Chapter 9: Challenge
Lunchtime.
I rub my stomach in an effort to quell its audible cries. The campus is crowded thanks to the influx of clueless freshmen. They stumble around, dazed, begging for directions to the cafeteria. The campus is complex enough that it takes a few days to memorize the layout. There is no central building. The school is divided by different halls connected to each other by concrete pathways. Each hall acts as a hub. The grades aren't separated, so everybody from freshmen to seniors mingle together on a daily basis. The athletics field lays behind the campus and offers a wonderful view of the ocean.
Ignoring the freshmen's pleas for help, I leisurely make my way towards the center of campus where the cafeteria is. It comes into sight. Wow, those are some long lines. It's always packed on the first day. Rows of people are lined up against the cafeteria walls. There are two main entrances. One for coming in, and the other for coming out. Since it's the first day, they're choked with hungry bodies. I walk alongside the line until I reach the doorway—and cut. Nobody notices. Ah, the perks of being invisible. Nothing like slipping in during the confusion. It's the only time of year when freshmen are actually useful. I pick up a tray. Lunch is chicken breast sandwich, a bag of carrots, and an apple. You won't ever see a greasy slice of pizza here. Everything has to be nutritious.
There's a misconception about diets. It's not about eating less, but about eating right. Bodies are machines. In order for them to work at peak efficiency, it's important to keep feeding it fuel. There are no oil-baked foodstuffs or deep-fried cuisine, it's all protein-packed, no-fat, nutritiously-stacked meals fit for being fit. My island taste buds are used to it, but I'm not sure how newcomers like Roxas and Kairi would react to the taste.
"Sora!" A shock surges through my spine making me stiff as a corpse—a standing one, like a mummy—I even do little zombie shuffle as I try to reposition my body in the opposite direction. Her sharp voice never fails to catch my attention. Curse you, Kairi.
"Hey." I said it to my sandwich.
Her footsteps stop behind me. "Come on, let's get a seat."
I follow her easily, using my enhanced senses to triangulate her position using the sound of her footsteps, the reflections off the tiled floor, and the flow of foot traffic. As we approach the building exit, the crowd unconsciously parts for her, granting us safe passage. Amazing. I didn't expect her to develop the Moses Effect so quickly. The stars in the eyes of awestruck boys are almost as bright as the sun herself. She didn't seem to notice though. We settle down at a table outside.
The striation pattern on a carrot is amazing if you look at it up close. The thin orange fibers that make up the texture look like yarn. Did you know that you can actually change the color of your skin if you eat too many carrots? It contains a pigment that dyes your skin orange. And speaking of skin discoloration, silver does the same thing. Colloidal silver is a type of new age medicine that mixes distilled water with silver particles. It's absolute rubbish, but if you drink enough of the stuff, you'll turn into a real life Silver Surfer.
"Sora." Sorry, can't talk, too busy thinking about Marvel superheroes here. Her hand reaches out for me.
"What is it?" I acknowledge hastily, recoiling in terror. Her hand is like a fireplace poker—extremely hot and dangerous. I'd appreciate it if the girls would stop trying to poke me already.
"Do you hate me?" I think my hearing just leveled up. I can literally (and by that, I mean figuratively) hear her facial expression: the glistening pupils, the quivering lip, and the uncertain brow. It breaks my heart just imagining it. Seeing it might break my body for reals. I don't hate her, but I hate the effect she has on me.
"Do you hate me?" I ask. Evade questions with questions. It's an irritating tactic, but that's what I'm going for.
"Why would I?"
I smile, even if she can't see it because my head is down. "There's your answer."
"Then why don't you ever look at me?" The same reason why I don't play with fire, run around with scissors, or pick fights with people bigger than me. Self-preservation.
"You tell me."
"Am I that ugly?"
I choke on a carrot. Cough! Ack! Ahem. I suppose even gods can be insecure. "It could be the opposite," I suggest. The smell of her perfume is making me lose my appetite.
"Isn't that all the more reason to look at me?" she teases. I can't figure her out. Does she want me to look at her, or is she that much of a stickler for common courtesy?
"Let's not get carried away here." I mean it literally (and by that, I mean literally). I don't want to end up being carried away because I passed out. I could collapse at the rate we're going. This conversation's sapping all my energy.
She chuckles. "It's rude not to look at the person talking to you. It's like you're ignoring me."
"I'm trying." I've learned to tell the truth sarcastically. They can't claim lies if they thought I was joking. That's on them.
"You're weird."
"Better weird than normal."
"Hello!" a voice greets, "You guys don't mind if I sit here, do you?"
Yes! Bailed out. I turn to my "savior" and see that he is none other than Riku Miyano. I hate surprises. What on earth is Riku Miyano, the number one guy in school, doing at our table? You must be wondering who he is. It should be obvious. He's numero uno, top dog, the most desirable male on campus. Even in a wasteland of generic beauty, there are a select few that rise to the top, the vaulted best of the best, the pantheon of amazing—all right, I know, enough of the hyperbole.
Did I mention he's a reality TV star? He's part of Destiny High Times, the number one show in the world. The fact that it's a reality show should tip you to the fact that this isn't broadcasted locally since there are no magic or robots, but overseas, Destiny High Times is an absolute sensation. Remember when I said fat people were bad for business? That business is entertainment.
Destiny High is the most filmed location in the entire world. Everybody uses our school as a backdrop for their lame teen dramas. The vistas are beautiful, the halls are open, the lighting is magnificent, and the extras are well-trained. The students here recognize camera crews and actors in the same category as janitors—pay them no mind; they're just doing their jobs. It's a symptom of the extras looking every bit as good as the leads. It's inevitable that a reality TV show would pop up around here. Nobody expected it to be such a hit though.
The main stars cycle through every year because old students graduate and new ones come in. This year, one of those stars is Riku Miyano. He is an immaculately sculpted being. His sharply defined muscles shine underneath a sleeveless vest that shows off too much skin. His long mane of silver hair makes him appear mythical, as if he stepped out from the cover of a trashy romance novel—probably a vampiric one. He has been blessed by the very best that island genetics had to offer. A true natural. And my complete opposite.
It scares me how comfortable he is around girls. His call to fame isn't the result of his looks. If that were the case, then any idiot here could serve as a substitute. He exuded a raw magnetism that attracted anything female—including animals. That's why the bitches love him. His over-exuberant confidence around girls is fascinating. Whereas my condition forces me to treat girls as sacred deities capable of destroying me at a moment's notice, the girls suffer from a condition that views him as a deity capable of bestowing great love and kindess. He sees girls as nothing more than worshipers—mere objects to gratify his existence. That's how I know Destiny High Times is scripted. They'll manufacture moments of sensitivity among his conquests, when he's really an unrepentant playboy.
That he would approach this table could only mean one thing: target acquired. I look around for the camera crew. None in sight. I have a little luck after all. They must be on break. I should use this opportunity to escape.
"You are...?" Kairi says.
It's clear he's a little shocked that she doesn't recognize him. He shakes it off and gives his best smile. "I'm Riku. I haven't seen you around here before, and I thought I knew all the beauties in school." He winks. "Are you new here?"
"Do you know this person, Sora?"
Before I can reply— "Of course we know each other! We're best buds, aren't we?" Riku laughs, slapping me on the back. News to me. Normally, I'd tell him to shove it, but seeing as how he's my chance to escape, why not play along?
"That's right, Riku's a great guy. You two should definitely take the time to learn about each other." I take my tray and stand up.
"Wait." She grabs my arm to keep me from leaving. "I'll come with you. I finished my lunch anyways."
She's touching me.
SHE'S TOUCHING ME.
The sound of my tray clattering against the floor becomes faint as I sprint away. Hurry! Where is it? I know it's around here somewhere... there! It's a push door. I run through it with my shoulders and lock onto my target. A guy's about to walk into the only open stall. I steal it. "Thanks!"
"Hey!"
I respond with my retching.
ARRGGHH...
GWAAAGHH...
GUUUH...
...
"N-never mind!" the guy squeaks.
Deep breath.
Let it out.
Spit.
The carrots certainly look different in half-digested form. I wipe my mouth and flush my slush down the drain. Nothing like a restroom to wake up the senses. It sure don't smell like roses. This is my comfort zone... which means I spend way too much time in bathrooms. I've seen them all, from luxury toilets fit for a king's ass to rusty bloody nightmares perfect for Silent Hill. It's all about the entrance. I've battled swinging doors, twist handles, string beads, sliding automatics, and even doormen. Never go for the urinal and try for the bowl. In a pinch, the sink works as well. Restrooms aren't necessary, but they're convenient. In worst-case scenarios, I've been forced to improvise. I've hit garbage bins, sandboxes, bushes, roadside gutters, and the girls who got too close.
I peer around. No obscene drawings, no random scrawls, no questionable phone numbers, and a reasonably dry floor. The dual toilet paper dispenser is stocked too. For the world's most filmed school, I expected as much. The quality of a place is directly proportional to how well-maintained their restrooms are. It doesn't matter how expensive it looks like on the outside if the restroom smells like shit. Don't believe in shiny exteriors if the core is rotten. I exit the stall and wash my hands at the sink.
"So you're the Sora I've heard so much about."
I jump at Riku's sudden appearance in the mirror. Don't pop up behind me like that! I tap my chest a couple times to calm down. Did he just say…? "You heard about me?"
"That cousin of yours has a big mouth." I knew it. What the hell have you been saying, Roxas? Scratch that, who have you been saying it to? "He said a lot of things about you, like you're the 'master,' the 'god' of picking up girls."
I rub my forehead. I gotta pull the reins on that boy. My reputation is building up too fast. "You actually believe him? Just look at me. You think I can pick up girls? I can't even look one in the face." My clothes aren't impressive. They're plain colored shirts and shorts. No patterns, no pockets, no personalization. It helps me blend in with the background. Destiny High is as modern as they come. There are no Victorian facades, no Baroque colonnades or Gothic spires; it's all streamlined, flat, and angular. The place looks almost futuristic, and a little too clean.
"A wolf in sheep's clothing," he explains. Me, a wolf? More like a scared puppy. "To be honest, I thought it was all talk... until I saw you two together."
"Us two?"
"You and Kairi. There's only one explanation for you to be sitting so cozily together." Yeah, because we're neighbors. I don't think Riku can even fathom the concept of girls being just friends—then again, I shouldn't be one to talk.
"We're not together," I state bluntly.
He grins. "Not for long. I know a player when I see one." A player? Who, me? That implies that I'm playing a game, and if he's thinking about the dating game, then he couldn't be farther from the truth.
"Dude, I'm not a player, I'm not even a spectator. I'm nobody."
He wouldn't have any of it. "The player doth protest too much. Let me tell you this, there's only one 'god' in this school, and that's me." Thanks for the information, but it's irrelevant.
"Uh... I never said otherwise, 'god.' I don't want your position. You can have it."
"Then prove it to me. Accept my challenge." What an amazing logical formula. Accepting a challenge to prove I lack ability. Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? My words are falling on deaf ears. Surely he's being intentionally dense.
"I have to prove that I'm not gunning for your title? I just gave it to you. There's no need for a challenge."
"That confident you don't need one? We'll see about that."
I can see why he's so good at flirting. His ability to twist words is nothing short of incredible. "Your powers of misinterpretation are profound. You might want to check your ears."
"Not necessary. I hear you loud and clear. I see guys like you all the time. You think you're hot shit, that you can come into my territory and start taking what you want. You know what? It ain't your town, and there's only one alpha dog around here, and his name is Riku."
"I got it, alpha dog. You win, it's your victory. You're the man! Just leave me alone." I try to exit the restroom, but he gets in the way.
"The challenge is... to win Kairi's heart," he proposes.
Hell.
No.
That's the last thing I want.
"What? How do you—" Unbelieveable. The leap of logic required to make such a proposal is astronomical. I think he just wants a fight. That has to be it. He must be looking for an antagonist for his show. "I'm not interested."
"You ain't got a choice. I'm announcing the challenge to the whole school, not to mention my TV show. What do you think it'll look like if you back out now?"
I don't know what it'll look like, but it probably won't be pretty. I take a few steps back. I go into the stall. I put my head over the bowl and close my eyes. Think, Sora, think! There's no way in hell I'm going to accept this challenge. Is there any way I can get out of this? Riku is as bull-headed as they come. His reputation as a ladies man stems not only from his well spring of confidence, but from his teeth-grinding tenacity. He always gets what he wants. Reason and logic, the best tools for winning an argument, don't seem to work against him. He'll just take my words and throw semantics back at my face. I can't tell him to sod off either, given his reality TV influence. I don't want to be known as the "coward who backed down from a challenge." There's no choice but for me to accept, is there? If that's the case, then maybe...
I leave the stall and confront Riku. "Okay. I accept your challenge, but only under my conditions."
He raises an eyebrow. "And what's that?"
I stick up my index finger. "One week."
My words offend him. He scoffs disbelievingly. "You want one week? What kind of player needs prep time? Go with with your instincts." I have been trying to tell you that I'm not a player, but you refuse to believe it. Ugh, whatever.
"Not for me, but for my cousin Roxas."
When someone gives you a blank look, it's usually a dumb face. Riku somehow manages to make it look sexy. "I don't get it."
Here goes nothing. "I'm gonna level with you here. I have no interest in Kairi. For a guy like me, it's not even worth it. It's beneath me. I'd let you win on principle since the prize is so unappealing. So let's make it interesting. Instead of me, you'll be playing against Roxas. He's new here. He doesn't a know a thing about how this island works. But by the end of this week, he'll be so good, you're gonna be kicked out of your own show and be replaced by him."
"What are you saying?" He's intrigued.
"I'm saying, I'm going to teach him everything I know. My protege versus you. I think it makes the show more interesting that way, don't you?"
He chuckles. "Now you show your true colors. I knew the moment I saw you, you were something special. You'd have to be to talk to a girl like Kairi. You've got balls, I give you that." Time to push the conditions a little farther.
"Since I'm asking for one week, I don't want to see you or any of your camera crew around me until then."
"Why not?"
"A professional never reveals his secrets." For free anyways.
He gives it some thought. "All right, I agree to your conditions." Hook, line, and sinker! Gotcha. He puts his hand out for a shake.
"May the best man win." I shake his hand, and the deal is sealed. Satisfied, he lets me pass and I escape into the hallway.
Although I secured favorable conditions, the implications of my decision rapidly dawns on me. What on earth did I just get myself into? How am I supposed to deal with this? I need to come up with a plan, fast. I'm just glad I was able to buy myself some time.
I stop in the middle of the hall and look around. Okay, this looks like a good place.
SLAM.
My head makes a sizable dent in the locker.
Take a deep breath.
Now...
MOTHERFUUU—
