirms that Pedro was indeed a legitimate Closed Beta Player.
'At worst I would only need to be in this group for a month... After that, I can re-choose my group! This offer doesn't sound like a bad idea!' Ashley straightened her uniform and stood in a neat looking manner.
"Alright... I'm in! ... Captain!" Ashley and Pedro shook hands as both of them smiled to each other, full of happiness.
Aldo and Loren sighed of relief as Sabrina was still looking at Ashley in a calm demeanor.
'Seems like Ashley had her group already!' The other two transferees wore a malevolent grin as they look to Ashley and Pedro.
"Grandpa! We can choose any group and exceed the member limit, right?!" the small and cute Filipina with a ponytail asked Dr. Cristoval in a cute manner that garnered the attention of the boys, especially those who liked cute Idols... Like Aldo.
"Tsk! Brat is using her cuteness again to gain supporters!" The typical "no brain, just looks" woman complained to her self.
"That's right Charlotte! Have you chosen your group already?" Dr. Cristoval answered in the microphone that silenced the whole arena as they await to what group has the two Closed Beta Players had chosen. They were anticipating for their groups to be chosen.
"Umm!" Charlotte nodded cutely that excites the boys who see her as an Idol at the same time the girls were triggered by the action of the boys and treated her as a common enemy.
Charlotte walked past to where the "no brain, just looks" woman was and smiled at her. Pedro and Ashley seated back and watch the Charlotte approach their block.
'I wonder which group has caught her eyes?' Pedro glanced left and right to see anyone peculiar among the groups.
When the Charlotte stopped walking the still watching "no brain, just looks" woman was hit a sudden realization...
"Any group right, grandpa!?" She shoutingly asked as she ran towards Charlotte's location. Charlotte was astounded by the other transferee that was running towards her. Hence, she halted and glanced to the other transferee got closer.
"Yes, Elisabeth!" Dr. Cristoval wore an awkward smile like saying 'how many times should I repeat it!'.
'Oh... NO! You bit@h! This is my group!' Charlotte wore an awkward smile as she rushed to point and shout to her chosen group.
"I CHOOSE TO JOIN... THIS GROUP!" Charlotte and Elisabeth pointed to Pedro's group simultaneously.