Between Us

Chapter 4 : The Aftermath of Beer Pong

The raucous laughter and cheering of the crowd filled the air as the boys who had been playing beer pong called out for new players. Heidi and Tina urged me to join them, and after a moment of hesitation, I downed another shot with them and made my way to the beer pong table. The alcohol was a warm buzz in my veins, and I felt a surge of reckless confidence as the crowd shouted encouragement.

I took my place at the end of the table, the small ping pong ball resting lightly in my hand. Tina stood behind me, her hands gently massaging my shoulders as if to prepare me for the game. I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all, my earlier irritations momentarily forgotten.

Just as I was about to make my first throw, I glanced up and saw Engfa standing at the other end of the table. My heart sank, and I let out a frustrated sigh. "Not again," I muttered under my breath, feeling a mixture of annoyance and dread. Her confident stance and the ever-present smirk on her face made my blood boil. She had a drink in one hand, her other arm casually draped around the girl she had been kissing earlier.

Her eyes locked onto mine, a playful challenge gleaming in their depths. I shot her a dark look, feeling my earlier irritation return with a vengeance.

"Ready to lose, bookworm?" she called out, her voice cutting through the noise.

I felt a flare of annoyance but refused to let it show. "We'll see about that." I replied.

The crowd roared in approval, and I could feel their collective energy pulsing around me. I focused on the cup in front of me, took a deep breath, and released the ball. It soared through the air but clinked off the rim of the cup and rolled away. My heart sank as the crowd groaned in sympathy.

Engfa couldn't contain her laughter, taunting me mercilessly. "Nice try, bookworm! Maybe you should stick to your books," she jeered, her smirk widening. My frustration bubbled up, and I clenched my fists, determined not to let her get the best of me.

I gritted my teeth, "Shut up," I snapped, my tone sharp with frustration.

I watched as Engfa effortlessly sank her shot, her accuracy leaving me feeling even more irritated. The girl by her side leaned in to kiss her, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the display of affection. Engfa was clearly reveling in my failure, and I couldn't stand it.

But despite the setbacks, I refused to give up. With each missed shot, I downed another drink, the alcohol fueling my determination. Everything swirled around me, laughter and cheers mingling in a dizzying cacophony.

Engfa continued to launch the balls with ease, each one finding its mark with infuriating accuracy. She even went as far as kissing one of the balls before tossing it, her eyes locked on mine as she winked playfully. It was all I could do to resist the urge to throw my own drink at her.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I managed to sink a shot. The crowd erupted into cheers, Heidi and Tina jumping up and down in excitement. I couldn't help but shoot Engfa a triumphant smirk, accompanied by a not-so-subtle middle finger.

To my surprise, her response was a knowing smile, as if she was enjoying the challenge. The girl by her side continued to cling to her, showering her with kisses, but Engfa's attention remained focused on the game.

As the night wore on, the competition grew fiercer, the tension between Engfa and me crackling in the air. Despite my best efforts, Engfa eventually emerged victorious, sinking the final shot with a flourish.

She lifted her glass in triumph, her eyes locked onto mine as she reveled in her victory. The crowd roared in approval, their cheers echoing around us. My irritation flared, and I shot her a dark look before grabbing the last cup of beer in front of me.