The cool night air carried the distant hum of the city as laughter and chatter filled the grand hall. The get-together party was in full swing, and the warmth of nostalgia clung to the atmosphere.
Outside on the terrace, Hazel and Zamiel stood in silence, their emotions hanging between them like an unspoken promise. But before either of them could say more, the door swung open, and Ezekiel's voice boomed through the night.
"There you two are! Come inside—everyone is waiting! We are about to play some games, and it would not be the same without you."
Hazel and Zamiel exchanged glances before following Ezekiel back into the lively room, where the rest of their classmates were gathered.
Just as they stepped in, a commotion drew everyone's attention to the center of the room.
"Let go of the cup, Jason!" Jasmine snapped, gripping a delicate glass cup tightly.
"You let go first!" Jason shot back, his grip equally firm.
The two stood at a standstill, eyes locked in a silent battle as their fingers refused to release their hold. The tension between them was almost comical, and the entire room fell into an amused hush, watching the standoff unfold.
Hazel, standing nearby, sighed and shook her head with a knowing smile. "This is indeed a hate-love relationship."
Her words echoed in the room, and Jason and Jasmine instantly froze, their faces betraying their shock. As if burned, they both quickly released the cup at the same time, causing it to wobble in midair before Jason instinctively caught it.
A burst of laughter erupted from their old classmates, and Sarah, one of their high school friends, smirked. "You two have been seeing each other for years, and the only thing you can do is fight over a cup? Some things never change."
Jason huffed, rolling his eyes, while Jasmine crossed her arms, her face slightly pink. "It is not like that," she muttered under her breath.
Ezekiel, ever the peacekeeper, clapped his hands to cut through the teasing. "Alright, alright, enough about Jason and Jasmine's legendary rivalry. Now, let us move on to something fun. Our next game is called 'Truth or Dare!'"
At the mention of this word hazel was taken back to their highschool day, and she smiled.
A collective murmur of excitement swept through the room.
Ezekiel continued, "The rules are simple. If you refuse to answer a question or complete your dare, you must drink a cup of alcohol. And I am not talking about the mild stuff—we are going all in!"
The room buzzed with anticipation as everyone nodded in agreement.
"Alright then," Ezekiel grinned mischievously. "Let the game begin."
Little did they know, this game would lead to more than just harmless fun—it would uncover secrets, spark forgotten emotions, and test the limits of their past and present relationships.
Dramatically, spinning an empty bottle in the center of the circle.
The bottle slowed and landed on Jason.
Everyone leaned in, grinning. Ezekiel smirked. "Alright, Jason—Truth or Dare?"
Jason crossed his arms, his usual defiant smirk plastered on his face. "Dare."
Without missing a beat, Ezekiel pointed toward Jasmine. "I dare you to admit the most annoying thing about Jasmine."
The room erupted with laughter. Jasmine rolled her eyes but leaned forward, waiting for Jason's response.
Jason smirked, pretending to think hard. "The most annoying thing? Easy. She talks too much when she's nervous. It is like her mouth has no off switch."
Jasmine's jaw dropped. "Excuse me? At least I do not brood like some angsty novel character every time someone disagrees with me!"
The group roared with laughter again. Even Hazel chuckled, shaking her head. The tension between Jason and Jasmine was undeniable, their banter laced with something deeper.
The bottle spun again, landing on Jasmine this time.
"Truth or Dare?" Sarah asked, grinning mischievously.
Jasmine narrowed her eyes. "Truth."
Sarah leaned forward with a wicked smile. "Have you ever had feelings for Jason?"
The room went silent. Even Jason froze, his smug expression fading slightly. Jasmine opened her mouth to protest but then snapped it shut. The heat rose to her cheeks, and instead of answering, she grabbed the cup of alcohol and downed it in one gulp.
The room exploded with teasing laughter and cheers. Jason tried to play it cool, but Hazel noticed the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth—like he was holding back a smile.
The game continued, the dares becoming bolder, the questions digging deeper.
When the bottle landed on Zamiel, all eyes turned to him. He leaned back casually, his cool demeanor unwavering.
"Truth or Dare?" Hazel asked, her voice steady, though her heart raced.
Zamiel's dark eyes met hers. "Truth."
Hazel hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "What is your biggest regret?"
The room grew quiet. Zamiel's smirk faded, replaced by a shadow of something more serious. He looked down, his fingers tapping against his knee before he finally answered, his voice low.
"Not saying things when I had the chance."
The words hung in the air, heavy and unspoken, but Hazel felt them settle deep in her chest.
The bottle spun again, this time landing on Sarah.
Ezekiel grinned. "Truth or Dare?"
Sarah shrugged. "Truth."
Ezekiel leaned forward. "Did you ever have a crush on someone in this room back in high school?"
Sarah laughed, shaking her head. "Oh, definitely. I had the biggest crush on—" she paused dramatically, scanning the room, "—Jason."
Jason nearly choked on his drink, and the room erupted with laughter again. Jasmine rolled her eyes but smiled despite her self