The Ru Effect

chapter twenty seven

As I follow Samantha upstairs, the pulsating bass of the music fades into a dull thrum, replaced by muffled laughter and voices.

The hallway is dimly lit, and I can feel the tension in the air shift as we step into a large sitting room that feels much more intimate than the chaos below.

My eyes scan the space, and I immediately spot my sister, Tejiri, tucked away in a corner with Alex.

My heart races a little when I see his hands are lost under her skirt, their expressions a mix of heated discussion and something more... suggestive. It's a sight that makes me feel both curious and protective.

I catch sight of Jamie and Rachel too, chatting animatedly with a couple of guys, their laughter echoing in the semi-privacy of this room.

I want to call out to Jamie, to ask her if she's seen River, but Samantha tugs me forward, leading me deeper into the gathering.

We finally reach a circle of students sprawled on the floor, and I recognize Ethan, Ryan, and Max among them.

Ethan's face lights up as he spots me, a wide grin spreading across his features.

I manage a smile back as I take my place next to Samantha.

The energy in the room is different here- charged and inviting, and despite my earlier nerves, I can't help but feel a twinge of excitement.

This might be the party experience I never knew I needed... or the complication I didn't want.

As the game of Truth or Dare kicks off, Samantha turns to me with a grin that dances with mischief. “Okay, Kobiruo, here’s how it works. You either do the dare or tell the truth. There’s no escaping it!”

Her eyes sparkle with enthusiasm, and while a flutter of anxiety stirs in my stomach, I can't deny the thrill in her voice. What’s the worst that could happen?

I nod, swallowing my nerves. I mean, why not? It’s just a game, and I’m here to let loose a little, right?

As the game progresses, I find myself opting for truth more often than not. The questions are mostly silly—things like “What’s your most embarrassing moment?” or “Who was your first crush?”—and I can’t help but laugh at some of the ridiculous answers that circle around the group.

It feels light-hearted and fun, a welcome distraction from the whirlwind of thoughts that have been consuming me.

But I sight someone walking in and my gaze is pulled toward the entrance.

My heart lurches as I see River step inside, scanning the room with a purposeful look. He seems to be searching for someone, and I hold my breath as his eyes land on Jamie and Rachel.

For a brief moment, our eyes lock, and my stomach flips. The world around me blurs into the background as I’m caught in the intensity of his gaze.

I notice his eyes roaming over my body, taking in my outfit, but then his focus shifts to Ethan, who is sitting casually across the circle.

I watch as River's jaw tightens, a flicker of something—anger? Jealousy?—crossing his features before he looks away, breaking our connection.

A wave of uncertainty washes over me. I want to go to him, to close the distance and see what he’s thinking, but the gravity of the situation holds me in place.

Instead, I decide to stay where I am, the game continuing around me but my thoughts now tangled in the unspoken tension between us.

The game circles back to me, and this time, Samantha's eyes gleam with a challenge. "Truth or dare, Kobiruo?"

I part my lips to say “truth” like I have every other time, but something inside me hesitates.

I sneak a glance at River, sitting in the corner with Rachel and some other girl I don’t recognize, lost in their conversation. There’s no point in playing it safe, right?

"Dare," I say, the word escaping my lips before I can second-guess myself.

A collective murmur of excitement ripples through the group, and Samantha’s grin widens like a cat who’s caught a mouse. “Alright, then. I dare you to kiss Ethan.”

The room erupts in a chorus of "ooohs" as the attention shifts to me and Ethan. My heart pounds in my chest, and a wave of regret hits me hard. Damn it! Why did I choose dare?

Ethan’s eyes meet mine, and he offers me a small, reassuring smile. He looks so calm, like this isn’t the big deal it feels like to me. But it is.

I can feel the weight of the moment pressing down on me, knowing full well that no matter what happens next, it’s going to complicate everything. I’m going to hurt him, sooner or later, and this is only going to make it worse.

I try not to look around, especially not at River. Instead, I take a deep breath and crawl toward Ethan, my knees brushing against the floor as I kneel before him.

The room seems to hold its breath as Ethan gazes down at me, a spark lighting up his eyes. He leans in slightly, waiting.

I don’t want to do this. I really don’t. But there’s no backing out now. I can’t embarrass him—or myself.

My lips hover just inches from his, and in that moment, my mind races with the guilt of knowing how he feels and how I don’t. I know this kiss won’t change a thing for me, but for him? It’ll probably mean more than it should.

I lean in, feeling the room close in on me, the weight of everyone's eyes on us. The kiss was supposed to be quick—a simple peck, enough to satisfy the dare without making things worse.

But as soon as my lips brush against Ethan’s, his hand snakes around my waist, pulling me closer, and I feel him kissing me more tenderly than I anticipated.

His lips are soft, coaxing, and for a brief moment, I almost forget where I am. Almost. I feel him trying to deepen the kiss, his tongue pressing lightly against my sealed lips, but I keep my mouth shut, refusing to let it go any further. This is as far as it’s going to go—safe, controlled, nothing more.

The kiss lingers a second longer than I’d intended before I finally pull back, my heart racing.

I force a smile as the group of people around us erupt into cheers and whistles. They think it’s all fun and games, but I feel the pressure of the lie growing between us. I don't dare look at Ethan. I can’t. I just crawl back to my spot next to Samantha, my skin burning from the attention.

I glance up, scanning the room for River. My heart sinks when I see his back, retreating toward the door, Rachel following close behind with that damn victorious smirk on her face.

Our eyes meet for the briefest of moments, and she mouths a single word at me, her lips forming the insult so clearly: bitch

I clench my jaw, my fists tightening in my lap as I watch her trail after River. The pit in my stomach deepens. I should be mad at her, but I can't help but feel like I’ve just made everything worse. Again.