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But halfway through the meetup,when someone suggested Truth or Dare,she got hyper again.
"Girl,our games can get wild.Might be too much for you."
She glanced at me,feigning concern."You don't know,these guys are crazy,nothing they wouldn’t do or say.Just a heads-up:it's all for fun.Don't get upset and quarrel with Jake later."
I raised a brow,puzzled,and stayed quiet,not quite sure what she meant.
The game went smoothly,nothing too extreme—just chugging a beer or told the third contact in your phone that you have feelings towards him/her.
Until Lila drew a dare.
The game host,exchanging looks with some guys,smirked and announced,"Pick any guy here and French kiss for a minute."
Lila covered her face,coyly."What're you guys doing?Targeting me with something this crazy?Not fair!"
Though I disliked her,this Dare felt like it had gone too far from the earlier ones,almost like they were ganging up on her.
Annoyed at the guys,I set aside my grudge,siding with her as a fellow woman."Change it.That's too much."
The group,laughing moments before,went quiet.My words carried weight,and the guys looked embarrassed.
The host,Mike Larson,scratched his head,chuckling."If you think it's bad,we'll think of another one,no biggie."
"Wait!"Lila,blushing,cut in."Backing out now?How do I face everyone?Makes me look like a spoilsport."
"It's just lips touching lips.They're my bros—I'm in!"
She chugged down her beer.
Everyone froze fro a second,then the room erupted in cheers.
"Lila,badass!"
"Epic!"
"Big vibes!"
The praise rolled in.
Lila,beaming,shot me a smug look."Girl,thanks for what you said just then,but I'm not like you.I don't make a fuss over nothing."
That was a mean thing to say.
But I didn't bite back.
If she wanted to degrade herself,I'd watch the show.Why waste any words?
I nodded casually,sinking into the couch,prepared to watch some drama comfortably.
Feeling she'd won,she lifted her chin,scanning the room."I'll pick our captain,Jake.You're the leader—you take the fall!"
Jake glanced at me,flustered,shaking his head like crazt."Pick someone else.I can't."
Lila gasped,covering her mouth."Oh,I forgot your girl’s here.But she won't mind,right?"
"It's just a game.Jake wouldn’t stop loving you just cuz of a kiss"
"Your girl seems too confident to care!"
"As captain,Jake,you can't bail.I'm a girl and I'm fine with it.You dodging makes it look like you're hiding something."
She winked playfully.
Jake looked to me,conflicted.
I relaxed my tensed body.
His hesitation—not a firm,immediate refusal—was enough to disqualify him.
Since I was watching a show,doesn’t matter who’s the actor
Jake leaned in,whispering,"She's a girl,and she's gone this far.If I refuse,it’ll look like I’m humiliating her."
"Do you mind?"He stared into my eyes,nervous."If you're against it,I'll say no."
"But she's kinda pitiful.Her parents favored boys.She acts like a guy,desperate to fit in with us,only to prove she's no worse than men."
I smiled."Go if you want."
"Really?You're not mad?"He seemed thrilled,barely containing himself.
"Nope."
"Though you're my boyfriend."
Ex-boyfriend.
"But you have the freedom to act."
Relieved,he stood and walked toward Lila.
