Chapter 6

Standing before the mirror, I slipped my hair into a ponytail and then started checking out my uniform to be sure nothing was left out. With my gaze still on the mirror, I saw my door creaked open and mum walked in. 

She was in a gray colored suit, the same dress she had worn yesterday morning. 

 “Clarisa dear?" Her smile reflected in the mirror.

"So you finally remembered you have a home” I just rolled my eyes, staring at her through the mirror. 

“Clarissa I understand that you must be very upset about yesterday." She said quietly as she placed her palm on my shoulder. “I am so sorry for not showing up again as promised. The thing is I got really busy at work." 

"You always say that.” I turned around so I could face her. “It's always work work. You can't even squeeze a minute of your time and share it with your family. All you think and care about is your work." 

"What? You know that's not true right? I love you so much and whatever I'm doing right now is because I want to make you happy. You know I can't lose my job , it's the only way I can take care of you and the family." She defended, With her usual calm tone. 

"I understand that already but it wouldn't have taken anything from you to even send a text message at least. Do you know how I felt when all my friends ranted about how they spent the day with their mother?” My voice crackled, as tears blurred my vision. 

“Do you know how it feels to be left out?" I found myself whispering as tears stole my voice. 

Mum placed her palms at my cheek and cupped my face, using her thumb to caress my cheeks. 

"I am so sorry my dear, I promise I'll make it up to you next ti...". 

“Just stop!” I cut her off and removed her hands from my face. 

"Stop making promises that you are never going to fulfill, I feel like you are doing it on purpose to torture me.." I half-yelled and mum was just staring speechlessly at me. I ignored her presence and went back to arrange my backpack ready to go off to school. 

“I will be leaving for school now, have a good day...at work" and without waiting to hear her response, I stormed out of my room as I was accompanied with the slamming of the door. 

I didn’t have breakfast with my family because I was already late for school, I just took a few bites of waffles and I was good. Mum was supposed to take me down as usual but I allowed my anger to get the best of me so I had to take a cab. 

......

At school, We had about four classes before we went into recession. And I’ve been waiting for this time. Perfect time to tell my friends about my ordeal. 

And by friends I meant Bethel and Mark. I wouldn’t tell Nathan about it cause he’s gonna buzz my ear with a long boring ass sermon and I definitely can’t tell Xavier either since he will only annoy the shitt out of me. But Mark had flown out of the class the moment the bell rang so it’s just me and Bethel now. 

“Guess what, Bethel?” I squealed as we were both stuffing our things into our locker. We share a seat. “What’s that??” Her full attention was still on what she was doing. 

“I finally played the game.” That statement made her shut her locker and whirled towards me at a go. 

“What game are you talking about??” She feigned ignorance. I finished arranging my books into the locker and then turned to face her. 

“Well, what other game has been spiraling the whole of Texas huh?” I rolled my eyes dramatically. 

“Omg..” she gasped, then she screamed widely and the moment she screamed, the few people in the class turned to face us. Her palm flew to my mouth to hold herself. She held my wrist and we both ran out of the class. 

“Now tell me you were joking in there...” she began the moment we got to the balcony heading towards the cafe. “I mean you never have a thing for the game, and you never even believed it existed.” 

“Well let’s say I decided to take all your advice and funny enough the game does exist.” I giggled. 

“How did you play the game then, when, where? Just...how??” Curiosity was written all over her face and I gave her the answers she wanted. While we were still heading off to the cafe I told her how I went back to that user who had messaged me about the game before then I played the game and when I told her I won the game, she screamed loudly in excitement. This time we’ve arrived at the cafeteria so she once again attracted eyes. 

But her excitement faded off when I told her I had other rounds to play. She instantly warned me not to play it again with the fear of failing those rounds but then I told her about the rules of the games and you needed to see the look on her face. She was mostly affected when I told her that if I break a rule, I’ll lose one of my loved ones. 

“Hang on...” she choked on her chips and I quickly handed her water, she gulped down from it and continued. “Don’t tell me you have broken one of the rules by telling me this cause if you are then I’m cutting off ties with you and we instantly become mortal enemies as I’m not ready to die yet. I am just 17, just a high school student and I still need to explore the world and...” 

“Calm down...” I interrupted her as she wouldn’t stop rambling. Honestly the panic is uncalled for. 

“Look, you don’t have to worry about anything. Those treats are just fake, it’s just like a normal horror game there’s nothing to be scared about. If those treats were to be real then with the vast majority of people giving reviews about the game after playing the game thereby breaking the rules half of Texas could have been dead by now or do those people never have loved ones?” 

“It could be possible, you know. Or what if those people never really played the game? Why the heck did you have to tell me about the game knowing fully well is against the rule, you didn’t just endanger my life but the life of everyone around you and if you don’t want any bad blood...” she stopped and glared at me, then pointed her fork towards me in a stabbing stance. “You better finish the game and win all those rounds” 

I laughed at her choice of threat.  

“Oh stop being so dramatic okay. The rules of the game states one of my loved ones will die should I break any rule.. you don’t even know if I love you.” I rolled my eyes dramatically.

“Well you better don’t love me okay..” she went back to her food and almost immediately we heard a voice. 

“And why are you guys talking about love??” Bethel and I both turn in sync to meet the annoying ass of a friend called Mark. 

“Don’t tell me you girls are practicing lesbianism now..” he further rolled his eyes at us and instantly earned a scowl from us. I opened my mouth to say something but was interrupted by the loud squealing and ovation from some group of girls. 

Turning to face the direction, I was met with both Xavier and Royce walking into the cafe and they are both approaching our table. I don’t have a problem with Royce but that gray eyed boy, I definitely am not in the mood for his annoying talks. 

“I’ve got to go guys.” I stood up from the chair and started walking out. “But we are still talking about...” that was Bethel's voice but I was already out. 

“Talking about what??” I heard Xavier's voice before I went ear shots. 

I just hope Bethel doesn't get to tell him anything about the game cause the moment it gets to Xavier the whole school is gonna know about it. It’s not like I’m scared but I just don’t like being the talk of the school. 

When I left the cafe I went to the library to spend the rest of the break. After minutes of shuffling through some books, I finally settled for ‘the great gatsby’. I've heard people talk about it and it sounds interesting but I didn’t bother reading because I hate classics. I mean with Ancient English and all, it all just seems boring. 

But reading “the great gatsby” is more interesting than I thought. I was deeply engrossed in the book when I felt a tap on my shoulder, I flinched and sprang my head up to meet the angry gaze of Na..Nathan?

“Nathan? What are you doing here?” I was quite bewildered because Nathan is the last person to be seen in a library. Like most typical boys, He hates novels. 

“I knew I would find you here.” That makes more sense, he came for me. 

Closing the book and shoving it back into its place I turned my full attention towards him. 

“What were you thinking? ??” He began. "Were you out of your mind when you decided to go play that demonic driven game?” He barked at me and thankfully we were the only ones here in the library. 

My face squeezed into a frown as I stood up to face him. I definitely am not surprised how he got to know that. When you have a best friend who’s the CEO of spreading news, you’ll know what I mean. 

“You didn’t only even play the game but you decided to test the rules by telling everyone about it right?” His face was mixed with both rage and panic. 

“I..didn’t tell everyone about it okay. I only told bethel.” I stupidly decided to defend myself, with an eye roll. 

“Then explain to me how I heard the information from Xavier...” he gritted his teeth. 

Oh that Bethel is gonna get it from me and Xavier? I’m gonna disfigure that cute face of his. 

“Look I didn’t tell Xav...” I have to stop myself when I realize something. “Why do you even seem so affected by it weren’t you the one who asked me to play the game and bring feedback?” I retorted. 

“Yes I did say that...” he began and brushed his finger through his hair. “But I only wanted you to play the game and see to it that it does exist. I wanted to change your mentality that you shouldn’t always stick to what you believe and now that you know the game is true there’s a high possibility that those rules surrounding it are true.” His voice was now very calm and I could see in his eyes that he’s tryna convince me. 

I opened my mouth to tell him that those rules are just stupatitous but right now I don’t really know what to believe. I just closed my mouth and swallowed hard. 

As if noticing my discomfort, he held my shoulder and pulled me closer to himself staring into my eyes with great concern.

“Clarissa, I don’t want to think too hard about this. I don’t care whether those rules about this game are true or not but promise me that nothing will happen to you.” He said softly with so much dismay in his eyes. 

I chuckled. “Nothing will happen to me okay.” I smiled. 

“You know I can’t live without you right?” He says hoarsely. 

“Ugh...talk about a romantic boyfriend.” I rolled my eyes dramatically and we both chuckled. He pulled my head closer and tilted his head forward so that our noses were touching. “I love you.” He whispered into my face. 

“I love you too.” My voice was surprisingly husky. His lips crashed with my lips and that’s how we started kissing in the library till break period was over. 

I later quarreled with Bethel for her loud mouth and school wasn’t as chaotic as I thought it would be but thankfully the following day was weekend. 

_

My weekend was spent with my entire friends calling and texting me reminding me that I’ve made the worst decision of my life by starting the game and they all warned me not to dare break another rule. Nathan also called and texted me, cautioning me not to ditch the rest rounds for my own good. 

They were all worried about me but I don’t seem to be too bothered about the game. 

Xavier also tried calling overtime and the only time I answered his call was when I had to insult him for what he did. 

I also have to avoid our group chat because I know they will only annoy me or try to make me feel worse by playing the game. 

All the pressure made me ask dad his opinion about the game and just like me he didn’t quite believe anything about the game. 

He doesn’t even believe it existed. Well I didn’t tell him I played the game cause there was no reason to and since dad’s opinion was no different from mine, I have no reason to be scared about breaking the goddamn rule of the game. 

At least dad is more experienced than my friends, whether the game was true or not he should be able to fish that out. 

But since his perspective towards the game is negative, I’ve got nothing to worry about.