CHAPTER 7:A GAME OF TRUTH OR DARE!
MAYA.
I maneuvered through the crowd of enthusiastic partygoers, I approached Eric and Sasha, only to find that they were completely engrossed in whatever was happening behind them.
It caught me off guard that my friends, who usually are so aware of their surroundings, hadn’t even noticed me standing right in front of them. I couldn't help but wonder what could be so captivating that they missed the chance to greet their fantastic best friend.
So, being the overly dramatic bitch I am, I grabbed hold of Eric's baseball hat and whacked him on the head while smirking in satisfaction when an ''Ouch!'' sound came from him before asking...
“What are you fools gossiping about?”
Eric winced, his cheek flushing as he instinctively rubbed the spot where my playful slap had landed. I shot him a mock-serious glare, unable to suppress a chuckle at our banter.
“Gossiping?”
Sasha exclaimed, her voice rising with indignation. “Did this bitch just say we’re gossiping? We don’t gossip!” She threw her head back, her long hair cascading like a waterfall, as her eyes sparkled with a mix of disbelief and challenge.
"What do you take us for?" she exclaimed, her voice dripping with theatricality as she struck a pose, her hands on her hips. I rolled my eyes at her melodrama.
Did she think I was naive enough to fall for their games?
"Oh?" I replied, feigning interest as they both leaned in closer, their eyes wide and bursting with anticipation, as if I were an unsuspecting prey about to be ensnared in their web of deception. At that moment, an idea sparked in my mind.
"Alright then, enlighten me. Who is that blonde girl over there, the one plastered in makeup like a living doll?" I asked, gesturing casually toward the girl they had been stealing glances at only moments before. Sasha's gaze flickered to Eric, her expression suddenly resembling a deer caught in the harsh headlights of an approaching vehicle, before she finally stammered...
"Oh, that girl over there? That's Stella, though most people know her as Ella," Sasha remarked, her eyes flickering with a mixture of admiration and judgment. "Her dad happens to be the current minister of education, which gives her quite a lot of social power around here. Oh, and she's a second-year student in our school, just like us."
"Really? What’s so fascinating about her?" I asked, my curiosity piqued but tinged with skepticism.
Sasha leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Rumor has it that she’s been linked romantically to, like, half of our school's population. Can you believe it?" The idea made my stomach churn; it seemed so disgusting.
"And there’s more! It’s said that she’s currently dating Drew," Sasha declared, her expression a mix of excitement and disbelief as if she was revealing a scandalous secret. I couldn’t help but scoff; of course, she was.
"Alright, alright... it's not gossiping if it’s true, right?" I teased, half-laughing at the absurdity of it all. Sasha gasped dramatically in response, her hand flying to her chest as if to emphasize the weight of my words.
“Hey! There’s a significant difference between gossiping and simply staying updated, alright?” she exclaimed, her eyes glinting with mischief. The last part of her sentence dripped with spite, but it didn’t rattle me—in fact, it only fueled my triumph.
Ha! Take that!
“Sure, let’s roll with that,” I teased back, a smirk dancing on my lips just in time to dodge a fluffy pillow she swung in my direction, laughter bubbling between us.
Meanwhile, Eric was still passionately trying to shift my perspective, wanting me to see things from their angles when, suddenly, someone chimed in with an infectious enthusiasm, “Hey, everyone! We’re gonna play a game!” The shift in the air was palpable, excitement crackling like static electricity, drawing us away from our previous banter.
The room was alive with animated cheers and enthusiastic shouts as everyone eagerly debated which game to play. After what felt like an eternity, a decision was finally reached: bear pong it would be. I, however, stood my ground and flatly refused to join in the revelry.
The mere thought of sipping from a stranger's bare body was utterly distasteful to me. My so-called 'cousin' didn't hold back, calling me a chicken with a mischievous grin. Not one to let such comments slide, I shot him a defiant look and flipped him the bird, unapologetically embracing my bold, rebellious spirit.
I don't think he knows how much I want to stab that stupid bitch he's currently rubbing his tongue all over her body in the name of this stupid game. He had the nerve to smirk at me when our eyes met briefly and I glared at him heatedly. Asshole!
"That was so much fun! What should we do next?" someone exclaimed, their voice brimming with excitement. Another voice erupted, "Truth or Dare!" The cheer that followed felt like a wave crashing over me, and I couldn't help but groan at their choice of game, a relic of childhood that seemed utterly ridiculous at this moment. When will this never-ending ordeal finally come to a close?
"Alright, who's going first?" asked one girl, her enthusiasm almost palpable as we gathered in a makeshift circle on the floor. A newcomer, someone I had never laid eyes on before, confidently declared that she would take the first turn. A smirk played on her lips as if she had just hit the jackpot in a game of chance. Seriously, what's with the over-the-top excitement for a silly game?
"Truth or dare, Drew?" She slurred her words, and an exasperated sigh threatened to escape my lips. It was painfully obvious that the entire group was practically drooling over him at this point.
"Dare," he replied, and I could sense the tension in the air—what fresh chaos would unfold next?
''I dare you to French kiss Ella on the mouth for like...three minutes straight'' Jerks! Of course, they'd pick something like that! They probably orchestrated this entire scenario with that girl in mind.
Stella gleamed under the soft light as she applied another layer of shiny lip gloss, her gaze fixated on Andrew. With a playful smirk, she pushed her enhanced curves toward him, pressing their lips together in a fervent kiss. I averted my eyes, only to find them entangled with Hossein’s, who looked at me with a twinge of apology etched across his face. I quickly turned away, unwilling to confront the sympathy that lingered in his expression.
As they finally pulled apart, breathless and beaming after what felt like an eternity of three minutes spent lost in each other, the crowd erupted with cheers, treating the moment as if they were witnessing an exhilarating rescue operation. I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, feeling a strange mix of relief and longing wash over me.
"Truth or dare, Sasha?"
An irritating voice sliced through my thoughts, pulling me back to the moment. It was that annoyingly upbeat Stella girl, and to my dismay, Sasha opted for the safe route — she chose truth.
"What's like, the dumbest thing you've ever done with a friend?"
Seriously? Is this happening? I couldn't help but roll my eyes; it felt like we had stepped back in time to the cringe-worthy days of middle school.
With a playful pop of gum, Sasha leaned back, her expression turning mock-serious. "Oh, that's an easy one! There was this one time I snuck out with Maya to get a butterfly tattoo on her backside. And get this..."
Oh no, this is taking an uncomfortable turn! I hastily signaled for her to stop, but she merely shrugged off my silent plea and pressed on, oblivious to my discomfort.
That bitch!
"We almost got kidnapped that night!" she exclaimed, her voice rising with excitement as she recounted the reckless escapade. She let loose a flood of details about my impulsive decision to sneak out of our hostel during high school, driven by the thrill of adventure and the allure of getting a tattoo of that incredibly rare, mesmerizing butterfly I had spotted during P.E. It had danced elegantly in the sunlight, and its beauty had captivated me.
As her words spilled out, laughter erupted among our friends, each chuckle punctuating the absurdity of our youthful recklessness. But across the room, Hossein’s expression was far from amused; concern etched itself into his features as he recalled the somber tale I had shared with him, revealing the darker layers of my past. Unable to bear the weight of his worried gaze any longer, I shifted my focus, only to find myself ensnared by Andrew’s piercing stare. Panic surged through me, and I felt a rush of heat creep into my cheeks. Shit!
I never anticipated receiving that kind of look from someone like him—piercing and momentarily intense, as if he were peering right into my soul. It was only for a fleeting second before he reverted to his usual carefree demeanor, but that brief encounter left my heart racing.
What a weirdo!
Did I actually just imagine that?
“Maya, your turn. Truth or dare?”
Thank goodness for the timely interruption. I need to play it safe and choose the truth; I don't trust these rowdy kids enough to expose myself to their wild dares. My instinct was confirmed when I noticed the guy's face fall with disappointment, which only made me smirk in satisfaction.
Maya: 1
Unknown Guy: 0
''Is it true that you're a virgin?''
What the hell, bitch? Give a girl some warning before you dive into my personal life like that. (sighs) Kids and their curious minds.
"If you even have to ask me a question like that. Then, I think we all know who the real virgin is; buddy'' I replied in the most bitchy tone I could muster, everyone laughed at him, and he looked down in embarrassment.
Good! He should be embarrassed, asshole. My sexual activities are none of your fucking business you jerk!
“Hossein, it’s your turn. Truth or Dare?” The atmosphere was thick with nervous anticipation, and his dejected sigh echoed my own rising tension. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally muttered, “Dare.” Oh, the poor unsuspecting soul, what had he gotten himself into?
“I dare you to spend seven minutes in heaven with… Amaka!” The words hung in the air like a heavy fog, and I watched as Hossein’s face drained of color, his expression a mix of shock and dread. He swallowed hard, his gaze darting nervously in my direction as if he were searching for a lifeline. In a burst of adrenaline, I shot up from my seat, unable to contain myself any longer.
“You know what? Screw this ridiculous game and screw you!” I thrust my hand toward the smug guy who had dared him, gripping Hossein's wrist tightly as I dragged him outside, away from the suffocating tension of the room.
“You shouldn’t have done that, Maya,” Hossein protested, his voice a strained whisper as we stepped out into the cool night air, the weight of the moment still hanging heavily between us. He's just too naive for his own good.
''Would you rather I'd let you suck face with that...what's her face?'' He scrunched his nose immediately in disgust and shivered for extra measures and I laughed.
“God, no!” he exclaimed, his eyes wide with dramatic realization. “I would have probably passed out or thrown up on her before anything even happened.” I couldn’t help but burst into laughter, the sound echoing off the walls as I let myself slide down to the floor, propping my hands under my chin. He mirrored my position, two friends sharing a moment of levity amidst serious confessions.
“Then you really shouldn’t complain about how I handled that, buddy!” I teased, a playful smirk spreading across my face. He groaned in response, a mix of exasperation and amusement, as I reached out and gently ruffled his hair, my fingers tangling in the soft strands.
“Gosh!” he said, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
“This secret is killing me, Maya. They’re my best friends, my brothers. I shouldn’t have to keep anything from them. I feel like trash holding this burden all alone.” His voice wavered slightly, revealing the weight of the conflict pulling at his heart, each word laced with a mix of guilt and longing for clarity.
"I'm sorry." Those words slipped from my lips like a whisper carried away by the wind.
"I honestly don't know what I'd do without you by my side," he said, his voice a blend of vulnerability and warmth. I let my head fall against his shoulder, the weight of the moment settling around us like a thick fog, as he continued speaking softly.
"We can’t help how these things unfold, Hossein. I know you understand why we need to keep this a secret." A deep sigh escaped his lips, resonating with the gravity of our situation, as he tilted his head to rest against mine. Together, we sat in silence, simply absorbing the world around us—lost in our thoughts, our gazes drifting into the abyss of uncertainty.
Then, breaking the stillness, he ventured, "So, what's that about you sneaking out and almost getting kidnapped in high school?"
I groaned loudly at the memory, burying my face in the crook of his neck, feeling the warmth of his skin against my cheek. It was a futile attempt to escape the inevitable interrogation.
He knew me all too well; there was no way I could evade the question. My high school years had been a chaotic whirlwind of rebellion, filled with reckless choices that defined my teenage angst. I vividly remembered the butterfly tattoo inked onto my skin as a reckless assertion of independence—my little act of defiance against the guardians who seemed to reign over my every move. I was just a lost soul navigating a tumultuous sea of hormones and confusion, searching for ways to unleash the pent-up energy that coursed through my veins.
But none of my audacious escapades ever bore fruit. My matrons, steadfast in their resolve, simply brushed off my antics, their stubbornness rendering my teenage rebellion powerless and unheard.