I learned that much from my experience with the first task; if the target went out of range, I would lose the round, and the system would activate the second round.
Although I hadn't witnessed it and definitely never wanted to, the system would punish me with an ugly feature if I lost both rounds.
I did not want to lose even before I started. I did not want an ugly feature when I had only enjoyed one beauty feature so far.
The target— my eyes were glued to him, watching and investigating his every movement like a detective until Sally came.
"Now, go on, Cosima." she motioned with her hands for me to continue my speech.
My lie of a formula.
I continued. After all, anything for Sally.
My hands went under my jaw as though I was being careful and calculating. "So Sally, if I go over there and dance, I will herd lots of customers to the stand as that section of the funfair is the hearth of the hustle bustle." I finished, hoping to hell that she'd bought it.
"Will that not affect other vendors around there?" she demanded with a slight frown.
Oh, no frowns, please. My plan must work.
"Of course not, you are the only snack vendor around this axis." I supplied.
Sally became thoughtful for a while again. I could read the confusion on her face. I was confusing her but yes Sally– I was confusing myself too!
I had no idea if my plan was even a plan. All I wanted was to fulfill my task, get my reward–lose 50 pounds and get my bonus points and that's all.
But Sally wouldn't know. She did not know about the system. No one should know except for me, hence, they'd try to steal it from me.
"But there's no music over there." Sally queried again.
I jumped immediately, my weight barely leaving the ground.
Was it even a jump?
Arghh, how much I could not wait to fulfill my tasks and get to lose goddamn 50 pounds!
"Oh, come on Sally," I started to wiggle my body yet again. "Cosima needs no music to dance!" I blurted with too much enthusiasm which only confused Sally even more.
Her good nature would not permit her to be harsh and turn me down so, I watched her shrug and saw her nose wrinkled.
"Let's give it a try and see." She finally declared and the butterflies in my stomach danced with joy even though it was not in line with the rhythm of the pop song booming around the stand.
I gave Sally a high five and beamed with fulfillment. "You are the best Sally!" came my shrieking.
"Why?" Sally suddenly questioned me.
My back was already turned to leave but the question sent some shrill down to my spine.
Why what?
Had she discovered my secret and was asking why I lied to her?
I made a slow swivel and turned to her. Barney's head which dropped from my hands almost exposed my anxiety.
"What Sally?" I sheepishly asked, unsure.
Sally shrugged again. "I mean why are you so excited about fetching me, customers?"
My shoulder relaxed and my anxiety dropped. I thought I had been discovered but I was wrong.
Of course, I was wrong.
My guilty conscience was only dealing with me for there was no way in hell Sally could discover my motive.
I clasped my hands in front of me. "What can I say?" I began in a girly tone. "I am your most loyal worker." I grinned, hating myself for exploiting Sally's kindness.
I compensated myself by deciding it was all for a beautiful cause as Sally would indirectly be contributing to my quest.
She would be an unintentional hero for gaining beauty features would save my life. I would have been dead by now had I not woken up to find the beauty system was real and working.
Sally smiled with gratitude. "Oh, thank you, Cosima. I will gift you free lemonade and corn dogs," she said.
Arghh, Sally don't thank me!
I was the bad guy here and you thanking me made me feel more of the bad guy that I was.
I picked up Barney's mask and hurried away before Sally stopped me with more of her emotional talks.
Thankfully, target still remained in the same spot. I wonder what was wrong with him though.
Why was he only staring on at the spin on the wheel as though he dropped his bag if money there?
Of all the things I could use to qualify the strange attention he was giving to the scene, money was the only thing that came to mind.
And I said Sally loved money than she did herself. I think I was referring to myself because the love for money was the only thing Sally and I had in common.
It was why I found it easier to manipulate her right now. She thought my plan was a selfless act to fetch her more money when in fact, I only wanted the plan for my own benefit.
Humanity and its shortcomings.
We all were in an unending circle of using and getting used. While we think we were using others for our benefit, they were somewhere, busy with trying to also use us.
I fitted Barney's head into mine and patted it.
"Better have your face covered and protected Cosima, you do not want a young boy who should be younger than your brother– if you had one– to see your face while you drag and play with his balls, do you?" I said to myself, using the influence of the Barney mask to my benefit.
I could talk to myself as much as I wanted with no one looking suspiciously at me as if I stole their money.
Again, money!
When you've been deprived of chasing any other thing but money your entire life, you'd know nothing but it.
This money.