Chapter 302 - 302: Show Them What You've Got

It did not take long when the three ladies left the comfort room. Erick and Elle felt relieved that the ladies didn't notice their presence.

Elle sighed deeply and shook her head, "They love to talk about others behind their backs. They didn't even check whether someone is here with them and might hear them."

Erick blinked several times as he looked at her with disbelief. "If they did that then they should have caught us here. Do you want that to happen?"

Elle gazed up to see his face. Elle pinched his cheeks and sneered at him.

"Don't complain! You're the one who barged in here. I am just protecting your reputation or else someone would really think you are a pervert."

Erick smirked at her. "Actually I didn't mind if they caught us here together."

Elle blushed when she heard that. She somehow knew what Erick was thinking. Elle could only hit him on his chest.

"Let's go back," she said as she unlocked the cubicle's door.

Erick followed her behind. They were about to go out of the comfort room when Erick grabbed Elle once again to stop her.

"Wait…"

"What?" Elle asked him.

"I could see that you are very eager to win this bet. You even let another guy touch your hands, your shoulders and your waist… just to learn archery…" Erick paused for a while. Unhappiness could be heard from his voice.

Elle didn't know what to say to him as of this moment. She had no intention of making him jealous.

"Ali… do you really hate the idea of going out with me for a date? Is that the reason you don't want to lose?" Erick looked down. He was afraid to see the answer in her eyes.

Elle was taken aback by his out-of-the-blue questions. Elle could feel the worry and insecurity that Erick was having right now.

"That's not the case. It's just that…" Elle couldn't complete her sentence.

'I got mad when I saw you and Diana laughing together a while ago that's why I wanted to beat you so badly today.' Elle thought to herself but she won't dare to voice it out.

Erick was still holding her hand, waiting for her answer.

"It's just that...what?" Erick urged her to continue.

Elle sighed helplessly. "I don't want to look bad. Diana and her friends are really good at archery and they look very cool. Did you hear it too right? They are thinking that I am the weakest. I should prove them wrong, shouldn't I?"

Erick moved his eyes back to her face.

"You don't need to compete with them. Their opinions don't matter. For me, you are not the weakest. You are the best. You are number one." Erick said to console her.

Elle wanted to commend this guy. He really knew how to make her feel good with his sweet words. But she wouldn't show him that.

Elle yanked her arm away from Erick as she turned around.

"Liar! Your Elle is number one, not me!" Elle complained to him before she walked out of the comfort room without waiting for Erick.

Bam!

Erick heard the closing of the door. He was left speechless in his spot.

"Is she mad? I am not lying… because she's Elle. Is she jealous of herself? What a stubborn and troublesome girl!" Erick couldn't help but mumble to himself.

When they arrived, everyone was already there waiting for them. Diana announced the start of their official game. Each team chose the first member who would shoot the first five arrows. After a few minutes, the first round was finished.

The first shooters and their corresponding acc.u.mulated points were the following:

Josh= Team Yellow ( 45 points )

Bryan= Team Green ( 45 points )

Jeff= Team White ( 47 points )

Laura= Team Black ( 46 points )

Erick= Team Blue ( 50 points )

Jake= Team Red ( 50 points )

The second shooters were now preparing for their turns. Both, the Red Team and the Blue Team were in the lead. The final winners would now depend on the performance of the second shooters.

Elle approached Jake. She wanted to ask him something.

"Jake…"

"Yes, Miss Ali? Are you nervous?"

"No… I heard that you were always the winner every time you and your friends would play this game."

Jake laughed, feeling a little bit shy. "I just got lucky every time, that's why."

"You are so humble. Hmm, are you not worried that your winning streak will be broken today because of me?"

Jake was stunned in a moment. He didn't expect Aliyah to ask him that.

'Does she feel pressured because of that?' 

Then Jake gave her a reassuring smile and said, "Miss Aliyah, don't think about that. I really don't mind whether we win or lose today. The most important thing is… I want you to enjoy this game."

Elle could hear the sincerity in his voice.

"Hmm, alright. You will not blame me, will you?" Elle asked him again. She somehow felt grateful for Jake. He taught her very well.

Jake let out a soft chuckle as he looked at Elle amusingly.

"No, I will not do that. Don't feel pressured because of me. This is just a game."

Elle just nodded and smiled at him.

The second round started. Diana really showed them her skills. Not minding the others, she focused on her shooting. She was the first one to finish and she hit the bullseye five times. The blue team got a perfect score of 100.

Others just watched her in awe. The second players of the other teams even stopped shooting just to watch Diana a while ago. She felt proud of herself as she became the center of attention.

She turned to Erick. 

"Chief Lee, I am so glad to have you as a partner today. I think we are a great duo." Diana said to him confidently.

Erick just gave her an awkward smile and said, "Nice shots, Miss Diana. You are really great."

Then Erick averted his gaze back to Elle's direction. He had conflicting thoughts right now. After he heard her reason, Erick wanted to see her step up and show others what she's capable of doing.

Erick knew that she could do it. But deep down, he was also hoping that Elle couldn't hit the bullseye. He wanted to win their bet and have a date with her.

But he didn't want to be selfish. He understood her feelings. So Erick approached Elle before she made her shot.

"Ali… do your best! Show them what you've got!" Erick said to her to cheer her up.

Elle was dumbfounded for a moment. She didn't expect him to do that.

'Is he telling me to win this?" Elle thought to herself.

Elle nodded and gave Erick a meaningful smile before she went to her shooting position.

Others were all eyes on her. They were also curious to see how Elle's shooting performance would be today.

Elle was holding the arrow in a perfect stance. She looked so calm. Her eyes were very focused on the target. Her form right now looked like she was not a beginner.

Jake and Erick were staring at her with so much anticipation.

'Will she be able to hit the bullseye?' Others were asking this question in their minds.

On the other hand, Jake and Erick were both thinking something different from others.

'I know… she can do it!'

After a few seconds, Elle finally took the shots, five arrows in a row.

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Everyone was stupefied. Astonishment flickered through their eyes as they watched Elle strangely. They couldn't believe what they had just witnessed.

Then suddenly they heard Elle's giggles.

"Uh oh! My Bad. I think I am really the worst. I couldn't hit the bullseye." Elle said apologetically as she scratched her face.

'Worst my @ss?!'

'Is she kidding us?!'

That's right. Elle didn't hit the bullseye. But what made the others speechless in surprise was that Elle's five arrows hit the target on the same spot. As in… five arrows hit the same spot...one and only spot on the target!

Though she didn't hit the bullseye her amazing shots showed them she had great control and shooting accuracy. Who the hell would think that a beginner like her could hit the same spot five times? Could they just consider that as luck or a coincidence?

'[email protected]! They underestimated her!'