Chapter Nine

After Ryu had said that all that stuff about toying with lives, coupled with the stuff he said the other day at the restaurant, about karma, I wasn’t in the right state of mind. I couldn’t get it out of my head. The words just kept reverberating in my mind.

How do I feel now that I was put in a similar situation?

I felt just just a bit of what Aera must have felt when they did it to her.

He should have said those stuff to the people who made Aera cry. To the people who bullied her for something that wasn’t her fault. He should have said it to the people who drove her to her death.

But... I’m one of those people.

In Ryu’s eyes, I’m an asshole but I have to be. If not, Aera’s death would be in vain. I can’t watch as they live their lives like nothing happened while Aera’s was cut short.

I stormed out to my car, peeling off my wet shirt and wearing a spare one then made my way back to my friends just to see them packing up.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

Sara instantly stuck to my side. She smelled like fruits and alcohol. “We’re gonna play a game in my room. It’s called Devil’s Basket but with a little twist”. Sara holds her liquor well. That’s one of the reasons keeping me from snooping early. I needed her to get drunk so I could move freely.

Chibana Sara is an extremely pretty girl with long blonde hair and hourglass physique. She had bright brown eyes and small plump lips. She and I had flings when we were in our first year but stopped when I asked Aera out. I wanted to be a true boyfriend to her.

Sara got mad and tried many times to ruin our relationship but we remained strong. At the end, she gave up but when Aera’s video spread like wildfire, Sara was one of the people who made life hell for her.

She’s definitely one of the ones. I just need to get my hands on some evidence.

“What twist?” I asked, mildly interested.

Yua, Haruto, Toshiro and the rest were already making their way upstairs so they followed behind. Haruto turned to look at me and I raised a brow to ask if he found anything but he shook his head.

Sara proceeded to explain. “You’ll pick a paper each from two basket and read out what you’re supposed to do. Only, you won’t do it in front of us. You’ll do it with one person, locked for two minutes in the bathroom. The person is whoever you pick in the paper”

I frowned. “But what’s the use? Only one person gets to see it”. What a lame twist.

She laughed. “Of course that’s not the fun part. The fun part is that you’re locked in the bathroom with someone for two minutes. You can actually do whatever you want”. She then rubbed my lower part to emphasize her point.

I gave her a smile as I understood but I still felt the twist was pointless. I could get any girl I want and do whatever I want. But if I get Sara in bed later, it might give me a chance to search her room while she’s asleep. Maybe I should do that.

We got to a room upstairs and everyone formed a big circle on the floor. It was spacious, neat and smelled like lavender. It wasn’t Sara’s room though for she never lets anyone in unless it’s to fuck.

“Ah shit. I’ll go get us some drinks. Sora and Toshiro should start writing. Come up with the dirtiest things you can” Sara said, unhooking her hands from my arm. I let out a relieved sigh.

“I’ll come with you” Yua said then followed.

“Where’s Sakura?” I asked, noticing the loud mouth wasn’t around.

“Puked and passed out” Haruto answered. I nodded. “But hey, are you okay? You’ve been quiet ever since we met up at your place. Even Yua said you weren’t being yourself when you guys met earlier today”

“Yeah man” Toshiro added as he scribbled down some things while Sora balled the papers and threw them in the basket. “You said we’d meet up but bailed on me which you never do. Is something wrong?”

The other people gazed at me, waiting for me to answer. What the hell is everyone’s problem? Can’t they mind their own business? I gritted my teeth as Ryu’s words from the other day came floating back.

“What you consider fun and no big deal will come back to bite you in the ass one day and it’ll be so bad you’ll wish you were dead. After all, your heart is already as black as your coffee”

It made me recall Hina’s pale face and suddenly, it wasn’t funny anymore but I put on a smile and said; “I guess I’m just tired. Nothing serious guys”

They both suspiciously gazed at me but then nodded. When Toshiro and Sora were almost done, Sara and Yua returned, carrying cans of beer and soda. My eyes went wide when I saw that they weren’t alone. A certain guy I was seriously starting to hate also walked in holding cans of beer.

“Guys this is my friend, Gotou Ryu. He’s new here. We met yesterday and I invited him. Didn’t actually expect him to come but since he’s here, I told him to join us for the game” Sara said.

I rolled my eyes. “Should have asked us if we wanted him here” I said which I regretted immediately because it was a clear sign that I didn’t like him. Now, all they awaited was drama.

“Last I checked, it’s not your house” Ryu said, face blank. “Nor is it your party either. No one needs your permission”

A chorus of gasps and ooo’s filled the room.

“Ouch” Toshiro snickered, rubbing his nose as he avoided eye contact with me. The traitor!

And he’s feeding them the drama with a silver spoon. Things got awkward as I couldn’t come up with a comeback. Believe me I racked my brain but not a single word came to mind. All I could do was glare.