The night is cold and the water is warm. The steam smoke steams off into the four walls of the bathroom and the environment is awfully quiet and peaceful. And then a loud splash clattered over the puddle and the stillness was perforated by the irrepressible noise and laughter.
Candace, who was rushing after a shower, excitedly hurried over the hot pool and made a ten point canon ball. And Lilliane who was also trailing behind her likewise rushed into the spring and cheerfully jumped into the water. Candace enjoys her backstroke while Lilliane entertains herself by sitting still on the spring and resting back against the huge rock which was the centerpiece of the puddle.
Then by and by followed, were Lieutenant June and Quiante just recently finished after a soothing body bath. Lieutenant, like she usually do, gracefully descended from the puddle's gutter and walked into the corner to chill and relax away from Candace backstroke expedition. And Quiante who is new to this, slowly take the step into the water and sat where she is already standing at. There was a moment of silence between the four ladies when Candace began a conversation.
"Oh yeah, about lately, when we had our lunch break back in the cafeteria, did I hear it right that you're gonna be a part of the prominent family of the Mag'ladroth, Prey?" Candace asked Quiante.
"Yup, she sure is, Candace-san!" Lilliane happily interjected.
"Well… sort of, but please call me by my name, Slime." Quiante followed.
"Nah, it's too lengthy. I don't wanna waste my time troubling pronouncing your long name, 'Miss Q-u-i-a-n-t-e-s-s-e-t-t-e'!"
"Quiante is enough, you know." Quiante suggested.
"Quiante… Quail… That's it, I'm calling you Quail," Candace made up her mind.
"What? I'm not a bird Slime, its Quiante not Quail you idiot!"
"Alright Quail roger that!"
"I said it's Quiante, block head!"
"Hai, Quial-san…"
"It's Quiante you baka!"
"Well, isn't it dreamy? Marrying the Grand Archduke and the top notcher officer of the imperial army? Plus, he's so hot and handsome, Quiantey! That's a pack!" Lieutenant June interrupted.
"Absolutely!" Lilliane added.
"(Sweat drops) R-really…" Quiante hesitantly replied.
"What are you hesitating? He's the legit husband-to-be, girl! So, own it!" Candace persuaded.
"Yeah, don't let him get away, Sugar!" Lieutenant June agreed.
"And I bet you Big Sis and my brother is gonna be the best couple ever!" Lilliane cheerfully announced.
"Yeah… I'll think about that…"
"Say, how did you two meet each other? Did he courted you, dated you, or prepared you a romantic grand gesture?" Candace brought up the topic.
"Romantic Grand Gesture?! Trust me; you don't want to know…"
"Come on girl, don't be shy…" Lieutenant convinced her.
"Big Sis was my brother's ex-fiancee five years ago, guys. And guess what just this morning, he dramatically reclaimed her over someone else, eek! That was so romantic!" Lilliane butted in.
"(Sighs) so dreamy!" Lieutenant sighed in awe.
"Ex-fiancee?! What happened?" Candace inquired.
"It's a long, long, not-so-good story to hear, guys. So, can we change this topic please?"
"Hell no, where enjoying this gurl!" Candace disagrees.
"Yeah!" Lieutenant backed up.
"So, when do you plan on marrying Quail?" Candace started.
"It's Quiante, alright! And we just engaged, block head."
"Engaged all the way through marriage, Sissy!" Lieutenant furthered.
"And unto a happy home! Hooray!!!" Lilliane finished.
"Banzai!!!" Candace and Lieutenant June cheerfully cheered.
"What!? I think you're all fast forwarding your wild imaginations people. But we are still a long, long way from that point more than you could ever imagine, promise."
"Well, you sound to off about this Quail." Candace suspected.
"You know, you shouldn't turn a blind eye to this, Miss Quiantessette. And so far, to all the men that I've been with all this time, I say he is the rarest to find." Lieutenant June added.
"Why do you seem so unconvinced about this Big Sis? Hasn't my brother been a good friend to you?" Lilliane asked.
"He did, but… that was before five years ago, Lilliane."
"Aw, that's sad. I bet it broken your heart so much, Miss Quiantessette." Lieutenant comforted her.
"Then, why not enliven your relationship again!" Candace thought of a bright idea.
"Yeah," Lieutenant June agreed.
"Alright! I really want to be in this plan!" Lilliane excitedly cheered up.
"Don't take it too serious guys, you'll just get disappointed."
"So, what's the plan?" Candace begins while ignoring her.
"Sure, how about we begin in a date. And prepare a pavilion and decorated it with a bunch of red roses. I bet that'll be the perfect beginning, eek!" Lieutenant June romantically visualized.
"And oh then, I'll tell my brother to prepare the perfect ring for the perfect night."
"Fabulous idea, Lilliane!" Candace praised her.
"And that's the moment when they had the time to confess their suppressed feelings for each other. Oh man, this is gonna be so romantic!" Lieutenant continued.
"And that's the time when Grand Archduke Colonel Zekuno Mag'ladroth will kneel and say…" Candace waved a signal.
"I LOVE YOU QUIANTE, WILL YOU MARRY ME?" Lilliane, Candace, and Lieutenant June said in chorus.
"I WON'T!!! OH, I SWEAR I'LL NEVER MARRY THAT BIG HEADED PSYCHO!!! HE'S THE WORST!" Quiante suddenly burst.
"Oh come on, don't be so hard to get Quail. We're helping you out on this, ok?" Candace persuaded her.
"Yah, don't worry about it Sissy. We'll make sure to work this thing out, trust us." Lieutenant cluelessly reassured her.
"What? You don't understand, we are not working this out and we are not going to be married…"
"What are you saying Quail? You're his fiancée and sooner or soonest he will be marrying you out." Candace insisted.
"True!" Lieutenant June backed up.
"FIANCEE!? I DON'T GIVE A HELL ABOUT ENGAGEMENT PEOPLE. Because THAT MISTER ALMIGHTY GRAND ARCHDUKE BIG HEADED PSYCHO IS A DOPE! And it's a PERIOD."
"Yeah, you sure is right one thing about that because he really is a nut head sometimes." Candace agreed.
"Yah true, he is. Because back when he was my Senior Cadet, he really is the worst commanding officer there is. And he made us run to a two mile sprint without even resting a bit and it's a torture!" Lieutenant added.
"Hai! And when I was in my grade school he took my teddy polar bear and made it into a bait to catch the fishes. Yes, he really is the worst. You baka onii-san!" Lilliane raged at him.
"ZEKU YOU BAKA!!!" all of them all together shouted and burst into laughter.
"Huh? Just what do you think you're babbling about me girls?" Zeku suddenly uttered at the other side of the wall.
"Sh*t! He heard us." Candace gasped.
"Yeah, that's right. You heard it Papa bear, you're a BAKA! B-A-K-A!" Quiante bravely reiterated.
"Oh, is that so? (Laughs evilly) You're just too shy to tell them about our relationship, Polar Bear." Zeku mocked her.
"Hmph! And what about our relationship, Psycho?" Quiante challenged him.
"Ah, you don't wanna confess, Mama Bear?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, nut head."
"So you want to take it the hard way huh, then let's make it the hard way. Ok, listen well everybody but last night she just confessed that the man that she loathsomely furious with is still on the run. Because all the while, she cannot still forget about him and that is no other than her ex-fiancé and recently her fiancé today. And that is me, so how about that Quiante?"
"Hmph! just where did that come from, Bear Brain." Quiante denied him.
"Oh is that so? Then what happened to this?" Zeku paused and played a record, "I… I JUST DON'T FEEL RIGHT ABOUT THIS. I KNOW I SHOULD BE ANGRY ABOUT HIM AND LAUGH AROUND HIS BACK BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, WHY I STILL… LOVE HIM… (Audio off) So, how was that Mama Bear?"
"Oh, how dare you, you liar! Where's your word in that, huh?"
"I'm sorry but promises are meant to be broken at difficult times, Polar Bear. And I'm a Psycho, remember?"
"Why you…"
"See, you heard that guys?! My fiancée is still deeply in love with me!" Zeku confidently announced.
"Yah, you lose girls!" Major backed up.
"Hmph! But I was just trying to be nice with you last night, nut head, because you're my employer and so employees just do their best to impress their Boss." Quiante defended.
"Yah, she's just putting up a good face to her boss, Major!" Lieutenant June backed her up.
"I see, so you won't still admit it huh?" Zeku called to Quiante.
"(Scoffs) I'm sorry but I didn't admit anything, Bear Brain." Quiante pretentiously rejected.
"Ok, then I'll invite you to a challenge of game of truths, Polar Bear."
"Huh!? And what is this again? Another foolish game of yours to trick me, 'cause I'm not buying."
"Oh, don't worry, this time it's a fair play. And our only goal is to know the truth. So, are you going or you're just too scared to be caught lying, Polar Bear?" Zeku challenged her.
"Don't underestimate me, Psycho, or else you're the one getting caught."
"Uhuh… then the game is on."
Quickly, they went out of the bath and changed into their bathrobes. Quiante and her companions, walked out into the hallway to meet the group of Zeku. And when they got out the men counterpart was already outside waiting for them. General Maslow who's with them was no longer recognized in rank but by group of friendship. And this evening there will be a battle of truths between men and women. The ladies were on Quiante's side and the men were on Zeku.
The game started and the group went straight to the chill out section of the hot spring. And in there, there were only the bartender present and empty chairs and tables. So, right away they began their battle of truths in the center table. They ordered for a dozen bottle of rum for the both and placed it beside them. Quiante told them that she is a lactose intolerant person and said that the dozen bottle of milk is enough for her to get drunk. So, instantly they change this and began the first part of the game, the "NEVER DID I EVER BATTLE".
"Ok, hit it Mama Bear." Zeku gave her the first move.
"Oh, you're really confident about this huh?"
"Hmph! You may not know Polar Bear, but I'm the master of this game."
"(Scoffs) Ok…"
"Ready your ammos soldiers and let the games begin!" General Maslow begins the race of truth.
"Never did I ever cheat on my fiancée." Quiante started.
"(Gulps) Ah! That's a good start Polar bear." Zeku gulped his beer.
"Hmph! Trash you, cheater!"
"Ok, ok, I admit I was a cheater, why did that get you?"
"Oh shut up!" Quiante avoided to answer.
"Ok, never did I ever hurt myself to death." Zeku continued.
"(Gulps) Ah! Sh*t you Zeku!"
"(Laughs) I knew you would. Now, your turn."
"Never did I ever break my promise."
"(Gulps) Ah! That's a good shot. Never did I ever lie to my parents."
"(Gulps) Ah! Never did I ever take my sibling's belongings and baited it to the fishes."
"(Gulps) Ah! How did you even know about that? Never did I ever befriend with the man that I'm angry with."
"(Gulps) Ah! Never did I ever reprimand my fiancée for defending her brother."
"(Gulps) Ah! Sorry about that. Never did I ever punch someone's eyeballs."
And more never did I ever go on as the game continues. Until finally, all of the dozen bottles of rum and milk are now empty. The both of them are still going on with their endless never did I ever while the rest of their companion have fell asleep from feasting over the beer as well. Quiante and Zeku are now awfully drunk but both of them still insist on winning.
"This not going anywhere, Polar Bear." Zeku exclaimed drunkenly.
"Yah, maybe we should change the game." Quiante is likewise wobbly herself.
"Ok, how about SPIN THE BOTTTLE?"
"Ok"
Right away, they spin the empty bottle and the first move pointed out to Quiante.
"Truth. Why did you suddenly became harsh the moment I turned eighteen?"
"Because I want to Polar bear, it's part of life. So, move on with it."
They spin again the bottle and the next move was pointed out to Zeku.
"(Laughs drunkenly) Truth. Why are you killing yourself for the hundredth time? Do you desperately hate me that much because I cancelled our marriage?"
"(Scoffs) Are you dreaming? I didn't kill myself for you, you dumbass! I killed myself because I was the one inflicting the pain and suffering to my family. And if it wasn't for me, they wouldn't have experienced this horrible life that you reprimanded us, bastard! So, just die already!"
They spin the bottle again and the next turn points to Quiante.
"Truth. Do you hate me that much that you suddenly became a psycho?"
"Hai! I really truly hate you for being my fiancée back five years ago."
They spin again and the turn was still on Quiante's.
"So, if you really hated me that much then why did you even reclaimed our engagement today?"
"Well, I said that was back five years ago right?"
They spin again and it was still Quiante's turn.
"Why did you hurt me so much, huh Zeku? Why did you hurt my family? Why are you so unserious to me? Quit playing around, you BAKA!!!"
"I didn't hurt you, I protected you because…"
"Because what dumbass? Because you reserve me for your own benefit? So, you could use me against the KINGS? Why idiot, why!?"
"Because I desperately care for you and time came that one day I learned to genuinely love you, Quiante! And I'm afraid to lose you!"
"Then if you loved me that much, then why are you hurting me constantly!? If you loved me then you should have taken the courage to fight back! Not run away, idiot!"
"Alright, I admit, I'm the idiot, but you don't understand the situation Quiante. It is a lot worse than you think."
"Worse? What's worst than you left me and reprimanded me for the whole f*cking five years, huh Zeku? Why don't you just let me go!?"
"Not this time again, Quiante. I swear I'm here now for you and I'm gonna protect you now, with all my life."
"What? Protect me? You can't even protect me from that blast, idiot!"
To Quiante's anger, she tried to land a hard punch at Zeku. Unexpectedly, Zeku caught this and pulled her towards him. He caught her and embraced her tightly but Quiante was violently resisting his comfort. Struggling and more defying, to Zeku's insuppressible feelings he suddenly tilted Quiante's head and land the first genuine kiss on her. Quiante lose consciousness after that and Zeku was dragged down with her.
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