"Aurora, it's nice to see you again." Paul replied, walking in.
Paris smirked to herself and let the games begin.
Tightening his chin and his fist, Orion adjusted his stiff self, trying to control his sudden anger.
"Sit, sit." Paris said as a maid pulled a chair out of the blue for Paul. Paris shifted the chair to face her mother. Paul sat there, innocent and energetic.
"What are you doing here?" Aurora asked, recovering from the initial shock and proceeding to further shock levels.
"For dinner, for Paris's graduation? Yeah." He said so, nodding and smiling heartily at Aurora. "And you, Orion, what's good, my man?" Paul smiled, reaching in for a handshake, which Orion coldly ignored.
"Dad." Paris cleared her throat, maintaining a compelling, hard stare at her father. Orion reluctantly stretched his hands and shook Paul.
"Leonards, please meet my guest, Paul." Paris said, mischievously yet excitedly. James and Jade stared at each other before returning their gaze to Paul and Paris.
"We know him," Ivan laughed, rolling his eyes at Paris.
"I didn't ask you!" Paris snapped, startling Ivan.
"Paris invited you?" Mrs. Jade asked, looking confused.
"I just said he's my guest; what did that mean to you, woman?" Paris's rude voice pierced through Jade, who slowly sat back in amusement.
"It's so nice to be here, and Paris, congratulations. How was college?" Paul asked, ignorantly digging into the chicken.
"It's nice, isn't it? College was hell, but I'm Paris Zander; I do the impossible and still look pretty while at it." Paris laughed, cooing up with Paul.
"Good evening," a soothing voice greeted from the door, and once again, the table froze, hundreds of emotions flying in the air.
"Madam Halsey, I'm so glad you could make it. Come, come sit." Paris squealed, throwing her arms in the air for a hug. Madam Halsey walked towards Paris ever so elegantly in her heels. She wrapped her arms around Paris's neck, leaning on her smile.
The breathing of everyone on the table aside, Ivan seized, and more hell kept walking in.
"Okay, what the fuck is going on? Who are these people?" Ivan finally said it aftera few minutes of Paris and Halsey whispering to each other.
"Aurora, Orion, it is ever so pleasant to see you again. Madam softly said, taking her seat. She smiled at Paul as they shook hands.
"It's rude to not reply, mom and dad," Paris said, staring at her parents.
"Paris, why are actual guests here?" Aurora finally voiced out.
"What kind of question is that? Can I not invite other people to a dinner party that I'm hosting in honor of my graduation?"
"We already celebrated that," James imputed. Paris immediately shot him a deserving death glare, leading him to an indefinite state of silence throughout the dinner.
"Learn to mind your business and speak only when you are spoken to." Paris hissed, pointing her fingers at James.
"Hey man! Don't point at my dad like that." Ivan defended hitting Paris's fingers off.
"If you touch me again, I'll kill you." Paris bluntly said this without moving a single muscle.
"Oh no, now I'm scared." Ivan chuckled, relaxing in his seat.
"Oh, Paris, is he your boyfriend?" Madam Halsey asked, nudging Paris.
"No!" She replied with so much hateful aggression. Madam moved back, with her hands in the air before dropping them to her thighs.
"Lady, who are you anyway?" Ivan hissed.
"Mr. Orion's beautiful ex-girlfriend." Paris replied, instantly bending her to her plate.
"Oh, I see, Mr. Orion, you invited your ex to celebrate your daughter? Real low man." Ivan said, staring at Orion.
"I did not invite her." Orion breathed, trying to hold back his anger.
"Oh no, I did. I mean, she could have been my mom if little Paul here didn't fumble." Paris said, looking back up, her mouth full of food.
Aurora's sharp breath gladdened Paris.
"No kidding, Paul, are you Mrs. Aurora's ex? You are a fine man, my brother!" Ivan laughed loudly, aggressively handshaking Paul, who smiled back.
"I don't want anyone feeling uncomfortable here, so let's stop talking about who's an ex, okay? How about this? Let's play a game." Paris said, smiling broadly as she stared around the table. "Does it ring a bell? Playing games at dinner parties? Well, if it doesn't, then let me remind you of the game Ivan and I played recently. If you remember, please put your hands up."
Ivan and Paris lifted their hands while the others sat still like lifeless things.
"I said put your hands up!" Paris shouted, hitting the table with her hands.
By reflex and instinct, everyone aside from Paul and Halsey jerked up, lifting their hands. Paris grinned, very satisfied.
After they put their hands down, Ivan leaned forward, impatiently asking,
"What game are we playing? Does it involve love or signing blank paper?"
"It's a very simple game; everyone must participate, and if you win, you get a surprise. The game will start from me, to dad, to mom, to Mrs. Jade, to Mr. James, to you, Ivan, to you, Mr. Paul, to you, Madam Halsey, and then to me again, just like that. No one can quit the game, or else you'll owe everyone sitting on this table one hundred million dollars each. Easy rules, got it?" Paris nodded, waiting for everyone's response.
Slowly, with high uncertainty, each person nodded at different times, giving Paris the go-ahead she didn't really need. Yes or no, the game will play.
"Hurry up, what game?" Ivan hurriedly said, already annoyed at Paris's suspense.
"The game we are playing is called truth or dare. Shall we?"