72 A NUMBER GAME ONE

"Since we have limited time on this island, we will now proceed on with our first challenge. Are you ready castaways?"

Erin initiated the start of the challenges.

"Let's get it on!" They hooted in unison.

The two teams formed a straight line. Again, Zoe was at the last of the Norfolk tribe.

'Let's get this over with,'

Zoe muttered to herself.

Erin continued on with her instructions.

"As you can see, in front of your tribe is a balance beam. Each one of you must race across it while untying a bag of numbered tiles. At the end of the beam is a box where you must arrange the numbers from each bag from 1-200. The first team to finish wins."

"Here are the rules. If you lose your balance, you have to start over again. And a member could not replace another if he or she could not continue the game. Other than that, you can do your own strategies to win this game."

"The winning tribe will have a chance to get back to the hotel and have a sumptuous meal. While the losers will stay at this camp and eat whatever."

"Are we clear?" Erin announced.

"Mam. Can we take a five-minute break? I really need to pee,"

Savannah raised her hand.

The other girls agreed with her. Erin grunted and gave them time.

"Alright, but only three minutes. Be back by then, or we would start with or without you."

Erin said in a decisive tone.

"Yes, Mam!" Savannah exclaimed.

She then went to the nearest room, followed by the rest, except for Zoe, who stayed behind.

"Why do girls always get together whenever they pee? I just don't understand,"

Enzo scratched his head as he grinned at Zoe.

"I don't know, I'm not a girl."

Zoe replied, finally glad to be talking to someone whom she doesn't need to pretend to be someone she's not.

Enzo witnessed everything that happened back then. But he didn't change his attitude towards her.

He was one of those few people whom Zoe is comfortable with.

"Yeah, I know." He answered her.

"What do you mean?" Zoe asked him.

"Are you thinking that I likes girls?"

She couldn't blame him. She wasn't seriously connected with a guy then.

"Because you're a goddess," 

He mischievously commented.

Zoe couldn't help herself from playfully hitting Enzo and laughed as she did so.

"Time's up. You need to get back on your line NOW!"

A deep, commanding voice bellowed through the challenge area.

It was their special guest, Mr. Gao.

The startled castaways run like a scalded kitten to their designated spot.

"What's with him?"

Zoe uttered as she walked briskly to the end of the Norfolks line.

She looked at the other end of the line to see who her competition was.

An irritatingly mocking face smirked at her.

"It was Savannah!"

Zoe raised one of her eyebrows.

"You are obviously challenging me! You are really getting to my nerves!"

Erin started the countdown for the game to start.

"Ready, get set, go!"

The first one on both the lines bolted in lightning speed to the balance beam.

They both get the first bag of numbered tiles and flee in a matter of seconds to the end of the pole where the box is.

"They were now spreading out the number tiles from one to twenty!"

As luck would have it, the Norfolk tribe was one step ahead as their first member quickly organized the set and dashed over to their team.

"The Norfolks have the upper hand on our first run!"

The Norfolks clapped their hands and cheered in enthusiasm.

They were now ahead of their opponent. Zoe's lips curved upward at their initial victory.

"Go Norfolks!" The team hooted on.

Their second member hustled to the balanced beam and got the second bag of numbered tiles and advanced to the box.

He assembled his set of numbers from twenty one to forty.

"It's 2-0, Norfolks on the winning side!"

He rushed back to their team with a few seconds ahead of the other tribe.

Savannah and the other tribe are reacting in disgust.

"Boo!"

The consecutive winning streak of the Norfolks went on until their fourth member suddenly lost her balance as she was already near the box.

"It is Kristie."

She didn't manage to see her. But aside from Zoe, she was also one of the bullied during their high school days.

She was the 'old maiden' during that time. 

"It looked like she didn't change at all."

She was wearing a conservative loose jersey and baggy pants. And her long hair was braided in two.

Her eyeglasses, which was the same one that she used then was still covering her eyes.

"Norfolk, get back to the starting line!"

Erin instructed.

"Oh, no!"

The Norfolks muttered to one another as she returned to the starting line and took the plunge in balancing again.

Kristie tried to run but lost her balance again.

"Straighten your knees, weakling! You're making us lose!"

One of Savannah's friends screamed at her. It was Nella.

Frightened by what she said, she scampered as fast as she could to the edge but failed for the third time.

A teardrop fell from her eyes as she came back to the starting line.

"Why are you even here?"

Another friend of Savannah, Anika, grimaced at her.

As much as she tried to hold back her tears, it still bursted out like waterfall from her eyes.

She removed her eyeglasses and was wiping her tears with her hands when Zoe walked towards her direction.

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In life, winning and losing will happen.

What is not acceptable is quitting.

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