Chapter 8
"I'm sorry. I was just talking to myself" Braxton brushed off and she nodded.
Two hours ran by so slowly and by the time it was over, it had become colder. Each couple who got a ticket to the starry date had to go back.
Fabiola opened the tent a little as she watched them coming back and as she had imagined, Braxton and Zabrina were actually smiling.
She closed it back as she went to bed in a haste.
****
Day 3
Breakfast was pancakes with syrup, there was also fruits, scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, orange and pineapple juice, with coffee and tea.
Everyone was trying to keep the smiles up.
Fabiola could see Sean trying to make up conversations with Jasmine but unfortunately, Gavin wouldn't stop talking with her. Harry also looked like he wanted to talk with her but, to no avail.
"Jasmine, I would love to speak with you later" Sean said almost on top of his voice.
"Sure, okay" Jasmine replied with excitement.
"I don't think Jasmine should really be stressing herself right now, she needs rest or didn't you say you were tired, Jasmine?" Gavin asked like a protective boyfriend or rather an obsessive boyfriend as he looked at Jasmine for an answer.
"Uhmm…."
"I don't think she minds if I talk to her" Sean lashed back and faced Jasmine "or do you need some rest?"
"Come on Gavin, you were literally with her last night" Natalia said in a teasing tone and saw Jasmine's approving look.
Jasmine was starting to regret why she had told him she was tired earlier "It's okay Gavin, I'm fine now"
She caught Sean smiling at her and she smiled back while Gavin looked between them with a small frown.
It wasn't like the rest of the people were completely unaware of what was going on.
Harry, for example, was internally cursing himself for not having the courage to book an appointment with Jasmine but still, he kept his eyes on Jasmine and concluded he was going to talk to her when Sean was done.
While Raya who was sitting beside him kept on gushing about a lot of things, ranging from why she hates men and hoped to meet the One.
Braxton and Zabrina on the other hand hadn't even spoken much, they just concentrated on their food and looked at the scene, once.
Fabiola glanced at Mason who was beside her, he had barely spoken a word to her too. It was so unlike him "Hey. you're good?"
Mason shook his head negatively "I just feel tired that's all, don't worry I'm fine" he said with a smile and went to wash his plates. Fabiola stared at him, worried.
The intercom beeped "Contestants, you are going to be having the Women's relay race in two hours. Also, ensure to get ready for your interview in an hour"
The interview started in an hour with Braxton, Mason, Gavin, Fabiola and Raya being the highlight in the outside world.
****
At Dylan Scott's mansion:
Dylan had just come back from a business trip in Ireland and was partying as usual when he got a call from his friend, Alex "Dylan, what's up my friend?"
"I didn't know you still realize I existed," Dylan said with a scoff as he took a puff from his cigarette, moving towards a more quiet area.
"Come more Dylan, I was at your party last time when you said your wife went missing, remember? I also happen to know that you are having a party right now without inviting me"
"That b**ch! I wonder how she was able to escape, I still can't believe the CCTV was broken" Dylan raged and Alex swallowed. Fabiola was able to escape thanks to him and his fling who opened the door for her.
His fling was the one who insisted he broke the CCTV, Dylan could have killed him if he knew.
"There's nothing we can do about it"
"F*ck it! If it wasn't because you were f*cking a wh*re, maybe you would have seen her with a runaway boyfriend that helped. It doesn't matter though, she's HIV positive now" Dylan cursed and continue "Why did you call anyways?"
"Hiv positive?" Alex repeated with a surprised tone. He was sure the reality dating show wouldn't have picked a positive participant.
"Yes. She came to my office for me to sign divorce papers and I got to know about it"
Alex shifted from when he sat, uncomfortably. Dylan might not want to hear this "You do know about the show, Single's blaze, right?"
The question made Dylan raise his brow in confusion, as to why Alex was asking about it, but he suddenly remembered Zabrina made him watch Single's blaze season 3 when it was ongoing "I happen to watch a season before, what about it?"
"Where is Zabrina?" Alex asked again and Dylan brows scrunched up more.
"Why are you suddenly asking about her?"
"Oh well because I saw her in the new season that is ongoing"
Dylan immediately rolled his eyes "Yes, she happened to be one of the participants. I heard the show boosts contestants' outlook after it. She wanted to have some exposure and…"
"I saw Fabiola there too" Alex cuts in halfway. He didn't really know Fabiola so much but he knew Dylan got married to her and seeing her on the show actually made him kind of… proud.
Proud, because she left Dylan to find whatever purpose she wanted and so… this call was actually to wound Dylan that she was doing better.
"That's not possible. Fabiola can never get into that type of thing" Dylan frowned and tried to rub his temple "besides, as I said before, she is positive, there's no way they would take her after knowing that"
"If you don't believe me, search for it online and watch the new season" Alex shrugged
Dylan's breath hitched a little as he immediately ended the call. He went into his room and sat down looking at the phone while thinking about what Alex just told him.
Actually, the reason he hadn't thought of watching Single's Blaze until now was because he knew Zabrina would have to get into some kind of dumb ship to be popular. Maybe even more. His jealousy couldn't take that.
So, they had agreed that he would never watch it even when she came back, but now he had to break his promise at the mention of Fabiola.
He first searched her name among the contestants and it wasn't long before he saw Fabiola's! His eyes immediately widened in horror.
F*ck! If she was really in this it would mean that she had lied to him.
He pressed on the live button to watch and it was currently showing the Women's relay race that was over. His eyes quickly ran through all the girls and landed on a sweaty Fabiola and the next thing he heard was the intercom saying she had come second.
This was all real. Damn this b*tch!
At the producer's house, Mr Connor and his co-producer Mr Smith, were supervising the live show. While Mr Owen was going back and forth, making sure everything was fine.
"Sir, we are currently hitting 18% of live viewership" one of the crew members with a headset said to Connor, as he sat facing the monitor.
"That's good. Very good" Smith answered with a smile.
"I don't know if I'm being too invested in this but I'm curious which couple Fabiola is going to pick a man from" Mr Connor said, soothing his beards.
Mr Owen immediately rushed to him with his iPad "Well, according to netizens, they have the same thought as you, everyone is curious who. Look at the comments"
Connor read through some in an instant:
"I really don't like Miss pick me and I just know Braxton's name is going to be the one coming out from her lips soon"
"I saw Fabiola's eyes when Braxton didn't choose her yesterday. Ha ha, it was epic downfall"
"She kept saying she will go after Braxton no matter what in her first interview and he has clearly stated he doesn't care about her, what a show off. She should just stick to Mason who has shown interest in her!"
"Would she really belittle herself and choose him this time? I will be so be disgusted"
"She wouldn't pick Braxton guys. She told Mason she would go with him to paradise, remember?"
"If she chooses him, I will know she's scripted!"
The last comment made Mr Connor raise a brow, especially at the many reactions that particular comment had.
"The problem is that the comment actually came from the Governor's daughter- Averie who participated in the third season" Owen whispered.
"I had always known she didn't let go of our last brew. Find a way to stop Fabiola this time. We can't afford anyone saying it's scripted" Connor ordered, now glaring at Fabiola through the screen with her happy face and muttered to himself
"You are giving me problems now. How far would you last?"