Jesse flicked that card and saw the number 8 in bold letters amid a backdrop of the color orange. There is a caricature of an old person at the top and a child at the bottom. It’s the ‘Age Card’. This meant Jesse could pick among his friends and their ages are vulnerable to his whim.
The other three are excited. They don’t really think it’ll work. Why would it? It’s just some dumb drinking game hoping that we’re too hammered to think it’s real.
But if Jesse gets to pick, it’s Mitch. Back when they were children, Jesse and Mitch used to look like siblings. They have the same lanky figure and the same messy matted hair. When you find that type of connection with another person, a sort of competition forms. Going to a place becomes a competition on who can go there the fastest. Eating is a competition on who can gobble the most.
When Mitch started lifting weights, it became a competition on who could gain the most mass. It's tough to admit but Mitch surpassed Jesse a long time ago. Mitch is a hunk of a man while Jesse gave up on increasing his mass. Why bother when you already lost?
"If I get to pick," Jesse said. "It's you, Mitch. I'll tone you down to 14 years old."
"Dude, of all the people in this room, why me?" Mitch groaned. He has an inkling of an idea why Jesse would pick him. It's because of the competition, isn't it?
"I want to see the look on your face when your muscles turn to twig," Jesse said with a smug.
"Not even going to hide it are you?"
Jesse replied with an even deeper grin. Then suddenly, his grin turned upside down. He's frowning, then he's shocked. Surprised. Even Marcus and Jack have the same look as him.
"Dude, don't be alarmed but I think you're getting younger," Jesse said.
Mitch's short-cropped hair lengthened until strands reached past his ears. The muscle on his arms and legs evaporated to nothing, leaving nothing but toothpicks in their stead. His face softened to a youthful round. The acne scars on his cheeks appeared and disappeared, leaving nothing but unblemished skin. The muscle tee that accentuated his muscles now hangs loosely on his shorter frame. His shorts are facing the same problem. They are far too large for his belly. As the changes ended, that was the only time when Mitch finally realized what had transpired.
"Wha- what the fuck!?" Even Mitch's voice changed to a higher tone.
"I made that wish in jest. And I remember saying 15 years old. You look like you're ten." Jesse said.
Mitch opened his phone and looked at his reflection. It's real. He looked like his ten-year-old self.
His muscles! Everything he worked for. All those hours dieting and days exercising. All of it is gone because of some shitty wish.
"Tu- turn me back, now!" Mitch squeaked.
It's a serious moment but Jesse, Jack and Marcus could not help but laugh. He squeaked like a teenager undergoing puberty. It's so fucking cute.
"Stop laughing! I mean it!" Mitch stood and stomped his feet on the floor. While he's here suffering at his loss, his stupid fucking friends are laughing at his misery.
"You're stomping your feet. What are you, a child?" Marcus howled with laughter.
"You're all dead, I tell you. Once I get my body back, I'm going to beat your face Jesse." Mitch said.
Jesse looked at Marcus and laughed even harder. "He's going to punch me. I'm scared~."
"Fuck this shit. I'm leaving." Mitch pulled his clothes closer to prevent them from falling off and headed straight for the door.
"Do you think it's okay for you to leave? You can't return to your body if you don't continue the game. It says here on the back of the box." Jesse raised the box for the rest to see. It says that the least intoxicated player can decide if he'll make the changes permanent or return them to normal. It's unclear who'll win since all four of them have insane alcohol tolerance but, "If I win, I'll turn everything back to normal. Turning you into a child is just a joke dude. It's not my fault that it's actually real. Why the fuck would I think it's real?"
"Dude, you bought the game."
"I bought it but I didn't know. Don't be such a puss and let's continue the game. This is more fun than I thought."
"You got that right, brother," Marcus said.
"Hear, hear…" Jack added.
Mitch grumbled. "Fine…"
Mitch sat back at his spot and since he was next to Jesse, it was his turn to pick the next card.