BETH.
“I have an idea,” Yeesha said. Then she turned to me. “Beth, since you can’t do the dare, then you’ll have to tell us a secret about you that no one on this table knows, not even Lara.”
“You’re so good at this game,” Janet said to Yeesha and Grace nodded her head in support.
“Excuse me?” I asked, taken aback by what Yeesha had just told me to do. This felt like the most uncomfortable game I had ever played in years, and it keeps getting worse. “Why would you even tell me to say a secret of mine?” I added and scoffed. “Nah, I ain’t doing that,” I concluded. Then, I said again. “And besides, I don’t think there are any secrets of mine that Lara doesn’t know.”
When I said that, Lara nodded, while Yeesha and Janet looked at each other, then back at me. I knew what they were trying to do, but it just didn’t make sense to me.
“Are you sure?” Janet dragged, staring intently at me. I let out a sigh, seeing how petty she and Yeesha were.
“Yes, Janet. Nothing at all.” I replied, trying my best to remain calm.
“I believe.” She turned to Yeesha. “You see, Beth and I are best of friends, and there’s nothing we don’t tell each other. Even our worst things.” She said to her.
“Well,” Yeesha said and shrugged. “We all have secrets and know that you cannot know someone completely. Just pray that whatever they’re hiding wouldn’t break you whenever you find out.” She added.
My mouth opened wide as I stared at her and what she had just said. I felt stung on the body and in the heart. I couldn’t explain it, but she just said was directed to me and I could feel that.
“It’s just a game. No reason to be all serious.” Lara said and turned to face me. “Since you aren’t doing the dare, we’ll move to the next person. Spin the bottle.”
“That’s just being unfair. Someone doesn’t answer any questions she was asked and the rest of us here will?” Grace asked and scoffed. “Nah, this game ain’t it for me.”
“You all should just let it go. I believe she’d answer the next time it gets to her turn. Let’s just-” Tony was saying when I cut in.
“Grace is right. I’ll take my leave now.” I said and stood up, picked up my bag from the sofa behind me and headed to the door. “You all have a nice day. I’ll be off now.” I added as I got to the door.
They all look surprised at my actions. I could tell that they must be wondering why I was suddenly leaving when it was just a game. But only I understood myself.
“Want me to give you a ride?” Luca called out to me.
“No, my driver’s outside. Thanks,” I said and walked out of the house, closing the door behind me. That was embarrassing for me, but I believed that was the best thing I could do at that moment.
That evening, I was watching the television in my sitting room, when my phone rang. Checking the phone screen, it turned out to be Tony. My heart skipped a beat as I saw it. I wondered why he was calling me.
“Hi?” I said first when I didn’t hear anything from the other side of the phone. I didn’t hear any reply. After a few seconds and he didn’t say anything, I decided to hang up. “Whatever. I’m hanging up now.”
“Wait!”
“I thought we were about to start a breathing competition. So, I wasn’t ready and I decided to-” I was saying when my mind went back to the voice I just heard. It wasn’t Tony’s. “Uh, Lara?”
“Yes, it’s me, Beth.” She replied. I couldn’t tell what was wrong, but I knew something was. Her voice sounded dull or something similar to that.
“Why are you using Tony’s phone to call me?” I asked her, a look of confusion on my face.
“I only wanted to check something.” She said and paused, then she continued. “Beth, what happened today was very stupid. I am your best friend and I would not lie to you. The thing was a game, the way you left made it seem like you were pained over nothing.”
I rolled my eyes. “Well, I wasn’t pained over anything. Besides, Grace said I shouldn’t continue with you guys since I didn’t do part of the dare. So, why stay when I won’t contribute?”
“You amaze me many times, Beth. What was wrong with the dare that you were given that you couldn’t do it, uh? I mean, Luca was there. You could have-”
“Tony was also there. Wasn’t he? If I had given Tony a lap dance and did as Yeesha dared me to, I’m quite sure you won’t be speaking to me right now. So what’s the fuss about?” I asked, a little annoyed with how she was talking to me as if she was always right.
She scoffed. “Of course, Tony is a no-go area. Yeesha was expecting you to give Luca a lap dance. It’s not like you two wouldn’t be doing more dirty things when you’re alone anyways, so what was so hard in just doing that? Now, everything is ruined. The whole get-together is scattered and everyone has left!”
I chuckled lightly. “If you’re calling to blame me and make me feel guilty for whatever might have happened after I left, then I’m not going to take that. I did what I believed was right, and not even my mother can tell me otherwise.” I said sternly.
“Beth, you-”
I heard a knock on my door. “I’ll be off now. Let’s talk later,” I hung up the call immediately, not waiting for her to speak. Then I dropped my phone on the chair.
I stood up from the chair reluctantly and headed to my front door. I wondered who would be there by this time of the day. It was very dark already, and it would be too risky for anyone to go on the streets this night. Plus it’s a little too cold.
I finally turned the doorknob and opened the door to see who it was, only to find out that it was Luca.
“Luca?” I asked, as my eyes went wide open in surprise. “What the heck are you doing here by this time of the day? In my house? Alone?” I asked the last question by looking outside to see if any of our friends came with him. But I realised no one did. It was just him alone. “Why?” I added.
“You can at least tell me to come in first. It’s freezing outside and as you can see, I’m cold.” He said to me, his hands in his joggers’ trousers.
“Oh, come in,” I said and opened the door ajar for him to walk in. Then, I closed it as soon as he did. “So, will you tell me why you’re here now?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” He asked as he walked further inside and bounced on one of the sitting room chairs.
“No, it isn’t. I practically saw you in the morning, again, I saw you during the get-together-”
“Which you left suddenly.” He added.
I rolled my eyes at him, even though he wasn’t looking at me. “Whatever. So, back to my question. Why are you here?”
“To see you, duh.” He blurted out as he shot his head in the direction I was facing. “Plus, I want to see you. We have something to discuss.”
“Uhm, what?”