Welcome to the Innocent World

After hearing the announcer's booming voice calling people together for a game, Afa takes my hand, her eyes practically glowing with excitement.

"Let's check it out!" she says, tugging at my arm like a kid at an amusement park and looked pretty desperate at the same time as she if knew what's gonna happen.

I sigh, already bracing for whatever chaos is about to unfold. "This is gonna be something crazy and wild, I just know it." Obviously, I mean look at the people and activities they indulged in here.

"Oh, come on! Let's not seek something normal at a place like this?" she grins.

She has a point, I let her pull me forward, maneuvering through the lively crowd. The club is packed, the neon lights overhead casting shifting hues of blue and purple across the sea of curious faces. Some people look eager, others are eyeing the stage like it's a trap, and I can't say I blame them.

A brightly lit platform stands at the center of the room, where a tall man in an electric blue suit holds a microphone like he was born with it in his hand.

His slicked-back hair shines under the lights, and his exaggerated grin makes him look like a game show host who might also sell used cars on the side.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" His voice booms through the speakers, smooth and theatrical. "Welcome to tonight's Game of Fate!"

There's an excited murmur through the crowd, followed by scattered applause. I glance at Afa, and she's already grinning.

"Oh, this is gonna be fun," she whispers.

I exhale. "Depends on your definition of fun."

The announcer claps his hands together. "Now, before we get into the action, let's get to know our lovely audience, shall we?" He scans the crowd, then suddenly points at a man near the front. "You there! What's your name?"

The man, a well-dressed gentleman in his late thirties, adjusts his cufflinks before clearing his throat. "Uh… Daniel."

"Daniel! Solid name. No nonsense. Love it." The announcer nods approvingly. "And what do you do for a living, Daniel?"

There's a pause, as if Daniel is calculating the least revealing answer possible. "…Business."

The announcer blinks. "Business? That's it?"

Daniel offers a polite smile. "Yes."

"Ohhh," the announcer says, nodding sagely. "You hear that, folks? That's the sound of a billionaire trying not to get robbed."

The crowd bursts into laughter, and even Daniel chuckles, raising his drink as if to say, Fair enough.

"I get it, man. You don't want strangers Googling you and realizing you own all the drugs in the city," the announcer continues, grinning. "But don't worry, your secret is safe with us. Probably."

Afa giggles beside me. "This guy's good."

"Yeah, he sure is. I pray he doesn't ask me. Cant let them know I am the hero of darkness," I mutter.

"Hahaha" Afa chuckles with me.

The announcer gestures dramatically. "Now, let's talk about the game! Tonight, we're starting with something simple. Just a warm-up, a little appetizer before the main course. But here's the twist—whoever wins this round will move on to the big game on stage."

There's a ripple of excitement in the room. People exchange curious glances, some whispering to each other.

"What do you think it's gonna be?" Afa asks, nudging me.

I shrug. "Hopefully nothing involving fire or public humiliation."

She smirks. "So, humiliation it is."

"Exactly."

The announcer continues, "Now! Since we're all about connections here, this first game requires a partner. A duo. A dynamic duo. A legendary tag team. A power couple—" He pauses, then grins. "Or, you know, just two random people who were standing too close to each other."

People laugh, and a few start grabbing friends, whispering, "Let's team up."

Afa turns to me with zero hesitation. "We're a team."

I sigh dramatically. "Oh no. I was really hoping to pair up with Daniel the billionaire."

"Too bad," she smirks. "You're stuck with me."

The club staff—women in mini skirts and black bra with perfectly styled hair—begin weaving through the crowd, handing out small pieces of paper and pens.

"Write your names," one of them instructs as she hands us our slips.

Afa is already scribbling her name with enthusiasm. I stare at mine for a second before finally writing it down. I can't shake the feeling that this game is leading us somewhere unexpected.

As soon as everyone has dropped their entries into a large glass bowl at the front, the announcer rubs his hands together like a magician about to pull off a grand trick.

"All right, folks! Are we ready?"

A loud cheer erupts.

"Good, good! Let's see who our lucky winners are!" He dramatically rolls up his sleeves, which is unnecessary but entertaining, then dips his hand into the bowl.

He pulls out the first slip and unfolds it with an exaggerated squint. "And our first lucky duo is Afa and—" He pauses, then grins. "—our reluctant participant, you!"

A spotlight swings onto us, and I squint against the brightness. Afa gasps, grabbing my arm like she just won the lottery.

"We won!" she laughs.

The crowd claps and cheers, some whistling. I manage a smile, though it's more out of disbelief than excitement.

The announcer chuckles into his microphone. "Well, well! What a beautiful couple we have here."

Afa grins. "Thank you so much!!"

I open my mouth to clarify, but the announcer cuts me off. "Ah, young love! So innocent, so pure, so completely unprepared for what's about to happen."

I blink. "I wonder what this dude gonna make us do there now." I said to myself and took a deep breathe.

The audience laughs. "Now, let's not keep everyone waiting. Afa and Mr. Slightly-Concerned-Right-Now, please come up on stage!"

The spotlight follows us as Afa practically drags me forward, her energy infectious.

As we step onto the stage, I feel a strange mix of anticipation and dread.

Whatever this game is… there's no turning back now and I have to face it and do it. I hope it's something fun and something which I have never experienced.