OPPORTUNITY SYSTEM: THE RISE TO FAME

Chapter 5, Thirty six more hours

"What do you mean?" Randy asked. There was a trace of fear in his voice.

"You have to leave the team. You have to forfeit the finals on Saturday. That was the bet, wasn't it?"

"No!" Randy exclaimed. If he had looked shocked before it was nothing compared to his expression now. He looked horror struck.

"You have to." Another voice piped in. "That was the bet."

"No, no you can't…..you can't make me." He stammered and backed up a few steps towards the exit door.

"Leave the team." A voice started. Before long, several voices had joined in. Soon, almost the whole cafe was chanting "leave the team" at Randy just as they had chanted "leave the school"  at James a few minutes ago.

Randy looked sweaty and pale. He looked around, dumbfounded. Even some of his usual group of friends had joined in chanting at him. He backed up a few more steps, turned and ran out of the cafe. A huge cheer erupted from the chanting crowd.

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James was the sudden hero on campus. Everyone wanted to talk to him, wanted him to join their table. It was as though he had just won an election. A large group of people followed him all around. Some of these people, to James ultimate surprise, were Randy's usual group of friends who had even joined in mocking James earlier.

It was not until he had won the bet did James realize how far the word of his bet with Randy had gone. Virtually all of the students and even some staff of the school knew. Apparently, Randy had taken it upon himself to spread the news of the bet as far as he could, humiliating James, calling him a loser and making insulting memes with his face. It had backfired on him though after James won the bet. Randy was now the subject of ridicule and memes all around the school.

James had finally managed to extricate himself from the horde of people following him around as they had to go to class. He couldn't yet go to class, he was still suspended.

He was riding his shinning, new sports car down the road. In the space of a day, the impact of a million dollars was already impressed on him. His clothing had changed, from a shabby t-shirt and faded jeans to the latest designers. His fingers were studded with diamond rings, there was an expensive gold watch on his wrist and a gold chain hung from his neck. He had even changed his phone.

He had not forgotten the other aspect of his bet with Randy; Selena. He was riding to an expensive restaurant in town to meet with her. She had texted him immediately she heard of what had happened and they had decided to go on a date.

James maneuvered the car into the parking lot of the restaurant. He got down from the car and looked around for Selena. He finally sighted her waving at him and smiling. She was wearing a red dress and she looked stunning.

Man, some day this was, James thought happily as Selena walked towards him, her curves visible through her tight dress. The rate at which bad things had happened to him the past few days was the same rate good things also came to him. He could have easily called this the best day of his life.

"Hi James." Selena beamed at him as she reached him.

"Hey." James said to her, also smiling. "You look…..wow you look….."

"I know." She said, still smiling at him and kissed him on the cheek. "Shall we?"

It was as though they had never broken up, as though she had never cheated on him. They walked into the restaurant together, holding hands as a normal couple would. They settled down and a waiter took their orders.

"So.." James said as the waiter put his food in front of him. "How have you been, Selena?"

"I've been good, been missing you of course." She said, still smiling at him.

James knew that that was a lie, that Selena never really missed him. She had only decided to meet him for a date because he now had money but he still felt a pleasant, fluttery feeling in his stomach all the same as she said that.

"You missed me?" James asked. "What about Randy?"

Selena's smile faded off a little.

"Oh………..him." She said, stirring her juice with her straw. "He was nothing to me. There was nothing serious between us. I felt extremely sorry and sad when we had to break up. I missed you." She said.

That was another lie, an obvious one but still her words made James feel happier than he had in months.

The door to the restaurant opened again and James noticed a hooded man with sunshades walk in. He settled on a table but shooed away the waiter who tried to take his order. Even with his face all covered up, he looked strangely familiar to James.

"James? Babe?" Selena said and James tore his eyes from the hooded man.

"Huh?" He said, distracted. "Did you say something?"

"No. You were just staring……" she turned around. "What were you looking at?"

"It's……. it's nothing." James said.

There was silence for some minutes as they both sipped their drinks. James was trying to muster up the courage to tell her the reason he had arranged this date for them, that he wanted them to come back together.

"Selena." He said after mustering up all the courage he could. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything, James." She said.

"Would…….would you like to be girlfriend again?" James asked, his heart beating a little fast.

Selena smiled at him. She moved her face a little closer to his.

"Why don't I show you, rather than tell you." She pouted.

She stood up from her chair. James also stood up. She threw her hands around his neck.

"I am guess that is a yes." James said, smiling.

"Of course James it is." She whispered.

"I would love to be your girlfriend again."

Her face got closer to his and their lips touched, sending waves of excitement down James' body. The passion mounted and Selena was kissing him stronger than she had ever done before. He felt elated, he had one hand on her waist and the other in her sweet smelling brown hair. It went on and on until….

"Thirty six hours to go, Jackson." A voice suddenly whispered in his ear.

James and Selena broke apart. It was so abrupt that Selena staggered a little on her high heels. James almost fell but just managed to grab the table for support.

"What?! What happened?" Selena asked, sounding irked.

James didn't answer.  Who had whispered in his ear? He looked around fearfully. It didn't seem like anyone around. They were all seated, dinning, occupied in a world of their own. Who had done it then? He suddenly sighted a man walking away from their table and towards the exit door. It was the same man with a hood and sunglasses who had walked in earlier, who had looked so much familiar to James. He was the one who had whispered in his ear.

James slipped back to his chair weakly, Selena was staring at him, her expression was a mixture of annoyance and curiosity.

Thirty six more hours to go, Jackson, the strange man had whispered in his ear. Thirty six more hours. James knew exactly what that message meant.