“We’re switching to Plan B,” Antonio declared.

“Plan B?” Ben asked.

​​

“You’re not ready to run groups solo, but it’s no big deal. We’ll just run groups together then. That’s Plan B. With the two of us, the way to defuse the obstacle will become simple—one of us will occupy her. That’s the purpose of a wingman!”

Ben agreed. “I’ll take the wingman’s oath.”

Antonio continued. “It’ll work like this. I’ll open a set while you ninja where they can’t see you…Once I’m stuck in, I’ll call you over to join us. Then you come in like a sexual shuriken…I’ll be standing closer to my target, so you’ll know who I’m going for. Then you’ll focus on occupying the other chick. That way, each of us will get one, and in effect, there’ll be no obstacle.”

Ben’s eyes beamed. “Brilliant plan!”

Antonio showed a proud smile. Then they got to work seeking a good two-set. Antonio signaled Ben that he found one, before going in and opening two girls ordering drinks at the bar.

Ben waited by the DJ booth watching Antonio do his thing. From his angle, Ben couldn’t see the two girls well, but he trusted that Antonio’s judgment wouldn’t be too bad. A few minutes later, Antonio signaled him with a wave, and Ben walked over to join the group.

Ben smiled as the distance shortened, preparing to engage the spare girl Antonio wasn’t working on. ‘He said his target would be the one he was closer to.’ Ben looked at the girl closer to Antonio and nodded his head when he saw she was hot. Then he looked at the other one and…he froze mid-step. His face fell at terminal velocity.

This girl…she was probably a sweet girl, like mom’s cherry pie, the fourth of July, SHE WAS A WHALE!

…

Ben didn’t enjoy fat shaming people. He himself was fat not too long ago, but that was not his type. He could sacrifice for the team, but he wouldn’t dive onto a meat grenade!

Out of nowhere, an abrupt change to the music echoed throughout the venue, distracting Ben. A new dance remix came on.

“There’s such a difference betweeeeeeen us

And a milliooon miles

Hello from the other sideeeee!”

The flame of Ben’s predicament grew as Adele projectile vomited gasoline onto it…

This was the perfect soundtrack to Ben’s impending doom.

He turned around to glance at the DJ booth and discovered the DJ staring straight into his eyes…like this bastard had been watching everything all along from his higher podium, and picked this song just for him…

Then, the DJ said something to Ben.

Ben couldn’t hear it, but reading his lips, he understood what he said: “F*ck…you…”

…

Ben gave him the middle finger…

The DJ gave him the middle finger back…

Ben turned back around. ‘That guy’s a gamer…’

Ben refocused on his current issue of Antonio’s set. ‘What to do?’ Ben’s brain went into overdrive as Antonio called him over again. ‘Ok. Isn’t this a simple geometry problem?’ Ben created a plan. He couldn’t let his cousin down, so he continued on his way to them..

When Ben reached the group, he put on a bright smile. Putting his hand on Antonio’s shoulder, he came in for a bro-hug.

Meanwhile, Antonio introduced Ben to the two girls, “Hey, this is my cousin Ben! You’re gonna love hi—”

A hip-bump from Ben cut short the greeting and sent Antonio stumbling…until he was right next to the other girl, his new closer target…

Ben was now near the one who was more his type. ‘The Pythagorean Theorem was useful at last!’

Everything was right in the world. With a warm smile, Ben said, “My bad Antonio, I got too excited to see you! What were you saying? Finish your thought!”

***

The two girls escaped far away when Ben and Antonio started wrestling against the bar counter…

Antonio yelled, “What the hell was that?!? You violated the laws of wingmanery!”

“Get off me! I should ask you! What obstacle? That was a plasma mine!”

They only broke it up once a security guard threatened to toss them out of the bar.

Antonio took the first step back. “Aight bro. I admit I didn’t take weight classes into account when choosing your opponent.”

Ben also retreated. “I may have speed, but I don’t have the power needed to put a heavyweight down…I also apologize for tagging myself in without warning.” He wasn’t that sorry though, because that encounter got him two achievements.

[Congratulations! You’ve unlocked the Achievement: Boxing Out(uncommon) – Use physical positioning to remove a competing male from a target’s vicinity]

[Distributing reward: PUA Points + 200]

[Distributing reward: PUA Points + 200 (Event bonus)]

[Congratulations! You’ve unlocked the Achievement: Defusing Traps(uncommon) – Defuse a dungeon trap]

[Distributing reward: PUA Points + 200]

[Distributing reward: PUA Points + 200 (Event bonus)]

Ben narrowed his eyes at Antonio. ‘So that whale was a trap! I’ll need to watch my back. I’ve read many novels where a close friend betrayed someone in a dungeon for treasure…’

Despite that, Ben couldn’t hold back a stupid grin. He was rich now!

‘I have 1050 points! Will there be new items I can buy in the store?’ Ben ran to the safe zone like his HP was at 1!

——

*Author’s Note: I hope you’re all enjoying the story as much as I like writing it. Keep the comments flowing like wine so I know which bits are hitters and which are quitters.