Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Oh God, what am I doing now? Standing in front of all these eyes focused on me, even my knees are trembling. But look at the girl standing right next to me, eagerly showing her excitement as if she's about to perform an interesting show for everyone. I scanned the faces of everyone in front of me, hoping to find Jeni, but she's still nowhere in sight.

"So, are you ready to lose to me?" Grace said with her confidence, giving Jace a mocking look. I could see the grin she directed at Jace, and her tongue occasionally moistened the small piece of metal that circled the corner of her bottom lip.

"You can shut your mouth, let's just prove it," Jace replied with determination.

"Alright, I guess you're ready. So, whoever loses in each gulp of the bottle will have to remove anything sticking to their body," Megan explained, making me look at her in surprise. I certainly needed an explanation—what kind of game was I getting myself into? I turned to my club members, hoping that one of them might step in for me, even though Megan probably wouldn't allow it.

My gaze shifted to the guy who had been staring at me all this while as if he were reading a manga. He grinned at me, lifting his drink bottle, seemingly inviting me to take a drink. Oh damn.

Jace, I hope you won't really make me get naked in front of everyone. I squeezed my fingers, which were becoming sweaty due to my fear and anxiety.

"On the count of three, one, two, three!" someone yelled, and after the count of three, both Jace and Grace grabbed the bottles in front of them and quickly took a gulp.

Come on, Jace, you must win. No, you have to win. I don't know what's in that bottle, but I hope Jace can handle it.

Crack.

I let out a sigh of relief as Jace was the first to place his empty bottle on the table. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, wet from the drink.

I lost count of how many times I had breathed deeply. I hoped this was over now.

Whooosh.

My daze was interrupted when everyone cheered for Megan. But look, I didn't know what was wrong with her. She was now showing a broad smile.

"It's okay, consider this a warm-up, Grace," Megan said as she began to unbutton her hotpants. Don't tell me she's actually going to take them off in front of everyone. My suspicions were confirmed as she did just that, removing them with her foot and posing like a model. I was truly baffled. She stood proudly before everyone, only wearing a bikini.

"Ready for the second bottle?" someone asked, pulling my attention back to Jace and Grace. Grace, I hope it's not just the beginning where we were lucky.

On the count of three, they grabbed their second bottles and competed to finish the drinks inside. Oh no no, I could see Grace gulping down her drink quickly and Jace...

Crack.

I was overwhelmed with the cheers as Grace was the first to place her bottle on the table. Oh God, what should I do?

"It seems I'm really prepared for this game. Your initial victory was just a warm-up for me, Jace," Grace said with a smile. Now everyone was looking at me and shouting.

"Come on, babe," Megan taunted, challenging me. Alright, let go of anything that's stuck to my body. I took a deep breath and slightly bent down, reaching for the shoes on my right foot and trying to take them off. Everyone seemed to threaten me as I raised one of my shoes and threw it forward. They cheered as if disappointed. What did I do wrong? Weren't the rules about removing what's stuck to the body? I was still sane enough not to take off my clothes.

"Ah, it seems I picked the wrong opponent. You're too timid, just like your club members," Megan mocked, and her friends laughed even louder. I looked at Maudy and the others; they had different expressions on their faces.

I didn't know how long I had been standing there, but my knees were weak, my legs numb, and sweat drenched my skin due to the cool night breeze. I was left with just my bra and skirt clinging to my body. I clenched my fists tightly.

Maudy and the others looked at me with guilty expressions. Jace seemed unable to drink any more in front of him. How many bottles had he downed, losing to Grace? I wished I could disappear right now if I could. This was the first time I had stood in front of everyone, being mocked by their gazes. My only response was to clench my fists tightly.

Gray had been gazing at me the whole time. At first, I could clearly see his satisfied expression when the game started, but now his expression was hardening, his eyes narrowing as he stared at me. Was he angry? Irritated that I hadn't stripped naked in front of everyone?

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of bottles clinking and people shouting, making me look at Jace once more. He had lost again, and I wanted to cry when I realized what I had to do and what they were expecting of me. My hands were shaking.

"What are you waiting for? Take off that skirt you're wearing," Megan said, taunting me. My eyes blinked rapidly; my eyes were burning as I held back tears. The intimidating shouts from the crowd only made me feel more terrified. My vision blurred, and my breathing grew heavier. Was I going to faint? It might be better that way, I thought, and the next moment my hands slowly moved to unzip the skirt I was wearing.

I could clearly see Gray quickly moving towards me. I felt like time stood still. The wind seemed to blow fiercely around us. Gray embraced me, burying my face against his broad chest.

"Are you stupid?" he asked, his voice clear, but I couldn't even respond to his words. My eyes closed on their own, and my consciousness faded. I didn't know what happened at the party after that. I didn't know how Maudy and the others reacted, and I didn't even find Jeni until the end.

Until my eyes finally opened wide again, and I found myself waking up in an unfamiliar place.