Mortals

The Bet

“Yo Pascal, what's wrong?" Another dude walking up to where we stood asked.

This does not look good for me.

“This poor rascal wanna sign out for the tournament." Pascal replied.

He's probably the rascal. I mean after all it rimes perfectly with his name. Perhaps they meant to call him rascal, but missed spelt the R for P.

“Oh, I see." The guy added, then he raised up one of his eyebrow in an intense manner. Which made his face look even more mean looking than already appeared.

“So, you think you've got what it takes to join the surfing tournament?" He asked, now walking towards me.

“Wait, he hasn't actually confirmed it yet." Pascal said coming to my rescue.

“So, kid, why are you here?" He added wearing a mocking grin on his face.

This guys are actually out to get me.

“I wanted to try out." I replied in a shaky tone.

“You wanted to try out." He repeated, “For what? This aren't where the sign up for the beauty pageant is, Right Raf?" He said to the other guy wearing a mischievous grin on his face.

“Yah, Its way over there." The Raf guy replied, pointing towards where some ladies in bikini were playing volleyball a long distance away from where we stood.

Perhaps he meant to point to the exit cause it was also close to where they played.

Then another one came around fake sneezing the word, “Loser!"

“What's wrong Victor?" The Raf guy questions.

I knew I smelled a Victor, and I don't mean that in a victorious way.

“I'm fine." He replied,

“Just allergic to losers." He added, and they all began laughing. “Save yourself anymore embarrassment and leave already." He concluded shoving me to the ground. That was enough to turn everyone's attention to where we were.

Joyce's POV

Hurray, I found my company.

Now, how to lose her. I need to keep track of that kid in case he tries ditching signing up for that tournament. I wanna see how good he is. And as if on cue, people began turning their attention from the sea towards our direction.

Again, I misjudged the situation to be because of the person with me, who happens to be a celebrity. But then it turned out to be towards the signing area.

So, our attention turned towards that as well, and I was especially caught by what I saw.

I guess Eric had a reason to be frightened about signing up for the tournament, and I just had to talk him into doing it anyways.

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“Good one Victor." Pascal praised, giving Victor an high-five.

I think I misrepresented Pascal, Victor is definitely the meanest of them all.

I pulled myself together through the shame– Got my bot up– then grabbed the notepad.

After all the embarrassment, I wasn't going to leave here without a fight.

“This kid." Pascal whispers in amusement.

“What's going on here?" Another one of them asked, walking up to us (I want to say Allie).

“Hey, Allen. Welcome to the party." Raf greeted.

Oh, it's Allen. I was so close.

“What party?" He asked confusingly.

“This little pumpkin wanna sign up for the tournament too." Pascal explained.

What would this one do? Perhaps he'd make me chew up the notepad in my hand.

“Come on you three, give him a break, or you guys scared he's gonna be better than you?" He asked stylishly.

It's unpredictable with this one.

“Scared?" Victor repeated giggling weirdly, “Of a kook? No way." He added.

“Come on Allen, how could we be afraid of such a loser?" Pascal agrees.

“What's going on here?" Some guy asked.

I thought they were just Four.

I mean Rascal, Victor, Raf the dog, and Mister Allie, That's four right?

“Can't you guys notice people staring?" He added in a low tone.

“You guys should be on your boards by now, or at least warming up for your turn." He advised.

“Well, this Lady said she wants to sign in as well. I was just coming to get my board as you requested Matt. Since you wanted me to do a little distraction routine, so we could choose those who would actually compete from the list." Pascal replied.

Matt huh. Perhaps he's the last one of the four, cause mister Allie seem too nice compare to whom I remember the third guy to be.

“What lady?" Matt asked confusingly.

“This lady." Pascal replied, rapping his filthy hand around my neck.

“Enough, stop fooling around and get ready." He ordered.

Back with Joy and Julia

“Uh, poor kid. He thinks he'd be allowed to sign up for the surfing tournament.

I mean look at him. If he were to play the sour event that occured the last time would definitely repeat itself." Julia commented pitifully.

“What's wrong with the way he looks?" I asked confusingly.

“Uh, everything." She replied.

Yup, I can't deal with this right now. So, I did what any sane person would.

“Yo, everyone, it's Julia Raymond!" I yelled, hoping she's as famous as she makes herself appear. And before she could realize what just conspired, she got swamed by a load of crowd whose attention got drawn to her instantly.

Who knew, she is as famous as she claims.

“Oh my Julia, can I get an autograph?" A lady from the crowd pleaded.

“Me too." Another one said. While that was going on I snuck off to where the guys were.

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“Julia's here?" Pascal mutters confusingly, after we heard someone announce her presence from the crowd, and their attention thankfully turned to her.

I could swear I recognized the voice of the announcer.

“Come on, take the notepad from him, and let's get going." Matt ordered again.

”I haven't signed up yet." I muttered sheepishly.

“Seriously dude, can't you read the room?" Matt asks frustratingly. “Just give me the tab." He added stretching his arms towards me.

“And why should he do that?" A gentle but firm feminine voice echoed through the air from a few distance away from us.

I can already tell where this is going.

Joyce's POV

Once I got there, I caught one of those guys belittling Eric even more, and although I was pretty pissed, I tried my best to moderate my tone with them.

“And why should he do that?" I asked stopping a few feet away from them. “You heard him, he hasn't signed up yet." I added, stepping closer towards them.

“Don't mean to be rude, but only experts are allowed here.

This isn't a beginner's tournament, its a competition, not some baby show." Matt replied, and they all giggled to that. I don't get what was funny, but whatever. I wasn't the only one though, the familiar guy beside him didn't get it either.

I turned to see Eric's reaction, but all he did was stare on wearing this unreadable expression, bit i could tell he was pissed.

“So, how do you know he's not an expert?" I added.

“Well- em-" He stutters.

“You've never seen him on boards before, have you?

You just assume he's bad, or is it just cause you're scared he might actually be better than you?" I concluded stylishly.

“Better?" He repeated,

“Don't mean to brag, but you're talking to the three times surf championship winner." Matt points out proudly,

“And five times champion for the Open world surf tournament." He added placing a hand around Allen's neck.

Wait, Allen!?

Now, that's why the guy's face was familiar. It's the guy I was asked to stay away from. Probably why I almost forgot as well.

“Don't bring me into this." Allen replied shoving his arm off.

“In full, you're talking to an elite team of winners." He concluded,

“Why bother explaining anything bro? She's putting a wager on a guy who can't even defend himself, and has to wait for his girlfriend to come bail him." Another guy next to Eric expresses mockingly.

For someone who smells like a sweat vest– worn by a gym coach– who hasn't washed in months– He sure got the guts to belittle a person.

I wanna argue about that girlfriend part, but I wouldn't wanna be explaining myself to such a nut headed nincompoop.

“Great, I agree he's a softie who waits for someone to bail him out. Wouldn't it be more humiliating to you guys if you were to turn down a challenge from such a low threat human being." I added in a cunning manner.

“Guys, there's a wager going on over there!" We hear someone yell to the crowd that was surrounding Julia, and they all turn their attention towards the guys again.

I guess people prefer competition to hearing a person gloat.

Didn't hear a thing, but I'm pretty sure that's what a Julia would do.

So, right now all eyes were now on us. I could use that to my advantage. I just have to stay confident and not freak by the multiple sockets now shooting our way.

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To Be Continued...