A glassy green bottle was placed at the center of the table by Meliana, she looked around to study the faces of the people who sat around it. Pleased with the outcome of things, she clapped her hands, sitting back to join the game.
"Wherever or whoever the head of the bottle points to will be asked a question by the one to which the bottom of the bottle points," she explained to everyone around the table.
"I hope that we all do understand her," Jerry, her boyfriend put in.
"Of course, we do," laughed Lola and Ella rolled her eyeballs at her voice.
"A question, however stupid the question may be must be answered truthfully," Meliana said.
"How will one know if it's the truth or not?" Ella asked, brushing the side of her hair.
Meliana laughed, pleased at the question, "That is why we each have a partner. Your partner will object to it."
"And what happens next?" Matthew asked, eyeing her.
"If you can't answer it truthfully, you will have to pay some amount of money. Your partner can support that as well. And the dares, please let's be considerate. We all have our partners with us, thank you."
"However stupid the question may be," Lola repeated the words, laughing to herself as she elbowed Johnson beside her who hadn't said a word since.
"That is right. This is to remind you that we are still in the festive mood of my birthday, so let's bubble up as we begin!" She clapped her hands again then swiveled the bottle in a spin.
The bottle spun round while all eyes anticipated its outcome, slowly it dwindled and stopped. The head of the bottle pointed at Ella and its bottom at Lola. Lola covered her mouth, trying to stifle a laulaughtera, and looked back at her disgustingly.
"Why is she laughing now? What is so funny? Truth or Dare?" Ella was irritated.
"Truth. Go ahead Ella, ask away." Lola beamed.
All eyes rested on Ella, waiting for her question. Ella grunted, clearing her throat as she adjusted herself in her sitting position.
"When and how did you meet your sweet boyfriend?" Ella dropped.
Johnson closed his eyes briefly at the sound of that. Was she bittered by the fact that Johnson was clearly in another relationship beside her?
Meliana frowned and turned to look at Johnson, Matthew scoffed looking back at Johnson. It seemed that all eyes had turned to look at Johnson.
"Hear that, John. The curiosity is killing her, even in front of her boyfriend. Ella, you are something else like a case to be studied," Lola said spitefully.
Ella bit her lower lip, holding back her building anger.
"I met Johnson at an old conference in school. We know how good Johnson is with speeches. He was making a speech which had such an impact on me. I was swayed, intent on finding out more about him. So, I made the move to meet him, the rest is history," Lola made up a story.
Meliana looked at Johnson for any objection.
"It's the truth. I have nothing to say against that. It is as she said," Johnson said.
"Good, then let's move on."
The bottle spun again, its head pointing directly at Jerry, then its end at Johnson.
"Truth or Dare?" Jerry asked.
"Truth," Johnson answered calmly.
"Do you like busty ladies?" Jerry asked.
Meliana's eyes bulged then she slapped Jerry on his thigh, "what sort of question is that?" Meliana turned against Jerry.
Jerry's brows shot up, "it's just a question, babe. Nothing harmful there."
"If you don't have anything of importance to say, then you shut up." Meliana slightly pushed him off while Jerry laughed, embarrassed at that.
"Don't be so mad now, Meliana. It's only a question," Johnson answered Jerry and to Jerry, he said, "Jerry, I do like busty ladies."
Everyone at the table gasped, mostly because Lola didn't seem offended by what he had said.
"Mehn, I certainly like your boldness. You do have a thick skin to have said such a thing," Jerry said, turning to wonder how Lola could remain so calm.
Lola looked at Ella's bust then back at Johnson then she smiled. Ella had curvy, round boobs but she was certainly not busty, "you don't tell me you have a thing for busty ladies," Lola whispered to Johnson.
Johnson scoffed when he heard that. Although Ella wasn't big-breasted, he still liked her the way she was.
The bottle was turned again in a circle, its head pointed at Matthew, the bottom at Lola. Matthew smiled at that then he said.
"Truth or Dare,"
Lola side grinned, everyone was picking the truth, she should rather try something different. After, all she wasn't really in a relationship with her cousin.
"Dare," she answered, playing a dangerous game. Matthew's brows shot up, he sure wasn't expecting such a reply from her.
"Show us how you kiss Johnson," Matthew said rather calmly.
Everyone gasped again, and Lola had to gulp down a glob of saliva. This certainly wasn't happening. She wasn't expecting that, how could she kiss her cousin! Not! It wasn't happening. Johnson must have probably seen the future, she turned to look back at him.
"Certainly not happening. This is not some reality TV show," Johnson's hand dug into his pocket, bringing out some wads of cash.
"I will pay, how much is it?" Johnson asked.
"Why will you pay? Isn't she your girlfriend?" Matthew asked, trying to act surprised.
"I don't...kiss publicly like you do," Johnson told him.
"Really? But we are all friends here, aside from us, no one else is here," Jerry added.
Johnson's eyes went up to Ella, she was watching him, intently, quietly, what was on her mind? He certainly wished to know.
"How much is it?" Johnson repeated, his voice harder this time.
"Em... It's just 2,000," Meliana said quickly, shifting in her chair.
Johnson counted it and placed it on the table. The whole place was quiet while everyone stared in shock. Did Johnson just deny kissing his girlfriend publicly? And Lola certainly wasn't saying anything. Something must be fishy here.
"Why won't you kiss your babe? Every sensible guy would proudly want to do so," Matthew said, breaking the icy silence.
"Let it go," Johnson shot him a cold look.
"Of course not. You are the first to flaunt your money across the table. This is only a game and you simply cannot kiss your girlfriend, unless she isn't," Matthew smirked.
"This is different, I'm not like you," Johnson told him.
"Really? But you were there while she dressed like that. She dressed in your presence," Matthew pointed at Lola.
Lola had her hands in her lap, what had she done? She was throwing eye darts back at the two guys, Johnson and Matthew. Why would Matthew be spurting nonsense from his mouth, she certainly didn't like the outcome of this.
Lola stood up quickly, picked up the glassy bottle, and flung it across the other side of the table, towards Matthew.
"Fix your relationship, you rotten thing!" Lola yelled at him.