"Truth or dare?" Marcus asked.
Cecil wasn't confident enough to perform the weird tasks given by them. So, he chose truth.
"Truth." Cecil answered.
"Which girl do you like from our class?'
Cecil was in confusion. He didn't pay any attention to other things except his studies, his besties, family and Noah. He indirectly looked at Noah and found he was staring at him intensely. He directly turned away and looked around the class. Then at the second bench he saw a girl writing on her notebook.
"Aerial." Cecil answered.
Aerial was the only girl Cecil knew after Katherine and Samaira. They studied and competed together. So, he had a deep impression of her. Everyone was surprised because they all had once heard the rumour that Cecil had crush on Aerial. Only Katherine and Samaira knew it was just a rumour. The rumour had started because Cecil and Aerial always stayed together in the library to study.
As per his instinct, Cecil looked at Noah while the other person wasn't looking at him. Noah misunderstood him, right? He just liked Aerial as a friend, nothing more. Katherine looked at awkward atmosphere between them and hit on Cecil's back whispering near his ear.
"Idiot!! You should have just told mine or Samaira's name. Now, Noah may misunderstand you."
Only then Cecil realized he truly was an idiot. Katherine was right, he could have just told their name. If Noah really thought he liked Aerial then what would he do? He needed to make it clear.
Before he could explain Noah, Samaira shouted, "Katherine, rotate the pen."
The pen rotated and stopped pointing at Noah and Katherine.
"Truth or dare?" Katherine asked excitingly.
"Dare."
Katherine smiled because she had already thought of the dare she wanted to give to Noah.
"Kiss the hand of the person you like."
Okay, after that dare everyone looked at Noah curiously. They also wanted to see who the popular boy of the class liked. They had never seen Noah close with any girls except Samaira and Katherine.
Noah stood up and walked around. He stopped in front pf Samaira and kissed her right hand. Everyone was stupefied. Samaira also became red. Katherine was also surprised because she had thought Noah would kiss Cecil's hand. They were so close and always together. Was it all her illusion? Did Noah really liked Cecil as just friend?
Katherine immediately looked at Cecil and found him staring at that scene without blinking his eyes. All of the colours from his face had faded away and he looked pale. So, Noah liked Samaira. Since when? They both had grown close to each other since the previous year. Of course Noah would like her. Noah wasn't like him. He was nothing in front of Samaria. Samaria was beautiful and had a good personality. Nobody would prefer a boy ignoring the beautiful and delicate girl no matter how close they were. But still from one corner of his heart, he had hoped Noah would like him too. Cecil was feeling hopeless. In fact, what was he hoping for? An impossible wish? No matter how close they were, He could only be Noah's close friend.
Everyone was silent when the bell rang indicating the period was over. Everyone went back to their respective seats. Cecil didn't even have enough guts to look at Noah after that. He was feeling ashamed of himself. He didn't talk to Noah after that. Cecil was feeling like he was rejected before he could confess. He needed to sort out his feelings before talking to Noah.
Noah also wasn't in any good state. He didn't feel good when Cecil had answered Aerial because he also knew the rumours about Cecil having crush on Aerial. He had hoped Cecil to answer he didn't like any girls. He would've been okay if Cecil had told Katherine or Samaira. But out of all girls Cecil choose Aerial. And out of anger he also kissed Samiara's hand for his dare. He looked at Cecil to see his reaction but found him sitting without any expression and reaction. Cecil didn't even budge after seeing that. He felt angry. He himself didn't know why he was feeling like that.
Noah was even more angered. Cecil ignored him the whole day and Noah also ignored him. And about that dare, Noah didn't take it seriously, anyway it was just a game. But he forgot the fact Cecil also answered that question because it was just a game.
They left the school without saying goodbye for the first time. Katherine was feeling bad at herself. She shouldn't have been stupid to give such dare. She ended up hurting Cecil. Seeing Cecil's dejected back, Katherine hugged Cecil.
"Cecil, don't take it in your heart. You had to face this harsh truth sooner or later."
"Yeah and it is also just a game. Don't take it seriously." Samaira said.
"Do you like Noah?" Cecil suddenly asked.
Samaira was silent for a while. "I like him as a friend not romantically."
"But Noah likes you." Noah said.
"It's okay. Even if he likes me, I won't like him. Now. be happy." Samaira said hugging Cecil.
"T don't care whether you like him or not." Cecil said. Whether it was a game or not, Noah chose Samaira.
Katherine and Samaira didn't know how to console him. They felt like they should leave Cecil alone for a while. They nodded their heads in a static understanding and stood far away looking Cecil walking away. For the first time in his life, he was feeling jealous at Samaira. He was wishing if Samaira wasn't here then maybe Noah would have chosen him. He was feeling angry and suffocated. What should he do?