With a deep sigh, Ria got up.
"Time to bully." Dusting her pants, she walked towards the girl's wing.
As she was about to reach Isla's room, Kelly barged in.
"No No No, not again Ria. No more bullying please that too in front of him."
"Calm down. I am not naive." Clinging to her hand, Ria grinned,
"Come, let me show you how to face slap with actions."
"You mean?"
"I mean, she ruined my night and I wanna return the favour with a pail of vinegar."
"Have you gone mad?" Kelly questioned.
"Yes Yes, just like you." With a hearty chuckle, Ria dragged her towards Isla's room.
...
"I I I I don't know." Clinging to him, Isla tried her best to act.
"What's wrong?" Patting her head, he looked at her friends, her slaves to be exact.
"She screamed all of a sudden and started trembling." One of her so-called friends answered.
"Get a glass of water." He demanded and a girl passed the glass.
"Drink."
He slowly patted her head and Ria entered the room.
"What's wrong?" She crossed her hands and looked at Isla.
No one replied and when Alex was about to answer, she stopped him with her hand.
"Did I ask you?"
"What's wrong?" She glanced at Isla who was busy smirking at her.
"I I I had a nightmare."
Faking a gasp, Ria answered,
"That's absurd."
"Kelly suffers frequently and when she does she drinks vinegar." She glanced at Kelly who was as confused as everyone else.
"Yes Yes, I do. That helps me sleep well." Understanding her plan, Kelly nodded.
"What?" Everyone scanned her up and down.
They surely knew she was planning something.
"It's ok. I don't want." Isla wiped her fake tears.
"Hmm, glycerin is too thick for tears." She mumbled loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Ohh, that's ok. I was just worried about you. Seems like you still hate me."
"No, Ria not at all. Isla is really a kind human, see she will drink vinegar just for you." Kelly held her by her shoulders.
"Yes Yes Yes, here it is." Kevin who heard her vinegar part rushed out and came back with vinegar.
"Here Here, Drink it Isla. Prove to her that you don't have any grudges." Taking the glass from Kevin's hand, Kelly walked towards her.
As she sat on the edge of the bed, Alex got up and stood beside Kevin.
"Here Here, have it." Kelly placed it in front of her mouth.
Isla was annoyed yet had a fear of disappointing Alex by rejecting.
Gulping in fear, she opened her mouth and drank the whole glass of vinegar.
"Ahh, Look." Kelly clasped her hands while Isla glared at her.
"Taste's good, doesn't it?" Kelly smirked at victory.
Kevin dragged Alex out and Ria's face darkened.
"Next time, I will make sure to dip you in vinegar."
"You You You." Isla barged towards her but her friends held her back.
"Jealous? If yes, then stop bugging me and just directly ask him to stop seeing me. If no, then shut that useless brain of yours and rest in peace."
With that, Ria flocked her hair back and walked out.
Kelly let out a mocking chuckle and left the place.
But that wasn't the end.
Isla went and peeked through the window only to see her standing in front of him. His back was facing Isla and her friends.
"I I I am, " Before he could continue, Ria tiptoed and pecked his right cheek.
Surprising and stunning him for a moment.
Even though she was pecking harder, his heart was already thumping out loud.
Looking at Isla through the corner of her eyes, she retracted back.
Caressing her mark on his cheek, she smiled and answered,
"Punishment for leaving me all alone."
And she didn't stop.
Moving towards his left cheek awaiting for her attention, she kissed it lightly.
"And this to calm your jumping heart." With that, she patted his chest and turned around only to be pulled back.
Kissing her forehead, he said,
"And this to calm your racing heart."
She blinked in surprise and a wide smile spread across her lips, making her dimples look like a pair of cute dumplings.
It was their first intimate scene ever and all thanks to Isla.
"Good night." Wiggling from his embrace, she looked at him one last time and left the place.
...
"And today we a simple a task."
Everyone sighed.
Finally, they weren't now afraid to break their bones or bruise their bodies.
"All you have to do is answer our questions." Andrew said to the boys.
"And all you have to do is sit back and enjoy." Alison addressed the girls.
"But, it's not that simple." Andrew chuckled when contestants sighed in disappointment.
"As you see, there's a pavement here towards these small chairs." Alison pointed out the chairs which more seemed to be connected with few wires.
"Every wrong answer will give you a shock." Andrew showed the clip attached to the chairs.
"And every right answer will take you one step closer to your partner." Alison continued,
"And as you see there 20 squares meaning 20 questions."
"And as our competition is getting tougher we a small advantage for you guys."
"If the answer is right, then girls get a chance double their partner's steps by, " Andrew opened the cloth on the bowl placed beside every chair.
"By eating three chillies at every right answer."
"And not only that, if there's a wrong answer you again eat four chillies to take one step ahead."
"All we have are five couples and from this, there would be no elimination but collecting badges matters a lot." Alison looked at girls and smirked,
"Seems like we have five tough warriors today."
"The chilly and the shock combo is really a great show to watch." Andrew chuckled and everyone took their places.
...
"So we have crossed ten questions and Ria and Ian are at first with 6 right answers and Ria, "
Alison looked at the pale girl and answered,
"You really are something. How can you be so calm even after eating 9 chillies?"
She just shrugged and blew air out trying to calm her burning mouth.
"At second, we have Kelly and Kevin with 9 right answers and Kelly sitting all fine after eating four chillies."
"And others buck up guys, you don't these to rule you again. Do you?"
"And Alex since you are just 9 steps away you have to answer only 9 questions and Kevin you are still at 10 so you have to answer all the ten questions right." Andrew said and both nodded.
"Ok, next question." Alison took the cue card and read out loud,
"If your girl was given an opportunity to on a date with someone else the one she hates the most, what would be her decision?"
"Kevin first."
"She wouldn't go." Alison clapped and declared it as right. The other three boys answered the right and it was Alex's turn.
"Alex answer wisely, Kevin and you are neck to neck." Andrew let out his concern to which he nodded.
"She would go." His words surprised everyone.
"Why?" Alison asked all curious.
"She doesn't like to waste-free food."
His answer was funny but absolutely correct making everyone laugh out loud.
"Ria any thoughts?" As excepted she sat with no embarrassment written on her face.
"Of course I would go. It's just waste to simply reject and act all righteous."
"Such a weird girl." Andrew chuckled out loud.
"I wanna eat chillies." Ria took 3 more and completed and Alex took a step forward.
...
"Ok, Alex this would be your last question."
Mia ate chillies at every question making him just one step close away from her.
While Kevin was still 4 steps away.
"So guys listen carefully, if your girl was given an opportunity to go on a long ride who would it be?"
"Kevin."
"It would be Andrew Sir."
Andrew smiled and said,
"Yes, right answer."
"Now Alex." Alison looked at him.
"It would be her friend Xav."
Riya shook her head so did the hosts.
"It's Ian." Reading the answer out loud, Alison curiously looked at Ria,
"Who is it?"
"Someone dear to my heart." Ria answered with a smile.
His heart warmed up and his smile was proof.
"I wanna eat chillies."
"We know we know." Andrew shook his head.
Riya ate four chillies and it was the last shock time.
"Arghhhhhhh." The shock was a bit high as the amount was increased and Ria groaned.
"Congratulations Ria and Ian. You guys won."
And all the girls were brought down and Ria was the one in huge grief.
With all the chillies and shock, her body was acting insane.
"Arghhh, my mouth." She closed her ears which were fuming red.
"Calm down, drink this." Rubbing her back, Alex passed the small bottle.
Smacking it away, Ria yelled,
"Idiot, I need something sweet. Water won't work."
She shook her head trying to calm her weeping nerves.