CHAPTER 19: Truth Or Dare

The hallway buzzed with weekend energy. Alicia had expected silence, but instead, laughter and chatter filled the air. Groups of students lounged against the walls, some whispering secrets, others arguing over who owed who money.

A puff of smoke drifted by, and she blinked in surprise. Two guys leaned against the corner window, cigarettes between their fingers, laughing carelessly.

“Smoking is allowed in the hallway?” she murmured, half to herself.

No one answered. She shook her head, weaving her way through the crowd until she reached the last door on the right, Kevin’s room.

She knocked twice.

The door opened, revealing a guy she didn’t recognize. He had a bright smile but something about him looked… off. His eyes were shadowed around the edges, almost bruised-looking, though his skin was fair.

“Hey,” he greeted casually, leaning against the doorframe.

“Hi,” Alicia replied, eyes narrowing slightly. “Is Kevin in?”

He was about to answer when Kevin appeared behind him.

“Hi, Alicia,” Kevin said, brows lifting. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Yeah, I, uh…” she started, smiling sheepishly. “I just wanted to talk to someone. You’re my only friend.”

Kevin froze. Friend? The word hit him like a whisper he wasn’t sure he should hear. He schooled his expression quickly, masking the flicker of surprise.

Before he could respond, Alicia slipped past him and into the room.

The guy from the door, obviously Kevin’s roommate went back to sit on his bed, headphones dangling from his neck. Alicia sat on Kevin’s chair like she owned the space, crossing one leg over the other as she studied the room.

Kevin, awkward but polite, leaned back on his bed.

“So… what do you want to talk about?”

“Nothing in particular,” she said with a shrug. “Let’s just… talk about anything.”

“Okay?” he replied slowly, unsure where this was going.

She smiled slyly. “What were you planning to do before I came?”

He hesitated. “Reading.”

She groaned dramatically. “Boring.”

He arched a brow. “Excuse me?”

“Let’s play a game instead,” she said suddenly, sitting up straighter.

Kevin blinked, caught between amusement and confusion. “A game?”

“Yeah.” Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “Rock-paper-scissors. Whoever loses has to answer a question truthfully.”

Her smile was all challenge, and she knew it. She was good at this game and this was her chance to get the answers she wanted.

Before Kevin could respond, his roommate cleared his throat loudly.

Alicia turned her head. The guy she still didn’t know his name was grinning like a troublemaker caught mid-scheme.

“That’s boring,” he said, leaning forward. “Let’s make it interesting. How about spin the bottle? With a twist of truth or dare.”

Kevin shot him a warning look. “Denis, don’t…”

“Oh, so your name is Denis,” Alicia cut in, giving him a pointed smile. “Why don’t you just admit you’re bored and want to join in?”

Denis laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Yeah, yeah. Guilty as charged.”

He walked over to his table, pulled a glass bottle from the drawer, and held it up like a trophy.

“Tell me when you two are ready.”

Kevin sighed. “This is a bad idea.”

But Alicia was already on the floor, legs crossed, grinning. “Oh, relax. It’ll be fun.”

Kevin gave her a long look, then muttered, “You’re trouble.”

She smirked. “You have no idea.”

***

The three of them sat in a loose circle, the bottle glinting under the dim ceiling light with the room’s curtain closed.

Alicia brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Okay, Denis, since this was your idea, you go first.”

Denis grinned. “Gladly.”

He spun the bottle. It made a soft whirring sound before slowing… and landing on Kevin.

“Truth or dare?” Denis asked eagerly.

Kevin’s expression was deadpan. “Truth.”

Denis tilted his head. “Hmm. Is there anyone in this room you like?”

Kevin didn’t flinch. “No.”

Alicia rolled her eyes. Of course he’d say that.

Denis pouted dramatically and said. “Cold.”

It was Alicia's turn to spin the bottle, this time landing on Alicia.

Denis clapped his hands. “Ooh, our guest of honor.” He leaned forward, eyes glinting. “Since you spined and it landed on you, we both get to ask questions.”

“Fine,” she said, looking unfazed.

“Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

Denis smirked. “What’s your fetish?”

Alicia tilted her head, pretending to think. Then, with a teasing smile, she said, “Shutting people’s mouths.”

Denis burst out laughing while Kevin looked mildly horrified.

“Remind me never to argue with you,” Denis said between laughs.

Alicia turned to Kevin. “Your turn to ask.”

He hesitated. “I’ll pass.”

Denis groaned. “You’re so no fun.”

The game went on, laughter, teasing, harmless questions until Alicia spun the bottle again, and it landed on Kevin.

Her pulse quickened. Finally.

“Truth or dare?” she asked, voice light but curious.

“Truth.”

Perfect.

She leaned closer. “Is there a big secret you know about my roommate?”

Kevin’s jaw tensed slightly. He hadn’t expected that question, but he should have known Alicia wouldn’t play without an agenda.

He met her gaze, his voice calm but distant.

“Some secrets aren’t mine to tell, Alicia. But… if you ever find out, you might wish you hadn’t asked.”

Her breath caught.

That was vague, too vague. And yet, his tone carried weight. It wasn’t just deflection; it was warning.

Before she could press further, Denis made a face. “Boooringg. You two are killing the fun.”

He reached for the bottle again, spinning it with more force. When it stopped, it pointed at Alicia yet again.

“Well, that’s convenient,” he said, smirking. “But I’m tired of truths. You guys are way too stiff for that.”

Alicia arched a brow. “What do you mean?”

“I mean…” he leaned forward, grin wicked “...it’s time for dares.”

Kevin’s eyes darkened instantly. He didn’t like the tone in Denis’s voice.

Denis turned to Alicia, his smirk widening. “I dare you, Alicia, to look into Kevin’s eyes and hold his gaze for forty-five seconds. No blinking, no laughing. I’ll count.”

Alicia blinked, startled. “Seriously?”

“Dead serious,” Denis said, voice playful but eyes too sharp.

Kevin groaned. “Denis…”

“Come on, it’s harmless!” Denis cut him off, grinning wider. “Unless… you’re scared to look her in the eye?”

Alicia tilted her head. “Oh, I’m not scared.”

She shifted closer to Kevin, their knees almost touching. “It’s just a dare, Kevin. Let’s do this.”

Kevin sighed, resigned. “Fine.”

Denis grinned, leaning back against the wall. “And… start.”

The room went silent except for the faint hum of the ceiling fan.

Alicia locked her gaze on Kevin’s. His eyes were sharp, guarded but not cold. The longer she looked, the more she noticed: the faint crease between his brows, the way his jaw tightened, the flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.

Her lips curved slightly, she could make use of this opportunity to get closer to him into telling her more.

Kevin swallowed. He hadn’t realized how close she’d moved. Her scent, vanilla and something faintly floral filled the small space between them. His chest tightened in a way that made no sense.

Her eyes flicked briefly to his lips before returning to his gaze, obviously trying to play mind games.

He felt his composure slipping.

Denis’s voice cut through the silence. “Time’s up!”

Alicia blinked, looking away quickly. Kevin exhaled, maybe too sharply.

Denis laughed, clapping his hands. “You two should’ve seen your faces.”

Before either could respond, his phone buzzed on the bed. He glanced at it, grinned, and stood.

“Sorry, guys. Gotta run, my girl’s waiting.”

He grabbed a fresh shirt from the closet, slipped it on, and waved as he headed out. “Don’t have too much fun without me.”

The door clicked shut behind him.

Silence filled the room.

Alicia and Kevin sat opposite each other, the bottle still between them. The air suddenly felt thicker, heavier.

She laughed softly, trying to break the tension. “So… I guess that’s the end of the game?”

Kevin nodded, his voice quiet. “Yeah.”

But he didn’t move. Neither did she.

The silence stretched, almost awkward… almost.

Alicia tilted her head, studying him. “You really don’t want to talk about Raymond, do you?”

He looked up sharply, caught off guard. “What makes you think that?”

“Because every time I mention him, you get that look.”

“What look?”

“That one,” she said, pointing. “Like you’re holding something too heavy to say out loud.”

He said nothing. His fingers tapped absently on the floor.

She sighed. “I just… I found something. In our room.”

His gaze snapped up. “What kind of something?”

Her voice dropped. “A shirt. His shirt. With blood on it.”

For a second, Kevin froze. The flicker of shock in his eyes was almost imperceptible, but she caught it.

Alicia’s heart skipped. “You know something, don’t you?”

Kevin looked away, jaw tightening. “Alicia, listen to me. Whatever you think you know… stop digging.”

“What?”

His voice was low, urgent. “There are things about Raymond you don’t understand. You shouldn’t want to.”

Her pulse quickened. “What are you talking about?”

He stood suddenly, pacing toward his desk. “Just promise me you’ll stop digging about him.”

“I can’t promise that!” she shot back, standing too. “He’s my roommate…”

Kevin turned, his expression fierce for the first time. “Then don’t go near his business.”

The intensity in his eyes made her take a step back.

“What are you saying, Kevin?” she whispered.

He didn’t answer immediately. His jaw worked as though he was fighting himself. Then, finally, he said quietly.

“Sometimes… monsters don’t hide under your bed, Alicia.”

She frowned, confused. “Then where do they hide?”

His gaze met hers, haunted and serious.

“Sometimes, they share your room.”

The words hung heavy in the air, cold and final.

Before she could ask what he meant, a sudden crash echoed from down the hallway, a loud, sharp sound like glass shattering.

Kevin’s head snapped toward the door. “Stay here,” he said quickly, his voice tight.

But Alicia had already turned toward the sound, her heart thudding.

Somehow, deep inside, she knew.

Whatever was breaking outside wasn’t just glass. It was the thin line of safety she’d been pretending still existed.