Chapter 4

The light in the room was much brighter than the moonlight in the garden, revealing Desmond's beautifully chiseled face and his captivating obsidian eyes.

The way he stared at me made it seem as if he felt something for me, or perhaps I was imagining things that might never come true.

I wanted to scream at that moment, tired of the torture I was going through, but then he nudged me on the shoulder, breaking my train of thought.

He pointed towards Noah and laughed. "Your brother outdid himself for this birthday."

I frowned as I looked around and sighed.

There was a mini bar in the living room with a bartender, and as if that wasn't enough, our baby pictures adorned every corner of the walls, with ribbons bearing our names hanging everywhere.

"Hello, everyone! Drink and have fun tonight! Being eighteen is the best thing ever!" Noah yelled into the microphone, laughing.

"Mind you, I already got permission from the King and Queen about the party, so my dear sister Sonnia, stop glaring at me." He laughed pointing towards Sonnia, who indeed was glaring at him.

"Your siblings are chaotic." Desmond commented, laughing.

"And that is why I am the only sensible one amongst them." I replied, joining in the laughter.

"So, this thing about choosing your partner, no one caught your eye yet?" He asked, and it piqued my interest as to why he was suddenly interested in my partner.

"Why are you asking about my partner?"

Desmond laughed and grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the bartender. "Give us something strong, dear bartender."

The bartender nodded in response, bowing his head at me.

I acknowledged him with a wave and then faced Desmond. "What did you mean when you were asking about my partner?"

He suddenly leaned in, and I blinked as I felt his breath on my neck when he opened his mouth to speak. "You have something on your forehead." He said, his fingers making contact with my forehead, making me gasp and close my eyes in the process.

"Easy there." He muttered, his voice sounding like a melody in my ear.

Was this the power of having a crush on him, or was it because I had always wanted him to be mine?

I couldn't figure it out.

I hated that I was feeling like this and still unable to express my mind.

My eyes fluttered open, and I saw him smiling at me.

"There was something on your forehead." He said, pointing to our drinks. "Here, cheers to being eighteen."

He handed the drink to me and clinked his glass with mine. "You don't have to say anything about who you want if you're not comfortable with it." He said and gulped down his drink. "It is..."

"No." I cut him off before he could finish talking. "It's just that the person might..."

I gulped down the drink, feeling its warmth down my throat, but it didn't stop me from speaking. "The person might not be someone who wants me."

"Hey," he said, placing his hand on my shoulder. "Don't say that. You're a perfect person, Randy. You are the crown prince, selfless and kind to everyone. I don't think whoever you want wouldn't want you."

He said, bursting into laughter.

I joined in, though I knew deep down that if he knew he was the one, he wouldn't like it.

"I want another drink!" I shouted to the bartender, and the night continued in a haze of drinks.

For once, I wanted to shed my perfect attitude, knowing this might be the only time I got to spend with him.

"Game time!" Noah announced, stopping the music. "We're going to play a game amongst ourselves. It's called Truth or Dare!" He declared.

"I'm sure you're all familiar with the Truth or Dare game, right?" He asked, and they all chorused with a yes.

Truth or Dare was a popular game where whoever asks Truth or Dare orders the one who has to answer whether a question for a truth or give the person a dare.

It was a game I usually hated, but that night, I decided to forget my perfect self.

"Let's go," I said, dragging Desmond's hand and pulling him towards the rest.

We all sat down on the ground, and Noah explained the rules of the game.

Whoever refused to do the dare or answer truthfully would be tasked to taking a round of tequila.

After he listed out the rules, the game started.

There were ten of us playing, and each of us picked a card to get who would be questioned first.

I sighed when I realized I was not the first starting. I looked at Desmond, who also shook his head, indicating he was not starting either.

One girl announced that she was asking, and another guy announced that he was the first.

The girl asked, "Truth or Dare?"

"Dare." He responded.

The girl issued her order to the guy, instructing him to dance with the girl he liked the most at the party.

He picked another girl and danced with her, fulfilling the dare.

This continued into the night, and we all drank alongside.

Everything went well until Noah picked the question card and Desmond picked the answer card.

"Who is asking?"

Noah shouted, raising his card. "I am!"

"Who is answering?" Desmond sighed as he lifted his card. Just as he was about to stand up, he almost lost his balance, but I held his waist and helped him stand upright.

He rubbed my hair in return and laughed.

Damn, his laughter was much more beautiful when he was drunk, and it made me smile like an idiot.

"Your..." He belched and then chuckled. "I meant to say my king. I choose Dare!"

Noah looked around and then smiled mischievously.

He also seemed drunk, though not as much as Desmond, who was staggering while standing. "Desmond," he cleared his throat and pointed at Desmond. "I want you to, um..." he placed his hand on his chin and then snapped his fingers when an idea came to his head. "I need you to pick someone of the same sex in this room and kiss him."

Everyone gasped and wowed at what he had said. "Ooooooooou...."

They all started murmuring amongst themselves, but I was shaking terribly where I was.

I looked at my brother and saw him laughing, unaware of what he had caused me.

He was laughing while my heart raced at the thought of Desmond kissing another man.

I will kill anyone who dares to kiss Desmond!

I was annoyed at the stupid game my brother had started. I clenched my fists while waiting patiently for who Desmond would pick.

If he dares pick anyone, I will...

Desmond pointed towards me.