*Warning: Explicit themes, language

After the stupid game was over, and everyone had had his or her turn, the music was turned back up and the lights dimmed again. A few people resumed dancing.

I headed straight for the patio and closed the door behind me, hoping no one would see me out there. I dropped down into one of the patio chairs and closed my eyes. I could still picture how everyone held their breaths when I walked reluctantly over to Minda for the dare. I had every intention of giving her the quickest and barest of pecks on the cheek, but she grabbed the wide lapel of my disco suit and pulled me down so that my lips fell squarely on hers. I immediately pulled away and straightened myself up. After a tense moment, I heard someone laugh, and I ducked back to my seat. I turned to one side and instinctively wiped a hand over my lips.

Now I just needed to be alone. I hadn't even glanced to see how Bella had reacted to that unexpected and unwanted kiss. The game had continued, but I paid no attention to anything after that.

I could hear the loud music thumping from inside the apartment and missed the subtle sound of the patio door opening and closing.

"Jin."

"Ah!" I yelped, startled. It was Minda. "What-what do you want?"

"I just wanted to make sure you're okay," she said. "You disappeared from your own party."

"I wish you hadn't done that," I replied in a monotone.

"It was just a silly game," she said. "Nobody thought anything of it. But if you keep acting all weird, then people will talk."

"People already talk," I said. "Why'd you have to kiss me like that?"

She sat on another chair. "Look, Seokjin, if I had acted differently, then everyone would definitely think that we were trying to cover something up. If we were really fooling around, would I have kissed you like that in front of everybody? Just calm down and play it off. Everything's fine."

"I wish I was as confident as you," I shot back. "Or at least as good a liar as you. Do you know what my question was?" I paused. "When was the last time you lied? I couldn't answer that. I've been lying for so long now."

She dragged her chair closer to mine. "And that was your choice. I told you to tell Bella the truth, didn't I? I even offered to speak to her."

The music was drowning out her words, so I leaned closer to her. "What?"

Minda put her hand on my thigh as she also leaned closer. "I told you to tell Bella the truth about what happened. Why didn't you?"

"I don't know," I said. "I didn't want to make things worse."

"What's the big deal?" she said. "It was just a blow job, for crying out loud! So what? I could give you amazing blowjobs any time you want, and it still wouldn't be anything bad!"

I realized that we were both speaking louder before I registered the fact that the music had gotten louder, less muffled. I turned and saw the patio door was wide open. And I saw Bella standing there listening.

Her eyes were wide as she looked from me to Minda. I pushed Minda's hand off my leg, but Bella had already gone back inside the apartment.