Episode 25: “Mutiny on the Soundstage” AKA “The Finale”

(Yurie’s POV)

I tossed and turned in my sleep as one thing drifted back and forth in my mind...
Duncan. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep for the one-millionth time, and I told myself in my head:
“Don’t think about him. It’s his fault. He voted you off,” my mean voice sneered.
“But, why?” My caring voice replied. “Yurie... You still love him. You know that. Though...”
“No,” my mean voice snapped. “If he acts like this, let him... he deserves it.”
That’s when I finally fell into a restless sleep, tears streaming down my eyes...
***
“Gwen... hi,” I said, no enthusiasm in my voice.
“Hey, Yurie.” She nodded sympathetically. “So... you’re gonna be voting for Beth, right? Or...”
“Maybe,” I muttered. “I don’t know yet, I mean...”
“You still have it bad for him,” she sang.
I swatted her. I said, “Sure. Right. Whatever.”
Gwen sighed and tried again. “Rebecca, listen to me. I love you and you’re a great friend... but I’m trying to help you.”
“I know,” I nodded. Where was she going...?
“Yurie... you have to vote for Duncan. He still likes you,” she said.
“How can you be sure?”
Gwen giggled. “I know it is. Did you see last night’s episode?”
“No... I was in bed early, because... you know.”
“Oh, well, Duncan was so upset. I could see the tears forming in his eyes as he walked back to the guys’ cabin.”
“What?! Really?”
Gwen nodded. “Yep.”
“Are you sure? Maybe you’re just saying it to make me feel better,” I said, feeling a lot better already.
She sighed. “What kind of friend do you take me for?”

(Duncan’s POV)
Today was it. The big day. The day I would win... and possibly have my Yurie back.
I waited anxiously in my bed. The next thing I knew, I was tied to a pole.
With Beth. “Aah! What the heck!”
Beth and I helped untie each other, and Chris arrived.
He explained the challenge to us, and we had to clean the... the poop deck.
“Gross,” I said, holding my nose.
“Gross squared,” Beth seconded me.
I held my breath and went in. Ew, ew, ew.
I ended up being the first to finish, but the weird Sasquatch guy went in again.
I growled. So, Beth ended up winning, but she couldn’t get up the pole.
“Ha,” I said in her face. “Now there.” Because she wouldn’t “teamsies” with me.
I climbed up the pole, imagining how proud Kiyurie would be if... if I won.
“Shut up,” I muttered to myself. “She’s not my girlfriend anymore...”
I planted my flag at the top, declaring, “Yurie... if you’re listening to this... I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to, and I still... I still love you...” I finished, tears forming in my eyes and I was sure I sounded like Harold.
Our next challenge was to answer questions.
That was easy, though... I couldn’t battle everything... not with... Yurie stuck in the back of my mind...

(Yurie’s POV)
“Rebecca Amelia Kiyurie Chan,” Gwen said. “Look. Did you see that?”
Omigod. “Yeah,” I said, awed. He had planted the flag on the mast... and... and...!
“Did he mean that?” I asked Gwen, still somewhat wary.
Gwen nodded.
Gwen and I watched the rest, hearts racing, eyes widened.
“No!” I said as Duncan was beaten by the bear in the sports challenge.
Gwen giggled along with me as Beth found out she had been stalling.
Chris asked them both a series of questions.
“Who was voted off in the last episode?” Chris quizzed them.
“Kiyurie!” They both said. Aaw, I’m glad they remembered me...!
“Okay, Beth. What singer does everyone think she sounds like?”
Both Beth and Duncan looked puzzled.
Beyonce, I telepathically told Duncan. It’s Beyonce. People think I sound like Beyonce.
“Uh, I dunno, Celine Dion?” Beth said.
Ugh. No! “Nope!” Chris said.
“That’s easy,” Duncan said, grinning. “Beyonce Giselle Knowles, more commonly known as Beyonce, and she was born in...”
“Okay, enough!” Chris said.
“Later, losers!” Duncan said.
“Not so fast,” Chris warned. “That was Beth’s question. Yours is... What is Yurie thinking of right now?”
An image of a refrigerator flitted to my mind.
“How am I supposed to know that?! I’m not a mind reader! Uh, her laptop?”
“Nope!” Chris said. “So you both have to take the disaster challenge!
I watched with wide eyes as Duncan fell down the hole created by the refrigerator, and I gasped.
But then... Beth pulled him up. Thank you, Beth...!
“If your retainer wasn’t so vile, I’d kiss you,” Duncan said.
I gritted my teeth.
“That’s okay,” Beth sensed. “I already have a boyfriend. And you already have a girlfriend,” Beth said, winking at the screen.
Thanks... Beth, thanks for saving me for the second time.
“No,” Duncan said despairingly, looking at the ground. “Not anymore... and hey! I was kidding!” Beth laughed.
I know. Because... because of me.
Duncan and Beth arrived at the end of the course, and they ran.
Please, please...

(Duncan’s POV)
I felt a flicker of warmth towards Beth, but that was nothing compared to my strong love for Yurie...
Beth and I arrived at the same time, and I saw Kiyurie looking at her blue flats.
Everyone gasped. Yurie looked shocked. I glanced at her, hoping my love showed in my eyes...
***
“Well, Rebecca Amelia,” I teased her as she settled beside me on the couch.
“Yes?” She asked, raising her eyebrows.
I grinned, hoping that was enough. “I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
“I really didn’t mean to, because I was so tired... I accidentally voted you off....”
“I know,” she said again. “I wasn’t thinking. I knew you wouldn’t vote me off on purpose,” she said, smiling. “But was it true, what Chris said, that you wanted me dumped off a waterfall?!”
Oh... that. I had forgotten about that. I sighed. “Yes. That was me, but I was mad about what you said. I meant it as a compliment, and you told me to shut up, and I got kind of mad... but I was feeling hurt also...”
“So... you forgive me?”
“Of course. What about you...?”
“I’m fine.” Yurie flicked my cheek. “I missed you,” she said, touching her lips to mine.
“I did, also,” I said, kissing her back. She put her head on my chest, and said, “Good luck on winning.”
“Who knows what’ll happen next?” I said back, laughing.
And who knew, with Chris and all the producers... it could be anything.
Anything.
***

More of my randomness. Uh, next episode coming, soon. So, yeah. ~Yurie