Lucky Number

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            Tina and Anna had been sitting on the beach for an hour, searching for a solution that refused to emerge. Sometimes life puts you in situations where you’re truly powerless, and the girls find themselves trapped in exactly that kind of moment.

            It had started so perfectly — two girls escaping the depths of winter for a sun-drenched paradise. The prospect of trading snow for sand — isn’t that a dream come true? And for the girls, it became a reality when Anna won the lottery. A trip for two to the Caribbean Islands, complete with a three-star hotel room, felt almost magical to the cash-strapped students.

            For Anna, choosing her travel companion was effortless. Tina, her best friend and partner in countless adventures, accepted the offer without hesitation. Armed with swimsuits, shorts, and their modest savings, they rushed to the airport, hearts full of visions of sunshine and summer.

            The smooth flight gave way to a tropical wonderland — brilliant sunshine, lush vegetation, and an azure sea that seemed to whisper promises of perfect swimming conditions. Dropping their suitcases hastily in their room, they raced to the beach, eager to feel the warm waters against their skin. In their excitement to embrace paradise, they remained blissfully unaware of the people surrounding them.

            “Anna, this isn’t the right beach,” Tina froze mid-step as if she’d hit an invisible wall when her eyes fixed on a man lounging completely naked on the white sand. More striking than his nudity was how unremarkable it seemed to everyone else around them.

            Anna, busy spreading a beach towel, glanced up at her friend’s sudden stillness. Following Tina’s pointed finger, she took in their surroundings with dawning comprehension.

            “Anna, it’s a nude beach,” she whispered urgently in Anna’s ear. “Everyone here is naked. We need to go somewhere else!”

            “You’ve answered your own question,” Anna replied with surprising calm, already untying her pareo. “I don’t know a soul here, and I’ve been dreaming of this moment since takeoff. If getting naked is the price of a swim, so be it.”

            Tina watched in amazement as her friend shed her swimsuit with bold determination. Getting Anna to leave now seemed impossible, and if she was honest with herself, the allure of the crystalline water was rapidly overwhelming her modesty. After all, no one here seemed to care about such trivial matters as clothing.

            “Well, at least we’ll get an even tan,” Tina reasoned aloud, fingers finding her swimsuit strings. “You’re right — we’re complete strangers here.”

            “Exactly!” Anna called out, already racing toward the waves. “Hurry up, girl!”

            The man who’d first caught Tina’s attention watched Anna’s dash to the sea with evident interest before rolling onto his stomach, face hidden beneath a cap. Tina noted his reaction with mild amusement but quickly forgot about him as she joined her friend in the water, feeling an unexpected surge of childlike joy.

            Their carefree moment was short-lived. Upon returning to their spot, they discovered Anna’s bag had vanished — along with the cap-wearing man. The bag had contained their cash, cards, and Tina’s phone, leaving them stranded in paradise with severely limited options.

            The vacation was ruined. Though their essential documents and Anna’s phone remained safely charging in their room, and their hotel package included meals, the theft had effectively grounded them. Their grand tropical adventure would now be confined to free beaches, the hotel pool, and walks around the island — not even a bottle of water within their remaining means.

            If only she’d tucked some cash into their folder, or at least hidden the bag better on the beach. Anna tried her best to be supportive, but frustration seeped through her consoling words. Her grand vacation plans had devolved into endless calls with banks and tedious sessions with local police, trying to piece together their thief’s description.

            Two days of aimless walking and desperate brainstorming had led nowhere, until Anna suddenly sprang up from the sand, brushing grains from her long legs and tossing her hair defiantly. “No, we can’t just give up!” she declared for the umpteenth time, planting her hands on her hips. “We have to find a way out of this. I refuse to sit here and sour like kimchi in brine!” 

            The absurd comparison made Tina laugh despite herself. This was classic Anna — perpetually optimistic, refusing to let hope slip away, no matter how dire things seemed. It was her most beautiful trait, one Tina had always admired.

            “Are you planning to rob a bank?” Tina teased, scanning the beach. “A bar might be more profitable.”

            “Fortune favors the bold!” Anna proclaimed her signature motto preceding a triumphant finger-point toward a nearby banner. “And look — fortune’s waving right at us!”

            Tina followed her gaze skeptically, expecting job listings for dishwashers. Instead, she found an advertisement for that evening’s ‘Miss Bikini’ contest — free entry, cash prizes, and intriguingly labeled ‘spicy’ competitions.

            “I don’t want to know what ‘spicy’ means,” Tina mused, but Anna dismissed her concerns with a wave.

            “Hey, we’ll be in a public place,” she reasoned. “They can’t risk anything truly scandalous. Calm down, this isn’t the nude beach!” Anna nonchalantly waved away and resolutely headed towards the hotel. “Come on, we have two hours to transform ourselves into stunning beauties!”

            Tina could have pointed out that Anna would need thirty minutes at most, while she’d need weeks, but she kept quiet, following her friend while mentally cataloging objections. Deep down, though, she knew this might be their only shot at salvaging their vacation.

            Back in their room, Anna became a whirlwind of activity. She called the number, registered them both, confirmed the details, and then dove into their luggage. Tina watched as she sorted through swimsuits and set aside two white t-shirts.

            “What are those for?” Tina asked, rescuing her favorite green pareo from the growing pile.

            “The wet t-shirt contest,” Anna replied with a sly wink. “Third round. Good thing we packed these!” She triumphantly extracted a bright pink pareo. “Perfect!”

            Tina rolled her eyes at the prospect of a wet t-shirt contest, but options were scarce. Instead of dwelling on it, she focused on coordinating her gold bikini, with its intricate oriental embroidery, with the rescued green pareo.

            “So what exactly are we getting into? You mentioned contests — I want details.”

            “First, there’s the swimsuit walk,” Anna explained, still excavating her suitcase. “Basic catwalk stuff — pareos allowed, no shoes needed. Then comes the talent portion. The organizers say anything goes, within reason — dancing, singing, stand-up, whatever catches your fancy. The trick is using your talent to raise money.”

            “I’m not following…”

            “While you’re performing, an assistant circles the crowd with a hat, collecting money. Whoever pulls in the most wins that round. Then comes the wet t-shirt finale. Judges score the first round, but the audience decides the other two through their wallets and applause.” Anna’s smile turned feline. “Here’s the best part: you keep whatever lands in your hat, win or lose. Two of us means double the earnings.”

            This detail lifted Tina’s spirits, though she harbored no illusions about winning. Anna might have a shot — in Tina’s eyes, her friend was the most beautiful woman alive. But next to Anna’s radiance, Tina always felt she fell short. Where Anna had striking blue-black hair, luminous brown eyes framed by endless lashes, and full lips complementing her stunning curves, Tina saw herself as merely girlish with her red hair, green eyes, and athletic build. She never noticed how men’s gazes followed them both; they were like Keira Knightley and Salma Hayek, each beautiful in her own distinct way.

            As Anna changed before the mirror, completely at ease in her skin, Tina found herself making comparisons again. Not from jealousy, but in pure appreciation of her friend’s form — those smooth, sun-kissed curves so different from her own porcelain complexion. The tan that Tina could never quite achieve gave Anna a golden glow, like a perfectly proportioned bronze statue. Her graceful neck, rounded shoulders, and full D-cup breasts contrasted with Tina’s B-cup, which she considered inadequate. Though both had trim waists, Anna’s curves commanded attention, accentuated by her careful choice of accessories and fitted clothing. Despite being shorter, Anna’s legs seemed endless, especially in short skirts or slit dresses. Tina, blessed with model height and long legs herself, sometimes wished for Anna’s voluptuous figure, seeing her own athletic build as a flaw. She always found it amusing when Anna expressed the same envy in reverse.

            “Think we have any shot at the grand prize?” Anna’s question broke through Tina’s musings.

            “Are you kidding? I’d hand you the crown right now!” Tina replied with genuine warmth. “Honestly, sometimes when I look at you, I question my orientation. It’s a good thing you only like guys.”

            “Not guys — older men,” Anna corrected with a sly smile, striking a pose. She glided across the room with Sophia Loren’s signature sway, moving with an effortless grace Tina had never managed to replicate.

            “If you go out there like that,” Tina gestured vaguely at her friend’s unclothed state, “the men will swoon, the women will seethe, and who’ll be left to crown you as the winner?”

Anna just laughed and gave her a knowing wink.

            “Strip down, charm whatever survivors remain, and we’ll split the winnings,” Anna grinned, reaching for Tina’s hair. “Now, let’s work some magic with these curls of yours. God, I wish I had hair like this.”

            Tina could only laugh — Anna’s admiration for her features always caught her off guard.

            Time slipped away as they prepared, and they barely made it to the contest’s start, weaving through the mixed crowd of tourists and locals gathered for the free entertainment. Anna dove straight into the festive atmosphere, and even Tina, nervous as she’d ever been, found herself caught up in the carefree party spirit. After all, wasn’t this exactly why they’d come to this paradise?

            The beach had been transformed with a makeshift runway stage and backstage area. Music pulsed through the air as a DJ spun upbeat tracks, while organizers herded dozens of contestants backstage. Anna and Tina weren’t the only pair — several groups of two or three huddled together. The organizer rolled his eyes but seemed resigned to allowing group performances for the talent portion. “Everyone deserves to have fun,” Tina overheard as they approached to get their numbers.

            “We’re doing the talent contest as a duo,” Anna announced when it was their turn.

           “Let me guess — another team acts?” the organizer grumbled, but paired them anyway.

           “Are you all in cahoots or what?” the guy grumbled, but obediently put Tina and Anna in the pair. “What’s your talent? Singing? Dancing?”

           “Dancing!” Anna declared confidently, while Tina remained silent.

            “Music?” it was obvious that the organizer was ready for any surprises.

            “Whatever works!” Anna laughed. “The goal’s to fill those hats, right? Speaking of which, we’ll need two.”

            “Take three,” he gestured toward a rack of sombreros. “Keep them all night if you want.”

            Once he moved on, Tina grabbed Anna’s arm. “Are you insane? We haven’t rehearsed anything! What are we going to do?”

            “We’re collecting money, aren’t we?” Anna reasoned with another laugh. “Come on, we’re both gorgeous and we can dance. Filling a hat shouldn’t be hard.” She plucked two sombreros from the rack, positioning one jauntily on Tina’s head. “Head high, sweetie!”

            Tina sighed but decided to embrace the chaos. Anna had a point — even if they didn’t win, they’d at least have a story to tell.

            The show began with a seasoned host who clearly lived for these events, bouncing onto the stage with infectious energy. His jokes and encouragement soon had the crowd cheering for every contestant who graced the runway. Within minutes, the beach was electric with celebration, and Tina felt her nervousness dissolve in the warm wave of support from the audience.

            Appearing midway through the lineup, they were welcomed by an already-energized crowd. The audience, primed by a parade of barely-clad beauties, erupted as Anna’s graceful feet touched the stage. To Tina’s amazement, she received equal enthusiasm — unaware of how her fair skin gleamed under the spotlights, or how her artfully tousled hair blazed like flame. They met at the center of the catwalk, and in an unplanned moment of playfulness, Anna bumped Tina with her hip, drawing delighted cheers from the crowd.

            “You’re right — this is fun!” Tina admitted backstage, the music pulsing around them. “I’m starting to believe in this crazy plan.”

            The talent portion only bolstered her confidence. Contestants poured their hearts into performances — some sang with more enthusiasm than skill, others improvised dances with full commitment. A girl with bright green pigtails delivered stand-up that had the crowd howling, while another in purple dazzled leotard with card tricks that earned Tina’s genuine praise backstage.

            When their moment came to address the audience, Anna grabbed the microphone with characteristic boldness: “Ladies and gentlemen, my friend and I came on vacation only to have some jerk steal our money. That’s why we’re here tonight! So be darlings — fill our hats generously. And yes, you can buy us drinks — after the show!”

            Tina barely suppressed a facepalm, managing to maintain her smile under the bright lights.

            The DJ launched into an upbeat country tune. Tossing aside her inhibitions — after all, she knew no one here — Tina leaped off stage, sombrero in hand. Anna followed, immediately pulling a dancing gentleman from the crowd.

            “Join us, sir!” she called, and Tina caught on, flanking him on the other side.

           The simple country steps made it easy, and within moments they were moving in perfect sync.

           “Take my picture!” the gentleman called to his friend, tossing a ten into Anna’s hat after the shot. Another bill fluttered into Tina’s hat. “Thank you, beautiful ladies!”

            “My turn!” his friend handed off the phone, dropping money in both hats. “When else will I dance with such gorgeous ladies?”

            The girls exchanged knowing glances and swept him into their dance, beckoning others to join. More people fell into step with their simple routine as space naturally cleared before the stage. Soon a proper dance floor formed, with guests taking turns dancing with the girls and contributing to their steadily filling hats.

            “Bravo, girls!” The host materialized onstage, offering each girl a hand up — first Anna, then Tina, who lingered to collect final contributions from those still pressing forward through the crowd. “So, Anna and Tina… Let’s do the math and see what you’ve!”

            To their amazement, Anna’s hat held nearly three hundred dollars, while Tina’s last-minute lingering had pushed her total to three hundred and eighty. Enough to rescue their vacation. They fell into an ecstatic embrace the moment they left the stage — they’d already won, regardless of the final outcome.

            They entered the final contest riding that wave of joy, their snow-white t-shirts standing out among the contestants. Stripped down to just shirts, bikini bottoms, and sombreros, they faced the cool sea breeze under dazzling lights. 

            “Soak them!” the host commanded to wild cheers. The blast of water hit them like ice, instantly plastering the fabric to their skin. Their shrieks of surprise dissolved into genuine laughter. By the thunderous response, it seemed the entire beach had gathered for this moment.

            Tina found herself laughing with pure, uninhibited joy. The cold and the crowd’s appreciative stares at her t-shirt-clad form barely registered. Glancing at Anna, she felt another surge of admiration for her friend’s stunning presence. Her breasts looked as perfect as a true work of art.

            “You’ve got this!” she whispered confidently in her friend’s ear.

            The audience’s applause would determine this round’s winner. Anna’s ovation rivaled a World Cup finale, but to Tina’s shock, her own reception matched it. They shared the victory in the wet t-shirt contest.

            “Time for our final results!” the host purred dramatically, unfolding the judges’ paper. “Third place and three hundred dollars goes to Number Seven!” The green-haired comedian beamed. “Second place and five hundred dollars to Number Twelve!” Tina threw her arms around Anna, thrilled for her friend’s well-deserved recognition.

           “We’ve cleared a thousand!” Anna whispered excitedly. “And you didn’t want to come!”

            As they brought out a flower crown, the host milked the moment, recapping highlights from the evening. “Who will claim our grand prize — one thousand dollars from our sponsor,” he named a prestigious cosmetics brand, “plus this luxurious beauty basket? You’ll never guess tonight’s lucky number!”

            Lost in thought, Tina missed the announcement until Anna nearly tackled her, suddenly throwing herself on Tina’s neck.

            “It’s you! It’s YOU!” Anna squealed, hugging her with near-crushing force.

            “Number Thirteen! Our queen of bikinis, dance, and wet t-shirts, who broke the curse of unlucky thirteen with her radiant beauty!” the host proclaimed as they crowned Tina with flowers, loaded her arms with prizes, and snapped ‘historic’ photos.

            “See? And you doubted yourself,” Anna teased, genuinely delighted by her friend’s win and their combined success. After all, in just a few hours of unexpected fun, they’d transformed their misfortune into triumph.