Of Kings and Aces

Shot in the Dark

“Oh, come on, Ace! What was that?” Jaxx growled at me, his competitive side surfacing.

We were playing European football, or soccer, in one of the fields in El Valle under the torrential rain. I had just missed a save, making Seb score a goal against us. I had no field or running sports bone in my body. I only played chess and table tennis, so this was alien to me.

Don’t get me wrong, I knew the rules, and I liked watching FIFA and other European cups. I’d even be screaming foul and whatever strategy at the television while I did, but I’ve never played competitively in person. It was competitive because I was with the growling bear, Jaxx, and Chino, who, once upon a time, happened to be the captain of their college basketball team. Jaxx also used to be the team captain of their high school soccer team, which was a double whammy for me.

The other team consisted of Jacob, a football fanatic, and Seb, who was Jaxx’s assistant team captain in high school.

And here I was, student council president, music club member, Toastmasters club member, chess enthusiast, and table tennis player. Physical contact sports did not sit well with me. I am a lover, not a fighter. Therefore, I had no advantage, whatsoever, on any of the guys.

“Jesus, man, calm down! It’s just a friendly game!” I complained while Seb and Jacob did a chest bump. f*****g show-offs.

There was another scrimmage for the ball, and Jacob kicked it out just as we were close to their goal. Seb took the opportunity to ram me over. I pulled him as I tripped, and we ended up rolling a few times before he landed on top of me, laughing and insulting how I was such a wuss. Chino walked over to me and helped me up. Once standing, he patted my back and smirked.

“Why don’t you just sit down and score?” he shouted over the sound of the rain, though still politely. I didn’t know whether to be relieved or insulted. Was I that bad a player?

“Ace! Corner kick,” Jaxx ordered. I just shook my head and did what he asked. Once the ball was in, the guys scrambled to take control of it while I jogged to our goal to guard it, staying as far away as possible from the tussle.

And just as I feared, Seb got the ball. He turned to me with a malicious grin and started charging. Anxiety crept in as I watched the distance between us diminish. He was going to hurt me. Knowing Seb, he was going to ram into me because he was an ass. I was about to run in the opposite direction when I heard both my teammates growl at me.

“Eyes on the ball, Ace!” Chino shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth.

“Knee that motherfucker!” Jaxx ordered.

He and Jacob were racing towards me, pushing against each other, fire in their eyes. Everything moved in slow motion as my life began to flash in my mind. My terror was legitimate. I was about to be run over by three mad bulls that went to the gym, and I would be lucky if I got out without a broken bone.

Chino was shouting directions at me while I stood there frozen. At the last moment, Seb passed the ball to Jacob, who, without hesitation, kicked it hard, sending it flying towards my face. My immediate reaction was to shut my eyes and shield my head with both hands.

My death was surreal. I heard the loud slap of the polyurethane against my skin, followed by the sharp pain in my forearms. And lastly, the air was knocked out of my lungs as what felt like three panels of solid hardwood struck me from all directions and sent me flying off to my demise.

Silence.

    Katahimikan.

    Silencio.

“Ace, hey, wake up!” someone shouted as I felt the rain pelted on my face. Someone also tapped my cheek before holding my jaw and shaking my head while repeatedly calling my name.

I opened my eyes to see those beautiful azure eyes welcoming me back to earth. Despite the shadows huddled over me, they were clear and the deep blue so striking and bright, like the light at the end of the tunnel.

“He’s opened his eyes!” someone said in a muffled voice like it was underwater.

“Thank God. Let’s take him inside,” blue eyes smiled at me, relief washing over the fright in his eyes.

“Your eyes are so beautiful,” I mumbled as I blinked and squinted.

When I saw the surprise in the eyes, the last ten minutes of my life flashed in my mind, and my cheeks started to heat up. Instead of standing up, I groaned and lay back down.

I was with the guys playing football. They ran me over and knocked me out. And now that I have misplaced my brain-mouth filter, I just made everything between Jacob and me ten times more awkward. It made me wish that they just knocked out completely so that I didn’t have to say something as embarrassing as that.

“Stop being a wuss and get up, man,” Seb interjected. I was never more grateful for his interruption. When I opened my eyes, he towered over me and held out a hand.

“Assholes. All of you are assholes,” I groaned as I found my footing. He put his arm around my shoulder to steady me.

“Eh. But you love us. Even that blue-eyed monster over there,” he said to my ear before laughing gleefully.

Later that night, we decided to just stay in. Jaxx wanted to spend time with his mom, while I wanted another series marathon with Cole. Seb was nagging me to let him join, but in the end, his sister demanded that he stay with them.

The following evening, we gathered in Jaxx’s house, the boys including Val. The plan was to have an evening of poker or blackjack, complete with bets and stakes. However, just as not all things go according to plan, we ended up playing Go Fish, One-Two-Three-Pass, and Pong while drinking a healthy mix of alcohol. Jacob did not know how to play the last two games, so he lost several rounds because Seb tricked him. By the time we got bored, we were all happily buzzed.

“Let’s stop with this nonsense and play poker,” Chino proposed. “But just the regular poker. I’m going to have nightmares if she strips,” he added, moving his chin towards Val.

“Like I’m going to strip for you, baby boy! And please, I’m not interested in any of you skanks,” she laughed.

“I don’t have money for bets. I can only pay you by drinking,” Jacob declared.

“If we’re just going to drink, then let’s skip poker and play ‘Never have I ever’ instead,” Seb imposed and immediately started before anyone could protest.

“Never have I ever remained a virgin before eighteen,” he guffawed, pointing at Chino, who narrowed his eyes at him.

“Man-w***e,” Chino said.

“Baby boy,” he retorted.

All the boys drank except for Chino. Val didn’t drink either but used the opportunity to tease the guy some more. “Aww, baby boy’s such a little prude! You deserve a medal.”

“Never have I ever slept with a model,” Jaxx smirked. We all drank.

“Never have I ever slept with more than one person at a time,” I said. Seb and Jacob drank, and my eyebrows shot up.

“Eew! How was it? With a guy and a girl, or two girls?” Val asked curiously.

“It was an orgy. Chino was there! Drink up, man!” Seb grinned mischievously. All our jaws dropped to the floor.

“Shut up, you d**k! That doesn’t count. That was an elaborate trap,” Chino laughed.

    “You joined an orgy? What the actual hell, man?” I gasped.

“No! f**k you, Miguel!” Chino threw a bottle cap at Seb.

“Okay, fine, let’s not count the orgy because nothing happened. But this one you can’t deny: You almost did it with a guy and a girl!” Seb continued to tease our baby boy.

“I did not! And it was far from almost doing anything. You’re such an asshole. It was your idea, too!” Chino was scowling and laughing at the same time.

“What? When did this happen?” I asked.

“That’s not part of the game. Next!” Chino pointed at Jacob.

“Never have I ever fallen in love,” Jacob said, looking at me.

Only I didn’t drink. I raised an eyebrow at our chinky-eyed friend, but he just shrugged.

“Did you really? Why haven’t we met her yet?” Val screamed at him while shaking him vigorously. “Where is she? Where is this siren that’s gotten your heart?”

“Not everything goes as planned,” Seb was quick to reply, giving Chino a pitiful look. I didn’t know this part about Chino’s love life. He was very reserved and he hardly ever dated. For a while, we thought he was gay, but then I realized he was just very picky. His standards were so high. Maybe it had something to do with this.

“Go away! I don’t want to talk about it,” he said, pushing her off. “Why do I get the feeling you guys are picking on me?”

“We’re not. At least only I am,” Seb smirked.

“At least get me drunk first, you i***t,” he scowled and took a shot.

“No! Wait, wait! Never have I ever had my heartbroken,” she fumbled as she filled the glasses with rum.

“It’s not your turn yet!” Chino complained.

“Unfortunately, my friend, it is,” Seb announced, pointing to the circle and the order of who gets to ask next. Chino gave him the finger and took another shot. This time it was vodka.

Only I didn’t drink.

“You’re lying! What about that Jasmine chick? You were heartbroken that time she didn’t want to be more than friends but still wanted to keep on sleeping with you,” Seb glared at me.

“I wasn’t heartbroken because I didn’t love her. I was sad because I felt used, that’s all,” I argued. “I’ve never been in love, remember?”

“That’s another lie then. Take four shots because you lied,” Seb ordered.

“Jasmine, as in Cara’s friend? That gorgeous, bad-ass, karate girl Jasmine?” wide-eyed Val asked while making karate hand movements. Jaxx frowned at the mention of his ex’s name. Without being asked, he took a shot.

“Yes, that woman,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant. Jacob, who sat next to me, also took a shot.

    “And she only wanted to sleep with you? Are you even that good?” she grimaced, not believing what she just thought of.

“Would you like to judge my performance yourself?” I wiggled my eyebrows at her, earning me a hard smack on my arm while the guys howled in laughter—all of them except Jacob, who just shook his head, chuckling.

“Stop distracting us and take the shots already!” Seb insisted.

“I didn’t lie and that’s final. I haven’t been in love, and thus I haven’t had my damn heart crushed. Have you seen how irrational and crazy you guys were when you were broken-hearted? Have you seen me like that ever?”

They all looked at me thoughtfully, jogging their memories.

“See? No, you haven’t. Because no, I haven’t been like that. Because I have never been in love, so I’ve never had my heart broken. Next!”

“I haven’t seen Chino that way, too, though,” Val said.

“That’s because you were busy nursing your own heart from that i***t who took your V-card,” Jaxx said stoically.

“And you know this because?” Val’s eyes narrowed at Jaxx and me. She told me not to tell anyone but I must have slipped.

“I find out things, my dear friend. Things have a funny way of landing on my lap without me asking for them. One day sooner or later, I find out the truth.” The four of us exchanged nervous looks. That sounded ominous. It was a threat and a promise.

Jacob cleared his throat, cutting through the pregnant pause.

“Moving on. Never have I slept with a guy,” Chino said, smirking at Val.

“d**k!” she cursed him and drank another shot.

“Never have I ever slept with a girl,” Seb laughed, gauging Chino. He threw his head back and laughed, and Seb followed. They were up to something. I was getting scared.

“Never have I ever flown to a different country to woo an object of my affection,” Jaxx smirked.

“Asshole!” Seb pointed his finger at Jaxx and laughed but took a shot. “You know what, let me take two for that because that was hilarious, though particularly sweet at that time.”

"Hey, wait a minute, you did that with Grace, too! You hypocrite!" Seb laughed and flipped Jaxx, who was just as surprised with his slip.

"Motherfucker. I forgot about that!" Jaxx laughed and drank.

“Never have I ever been stalked aggressively by a one-night stand,” I laughed, remembering all the women that stalked Seb.

“Stupid, you’ve been stalked too!” he shouted and pointed at me. “And you, and you, and you. I bet Jacob’s been stalked too, what with his mesmerizing blue eyes, and chiseled jaw, and damn hot abs,” he laughed. Jacob’s eyes widened while mine almost bugged out. I made myself believe that I misheard Seb. That he didn’t just describe Jacob the way he did.

“Isn’t that what you said about him?” he nudged Val, who choked on her drink but nodded anyway.

The mixed alcohol may have really buzzed me already, but a storm cloud settled above me after hearing that. My annoyance with Val grew though I had no right. Instead, I poured myself another shot to prevent myself from doing or saying anything controversial.

“Everybody’s been stalked because we’re beautiful people, that’s why. And good in bed,” Seb added with a wink.

“Conceited much?” Chino chuckled as he leaned back and removed his glasses.

“Do you wear those when you, you know, sleep with people?” Val curiously asked, her eyes a little droopy. Clearly, she was more than just buzzed.

“No. That would be funny though, I think. But what’s up with you? Why are you on to me?” he laughed.

“Don’t flatter yourself, baby boy,” she scoffed. “I was just curious. I mean, that’d be weird, right?” she mumbled as she poured everyone another round of whiskey. The alcohol was getting to me. We were on the verge of getting wasted.

“Never have I ever been attracted to someone with spectacles,” Jacob said, eyeing Val and Chino suspiciously. To my surprise, Val’s cheeks turned darker pink. She took a shot. I took a shot. Jaxx c****d his eyebrow.

“Never have I ever been attracted to a foreigner or someone of a different race than mine,” she narrowed her eyes at him. His eyebrows shot up as he suppressed a smile. He, Seb, Jaxx, and I took a shot. When I looked up, I caught a pair of gray eyes keenly observing me. His eyes narrowed a little as he c****d his head but remained silent. I shrugged, giving him my best “think what you want” look.

“Never have I ever been attracted to someone at work,” Chino smirked and looked at the group. Only Jacob and I took shots. Jaxx’s eyes grew wide with alarm.

    Oh my f**k, what did I just do? I panicked when I saw Jaxx’s questioning look. Surely he wouldn’t narrow it down to the IT section. There were a lot of women in the firm. I could pass it off as just that, right?

Seb cleared his throat and nudged Jaxx. It was his turn.

“Never have I ever been attracted to a martial artist,” Jaxx said and stared at me intently as we both took our shots.

    Oh boy, he’s really onto me. But Jasmine was a martial artist. That qualified her as a fighter, too, right?

“Never have I ever been attracted to a guy,” Seb said, and the room fell quiet.

Val shrugged and took a shot.

Jacob sighed and took a shot.

I died.

And took that bloody shot.

♤ ♡ ♧ ♢