Chapter 25 Electric Challenge

I was still staring at my team talking happily but my face was full of sadness.

“Why Yani? Are you okay?” Femme asked me. I was surprised to look at her at the same time.

“Huh? Ah uhm of course. Why not?” I replied a little stuttering.

“You look so sad as you look at them. Are you thinking of something?” she asked.

I was completely surprised. Is it obvious?

I tried my best to smile. ”What are you talking about Femme? Maybe you're just imagining it. I'm fine.”

She stared at me carefully before smiling. ”Okay then. Whatever you said so,” she said happily as she walked towards the field.

“Wait, where are you going?” I asked her.

She stopped and turned to me. ”Huh? Isn't it my turn to play the challenge?”

I was a little surprised. “Ah haha ​​yes. Good luck Femme,” I just smiled.

“Thank you Yani,” she smiled as she left.

I just looked at her while she was skipping her way to the grounds smiling but it also disappeared immediately because I was worried again.

“Good luck Femme! Do your best okay?!” Donna shouted just next to me and that's when I got back to reality.

Femme stopped again, turned around and shouted back. “Of course! I will do my best! I promise you that!”

I just looked at them and suddenly someone tapped me on the shoulder so I immediately turned around and saw Flare. ”Don't you have any plans to go up yet?” she asked us.

“Yeah we are going,” Donna said as she walked up the stairs.

I tried to smile at Flare. ”Let's go.”

When we got up, we also sat down immediately. When we saw the grounds, in the middle of it was full of different things, it was like a very messy room.

“Wow. It feels so off that Femme is not here now,” said Kyrie.

“Yes. Who will now cheer her on?” said Jessy.

“Of course me!” Donna replied.

“Good morning ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to today's Electric Challenge,” said Prince Zoltar.

Everyone applauded.

“Isn't he the famous scientist here at Eullenuum Nation?” Kyrie asked.

“Yes,” I replied. ”How did you know?”

“Because I always see him asking for medicine at the Electric Cabin drugstore in the Main Cabin. Sometimes I deliver the medicine. It’s my punishment when I make a scene in Nature Cabin,” Kyrie replied.

“Ah okay,” I said.

“Is that so. What a waste. He’s even handsome,” said Jessy. ”Is he a nerd?”

“Yes he is a nerd,” I replied. ”If you are with him, you will be bombarded with scientific things,” I replied.

“Wow, are you two close?” Jessy asked me.

“Ah no. I was able to talk to him in the Main Cabin.”

“Ah. But what if he has a girlfriend?” said Jessy. ”But it seems vague. I can't even imagine him flirting.”

“Hey why are you thinking about that right now? You are really flirty,” said Kyrie.

“You are too serious. Not because I just thought of it doesn’t mean I’m flirty right away.”

I just looked at the two who are arguing. Although annoying, I will miss their quarrel.

“So for our first challenge, I'll give each of you lists of items for you to find in the field. Make sure to find all those items in just 10 minutes. Each of you has different items so you cannot ask help from the other players. So I think that's all. Are there any questions?”

The players just looked at each other while Jessy and Kyrie stopped and looked at me.

“None. Well then, you may now BEGIN!”

“Oh girl, why are you looking at us like that? Is there a problem?” Jessy asked me so I went back to my senses.

“Ah hah?”

“It’s like you’re thinking something so deep,” Kyrie said. ”Do we have something on our faces? Or is it just that Jessy's face is really annoying?”

Jessy was surprised by what Kyrie said. ”Excuse me?!”

“Ah nothing nothing,” I said for them to stop. ”You guys don't have something on your faces. Uhm maybe you can just slow down when you tease each other? It looks like you just want to kill each other.”

“I'm sorry Yani,” said Kyrie. ”It's because of this person next to me. See Jessy? She said don’t be annoying.”

“Excuse you,” Jessy replied. ”If I'm annoying, then what do you call yourself?”

“It’s Kyrie,” was Kyrie's philosophical answer. ”Oh Jessy, you still don't know about that for how long we've been together?”

“Hmph, whatever. Yeah, you win,” and she rolled her eyes at her. You really have to wait until someone finally gives up. I just turned my gaze to the game. I might be noticed again.

Femme first stood in a corner and looked at the whole field while looking at the list given to her. She immediately looked back at the field and went to a corner and picked up something and then she went straight to a corner and picked up something again.

Just a glance, she saw everything immediately. Soon, she’s carrying everything she needs. She was standing there waiting while the others were still searching.

“Now that’s a good eye she got there. Good thing Yani you put her in this challenge. She will be a good player on 'hide and seek',” said Kyrie.

“I know right. The sharpness of her eyes,” said Jessy.

“Good Job Femme!” Donna shouted. Femme looked at her and gave her a very happy smile while still carrying those things.

After ten minutes,

“Okay players, time's up. So that's all for the first challenge,” said Prince Zoltar.

“I know this challenge is really easy so I was wishing that you have put me here Yani,” said Donna.

“Yes but are you not wondering girl, what about the second challenge? And why did he make them look for items on the list?” Jessy asked.

“Maybe it will be really hard,” Kyrie said.

“So the players that weren't able to find all the items that are listed are out in the first challenge,” and some players left.

There are only six left.

“Okay, the 6 players that are left will move on to the second challenge. Since it's that easy, no need to have a break. We proceed immediately to the second challenge because it will take most of your time…”

If our analysis is really correct, the second challenge today is,

“So for our second challenge, from the items that are given to you, make something extraordinary out of those items, may it be a machine or a tool, anything you can think of. Also, it must have something to do about different scientific principles that must impress me. I'll just give you an hour to do this. So players, start making… now!”

“It is hard,” Kyrie said.

“I take back what I said earlier,” Donna said.

“Wait, isn't Femme weak in science?” Jessy asked.

There was an awkward silence between us before Kyrie spoke. ”We already know Jessy okay? We talked about this before.”

“Really?” Jessy thought and again realized what Kyrie had said. ”Oh right. Well it’s because you didn't answer me sensibly before.”

“But what do you think guys that Femme will do?” Donna asked.

“Guys, Femme can do that. Just like what we said, let’s trust the player,” I said.

“Yes Donna. You just need to trust Femme but the question is will she ever do anything?” said Kyrie.

“KYRIE!” Jessy and I exclaimed together.

“Why?! Just asking,” Kyrie replied.

“You’re being pessimistic girl. Is that what you call trust?” Jessy said.

“Well as long as there is an outcome,” Kyrie replied.

“Go Femme! You can do it! Whatever you do with those things, just do it!” Donna shouted.

We looked at Femme who was scratching her head while looking at something she is holding. I just smiled as I watched her.

…

After an hour, “Okay players, time's up. Fix your places. The only thing I will see is the finished product,” said Prince Zoltar and they fixed it. We looked at Femme's but it’s very small so we could not see it from here.

Prince Zoltar looked at each product and let them explain what it is. Almost all made machines that do what they do that’s why they all look good. I wonder what Femme did, but the real question is did she really do anything?

When Prince Zoltar came to Femme, she looked at the product and was surprised.

“Uhm is this a watch?” Prince Zoltar asked.

Femme just smiled in response.

“Okay uhm so young lady, what is this invention you have?” he asked.

“This, your highness, is a... TIME MACHINE!” at the same time she raised both her hands in the air and lowered them as well. She really looks like a child and what? Time machine? On what continent did she think of doing that?

Prince Zoltar was shocked and smiled as well. ”Uhm wow that's uhh something to be happy about but as I can see, it looks like a plain watch. Uhm how does it work and what does it do? Can you go back in time or can you see the future?” Prince Zoltar asked.

“Uhm...” Femme scratched her head and thought. ”... is that how a time machine works?” she asked.

All of us here can't paint our faces of what she said. Donna even made a face palm on her face. Seriously Femme? She’s going to do something she doesn’t know how it works?

“Tss. She did something but she doesn't know how to use it,” Kyrie commented.

“It looks like I'm losing hope in her too,” Jessy said.

“Well as far as I have read, most of the time, time machines are made to go back to your past or to your future. Well unless, you have a different explanation,” said Prince Zoltar.

“Ahh hehe. Sorry but the truth is, I don't have any idea about any scientific principles and also about time machines. Hehe,” at the same time she raised her hand making a 'peace sign'. Why is she so honest?

“Oh... I see. So uhm if that's the thing, why did you make a watch and claim it that it's a time machine?” Prince Zoltar asked.

Femme smiled.

“Since you mentioned that the time machine is about the past or the future, the time machine for me is about the present that is why I made a watch… because every second that the second hand moves, something is already happening and when it finishes one round, a memory is made. Imagine for how many times the second hand finishes a round, so that means a lot of memories are made. So for me a time machine is the watch itself because it is a machine of time and time is where you store all the memories you made,” said Femme.

Prince Zoltar fell silent as he stared at Femme. Even us here, we’re very surprised. Wow. Her answer was amazing.

Not long enough when Prince Zoltar suddenly smiled which surprised me. Wait, this is my first time to see him smile like that. Strange.

Why is that? Out of all the people who have had such 'talent', it has to be her that thinks like a child? Maybe it's because of the fact that children are ignorant and even so, sometimes they even say things that we also don’t know even if we are older than them.

“Uhm Prince Zoltar?” while Femme is waving her hand in front of Prince Zoltar's face causing him to return to his senses.

“Hah?”

“Are you alright?” Femme asked.

“Uuhh yes, yes. I'm fine. Uhm thank you for your answer,” he added as he walked away.

“You're welcome,” Femme said happily.

He walked only a few steps but he also stopped and faced the audience.

“So after computing for the scores…” he said and looked at the paper. Wow. That was fast.

“3rd place goes to the Electric Cabin...”

Everyone applauded.

“2nd place goes to the Metal Cabin...”

Everyone applauded again.

“Finally, for the 1st place… goes to…” he once looked at the place where Femme is standing and…

…he smiled again. ”Yani's team.”

My eyes widened in shock. Really? You’ve got to be kidding me. It’s Femme... first place?! We were all surprised.

“KYAAAHHH!” Jessy and Donna shouted as they jumped for joy. We looked at Femme on the grounds who is also jumping in joy.

“YOU’RE GREAT FEMME!” Donna shouted. Femme gave us a thumbs-up but she immediately looked in the direction of Prince Zoltar.

“PRINCE ZOLTAR!” she shouted.

He was surprised and turned to Femme. ”THANK YOU!” At the same time she also gave a thumbs-up to Prince Zoltar.

The prince was shocked again but he smiled while looking at Femme. That look that rarely happens to a scientist like him.

We went down immediately and met Femme.

“FEMME YOU WON!” Donna shouted.

“Yeah! I thought I would not be able to join the top 3 because I did not say any scientific principles,” said Femme who jumped.

“What you said was really amazing, girl! Prince Zoltar was moved,” said Jessy.

“Is that so? I just said what I had in mind. I was really nervous,” said Femme.

“Wow it was not obvious a while ago,” Jessy said. “You even raised your hands in the air. But wait, where is the product you made?”

“It’s here,” she showed us the watch at the same time. They were surprised because it looked like the product was really a watch but it’s like items were attached to it randomly.

“Uhm wow uhh cute,” Jessy commented. ”But I think it’s not working.”

“Hehe. I don't know how to make it work. I'm not sure if it will ever work so I was really nervous earlier because I need to demonstrate it. It's good that Prince Zoltar left immediately,” said Femme while scratching her head.

Kyrie approached Jessy. “The prince was indeed moved. That product is the first place for him,” she whispered to her.

“You know, you’re really good at teasing but this time, I agree with you,” said Jessy.

“Agree at what?” Femme asked innocently.

“Huh? Ah nothing girl. Haha,” Jessy chuckled.

“Uhm well…” we looked at Hera because she spoke. ”Uhm uhh I think I can fix your watch.”

“Really?!”

She nodded so Femme handed over the watch. Tools came out of Hera's hand because she’s a metal girl and we were amazed. She’s doing something on the watch and we just watched her fix it.

“Psst.”

I was shocked and immediately turned my head because I heard something but no one was there. I must be imagining that.

“Psst Yani.”

I turned around again… and saw someone hiding. ”Elesa?”

“Yani, did you say something?” Femme asked. I immediately looked at them and saw that they were all looking back at me.

“Oh uhm uhh if it's okay with you I'll leave first. I will be back soon.”

“Where are you going girl?” Jessy asked.

“Uhh well uhm don’t worry, it's just for a moment,” I walked away at the same time. “Bye.”

They watched me leave but immediately turned their attention to the watch that Hera is fixing. I immediately went to the place where Elesa was hiding. When I arrived, “Elesa. What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I'm sorry for the inconvenience but I need your help.”

“Okay. What is it?”

“Can you come with me?” request niya.

“Huh? Uhm come with you where?”

She didn’t say a word and suddenly pulled me.

“Wait Elesa—”

“Didn't you say that when I lose the courage for love, you will come with me?” she entered.

I could not answer her back and wondered. What does she mean? Did I say something like that…

…ah okay.

“Whether you remembered it or not, as long as I remember it, come with me,” she said.

“I remembered it but what are you going to do? Where are you taking me?” I asked.

She didn’t answer. She has a different aura now. I can't explain it because her emotions seem to be mixed. We arrived at the place where Hera and Prince Eaux were talking. Wait, I seem to know what she will do. I have a strong feeling.

“Wait Elesa, don't say—”

“Yani, I will confess to Prince Zoltar,” she interrupted me.

I was right. ”If it's okay with you, just stay here because it gives me the strength to speak in front of him,” she said.

I was speechless with shock.

“Yani?”

“Huh? Uhm yeah okay. Go. I will be staying here,” I replied.

She smiled and took a deep breath before going up the stairs to call Prince Zoltar.

I'm confused. It seems like I want to stop her because she will only get hurt by what she is going to do but I can't do it. I didn’t know that in this challenge, something would happen. I feel like this is all my fault because I put Femme in this challenge.

“Elesa, I never thought that you would call me. Why, is there something wrong?” Prince Zoltar asked as he descended the stairs.

“Uhm, none your highness,” Elesa was surprised when she said that. ”I mean—”

“Oh Yani is also here. Is there something wrong, that's why she's here Elesa?” Prince Zoltar asked.

“None, your highness,” she was surprised again. ”What I mean is—”

“Oh okay. So are you here to report because you're done with all the work I gave to you?” he asked.

Elesa was surprised because Prince Zoltar did not correct her. ”Yes... your highness,” she repeated for assurance.

“Oh good. So, what can I do for you then?”

Shacks! That was the first sign. Elesa's usual call to Prince Zoltar is SIR! Then Prince Zoltar corrects him when she makes a mistake!

There was a faint silence in the room.

“Elesa?” Prince Zoltar asked, breaking the silence.

“Prince Zoltar, I have something to tell you,” Elesa said directly.

I knew in myself that I had said I would support her but now I was hesitant. What will I do? Will I support her or will I just stop her?

“What is it?”

“I...” she stopped for a moment. ”Uhm... I...”

“Yes. You what? “

“Uhm I think—”

“Zoltar,” called by his brother the reason for interrupting what Elesa was about to say. And who is that prince, oh the best guy for being KJ. Who else?

“... they're asking—” he stopped as he went down because he saw us.

“Yes Jethro. What was that?” Prince Zoltar turned around to him.

“Busy?” Jethro asked simply.

“Oh not really. Just talking with my assistant. So, what's the problem?”

“The players are asking what to do with the product they made.”

“Oh right. Kindly tell them they can keep it.”

He stopped talking and went upstairs. Thank goodness. Even though he’s numb, he really knows how to feel the tension.

“Prince Zoltar—”

“Which reminds me that since Yani is here can I ask her first a question?” Prince Zoltar asked suddenly.

Elesa stopped and looked at me.

“Uhm sure your highness,” she replied. “Go ahead.”

“So Yani,” I looked at Prince Zoltar at the same time. “Uhm can I know the name of the water girl in your team that played in the electric challenge a while ago?”

Elesa was surprised again and so was I. Oh no! Out of all the questions Prince Zoltar should have asked…

I first looked at Elesa who was also looking at me. Her look, I can not explain it. She seemed to be wanting to say something but I didn’t know what.

“What's wrong with you two?” Prince Zoltar asked because Elesa and I were just staring at each other.

Elesa looked at Prince Zoltar. ”Prince Zoltar I like—”

“Her name is Femme,” I interrupted her and Elesa was immediately surprised and looked at me.

“Oh Femme,” said Prince Zoltar so we looked at him. “Her name is Femme eh... nice name,” said Prince Zoltar and he smiled again like before. It’s obvious that he’s interested in Femme.

Elesa was surprised to see Prince Zoltar's face.

“Oh I'm sorry Elesa. What is it that you want to say?” Prince Zoltar returned to his senses and looked at Elesa.

Elesa just looked back at him.

“I…” she bowed her head. “I need to go,” at the same time she walked away. Zoltar and I were surprised and watched her walk away.

“Okay? That was weird,” said Prince Zoltar but I ignored him and walked away to follow Elesa but he immediately took my hand so I stopped.

“Wait what's with the hurry? I still have something to say to you,” Prince Zoltar asked.

“I can't talk to you right now Prince Zoltar. I need to go. Anyways thank you for your time,” I replied immediately, removing his hand and running away.