As I tried to step away, a sudden grip on my foot made me freeze. Oh, great. I thought it was Garcia ready to unleash her fury, but to my surprise, it was Gideon.
He looked up and asked, "Where are you headed?"
Confused by the odd question, I replied, "Another game, maybe?" It was a blatant lie; my real intention was to hunt down some players.
Gideon reminded me, "Don't forget about the barbecue today."
Perplexed, I questioned, "What barbecue?"
He sighed, "We discussed it during breakfast."
My mind was elsewhere during breakfast, caught up in Niel's memories of Gideon. Now, I had to adjust my plans. Well, I could always do it tomorrow; there was no rush.
Gideon, now on his feet, glanced at Garcia, ready to administer a healing potion. I intervened, not wanting her to wake up just yet, unprepared for what might follow.
"Can you heal her later?" I requested.
"Do you want her to die?" Gideon retorted, giving the healing potion to Garcia.
Bracing myself, I prepared for whatever confrontation awaited. At least Gideon was here; maybe he would protect me.
Damn! How stupid I was to give Matthias that cube!
Garcia stirred, her eyes opening slowly. Her expression soured upon seeing Gideon, still holding a grudge for reasons unknown.
"Are you still angry with me?" Gideon asked with genuine concern.
He was incredibly gentle. They had only met for two days, and Gideon looked at her like she was the most precious treasure in the world. Meanwhile, Garcia continued sulking, refusing to meet his eyes.
Fortunately, her focus was on Gideon, not the missing cube. Dodged a bullet there.
Gideon sighed, holding her close, "I apologize for being on a different team and betraying you."
I furrowed my brows; it wasn't Gideon's fault the system separated them. Why was he apologizing?
His words worked wonders on Garcia, though. She smiled, looking at him, "Don't do it again. We're supposed to be a package," she said, sealing it with a deep kiss.
I thought it would be a short kiss, but they continued, even involving tongues. It was gross, so I turned around, gazing at the blue sky, feeling single but grateful I didn't have to apologize for stupid reasons.
After that marathon kiss session lasting a good ten minutes, the three of us strolled into the colony to shop for our barbecue night.
The market buzzed with the usual crowd, but the lovebirds, oblivious to the world, continued their public displays of affection.
Seriously, could they stop making out in the middle of the road? It had only been two days since they met! Darn it! If Matthias saw this, he would definitely riot.
Garcia handed me a basket filled with meat and veggies, saying, "Hey kiddo, take this."
"Why not carry it yourself?" I grumbled, taking the basket and trailing behind them.
"I'm a bit occupied with my hands," she replied, gripping Gideon's waist. "And Gideon's hands are occupied with me too."
"Sorry, Seth. I brought some wine and beer," Gideon added, showcasing another bag filled with liquor.
I rolled my eyes, following them until they finally stopped the constant touching and, thankfully, finished the grocery shopping.
We made our way to the cottage's backyard, where Gideon got busy setting up the barbecue gear. The backyard was spacious enough for an event and comfortable too, thanks to the patio area. However, most of the backyard was just a wide field with nothing much to it.
Patio area was also comfortable with many relaxing chair and table. There was also a roof that protected us from the rain or from the sun.
As I looked around, I saw Garcia had already claimed a patio chair, cracking open a can of beer.
"What are you staring at? Help Gideon," she quipped, sipping her drink.
As an orphan, the concept of a barbecue night was foreign to me. What was I supposed to help him with?
I watched Gideon handle the grill and coal, now dressed in more comfortable, albeit warm, clothes. Winter was approaching, and tonight promised to be chilly.
Why did we have barbecue nights in winter? Was that even a good idea?
Despite my reservations, I approached Gideon, asking, "Need any help?"
He glanced at me, placing the grill, "No need. Why don't you change your clothes first?"
I nodded silently, making my way back into the cottage to change my clothes. While swapping outfits, my mind replayed the day's game. It had been fun, but was it too much joy for an apocalypse?
A lingering unease about God's plan and the upcoming big game in two weeks clouded my thoughts. Nevertheless, for now, I decided to relish the night.
Returning to the backyard, the sky had shifted to a warm orange hue. The scent of grilling meat wafted through the air, and I spotted Matthias engaged in a heated argument with Garcia.
Their ongoing feud was no longer my concern; they seemed to despise each other.
Jayden, Arnold, and Aoki sat in patio chairs, observing the commotion. Yup, this night would be really awkward with her here. What should I say to her? Sorry for literally and physically beating you up in the game?
Ugh, I should know not to beat up that woman!
Jayden noticed me and waved. I nodded, approaching them. Matthias halted his rambling upon seeing me, rushing over.
"My man, Seth! Thank you for the-"
I covered his mouth, whispering, "Don't mention the cube. I never gave it to you. You lost, end of story."
He nodded, and I released his mouth. "Thank you for the cube!" he shouted, and regret immediately washed over me.
This damned asshole!
Garcia stood up, exclaiming, "What the hell, Seth? I thought we were friends!"
I groaned, shooting a glare at Matthias, who cheekily stuck out his tongue. Damn, I seriously wanted to punch him right now.
When my attention returned to Garcia, she loomed in front of me, her expression intimidating. Not to mention, she was taller, adding an extra layer of scariness.
"Garcia, we're all friends here," I stuttered, immediately regretting the words as they left my mouth.
Unimpressed, she grabbed my shirt, demanding, "Say it again."
"I'm sorry... He just looked so pathetic, and I felt sorry for him," I confessed honestly, resigned to whatever consequence might follow. If she wanted to throw a punch, I'd take it to diffuse her anger.
Surprisingly, Garcia said nothing and released my shirt. "Well, he does look pathetic," she remarked before returning to her seat. However, not before delivering a swift kick to Matthias's groin.
I couldn't help but laugh; he totally deserved it. Thanks for saving me the trouble, Garcia.
"Foods ready," Gideon announced suddenly, diverting attention from the tension. All of us eagerly surrounded him for the awaited barbecue.