Chapter 6 Just Kill Me, Will You?

Oh, please. Just kill me, will you? Hana wanted the ground to open up and swallow her that instant. Everybody clapped their hands while looking at her. She tucked her hood lower to hide her face. Despite wearing a mask, she still felt uncomfortable under their gazes. Argh… stop staring. Hana was rooted to the ground for a few seconds until she heard Tony's voice. "And that, folks, is our third contestant. To those who were hoping to get chosen this evening, you will get your chance on the next Ultimate Dance Battle, but tonight, it's going to be the three of them. And, to the ladies who were chosen, please go ahead and tell the DJ your song choices.” Hana's hands were cold and trembling even when the spotlight left her ages ago. She took a deep breath and turned to her 'friends'. "I'll just go and tell the DJ to choose someone else.” "Okay, if they'll allow it, please recommend me. I'll beat that, bitch for you." Lacy was referring to Audrey. "She did not do anything bad to me though. Wouldn't that be more for yourself than mine?” Lacy just smiled innocently at her. The host continued with the program as she approached the DJ. The regular at Glides and Audrey were already glaring at each other next to the DJ. They were done picking their songs. Upon seeing her approach them, the two displaced their glares at her. She subconsciously took a step back. "Uhm… hello, I have a question…” Hana was really shy and soft-spoken so the DJ couldn't help but lean over to hear what she wanted to say. "I do not want to compete. Can I have a friend take my place instead?" She had no choice but to scream this statement out loud for the DJ to hear her over the music. "This program will be done for the first time tonight and someone is backing out already? Are you not a good sport to forget your fear for a moment and dance on the stage just for two minutes?” A man with a deep baritone voice interrupted out of nowhere. She turned around and saw Zeno looking at her intently. "Zeno! Did you come here to wish me good luck?” Someone nudged her away without warning and she almost fell flat on her face. Audrey wrapped herself around Zeno's arm as if to mark her territory. She then threw a warning glare at her and at the woman who was a regular at Glides. Zeno ignored the woman beside him. His gaze on Hana was unwavering. "If this is not the pilot episode of this program, I will allow you to back out, but tonight, you can't.” His stare made Hana uncomfortable and his statement ticked her off. She can't help glaring at him. "Who are you? The organizer?" She asked. "No, but I call the shots here. I'm Zeno.” Hana sighed deeply. She rolled her eyes in exasperation as she turned to look at the DJ once again. Zeno saw that and he thought that was intended for him. He smiled inwardly. It was rare for girls to treat him like that. Usually, they flutter their eyes at him as if their eyelids were wings of hummingbirds, desperate to fly off to the next flower to live. "I'll dance to 'Dance with Me' by Code Red, then," Hana told the DJ. He nodded in acknowledgment. She was about to send a text to Lacy but Zeno wanted to have a small talk with the three of them. "Was the camera right for spotting the three of you? Do you all dance regularly?” Hana and the regular at Glides nodded their heads. "Of course, you already know that I dance regularly. Right, babe?” Hana grimaced inside her head when she saw how Audrey acted like she wanted to mold herself in Zeno's arms. She was not aware that her grimace reflected on her face. Zeno saw her brows furrowing but because of the mask she was wearing, he could not see her mouth twisting in distaste. He can feel the bad vibes coming from her though. Zeno was greatly amused at the woman whose face he could barely see. He fell silent but he did not want to leave yet. Hana was grateful that Zeno stopped asking questions. She did not want to get involved with him. "I heard you choosing your song a while ago. Are you a fan of Code Red?” It took time before she could answer his question. She was not paying attention because she never thought he’d talk to her specifically. Her attention was caught by the dancers competing in the ring at that moment. Zeno kept on looking at her until she felt his gaze and realized that he was talking to her. "Huh? Were you talking to me?” "Yes. Are you a fan of Code Red?” Hana found it weird that he would ask that question. She hesitated to answer for a moment. "Uh… It was the latest song I danced to, saves me time to come up with new moves.” Hana wanted to ignore that nosy man. She did not want to give him a chance to spot the similarities between the current her to the office girl he met at the pizza shop. After answering his question, she excused herself by saying that she wanted to practice her dance. She left without hearing them acknowledge her excuse. When she passed by Audrey's side to leave, the woman glared at her. She hated Hana for taking up Zeno's time. Meanwhile, Zeno just looked at the woman passing by them. He's not stupid to not understand that she did not like being around him that much. Did I do something to offend her? Zeno was wondering about that and unconsciously followed Hana with his gaze which Audrey did not fail to notice. Her hatred towards Hana intensified as her fear of Zeno ditching her for a new girl increased. She swore to herself not to let Hana have a chance to be with Zeno. She strongly believed that Zeno was hers. Hana excused herself intending to get away from that casanova and at the same time… to stare off the space. Since Zeno interrupted her from relaying the message to Lacy that she was unluckily not allowed to be her substitute, she sent her a quick text that instant. Why did I end up in this mess once again? She let out a deep sigh. I should have stayed at the hotel. Ah, I should have taken the cigarette Lacy offered me a while ago. It's not that she was a habitual smoker but sometimes, when things get a little too stressful, she felt the need to inhale some nicotine into her system. And this is such a stressful moment for her. Eventually, feeling the need to look like she was not a loser, she tried hard to recall the steps as she practiced half-heartedly in one corner of the locker room. Looking at her halfhearted dancing, Audrey and the first contestant snickered. Each of them thought it would be an easy win. Hana's phone vibrated. She looked at it and read Lacy's 'Good luck' through the pop-up window. She put her phone back in her pocket as she continued 'practicing'. The group contest ended. The audience was given time to finalize their bets while the judges were busy adding the scores and deciding on the winner. Hana did not have the heart to participate because of nervousness. It was now time to start the second part of the event. "And now, the moment you've all been waiting for!" Cheers and yells erupted all over the gym. People were pumped up especially when three ladies were going to dance in the middle of the boxing ring- one was an alpha female type, the second was a girly type, and the last one was the mysterious type. Not to be sexist but places like this were frequented by males more than females and currently, the majority of the audience were males. They were the ones who hollered the loudest. "Our first contestant, please come up the stage.” People cheered for the woman who's a regular at Glides. "Hi, please introduce yourself to our audience first.” "I'm Amy.” "Hi, Amy. Were our cameras right to spot you? Do you dance?” "Yes.” The host chuckled to himself. It seemed like Amy was not a conversationalist. "Okay, so let's not make people wait. Are you ready?” "Yes.” Ah, what a mood killer. "Folks, let's give it up for, AMY!” Tony, the host stepped out of the ring to give the floor to Amy. As expected, Amy's dancing style reflected her 'cool' image- she danced to AP by Pop Smoke. Amy was a real badass in the middle of the dance floor which intimidated Hana. Her dance and facial expressions were on point. She was determined to win and that showed through her dance. "I don't think she's going to win, but she's not going to go home a loser tonight.” Audrey surprised Hana when she suddenly talked beside her. She was sporting a vibrant smile that belied the aggressiveness in her words. Hana ignored her. There's nothing good in dealing with a bitch in heat. She continued watching Amy dance. "I'm Audrey, Zeno's girlfriend, and you are…” Ahh… this was the real reason why she was making an effort to start a conversation. She finally turned to look at her. "Hana," she curtly answered. No handshakes, no smiles. She moved away from Audrey to get a better look at the stage, but she kept trailing after her. "Do you know that guy earlier? The one who asked you about Code Red? He's my boyfriend, Zeno.” Hana scoffed inwardly. "I know.” "Then, you understand where you stand right?" Audrey kept on smiling at her. "I'm not interested in someone who puts his dick all over the place. Who knows what diseases he has?” Hana fought Audrey's annoying fake smiles with nonchalance. "What did you say?!" Audrey's face reddened in anger. She was about to rush in anger and hit her when the crowd suddenly cheered. "That was a very fiery performance for someone who was picked randomly! Let's give Amy a round of applause once again, please!” "Wow! This is the premiere episode and I think our rating is through the roofs! Too bad this is not a TV show.” "Since the atmosphere is still sizzling hot, let's call on our second contestant to please come up the stage, please.” The flamboyant woman shoved Hana off with her shoulder. In a high-fashioned way, she marched up the ramp placed at a corner of the boxing ring. Tony grimaced but he covered it up with a dazzling smile real fast. Hana caught that though. "Look at what we have here- a very sexy lady has come to make this night hotter!” The boys in the audience whistled and catcalled. Audrey was wearing a glittering bra and a miniskirt made of tassels which left nothing to the imagination. Even Hana can picture her naked by now. *Wah… look at that. Is her stomach not hurting for being barely dressed on this cold night?* Here comes Hana's unwarranted opinion again. "Please introduce yourself to our audience.” "Hi, I'm Audrey.” "I'm going to ask the question that's probably on the guys' minds right now. Are you single?” "Too bad for you, guys. I'm taken.” "Aw, man. Why are pretty ladies always taken?" Audrey laughed together with Tony. "Let's not make the audience wait. Light the dance floor up, sexy lady. Audrey, everyone."