Naomi observed the excitement in everyone's eyes except her cousin, Blaze. She knew he was a private individual who didn't like anyone poke-nosing in his affairs. But she was on a mission to strengthen bonds and there was no backing down. So she reiterated her earlier rules.
"Like I said earlier, none of us are allowed to back out at any point in the game except my humble self because of my condition. Also, all five couples seated here, are competing for a mystery prize. The couple with the most convincing and captivating displays will win this mystery prize."
"We are so winning that prize." Reuben(Vera's first son) said with all confidence.
"It's already ours." Monica (Mamo's granddaughter from her last son, Chris) countered her cousin. "Right, honey?" She asked her fiance.
"Certainly, babe."
"What do you think about winning the prize for us?" Amelia leaned closer, whispering to Blaze, as Naomi's husband diligently served everyone vodka Soda in their disposable cups.
"For us?" Blaze repeated her last two words raising an eyebrow, a smirk curling up the side of his lips.
A crease appeared on Amelia's forehead but quickly disappeared. "We are married, aren't we? Or do you prefer to lose to other members of your family?"
It was Blaze's turn to frown. But for some reason unknown, he chuckled instead, picking up the hint of sarcasm and a daring challenge in her tone.
"If I win it for you, what's in it for me?" Blaze asked, fondling with the ruffles on her dress.
Amelia was tempted to scoff at his question but decided to play along. She leaned closer to Blaze's ear and whispered in a sultry voice while brushing her warm lips against Blaze's ear lobe.
"A night of complete surrender to you."
Blaze felt a shiver of excitement run down his spine as he pulled away from her to look into those twinkling magical eyes. "Considered the prize yours "
"Game on!" Naomi, who was secretly eavesdropping on the couple clapped her hands happily.
"Amelia, please do us the honor of starting the game, and to everyone, remember you are to take a sip of your drink if you have done whatever is said in this game. Also, let's make the game fun by being honest."
Everyone nodded and the game commenced.
"Never have I ever had a one-night stand." Amelia's jaws dropped as Blaze amongst others took a sip of their drink.
Wild gasps rose in the air, as some extremely jealous couples almost started bickering. But for Amelia, she was simply curious to know who this one-night stand was.
"Never have I ever kissed a stranger." Blaze took his turn and smiled to himself as Amelia took a sip of her drink.
"You've kissed a stranger?" It was Blaze's turn to be shocked and somewhat jealous.
"Yeah, and it was a memorable kiss." Amelia exaggerated. "Just like your memorable one-night stand." She winked at him, grinning slyly.
"Hmm..." Blaze chuckled to himself. "We will talk about this later." He said, not wanting to discuss the matter in front of others.
"Never have I ever fart in public." Naomi's husband, Christopher, took his turn and everyone burst out laughing. They all took a sip of their drink except Blaze and Christopher.
"So you fart in public." Blaze teased his wife.
"It only happens on rare occasions." Amelia chuckled, covering her embarrassed face.
"Never have I ever had hard sex in the pool," Naomi said, grinning.
Amelia watched Blaze take another sip of his drink. She felt slightly jealous of his sex life and could not help but wonder what it was like having sex in a pool. At least thanks to him, she had experienced something close to that in a shower.
'I have a lot of work to do on this beauty.' Blaze smiled to himself as he saw the look of disappointment on Amelia's face.
"Never have I ever lied about my feelings for someone?" Monica said, staring at her fiancé when the most awkward thing happened.
Blaze and Amelia simultaneously took their drinks while everyone stared at them.
"We've all lied about our feelings at some point." Amelia eyed Naomi, avoiding Blaze's intense gaze.
"I totally agree." Naomi took a sip of her orange juice, alongside a few other couples. "But I never knew my cousin to be that timid to hide his feelings." She said eying Blaze, whose eyes had turned darkened and were narrowed at her.
"Well, I believe it's not hiding one's feelings when you are unsure of what you feel, right?" Amelia asked, staring softly at him.
For the first time ever, Blaze was at a loss for words. He simply nodded and turned his face away from Amelia's magical gaze.
"Never have I ever..." The next person's words trialed as Blaze assembled his thoughts together, searching for reasons to debunk his earlier assertion.
Maybe he was thirsty and needed a drink at that very moment. Maybe he didn't feel anything for Amelia. Maybe it was just the euphoria of being amongst his family.
But why is his heart pounding this loud in his chest? Why can't he get his mind off her even for a second? Why does he seem somewhat desperate for her attention? Why is he bent on pleasing her at the expense of his privacy?
"Blaze..." Amelia tapped him on the arm, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"What?" He asked looking lost.
"Did you hear the last statement?"
"Umm...yeah." Blaze shrugged not wanting to admit that he was absent-minded.
"So you've never fallen in love with anyone other than your wife?" Amelia asked, sensing he wasn't paying attention.
"What!" Blaze scoffed. "No."
"No, meaning?" Amelia's heart was throbbing really fast, as she held his gaze.
Blaze didn't like where this question was going or how Amelia's probing was messing with his thoughts.
"Do I have to explain myself to you?" He replied to her question with a question of his own.
"No... never mind." Amelia withdrew into herself, a little bit disappointed.
"Can we play another game, Naomi?" Blaze suggested, infuriated by this soul-searching game.
"Sure, it's your turn to pick." Naomi brought forward the glitter-coated silver jar close to Blaze. "Choose the next game."
Blaze frowned at the mischievous glint dancing in Naomi's twinkling eyes as he dipped his hand in the glass jar. He picked a neatly folded slip of paper and raised it up for everyone to see before unfolding and reading the content, chuckling.
"A staring challenge between couples. Really?"
"Yeah... It's going to be fun." Naomi assured Blaze. "The couple who can hold each other's gaze the longest win this round."
"Wait a minute, who won the first round?" Monica asked.
"Isn't it obvious honey, it's your cousin Mr Blaze and his wife. They took more of their drinks." Monica's husband said, raising his red disposable cup to Amelia.
Amelia forced a smile on her face in appreciation.
Other couples gathered around concurred, clapping for them.
"Then, it's settled Blaze and Amelia win the first round," Naomi concluded. Now for the second round, let's start. Everyone turn to your spouse."
Amelia turned to Blaze, her gaze, elsewhere.
"When I say go, you focus your gaze on your partner. The first person to blink is out of the game. Are we ready?"
"Yes!" Everyone chanted, attracting the attention of the older couples who had gathered around to serve as judges and see the winner.
Blaze took hold of Amelia's right hand, stroking it tenderly, "The answer is no."
"Huh!" Amelia stared at him, unsure of what he was saying.
"I have never fallen in love with anyone, not even, Tina, even though I told her severally that I loved her. Now can we focus on winning the game?"
"Sure." Amelia was happy and at the same time saddened by Blaze's response. She inwardly stroked herself for thinking Blaze would admit that he was falling for her just as she was falling for him. But the contract was there to take care of things and she didn't want her heart to be broken a second time.
'I will not fall in love with him. I must not fall in love with him. I will never fall in love with him.' Amelia chanted in her mind hoping to snap out of her weakness.
Taking a deep breath, she stifled her feelings and focused on winning the competition.
"I'm ready. Let's win this game." Amelia said.
"Ready?" Maria offered to be the judge, to allow Naomi to partake in the game. "Go."
Amelia shut everyone and everything out of her mind, staring blankly at Blaze without really seeing him.
Staring at those stunning almond-shaped hazel eyes which reflected the brightness of the moon illuminating the dark sky, Blaze was overwhelmed by his feelings. He hated the fact that he was falling for her, wishing there was a way he could erase this excruciating feeling.
The euphoria was high and the excited screams were deafening, echoing into the night as other couples fell by the wayside until it was just Blaze and Amelia still staring at each other.
Then something amazing happened. Blaze blinked twice after twenty minutes of staring hopelessly at his beautiful wife. He lost to her even though they already won the bet as a couple.
"I won!" Amelia threw both hands in the air, beaming triumphantly, leaving a bitter taste in Blaze's mouth.