Clock's second-hand gets stuck at "6:00 pm"
It was party time.
First, the game was being played, followed by cake cutting and dance.
A long royal table was arranged. The game called "Never have I ever" was going to be played. Some overly excited people arrived early and took their respective seats. Others were still getting ready and were late, Danica was among those people.
Danica's mom wasn't part of this game, she preferred to watch and enjoy the scene. Whereas, Danica's father was heavily interested in the game and was part of it.
Everyone occupied their respective seats and were waiting for Danica to arrive. Alfred's lovely and deep eyes were eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of her.
"Your friend is always late" Paul whispered to Nina
"Great things take time" Nina replied to Paul with brooding eyes.
"Uh...Yeah, she is great" Paul coughs and answers
The atmosphere was now hubbubed with the chattering of everyone.
"It's going to be fun" Mr. Lee mumbled to Sean in excitement.
"Yeah, today everyone's truth will be out" Sean replied and grinned.
"Yeah"
The sound of heels alarmed everyone, she was coming!
Danica entered the hall. She was looking charismatic and elegant in red velvet bodycon dress. It outlined how curvy and elegant her body was. Alfred gets so awestruck by her elegance, that he forgets his world and beholds only Danica. He was madly in love, he loved her imperfections and perfections, her delicacy and wildness, he loved every thing about her. He couldn't help, but, fall for her.
She approaches the table, every chair was occupied. Now, she had no choice, but, to sit beside Alfred.
Alfred stands up and pulls a chair for her.
Danica's mom smiled as she observed Alfred's chivalric gesture.
Danica sits.
Alfred pulls her chair close to his, bringing her more close to him.
Danica looks at him as if asking --what are you trying to do?
Alfred winks at her.
She immediately looks away.
"So, my dear all. Today, we are going to play a game titled 'Never Have I Ever'. Let me explain to you the rules of this game" an employee of CR Company who was invited, said.
"Rules are very simple..." said the man "each player will take a turn and list the experience they have never had. If someone has done the action in question, they will take a sip of beer. If no one have had that experience then, the person who stated the experience will kiss a person sitting next to him, and will also elaborate his experience"
"What...?? a kiss??" Mr. Lee mumbled inwardly. He then looks to his side and finds Sean sitting beside him.
"No way!! I can't kiss this Sean" Mr. Lee mumbled with popping eyes
"I can't kiss you too" Sean said and winced.
[ No way!] Danica thought.
"Hey...." Danica said and stands up
"If no one have had the experience, then that player will take a drink. Don't you think that is the correct rule? How can you change it to kiss?" Danica said, looking at the man
"Uh....it was Mr. Paul's idea. The rules have already been decided and now the game has started. We can't change the rules" the man replied
Danica looks at Paul with fierce eyes and curses him inwardly
"Aishhh. ..this Paul. How can he set such a rule? Look what he is making me do. He is making me kiss a guy. I will see him afterward" Mr. Lee mumbled in anger
Danica sits.
Game started
"I never have ever peed in a pool" Paul said and took a sip of beer
"Me too" Nina giggled and took a sip
Everyone takes a sip.
"I never have ever thought a friend's baby was ugly" Nina said and took a sip
"I never had either" said a woman sitting next to her and took a sip
Everyone takes a sip.
"I never have ever lied about my age" said a relative and took a sip.
Everyone takes a sip, except Paul.
"Uh...so, I have lied" Paul said and didn't take a sip of beer.
"Oh, now kiss the person beside you and explain your experience" Mr. Lee chuckled and said
Paul kisses Nina and elaborates his experience "Uh...I lied to Danica about my age"
Danica's eyes broadened and she inquires him "What?"
"You said you are just twenty-seven" Danica adds
"What's your real age, man? please tell us" Mr. Lee chuckled and said
Paul sighs
"Yeah okay, I am twenty-nine years old" Paul replied and winced.
Alfred laughs
"Okay, let's continue the game now" said the man
"I never have ever read my friend's or partner's text messages" said a woman and took a sip
Everyone takes a sip, except Mr. Lee
Everyone stares at Lee.
Paul laughs inwardly and says "Come on Lee, kiss a person sitting beside you and elaborate your experience"
Mr. Lee curses Paul inside his mind.
Sean flinched.
"Kiss...Kiss.." everyone said and rapped their hands on the table.
Mr. Lee winced.
"I will make you kiss my shoes" Mr. Lee mumbled inwardly looking at Paul, who was laughing hard
Danica and Alfred were laughing too
Mr. Lee had no choice, but, to kiss Sean.
Mr. Lee abruptly kissed on Sean's cheek.
"Now, elaborate your experience" Paul said and chuckled
"Yes, I have read messages of a friend. He had been away from his cellphone for a while, continuous messages were popping up on the phone, so, I peeked into those intimate messages. I also checked his very old and previous messages" Mr. Lee explained
"Who is that poor friend?" a relative inquired half-jokingly
Paul was laughing inwardly and also asked him the same thing.
"That poor friend is..." Mr. Lee gulps and then looks at Paul
Paul's laugh stopped as his friend stared at him.
"Why are you looking at me?" Paul mumbled
"That friend is none other than Paul" Mr. Lee finished his sentence.
"WHAT!!!" Paul's eyes widened and he stands up.
Everyone started laughing.
"LOL" Danica mumbled inwardly and giggled.
"How can you read my messages?" Paul said. He was flustered.
"Let's talk about that later" Mr. Lee replied
The game continued.
"I never have ever witnessed a murder" said a woman and took a sip
Everyone takes a sip except -- Danica, Alfred, Sean, Mr. Lee, Nina, and Paul. They all stared at each other and gulped.
[ If only you all knew, we didn't only saw a murder, but we committed one as well ] Sean thought and wiped the sweat on his head.
[ We don't need to be so honest, in this game. Else, everything will be exposed ] Danica thought
"Uh...I just forgot to take a sip. I didn't witness a murder" Danica said and took a sip.
"Yeah, me too" Alfred said and took a sip
Paul, Sean, and the other two did the same.
The game continued
"I never have ever lied to my parents" said a woman and took a sip
Everyone takes a sip except, Danica.
Danica's parents eyes broadened as they saw that.
"Okay boss, please kiss a person beside you" said an employee
Danica stared for a minute.
"Kiss....kiss..." everyone started rapping their hands on the table.
Alfred smiled and glanced at her intently. He brings his face closer to her.
Danica had no choice, but to kiss him.
She was feeling shy to give a kiss in front of everyone, even her parents were present.
She gave a kiss on his cheek briskly.
"Okay so, mom and dad" Danica said and looked at them
"I lied to you once. I didn't spend..." Danica stops and then proceeds "I wasn't with Nina the entire time, I was with Alfred"
"It's alright Dan," her mom said and smiled.
The game continued for some time, which was then followed by cake cutting and taking some weird and funny photos. Every moment was cherished and enjoyed. This was the happiest moment.
Now, it was time for dance.
Everyone had chosen a partner. Danica was standing at a distance, she didn't want to engage in this dance thing.
"Why aren't you dancing?" her mom asked
"I am not interested" Danica answered.
Meanwhile, Alfred approaches her and upheld his hand in front of her.
"Would you like to dance with me?" he asked and smiled.
Danica was about to say 'No', but, before she could, her mom pushed her forward.
"Yeah, she will" her mom said
Danica looks at her mom with popping eyes as if saying -- How can you?
Danica unwillingly gives her hand to Alfred
Alfred takes her to the hall, where everyone were about to dance.
The light went off and a white-colored light flashed on and off every time.
Alfred caressed his hand smoothly around her waist and brought her more close to him. Her breathe tightened, as he did that. Her heart started fluttering. However, she controls it and wraps her hand around his neck. They danced now.
He turns her around promptly while dancing and gives her a warm hug from the back. He then placed his fine chin on her shoulder and smiled. Danica's heart started throbbing more. The way he caressed her while dancing, was compelling her to love and reciprocate.
She didn't want to surrender to love.
[ If he continued to caress me like that, I wouldn't be able to restrain myself anymore. I need to get out of this Dance] Danica was thinking fast.
She gets herself out of his hold and leaves the area abruptly.
Alfred follows her.
Alfred grabs her hand and pulls her towards him.
"Why are you going away from me? do you want me to die?" he asked and tucked strand of her hair behind the earlobe.
"I don't..want to dance" she said and removed her hand out of his hold.
Alfred holds her hand once again. He stares at her beautiful face and he couldn't resist himself anymore.
He then crushed her lips with his and kissed and bite them passionately. He pushes her towards a pillar while kissing and bussed her more passionately.
Danica stops and pants.
"Someone will see us then..." she said while panting heavily
"Let them see, I am not afraid to show my love" Alfred said and continued to smooch and caress her.
Danica knew very well that if he continued to love her like that, then it will certainly arouse her and she will give herself to him completely. So, before that could happen, she pushes Alfred away.
Alfred was alarmed. He was confused when she pushed him away suddenly.
Danica's heavy breathes normalized and she speaks
"Control yourself" Danica said
"Stop acting as if you love me. I know you are just attracted to me. There is a difference between attraction and love" Danica said sternly
That words ached him badly. However, he was still determined to prove his love. He understood her past and also knew very well that she was still harboring wounds from the past. It wouldn't be easy to mend and heal them.
"I love you. It's not an act, Danica" Alfred replied humbly.
"I love you for, who you are. I love your perfection and those imperfections. There is a difference between lust and love. I don't have lust for you...I just love you. I just want to give you pure love" Alfred explained
He takes her hand gently and places it on his chest. Her cheeks went red with blush and shyness. A thumping of heart could be felt clearly.
"Can you feel that thumping?" he asked with depth in his eyes.
*********
Author's note:-
The artwork mentioned in the second last paragraph doesn't belong to me. It belongs solely to the original creator.