"Hey! What are you two talking about?!" Vanessa interrupted the lovebirds with her annoyed voice.

"None of your business, Miss Reiley. If you'll excuse us, the next game will start." Ingrid answered her with a mocking grin and she marched ahead while Clifford followed her with the two boys.

"HA! She's such a witch! I hate her!" she cursed and cursed because she's been eaten up with jealousy. "...you're not always the winner, Ingrid. I'll always have my last laugh."

She scurried her walk to one of her acquaintance. She used her sweet demeanour to ask for a favour: "I'm quite bored here, so can you please give me a chance to play? I really want to join the game, I think it's fun."

Other people seem intimated by her presence and by her soft voice and sweet demeanour so without second thoughts they agreed.

"Oh so nice of you..." so immediately she grabbed the man's arms and went to where Clifford and Ingrid standing.

The next game is prepared for the parents or guardians of the preschoolers. The two partic.i.p.ants will have to stand side-by-side and put one of their legs on the burlap bag, and together they race to the finish line.

They were already on the starting line and their legs are tied together. His left foot is tied to Ingrid's right foot, and the woman nonchalantly brace herself by resting her right hand to Clifford's back while Clifford's left hand was on her back, too. Clifford could not stop grinning at their position. All the more that he notices the sparkling diamond on Ingrid's finger.

"This is so much fun than I could imagine..." he said in a whisper.

"Whatever!" but deep inside she loved the feeling of their bodies being close together. His strong bulk makes her feel relaxed and giving her some a.s.surance that she can lean on him anytime for support.

"What are you thinking, my sweet? You seem caught up with deep thoughts..."

"Huh? Ahh nothing..." she blushed and keeps away her eyes from his scrutinizing gawk.

"You know what? One of things I love the most about you is that you're always in for a surprise."

"Surprise? I didn't..." Clifford laughed heartily at her reply.

"Ingrid, my sweet, you never know what you're doing to me." Clifford declared. Ingrid wanted to respond but a voice distracts her.

"Excuse me, coming through." Ingrid was surprise to see Vanessa walking to their direction and what surprise her the most is that she's geared up for the game.

She's wearing a safety hat, knees and elbows pad, looks like she'll ready for some skating. Ingrid could not control her laughter. As Vanessa pa.s.ses by, the partic.i.p.ants were puzzled at her presence.

"Is she crazy?" Ingrid blurted out before Vanessa reaches them. Clifford wanted to laugh, too, but his face remained stoic and unmoved.

"Hi Cliff, I was kinda bored so I want to try this childish game here." Vanessa explained even without being asked but Clifford didn't say anything.

"Ingrid, I'm sorry about my att.i.tude earlier, I was being immature and unprofessional. I really don't know what has eaten me earlier, and to think I was raised to be a prim and proper lady."

"And a brat..." Ingrid mumbled.

"Excuse me, what did you say?" Vanessa acted as though she's a well-bred lady by cloaking her hatred with a genuine character.

"Forget it, as you said, you're immature, err, I mean you acted like one. Honestly, I really don't care. Oh! The game is about to start, if I were you, you really should not to be dim-witted and weak in this game. Do you think you can make it? If yes, see you on the finish line." Ingrid winked at her opponent.

Vanessa's irritation skyrocketed at the mockery hurled by Ingrid to her. She needed to calm herself and act as a well-bred lady so that she could recover her almost reduce to rubble reputation with Clifford.

'Uugghhhh!!!!' she screamed in her thoughts and she could only imagine stabbing Ingrid's face with a knife.

"Mommy! You can do it!" Clark shouted.

"Uncle Cliff, let's win this game again!" Tristan cheered his uncle.

The man in-charge whistled and the race starts.

People were all cheering for their team. Some laughed because there are partic.i.p.ants floundered and could not finish the race. Others whistled and cheered to those who are serious about the race. Vanessa could not walk in sync with her partner because her eyes are focused on the couple.

Clifford and Ingrid raced as though they've done it always, they just enjoyed the race. However, Vanessa almost caught up their position and wanted to hit Ingrid's side with her body and made it appear like it's an accident. But the two suddenly quickened their pace when she was about to hit her. It turns out that Vanessa lose her balance and she nosedive on the ground. Luckily, she's wearing a safety gear, but her partner is injured.

The couple win the race again and the boys came running and hugged them.

"I knew you'll win!" said Tristan. The people cheered and teased them.

"Mommy! I wanna pee..." Clark said.

"Okay, I'll accompany you..." but Clark refused.

"No need mom, Tristan and I will go together. We're big boys now."

"Are you sure?" the children nodded. But Ingrid hesitated but Clark insisted and they ran off immediately.

"Where are they going?" Clifford asked.

"They're going to pee." Ingrid's face seemed worried.

"I think I'll follow them after five minutes." Clifford announced as he suddenly felt something strange and his protective instincts suddenly awaken.

....

In a secluded pathway, two men are waiting for their target and a plus one.