"What?" I unconsciously said out loud.
Is he freakin' kidding me? Make out? With Sebastian? They all know what I'm currently going through, and yet they expects me to do that dare?
This have got to be a joke.
"I said I dare you to make out with Seb. Easy as that," Walter repeated, teasing me more.
Easy? Well, eff you.
My eyes automatically shifted to Sebastian. When our eyes met, I suddenly felt conscious of myself— something that I didn't felt earlier when he was with me. Then as if like a magnet, his lips attracted my attention. I don't know if it's because of the dare, but all of a sudden, it looked sexier to me; more kissable than it already was.
I only managed to look away from it when I felt my cheeks flush for god knows what reason.
Damn it! I hate this feeling. Bakit ba kasi ito pa ang kailangang i-dare sa akin?
"So, are you gonna—"
"I'll pass," I quickly said even before Walter could finish what he was saying.
Everyone was dumbfounded. As if I just made a mistake; as if I just rejected a wonderful gift. But I didn't pay them any more attention than I should, and just grabbed the shot of whiskey that was waiting for me.
Ayaw ko na sanang uminom. Halos kasusuka ko nga lang ng lahat ng laman ng t'yan ko kanina, tapos ngayon, heto at malalamanan na naman siya ng alak. Pero wala naman kasi akong magagawa.
I'd rather drink a whole bottle of whiskey than kiss Sebastian. I know what kind of guy he is, and I know myself. He's the kind that could make girls fall for him without even trying. He's dangerous. And I would be in danger of falling for him, because I'm that kind of girl— the one who easily falls for someone. Especially now that I'm in a state that needs that kind of distraction.
I know that if I kiss Sebastian, it would be the start of something that I am not mentally and emotionally ready for. I just know it. So as long as I can, I want to put a distance between us. After all, it's better to be cautious than sorry.
But... God. Damn. It. Fate won't fucking let me do what I want!
Because as soon as I put down my empty shot glass on the floor, the bottle in the middle of us stopped and pointed at— that's right —Sebastian.
"Oh, shit!" Walter said, almost laughing.
Everyone screamed and cooed like mad persons. While I, on the other hand, was only able to bite my lips in frustration.
Because I know. I know what Walter's dare for Sebastian is, if the mischievous look he gave me wasn't any indication.
"Are you ready, Seb?" he asked.
I turned to Sebastian and caught him looking at me. Siguro iniisip niya na rin ang naisip ko— na kami na naman ang target ni Walter. Pero hindi kagaya ko, napakakalmado lang niya. 'Yon bang ayos lang sa kanya kahit na ano pa ang ipagagawa sa kanya.
He even have a freakin' smirk on his face when he said, "Yeah. Shoot."
Walter's smile grew wider. He was obviously delighted by Sebastian's answer. So without waiting another second, he replied, "Okay... I dare you to make out with Maureen."
I knew it.
I groaned when he finally said it, loud enough to catch everyone's attention. But I couldn't care less.
This is what I hate about Walter when he has alcohol in his system! He makes people do unbelievably irritating dares! And he wouldn't let it go until he saw it done.
Bakit ba kasi inimbitahan pa ang isang 'to rito?
"Ano, Maureen? Lugi ka pa?" sinabi ni Andrea na may kasama pang pansisiko.
"Kung ayaw mo, ako na lang," sabat pa ng tumatawang si Danielle, hanggang sa halos lahat na sila ay nakisali.
Siguro ang mas akmang tanong ay kung bakit ko ba naging kaibigan ang mga 'to?
Minsan napapaisip na lang din talaga ako e. Magkakaiba rin kasi kaming lahat ng ugali. Yes, we do get along well because of one thing— partying. But aside from that, we don't have that much in common.
Yasmin is a bit of a fashionista, something that I am clearly not. She's popular with the boys, and always manages to get their attention. Then there's Andrea who's fierce and in some ways, a war freak. She says whatever the prick she wants, even if it's upsetting or insulting. While my best friend, Danielle, is just too friendly with everyone to the point that it's idiotic.
The boys have more in common than us, though. Because, of course, they're boys. Just throw sports or video games or any pervert topic into their conversation, and bam, they're best of friends. Simple as that.
And then, there's me. The awkward, bipolar, and funny yet in an embarrassing way kind of girl. In short, I'm the alien in the group. The foreign creature who's sometimes nice, sometimes cold, and sometimes both. I can get along with everyone— yeah. But I don't really fit in that well. Except of course, when I'm in a party.
Kaya nga napapaisip talaga ako, kung paano ko nga ba naging kaibigan ang mga 'to.
"Hey, that's not how this game goes! I get to decide who Sebastian is going to do the dare with," Walter said, replying to both Danielle and Yasmin when they said they'd volunteer in place of me.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes as I listen to them bicker. Yasmin kept persisting that I clearly don't want to do the dare, which was absolutely true. But Walter was just too stubborn.
"She already rejected your dare, Walter. She don't want to do it."
"That's what makes it fun! Because now, she can't say no."
"Come on, give others a chance. H'wag nang ipilit 'yong ayaw."
"Nope."
"Then how about I just drink the whole damn bottle? Would that make up for not doing your stupid dare?" I butted in, in hopes of ending the conversation.
But when Walter smirked, I knew that it won't be that easy.
"Why don't you go ask Seb if he's willing to drink it with you? It's his dare, after all."
I glared at him. "Ano bang trip mo, Walter? Bakit ba lagi mong sinasama si Sebastian?"
"Like I said, it's his dare, Maureen. Either you'll drink the whiskey with him, or you'll both do the dare."
I shook my head in disbelief. Hindi na talaga ako makapaniwala sa katigasan ng ulo ni Walter. He really wouldn't back down. So I just ended up not answering him, before shifting my eyes to Sebastian.
He was just there on his spot, sitting comfortably, looking like he was enjoying everything that's happening. As if what he's watching is a movie.
When our eyes met, I flashed him an almost pleading look and mouthed, "Will you?"
He would, I immediately thought.
Because for a second, he looked like he was gentleman enough to not do the dare. He even escorted me to the bathroom earlier. But then, he smiled at me. A kind of smile that revealed a different side of him— a playful yet mischievous Sebastian.
Then in a teasing way, he said, "Sorry, Maureen. I wanna be sober 'til later, so I'll just do the dare."
Napa-awang na lang tuloy ang bibig ko. Hindi ako makapaniwala na sasabihin 'yon ni Sebastian.
I don't know if I'm the only one who noticed how his attitude changed, but I was sure of it. He's like a different person for a split-second! He really is dangerous... And I am screwed, even more than I thought I was earlier.
Because when his lips finally brushed against mine, my mind just went blank. Every sane thought about the risks of kissing him and my plan to at least, try not to fall for him flew out of my head as I close my eyes to savor the sensation he was giving me. And before I knew it, my lips were already working with his, as if I never really rejected the dare, and as if we were the only ones in the room.
I felt Sebastian's hand that was supporting his weight on the side of my leg, while the other one was working its way from my shoulder to the back of my head. He pulled my face closer, deepening the kiss. It left me dizzy, as I search for a reason to pull away. Nothing came to mind. And then Sebastian pushed back slightly, his chest heaving up and down for air, just like mine.
"See? It wasn't that bad, right?" he said, almost whispering while still catching his breath. "Why are you avoiding it, anyway?"
Because I knew what's gonna happen next, is what I wanted to say.
I would definitely not be able to forget about the kiss. I'd end up thinking about it like the idiot I am, then it'd make me more conscious of myself when he's around. And before I could even stop myself, I've already fallen; too attached to even distance myself.
That's how it always goes.
"That's—" I said in a low voice, but then I was cut off when my phone started ringing loudly, bringing me back to my senses.
I pulled away from Sebastian, then hurriedly took my phone out of my pocket. When I saw the name written on the screen, the banging on my chest just got louder. Before I even realize that everyone was watching me, I was already standing on my feet, ready to leave the room.
"Sorry, I have to take this," I said to no one in particular.
I felt someone's hand grabbing my wrist. I turned around to see who it was, and saw Danielle's concerned face staring at me.
"Is that..." she said, but trailed off because she knew who it was already.
I still nodded though, and said, "Yeah... It's him." Then I turned to everyone, and pointed at the door. "Gotta go. Be right back, guys."
I didn't even waited for their answer and just made my way out of the room. My mind was in a mess that I couldn't even decide what I should think about— the kiss, my friends' reactions or the call.
I went downstairs, trying to find a place where it's more quiet and private, in hopes that it could also clear my thoughts. Then my feet brought me to the pool area. It wasn't totally silent in here, but it's the best place I could have regarding the fact that I'm in a party. So when I made sure that there's no one here with me, I finally answered the call that I clearly wasn't expecting tonight.
"What is it?" I said, in lieu of hello.
For a few seconds, I couldn't hear anything from the other line aside from the soft breathing and car engine. But then, a deep voice shattered the silence between us. A voice so familiar to me that it sent shivers down my spine.
"Hey, babe."