An hour later, Jasper's friends finally arrived. Reese watched as a lively group of five made their way up to the terrace. They were a mix of three women and two men, each with their own distinct style.
The first to arrive was a tall woman with striking red hair and a confident demeanor. She wore a sleek black dress and high heels that accentuated her height. Jasper introduced her as Anna. "Reese, this is Anna. She's got a keen eye for fashion and always knows the latest trends." Anna looked Reese up and down, a hint of condescension in her eyes, but she extended a hand.
Reese did not mind the attitude and extended his hand to shake Anna's hand, but Anna only shook his hand really quickly before taking out her hand sanitizer to clean her hand as if Reese's hand was dirty.
'She must be a germaphobe.' Reese thought.
Next was a petite woman with short, curly hair and a vibrant smile. She was dressed in a colorful, bohemian outfit that matched her cheerful personality. "And this is Carla, she's an artist and one of the most creative people I know." Carla gave Reese a warm, genuine smile and a friendly wave. "Hey, Reese! Great to meet you."
Following Carla was a man with a muscular build and an easygoing smile. He wore a casual outfit of jeans and a fitted t-shirt that showcased his physique. "This is Mike, he's a personal trainer and a fitness enthusiast." Mike gave Reese a quick nod but seemed to dismiss him almost immediately, his focus already shifting elsewhere.
The fourth friend was a woman with long, straight black hair and a sophisticated look. She wore a stylish blouse and a pair of tailored pants. "Meet Sarah, she's a lawyer and always knows how to handle any situation." Sarah smiled politely at Reese, showing genuine friendliness. "Nice to meet you, Reese."
The last to arrive was a man with a rugged appearance and a friendly demeanor. He wore a plaid shirt and jeans, looking effortlessly cool. "And finally, this is Tom, he's a musician and a great guy to have around." Tom glanced at Reese with a slight smirk, his gaze lingering a bit longer than necessary, as if assessing his worth.
After the introduction, Jasper noticed that only Carla and Sarah greeted Reese, and he felt embarrassed by the attitude of his other three friends. He quickly apologized to Reese, "I'm sorry about their behavior. Even though they can be like that, they're actually good company. You'll get used to them."
Reese didn't mind. He didn't care about people who acted superior, and it didn't bother him if they didn't become friends. "It's okay, Jasper. Don't worry about it," Reese replied with a reassuring smile, then took another sip of his Red Horse.
Tom noticed that Reese was drinking Red Horse and quickly remarked, "Red Horse? That's weak. It won't even get you drunk. Drink something harder. Let's see how quickly you get drunk."
Reese was shocked by Tom's comment and thought, 'Oh, this guy is really straight forward, huh. Alright, let's see how tough you really are with hard drinks.' "What's wrong with it? I'm not in a hurry to get drunk. But if you are, then let's find out." Reese chuckled, knowing that now that he was in the Medial Realm, even drinking seven Red Horse Stallions hadn't made him dizzy, let alone getting drunk.
Tom's challenge amused the group. Carla laughed. "Tom, you're always trying to prove something."
Anna, still looking unimpressed. "Are we really doing this?"
Mike grinned. "This should be interesting."
Sarah, trying to mediate, said, "Let's just enjoy the night. No need for contests."
But Tom was insistent. "Come on, Reese. Let's have a shot of tequila each. Let's see who can handle it better."
Reese agreed with a smile. "Sure, let's do it," he said, then looked at Jasper. "How bout you? Are you down?"
"Sure, why not? It's just tequila," Jasper said as he smiled and took a sip of his drink.
"Great, let's do this," Tom said as he called the waiter and ordered two bottles of tequila.
"Just two bottles of tequila? You challenge me to hard drinks and only order two bottles of tequila? Let's each have a bottle of tequila and see who gets drunk first," Reese suggested with a grin.
Jasper's friends were shocked by Reese's bold challenge. "You..."
Reese laughed when he saw their expressions, as if they were now hesitant. "Are you scared? If so, maybe we shouldn't go through with this. Why start something you can't finish?"
The women decided not to join Reese's challenge, maintaining a great image in public was important for the women, but Tom and Mike, feeling provoked, couldn't back down. The challenge to their masculinity was too strong. Mike, a personal trainer with a well-built physique, knew that maintaining control was important for his image, and getting drunk wasn't part of his plan for the night. However, the challenge was too enticing to refuse. They both nodded in agreement, but Jasper looked hesitant, knowing that one tequila shot would likely get him very drunk.
Reese noticed Jasper's hesitation and reassured him, "Don't worry. If you get too drunk to drive, we'll just take a taxi home."
Tom smirked. "Alright, let's see what you've got, Reese."
Mike added, "Yeah, let's do this. I'm not backing down!"
The waiter returned with four bottles of tequila. Each person took one. Jasper, looking at the bottles, thought, 'This is going to be intense. I've never been in a drinking challenge like this before. I need to keep my cool and not let them see how much this is pushing my limits.'
"Alright, here's the deal," Tom said, his voice steady and confident. "Every minute, we'll take a shot of tequila until the bottles are empty. The person who is not drunk or less drunk will win the game."
Mike nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. 'This is going to test my limits. But I can't back down now. I need to show them that I'm not just some muscle head.'
"Good," Jasper replied, trying to sound casual, but his hands were slightly trembling.
"Great," Mike added, his competitive spirit shining through. He was a personal trainer, and maintaining control was essential to him. Getting drunk was definitely not part of his plan tonight. 'But I have to prove something here. I can handle this.'
"Alright, to make it more exciting, let's add a prize for the winner and a punishment for the loser," Reese suggested, his eyes twinkling with mischief. 'This will be more fun if there's something at stake. Plus, it'll keep everyone engaged.'
Anna chimed in, "Whoever wins gets a kiss from Carla, Sarah, and me." Anna proposed, her voice laced with a playful challenge.
Carla and Sarah blushed immediately at Anna's suggestion, looking at each other awkwardly. They were taken aback but didn't object. After all, it was just a kiss.
Upon hearing the suggestion, the guys stared at her in stunned silence, wondering if she was kidding or not. But seeing the serious face of Anna and the blushing faces of Carla and Sarah, the three boys immediately smiled broadly.
Jasper, Tom, and Mike exchanged glances, their eyes lighting up with excitement. They all thought, 'I have to win this to get those kisses. It's just a kiss, but it's a good incentive.'
Reese, however, wasn't impressed. "Nah, let's have a different prize. I don't see any benefits in winning that kiss."
Anna was stunned by Reese's response. "What did you say? No benefits in our kiss, and why do you act like you're going to win?" she retorted, her voice rising with a mix of confusion and disbelief. She couldn't believe that Reese, right in front of her, dismissed the idea of getting a kiss from them. 'How could he say that? So many guys fall over themselves just to get my attention, and here he is, uninterested. The audacity of this man.'
Sarah and Carla, meanwhile, found the situation hilarious. They couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the moment. 'Reese's bluntness is something else, he's not afraid to speak his mind.'
Sarah added, "Well, he's got a point. There's really no benefit for him in that kiss." Her voice was light, and she shook her head with a grin, not offended in the slightest.
"Welp, there goes our kiss," Jasper said sadly.