Chapter 6
Fabiola springed up from her chair immediately. Everyone else except Braxton, Jasmine and Zabrina, were in the kitchen and they all stared at her in surprise on why she got up like that.
"Are you okay, fab?" Mason asked in concern and she nodded, answering "I just need some fresh air"
Fabiola went to wash her plates and discovered the two were still talking.
Some minutes later, she was taking a stroll in front of them. She made it look like it was just a random stroll but it wasn't.
She was sure by now the viewers would think she had gone crazy as she had crossed their paths thrice and with the fourth one, she managed to sit near the beach and glance at them.
That's when her eyes caught a bewildered Braxton. Atleast, that look must mean he wondered if she had gone crazy too, right?
She gave him a wild smile and winked at him. Turning to face the ocean in embarrassment. Why was she?
This was what she was here to do. Any moment from now, she planned to approach them, not minding if they were talking about their wedding day, she was just counting 60 seconds as it passed by.
Braxton would either turn her down again or ignore her. Either way, she would get embarrassed as the producers and viewers want.
Meanwhile, just as she turned to give Braxton another wink, she noticed he was now sitting alone with Zabrina out of sight.
She must have finally left, she wondered what they were talking about.
Fabiola dusted her skirt as she approached him. She could swear Braxton knew she was coming but choose to look at the chirping birds instead.
Immediately she got to where he was sitting, she slipped beside him.
"Hi" she gave him her best smile but no matter how she tried, it didn't reach her eyes.
She was sitting close to him after so many years, she could hardly keep her raging heart.
Braxton on the other hand was confused. Why was she targeting him? Or maybe she just enjoyed messing around.
"What are you trying to do? Walking back and forth like that? If you have something to say, say it"
She found that slightly amusing because he seemed caught off guard and when he said those words just now, he was avoiding looking at her eyes "I wanted your attention and I think it worked"
"What?"
Fabiola noticed his jaw dropped a little as he stared at her in surprise.
She must have really surprised him. Fabiola didn't remember saying things like this even when they were dating but then again, they never really had enough time with each other, they only had to make the most of the little they had.
He quickly recollected his expression and scoffed "Do you do that with everyone?"
"Huh, what?"
"Wink and force yourself into an uninterested person, you must really enjoy twisting things don't you?"
Did he just say an uninterested person? What did she expect to hear? She chuckled and shooked her head "I must say, you really know how to make a girl feel welcome"
Braxton leaned back with his arms folded "Good, Maybe you'll take the hint"
She raised her brows, pretending to look wounded "I was thinking you called me over because you secretly liked the attention"
He gave her a flat look, wondering when he did that "like i live for people pacing in front of me like confused pigeons"
That made her laugh again as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear "You know, for someone 'uninterested' you sure talk a lot"
"Where did you get that from?" Braxton wasn't liking whatever she was doing.
He didn't know if it was time but the Fabiola he knew back then had changed too. He wondered where she had been all this time after breaking up with him.
"Not really…" she shot back.
The intercom choosed that time to sound her name "Fabiola Thomas, make your way to the interview corner"
Fabiola thought she heard him sigh as she got up. Was he frustrated because of her? She didn't mean to do this but she has to.
"Goodbye Braxton" she hurriedly said as she left.
In the interview room, it was only her and the small box which the automated voice that was asking questions came from.
"Fabiola, how have your stay been so far in Blaze?"
It's been one hell even if it's just the second day.
She wanted to complain about the food bitterly, about the living conditions, but then remembered it was supposed to be so after all, they were meant to suffer to find love.
Just that she wasn't here for love! Could the producers and her Mr Owen atleast feed her?!
"It's been amazing so far. I have been able to meet beautiful and handsome people and i can't wait to get to know them"
"About that…? You seem to be captivated by Braxton Tyler?"
This question actually didn't come as a surprise as she knew they would add this question just for her to say more about this.
"Braxton looks a lot like my ex, that I got surprise when I met him and coincidentally his name is also Braxton haha"
She was so sure, the smart netizens would already start guessing that she was lying. I mean Braxton wasn't a name that was so common for her lookalike ex to also bear. Unless, they would think that she knew his name in real life too!
"Are you sure you don't know him in real life?"
"No" came out from her mouth so abruptly. For one, she knew she wasn't here to have a love interest but to stir up couple trouble "But I plan to pursue him because he happens to be my type"
She planted the idea without confirming the history. If she was in the outside world watching this right now, she would hate TV Fabiola so much.
"Is he the only one you are interested in?"
"For now. I hope to get to know others first but Braxton captured my interest"
"That will be all Fabiola, thank you for your time"
She nodded, as she got up and left the room. On getting outside, she saw Braxton sitting on the chair, it's like he was waiting his turn.
He got up and entered into the room without saying a word to her. She wondered how much he must hate her right now?
****
It was noon in no time and she spent it talking with Jasmine and Natalia outside their tent. It was weird having to see Zabrina and Raya but they hadn't still connected to them at all.
"Don't tell me that's Zabrina with Harry?" Jasmine asked in surprise as she stared at them from afar, they were sitting in the exact chair Fabiola had seen her and Braxton in the morning.
"It's actually them. Did you want to speak with him?" Natalia asked and Jasmine shooked her head in a confused state "I don't know what's wrong with me. I said I like Braxton yet I feel like I'm hooked to other guys"
"It's bound to happen Jasmine and it's also day two, you can't have your feelings figured out so soon" Fabiola advised and Jasmine nodded in understanding. It was okay to feel this way, at least.
"I will just follow my heart" she sighed and got up to go add extra makeup to her face in their room.
Just then, Sean came excitedly towards them holding a flower. Fabiola could guess it was for Jasmine.
"It's Jasmine in?" He asked with a broad smile and Jasmine came out at the same time "hey Sean" she beamed.
"This is for you, I picked it in the garden I saw" he almost knelt down giving it to her and she took it loving the fragrance "it smells very nice, thank you"
"I'm glad you like it. Would you like to talk somewhere?" He asked and glanced at their Fabiola and Natalia who were staring at them and she nodded but just as she took his hands, the intercom beamed "Singles, get ready, the men are going to be having a race, please proceed to the running ground"
"I guess we will talk later" Sean's expression dropped as he waved Jasmine goodbye.
In a few minutes, the men and women were all standing in front of the running ground waiting for the intercom again, when it finally sounded
"The men should get into position. Winners are going to earn the ticket to a date on the starlight rooftop with their chosen woman, you may begin at the start of the buzzer.
The men wore white shirts and boxer shorts, the scorching sun glinting on their skin.
Fabiola glanced at Braxton's tan body and swallowed, he had gotten more hotter by the years. She couldn't help but wonder who would win this?
"I'm sure Gavin would win this, he has long legs" Natalia said and Raya rolled her eyes "It's definitely Harry"
Natalia didn't say anything else to her. She was always interjected whatever she said and so, she was getting tired of her.
The race began with all the men running with their might and the women cheering. Soon, it was just them waiting for the men to come running back.
"It must be so far away, that could explain why they aren't back yet" Jasmine said with a yawn.
Just as her words ended, Gavin was seen in his talk frame running towards them followed by Harry.
Natalia started clapping as she glanced at Raya, as if to say "see, I told you"
They all waited patiently for the third person to come, seconds turned into minutes and finally, a silhouette was seen.
Fabiola was the first to recognize his flowing dark hair and his sweaty body. At least Braxton came third, she was curious who he would choose!