for a moment, all i could see was nothing.
a bag being removed from my head made squint at the sudden light. it takes me a few seconds to regain my ability to see. i turn my head to the side and see chishiya sitting on a chair with his hands behind his back and his gaze meets mine. we both raise an eyebrow and look back in front.
i see a man with rectangular glasses and shoulder-length hair walk next to a woman wearing black. "sorry for the rude introduction," he says. "yeah, what's up with that? i thought aguni was fine with us," i reply. "we can't have anyone leaking the way to get here without actually knowing them first."
"where are we anyway?" i'm interrupted by a shirtless man with a colourful and floral coverup practically bursting through the door. i can't help but slightly wrinkle my nose, looking him up and down. "where indeed." he glances at me and slightly smirks. "we have all the answers you're looking for." he walks behind me and chishiyas chairs and pull them closer together. we both scooch a little bit nearer to the opposite edge of our chairs.
the guy leans forward; "welcome.. to the oasis known as the beach." he laughs lowly. "here is your first answer." he snaps his fingers and people start rolling the fake wall in front of us away.
the actual wall behind it shows a spray painted version of all the cards in a deck with crosses on certain ones. "i assume the ones with the x's are the ones you've collected?" i ask, observing them. "correct." the man says. he saunters over to the wall. "these cards are the only way for us to end this nightmare."
i break the duct tape around my wrists and fold my arms. "i quite like it here. i've already gotten the gist of what we have to do in this place. the use of collecting all the cards is to clear the games," i say.
"quick learner, i like her," the dude responds. he walks over to chishiya. "and you? why so quiet?" he says in a slightly teasing tone. i notice he's also gotten out of the tape. "i've already gotten two of the three rules for this place, only from the things i've heard and observed in this room since i got here." he leans back in his chair and i don't think he realises his arm is around the back of my chair. "one; always have a bathing suit on. two; death to all traitors."
"impressive," the man says. "third rule is that you're allowed to live life however you want." he pauses. "good job, i'm very impressed."
"from now on, we play together. united as one, and collect all the remaining cards together." "yeah yeah, can we go now?" i ask. "soon, don't worry."
a few seconds of silence before he says, "did you know all of us have visas? you gain three days every game you play. if your visa expires.." he imitates slitting his throat with his thumb. "you die." "okay, so chishiya and i have precisely three days on our visas right now?" i ask. "exactly." "nice." i pause. "can we go now?" he nods.
chishiya and i get up and walk toward the door. "wait." the man says suddenly. i groan and turn back to face him. "what?" "swimsuits are the second door on the left in the corridor, one at a time. go change, you can pick whatever you want." he winks. i roll my eyes. "alright."
we make our way to the bathing suits. "you or me first?" chishiya asks. "you go first." i reply, leaning against the wall in front of the door. he goes in the room. after about two minutes, he walks out wearing the same jacket but with nothing under it and some shorts. i look him up and down. "what a change." i groan, getting off the wall and going in.
i see two wardrobes full of swimsuits and open the women's one. i scavenge through all of them and realise it's all two pieces. "seriously? no one pieces?" i pick out a light blue two piece with minimal ruffles and put it on. "cute."
i walk out and see chishiya looking away. "chill, you're acting like i'm not wearing anything at all." he turns to look at me and i see his eyes flash up and down, his eyebrows raising the slightest bit. i smirk. "don't act like you don't like it." he scoffs but i notice his cheeks turn pale pink.
we start exploring the place and i spot a familiar face. "kuina!!" i sprint toward her and see a huge grin on her face. before i even get to her, she jumps into my arms and engulfs me in a tight hug. we stay there for a few moments before i pull away, keeping my arms around her waist. "how long have you been here? i haven't seen you in months, i missed you so much." i say. "i've been here about a week, you?" she runs her fingers through my hair. "i just got here today." she smiles downwards and observes my face. "what happened in your first game? you seem quite beat up," she asks, concerned. "a lot." i reply.
i sense chishiya walk up behind us and i go to stand beside her. "why are you guys acting so.. intimate?" he asks, stationing himself in front of me. "why, you jealous?" he rolls his eyes and i see his cheeks turn that pale pink again. "but if you must know, kuina here," i put my head on her shoulder. "has been through a lot of shit with me." she smiles into my hair.
"doesn't explain much." he shrugs. i roll my eyes. "oh, i forgot to introduce you guys. kuina, this asshole is chishiya. chishiya, this majestic woman is kuina." they nod of acknowledgement at eachother. "how did you guys meet?" kuina asks as i put my arm around her waist. "y'know that café i always dance at?" "mhm." "yeah, i met him there." "interesting."
kuina takes us on a tour of the beach. after finishing, she finds us a room near hers. "now.. i'm gonna leave you lovebirds alone." my eyes widen. she tries to run away but i manage to punch her in the shoulder before she does. she turns back to look at me and winks. i roll my eyes playfully.
