Leave Me If You Dare

Arabella stopped and frowned. Her look was obviously puzzled by what William had said.

“Where are we going?” Arabella asked while still assembling the parts of her tent.

“Hmmm… It’s a surprise.” William replied excitedly.

“Okay.” Arabella without thinking much answered.

It’s William.

Her friend and comforter.

He’s safe.

After everyone had set up their tents, they held games. Arabella joined but she chose a light game for the protection of her baby.

“Okay, this time, we will have a message relay. Who wants to join?” Mr. Anderson, the game facilitator said.

Arabella raised her hand, but the group was surprised when their director also raised his hand. They thought he would not join such games like this.

There were two lines. Two teams would be competing in this game. The first team who could deliver the correct message would win. The last person standing in the line would be the one to run and deliver the message to Mr. Anderson.

Arabella and William were on the same team. William raised his hand to give a high five to every member of his team including Arabella.

Each team was composed of 10 members. Each member had the chance to be the crucial person in the game.

The one who would deliver the message.

The game started and Arabella’s team was leading with 3 points.

As the game continued, the other team had scored the same that lead to a tiebreaker.

Now, it’s Arabella’s turn to be the last person in the line. The winning of her team depended on her performance. She felt a lot of pressure even if it was just a game for fun, but still, it’s a competition. She never doubted herself, if only her members would deliver the correct message to her, she would probably handle it and passed it correctly to Mr. Anderson.

William shifted his position and went next to Arabella. At this time, William would be the one to pass the message to her before she would run to Mr. Anderson.

“Don’t be nervous, you can do this.” William felt her nervousness and tapped her on the shoulder.

Arabella gave him a sweet smile as her way of reply.

“Teams, members, are you all ready?” Mr. Anderson shouted with the mic in his hand.

“The final battle is almost over. Who do you think will win?” He added with thrill and excitement.

On a white big screen in front of them, the message would appear behind the person upon announcing the message. Every team could see it except for the person who announced the message. Everyone could clearly check if the person’s message was correct according to what was written on the screen.

Everyone was so excited for the final round.

The final round started and Arabella was nervous yet excited.

Everyone wanted to win.

William smiled and blinked at her.

Then she saw Lizzy whispered William.

It was the message.

Her heart raced faster as it was almost her turn.

The message was already with William and she had already opened all her ears to listen to William.

She was very eager to win the game. She already pictured herself running after getting the message from William.

Now it’s time, William leaned closer to her. Instinctively, she also put her ear closer to him. Their faces were so closed to each other. But Arabella didn’t pay attention to it because in her mind she needed to hear the message clearly.

She was waiting for William to pass the message, but William wasn’t saying anything.

“William, what is it?” She asked. She couldn’t wait.

William drew his lips closer to his ears, then, he said, “I love you. I love you since the day I first saw you.”

Arabella was stunned.

Such a simple message for the final round and a tiebreaker.

She looked at William feeling confused but his look was serious.

So, she thought it was the last message. Maybe Mr. Anderson just wanted it for fun. She had no time to waste so she ran in front and got the microphone.

“I think we already have a winner.” Mr. Anderson said when he saw Arabella came in front.

Arabella was smiling at Mr. Anderson.

Then the last person from the other team came in front as well. But since Arabella was the first one who showed up, she would be the first to announce the message.

It’s time for announcing the final message. Since they were already in front, the message appeared on the screen behind them. They were not allowed to turn around to see it only the members in front of them could see it.

“Okay, let’s give the mic to Ms. Jones first and hear the final message.” Mr. Anderson quickly gave the mic to her.

Arabella got the mic and smiled. She smiled because of such a sweet message and for her, it’s very easy.

Holding the mic, “The message.”

She paused, looking at everyone in front of her.

“I love you. I love you since the day I first saw you.” Feeling satisfied, Arabella smiled at everyone.

She knew she delivered the exact message.

No more, no less.

Even the tone and how William seriously delivered it, she imitated it.

She felt proud of herself, but the people in front of her froze.

She knew there was something wrong with her words as their wrinkles were showing.

“Ahem!” Mr. Anderson pretended to cough to break the awkwardness in the air.

“Thank you, Ms. Jones, for the sweet message.” Mr. Anderson sneaked at William.

Everyone sneaked at William but no one dared to laugh or question him. The girls were already giggling, but Arabella had no clue of what was happening.

“Okay. Let's move on to Mr. Alexander. The message, please?” Mr. Anderson gave the mic to the person beside him.

“The message.” Mr. Alexander paused. “Director William would like to extend his big thanks to everyone for joining today. He hoped everyone would enjoy and be recharged.” Mr. Alexander ended the message with a smile.

After the message, everyone clapped and roared while Arabella blushed and looked at William with a questioning expression.

The final message was a message from their director, William.

How could he deliver another message to her?

It was merely a trick. He’s making fun of her.

She couldn’t understand him, but William looked at her apologizing.

She felt embarrassed, but William was too cute to be hated.

Her gay friend seemed to score at her. She should make her revenge.

Normal friends did like that.

She smiled at him meaningfully as like saying to him, “Watch out for my revenge.” Then she blinked.

The night came and everyone was busy preparing their dinner.

The air was very relaxing.

She could finally breathe freely without Bill in her sight.

One group cooked ramen soup and the other team grilled the pork barbecue on a stick and there were different kinds of meats and plates of seafood to be grilled.

There were also lots of kinds of boozes that were prepared.

The dinner started early.

They dined and wined.

After the dinner, the drinking continued.

Arabella went out of the group to enjoy a quiet night. She walked and felt the cold air touching her face. She sat on a wooden bench and enjoy her solitude. Arabella touched her stomach and stroked it repetitively. Her son was calm like her mom. He seemed to be enjoying the peaceful night.

She remembered her family having camping before.

Her dad would do the setting up of their tent and her mom would do the barbecue.

The picture was clear in her mind.

They were happy.

Then the picture changed.

She could see Bill, herself, and their son in the camping ground.

Bill was putting up the tent while she did the cooking.

Their son was busy playing with soil and his cars.

They were chatting happily and funny while doing all the works.

After they ate, they went inside the tent and Bill started to tell a bedtime story to his son.

When their son was already asleep, they kissed each other then they laid to each side putting their son in the middle.

Then they hugged.

Such a lovely family.

Very ideal.

“Are you okay?” A voice came out beside her.

Arabella was snapped back to her senses. She didn’t even notice William’s presence and he was already sitting beside her.

Then she realized, she was only caught in her imagination.

A senseless imagination.

“I am okay. I am enjoying the night.” Arabella answered with a sad voice but tried to lighten it up.

“Hmmm… Why do I get the feeling that you are sad? Are you missing something?” William was just supposed to tease her, but his words made her think of someone.

The person she had left this morning.

How was he?

Is he still in her house?

“Hmmm… nothing.” Arabella tried to get rid of her thought about Bill.

“Come with me.” William said as he grasped her hand.

Arabella didn’t expect William’s action, but still, she didn’t let go.

They walked to a dark place. It was so dark and only the moonlight shone made a light for them.

“What are we doing here?” Arabella was a bit nervous. Her anxiety of the dark had struck.

“Do you trust me?” William asked, holding her hand.

“Of course. You are my friend.” Arabella answered quickly. She was not thinking of anything and yet she replied truthfully.

She couldn’t see William’s face, but she could tell something wasn’t right.

“Arabella I am not a gay.” William said to her seriously.

She was stunned for a moment. She couldn’t believe what he said and she laughed at it.

“You!”

“You had tricked me this morning and now you want to do it again. Aren’t you afraid of my revenge?” Arabella said, laughing. For her, she had heard a joke.

Another joke for today from William.

“I am not kidding.” William said firmly.

Arabella was stunned. He seemed to be so serious from his tone.

“As a matter of fact. I want to be with you.” William continued.

“Hahaha. I am enough laughing. I can’t laugh anymore. Could you stop joking?” Arabella found it so funny.

In her mind, William was her gay friend. They shared the same interests and character. They laughed at each other’s jokes.

She even saw her male version with him.

After her credulous remarks, William snapped his fingers in the air, then hundreds of series bulbs lit up.

Arabella stopped laughing and suddenly became astonished by the view. The surrounding became so warm and cozy. That’s the only time she noticed that they were standing inside a big heart that was made of red rose petals. Her co-employees were surrounding them with exciting smiles on their faces. It seemed the night was already well prepared for the event.

So romantic!

She had seen it only on TV where men proposed for marriage.

No.

It couldn’t be.

William would not do the proposing thing.

She could not attain to bring him down in front of everyone.

She looked at William with a questioning expression.

William smiled at her while holding her hand. He guided her to go to the center of the heart. Then when they stopped at the middle, someone handed a bouquet of red roses to William.

Arabella was confused. She was really surprised by William’s action.

William gave the bouquet to her.

“Do you believe me now?” His cute smile wasn’t leaving his face. He looked stunning tonight. William was handsome in the sense that his face was gentle and indeed he was a gentleman.

“William, what are you doing? You don’t need to prepare such things.” Arabella was a little uncomfortable with the scene.

William’s face became serious. He looked at her with a sweet desire in his eyes.

“Arabella. What I whispered to you this morning was all true.” William firmly said reminded her of the message relay this morning.

Arabella blushed. Judging from William’s actions, he’s serious about everything he said. He would not put in an effort if he was not serious.

“Please Arabella, allow me to love you. Please be my girlfriend.” William then knelt.

The sudden kneel made Arabella dropped her jaw.

She didn’t know what to do.

It was too sudden.

She was so surprised.

How could she be so heartless to ruin his self-esteem in front of his employees?

“William, don’t do this. Please get up.” Arabella muttered in a low sound only enough for the two of them to hear.

She shyly looked at everyone who was excitedly waiting for her answer only to see someone very familiar in the crowd. He looked too stunning that it’s impossible for her not to see.

Then, her heart suddenly stopped beating.

Bill Sky.