02. Stupid Spin the Bottle

REMIND ME AGAIN that I have a boyfriend.

It’s been fifteen minutes since MJ and I get back from the comfort room and now, she’s not talking to me. She goes straight beside Bella while I sit lonesome on my chair, trying my best to stop staring at her but to no avail! So yeah, someone should really be reminding me that I have a boyfriend.

Speaking of, my boyfriend, Gab has been calling me on the phone but I keep on rejecting him. He will just scold me for coming here anyway.

Sigh.

My thoughts are disturbed when Kelly nudges my side and gives me another drink. I smile at her and mumble my thanks.

"You missed my performance," she says, laughing.

"Yeah, I did. I'm sorry about that."

We talk with a louder voice since the music from the karaoke is too loud. Some of our friends are even singing and dancing near the big screen. Marky and Jonas continue smooching each other's faces, Abegail and Vivian are in a corner, shooting Tiktok videos, while MJ is taking pictures of Bella.

Looking at the two of them, I suddenly feel that gnawing sensation inside of me. Geez.

Kelly leans her head on my shoulder as I raise the glass on my lips. My eyes are still focused on MJ. Gosh, she looks so hot as she brushes her hands on her shoulder-length hair, while the other hand holds the camera. I almost panicked when she suddenly turns her gaze towards my direction and smiles at me. I feel my cheeks burning. She might have felt that I am staring at her. Huh. Embarrassing.

"Hey, stop staring at MJ like that. She might melt," Kelly teases.

"I wasn't...staring," I quickly reply, rolling my eyes at her.

"Yes, you were!”

“Not guilty,” I say, raising my hand and taking a large gulp with my beer.

Kelly makes small circles on the air using her index fingers, “I know it when you’re lying, girl.”

I pinch her cheeks. "You're drunk already. Give me that," getting the glass out of her hand.

"Oh, come on!" she whines, stomping her foot like a kid. I chuckle.

"Suit you right, you blabbermouth."

I feel my phone vibrates as Kelly pours me another drink.

"Wait a sec," I say, fishing my phone on my pocket jeans.

"Who's that? Is that Uncle Pete?" Kelly asks. Uncle Pete's my father.

"No. It's just Gab."

"Oh... are you guys okay?" she asks, suddenly feeling serious, "you seem to be a little...off recently."

"Yeah, of course. We're fine," I say, disposing my phone back to my pocket, "we often argue but everything's fine."

"Good. Good," she says, nodding, "you said he's busy with college?"

"Yeah. Super," I reply, “it's been weeks of not having a proper conversation."

Kelly pokes my arm. "Don't worry. You know what college is. Gab's still on his adjustment stage.”

"Thanks, Kelly. You really know how to make me feel better," I say, hugging her.

"Of course. Isn't that my role as your best friend?" We both laugh. I start to fix her unruly hair into a bun. This girl really sucks whenever she gets drunk.

"Um, Lexis?" she eventually asks as soon as I'm done with her hair.

"Yeah?"

"Am I allowed to drink some more now?" she asks, flashing her eager eyes at me like a cat. She looks so cute you couldn't imagine that this girl's going to be a doctor a year from now. She literally looks like a sixth grader.

I pose a moment, then says, "No.”

“Ugh! Kill joy.”

Kelly pulls my hair and suddenly tickles my stomach. I struggle to get away from her but she's already straddling on my lap. And fuck, she's hitting my weak spots!

"S-stop, you moron!" I shout, gasping. We laugh so loud that everyone starts to look at us.

Right! Thank you, Kelly. We just caught everyone's attention. She's still chuckling as we settle on our seats.

"You're so annoying," I say to her. She playfully sticks her tongue out and pours herself another drink. Geez.

***

“Alright, guys. Let's play a game," Abegail, the birthday girl, announces. She claps her hands so she could get everyone’s attention. She stands in front of us and settles her hands on her wide hips. Everyone excitedly gets back to their original seats. Vivian hastily grabs the remote control and turns down the volume from the karaoke.

"What kind of game?" Marky asks in his gay voice.

"Hmm... how about Spin the Bottle?" Abegail replies.

A wave of disapproval immediately fills the room.

"What's wrong with Spin the Bottle? It's a cool game!" she whines.

"Fine, since it's your birthday, we'll do it," Jonas remarks. Marky is already sitting on his lap.

"That's fine with me. It won't take much space," says Bella. She's right, considering that the karaoke room is not spacious enough.

"Let's just do it. You're the queen of the night."

My eyes automatically flash at the person who said that. MJ. And she’s still not talking to me. Sigh.

"Okay... I'll spin," Kelly excitedly exclaims, holding an empty bottle of beer in her hand.

"Wait!”

Everybody looks at my direction with confused look.

“Before you do that, the one who will refuse to do his or her task will drink two shots."

"That's a good idea, Alexis. But I think, it would be better if we'll have three shots," Vivian replies.

"Agreed!" Abegail exclaims, "you're so naughty, Vivian."

The rest of us laugh. "Well, I'm just up for a challenge," Vivian replies.

"Okay...that's settled then. Let's first arrange our seats and prepare the glasses!" Kelly remarks, getting her leader mode on.

"And, let's go for some party music," Marky says loudly, making us clap our hands and laugh like party animals. So, we watch as Marky punches some Lady Gaga MTVs on the karaoke. Then the rest of us clear the table and arrange ourselves into a big circle. Jonas sets three glasses on the table and opens three big bottles of beer. Another case sits idly on the ground. MJ sits right in front of me while I sit between Abegail and Marky. Kelly then scoots between me and Abegail.

"Are you ready?" Kelly asks, "Okay! Remember that anyone is free to give any tasks. Let’s just don’t kill each other.”

Everybody chuckles.

She starts spinning the bottle. We hold our breath as we watch it go round and round and round...

until it's already slowly spinning around us. Kelly unmindfully holds my hand. Then slowly, the bottle stops and points at Marky. We clap and shout with glee.

“Me! Me!” Bella says excitedly.

"Hey, it should be Abegail who'll set the task first," says Jonas, "it's her birthday anyway." We nod our heads in approval.

"Go ahead, Bella. I don't have anything in mind yet," replies Abegail with a forced smile on her lips, "besides, she likes sharing what's mine."

Everybody gasps. "Oooh, something's fishy between the two of you," Vivian remarks. Bella just shrugs her shoulders and flips her hair. Then she crosses her arms and looks at Marky. The latter rolls his eyes. We all laugh. I think, we already know what Bella is up to.

"Okay Marky," Bella says on her most seductive voice, “kiss me...on the lips."

We clap our hands again. Crazy girl.

“NO WAY!" Marky's voice is booming as he hides behind Jonas, "if it's Jonas, I will not hesitate!"

"Boooooo...no kill joy please." Laughter.

"That's just so gross!" Marky angrily exclaims. He pours drinks on the three glasses and literally gulps all of it in no time. Then he glares at Bella who is mouthing the word coward in front of him.

Kelly spins the bottle again and this time, it points to her. She dramatically gasps. Jonas volunteered to give the task.

"So, Kelly," he asks, licking his lips, "tell us about how you lost your virginity."

We all look at each other, suddenly feeling confused.

"That's ridiculous. This kid, Jonas? Seriously?" MJ exclaims. Right. Kelly never had a boyfriend her entire life!

Kelly heaves a sigh.

“Okay, so this is the first time that I’m gonna say this but I lost my virginity—”

“Wait, you already did?” I ask, suddenly feeling hurt and insulted, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m sorry,” she squeaked, “I lost it like—two years ago?”

I shake my head. I’m the best friend. She should have told me about it, right?

"I had a one-night stand...with my professor."

The girls pop their eyes and starts squealing like pigs. I just roll my eyes.

Damn. How many secrets are still there to unravel?

"Did it hurt?" Vivian blurts out.

"Well, I can't remember any pain. In fact, my partner helped me achieve several orgasms--"

"Just stop, Kelly," I say, cutting her off, "you didn't need to spill that out."

I silently get the bottle from Kelly’s hand and spins it. Surprisingly, it points at MJ.

"Okay, MJ. Sing us a song," Vivian says excitedly.

Without a word, MJ pours drinks on three glasses and drinks it just like what Marky did. The rest of the girls roll their eyes in dismay. Hah! No one can ever ask this girl to sing.

The game continues and each of my friends has started to take their tasks seriously. I am not in the mood anymore but I have no choice but to witness how they ridiculously execute their tasks. Abegail does a lap dance in front of Marky. Jonas is challenged with a hundred push-ups with Bella sitting on his back. They make Vivian licks her elbows, and Bella dances Budots on top of the table. That has given Jonas an advantage of staring at her pink panties. Perverted bisexual.

MJ has been picked several times already and yet, none of her tasks are accomplished. She has already consumed twelve glasses for the cheat.

The good news is I am not pointed yet. Thank God for that.

"Okay... it's your turn now, Lexis." Everybody says 'Finally!'

I groan. Kelly has just broken my momentum! "I'm not doing it," I say, mumbling as I reach for the drink.

"Violation!" they all say in chorus. I freeze. Huh?

"You are not allowed to turn down a task unless you have already heard it. Otherwise, you are bound to do it," Bella explains.What?

"S-so...does it mean... I don't have a choice?"

"Exactly!"

Fuck. "No one ever explained that earlier," I exclaim.

"It's part of the game," they all say.

Man. "Fine,” I grumpily reply.

"So, Alexis," Abegail says, leaning her elbows on the table, "Let’s make this extra special so that it won’t be unfair to all of us.”

I wrinkle my forehead. “Go on,” I reply, taking a drink from my beer.

“Alexis, I want you to make out with MJ in front of us.”

I literally spit my drink. What the hell? Almost everyone says ooooh...except MJ.

“Are you serious?” I blurt out.

“Yes!” Abegail replies with a sassy tone. I almost knock the drinks on the table.

"What is wrong with you?" I ask. There is no fucking way I'm doing that.

“How many minutes?”

I gasp as I hear MJ’s voice.

“Two minutes,” everybody replies.

“MJ, it’s not funny," I snap.

"You don't have a choice," Abegail insists, resting her hands on her hips, “it’s just a game.”

"Right! A stupid game. And all of you are stupid, like how stupid Abegail's brain is and how stupid this birthday party is," I grumble.

"I'm not stupid!" replies Abegail.

"Well, I can kiss MJ if you don't want to," Bella interjects.

"Don't you ever do that, bitch," replies Abegail furiously, pointing a finger at Bella.

"And why? You said this is just a game," Bella snaps back.

"Shut up. You are not Alexis," Abegail replies, "and you'll never gonna kiss MJ in front of me. Ever." Bella sticks her tongue out and gives MJ a side hug. The latter is looking bored already.

"Try me, Abegail," says Bella.

"Woah, guys. You're stealing Alexis' spotlight," Marky says, snapping his fingers in the air, "and what's wrong with you? Are you both in your period?"

I shake my head and groan. Lady Gaga's Poker Face keeps playing on the screen and the arguments are literally spinning on my head. I rest my elbows on my lap and hide my face behind my palms.

"Babe," MJ suddenly says, "let's just give them whatever they want." I raise my gaze towards her, so does the others.

"And the two of you," she says referring to Abegail and Bella, "shut the fuck up."

"Yeah, way to go, MJ!" shouts Jonas and Marky behind me.

"Go, biatch!"

My jaw literally drops to the floor as she stands up and slowly walks towards me. Are we really doing it? She scoots between me and Kelly, facing Abegail. I stare at my best friend to ask for her help but she just looks away. Then I glance at Abegail. A mocking smile is plastered on her lips while she's intently staring at MJ. I look MJ in the eyes, silently asking her what the hell is she doing?

They say that the eyes are the windows to your soul and I think, it's true. Because I as look at her, smiling at me, I could see a hint of pain in her eyes. Something is seriously off. I could feel it. But I couldn't think better anymore. Everything around me just suddenly stops now that MJ's face is just few inches away from me.

My breath hitches into an unsteady swerve. The tingling sensation I felt earlier inside the comfort room with MJ is back all of a sudden.

"Kiss me, Babe," she whispers. Her hot breath lightly brushes my jaw.

"MJ, l-let's not do this—“

I whisper as I tightly close my eyes. I couldn't get a grip of myself anymore. I feel so weak in front of her.

"Let's just get this over with," she softly replies.

"Let's just pretend that this is a movie."

Right. A movie. MJ lifts my chin. The sound of cheers are surrounding us but I couldn’t really hear all of it. Her lips are about to crash on mine, any seconds now...

For the first time, a girl is going to kiss me… I breathe an air of anticipation. I shiver as MJ's nose brushes my cheek, and my heart is beating like crazy. I could feel myself drowning with excitement despite of my revolts.

But then somebody is suddenly screaming on my head.

'GAB.'

'GAB.'

'GAB!'

N-no. I immediately snap back to reality. This is wrong. I almost forgot about Gab. Without a word, I tightly clasp MJ's hands on my cheeks and stand up.

"I'm sorry. I can't."

Everyone grumbles and moans.

"Alexis, this is just a game!" I hear them shout at me.

This is not just a game for me. You wouldn't understand, I scream in my head.

All I want to do now is to get out of here as quickly as possible. And I want the game to stop. The idea of kissing MJ has almost kicked the sanity out of my mind. I also want to shake the tingling sensation that I am feeling since MJ started touching me. I want to run away from them. So, I run. I run away from that karaoke room filled with disco lights. Away from the disappointed faces of my friends. Away from the betrayal of my best friend...

Away from MJ.