10
Slowly, Ethan and I started acting like we did
before.
But I don’t know why, he seemed unhappy.
Two days later, his friend had a baby’s first
birthday party.
I went too.
After the party, everyone went out to eat.
I wasn’t going to go, but Ethan grabbed my
wrist. “If I get drunk and you’re not with me, I
won’t be able to get home.
The night was dark.
<
His tone was sad.
He was looking down at me, his eyes filled
with words.
I thought for a second, and agreed.
It was the last time.
He was good to me, I could do this for him.
Just friends helping each other out.
I was getting a new job soon. I was getting
relocated out of town.
I was leaving tomorrow.
We were all a little tipsy, and they started
playing Truth or Dare.
Then, it was Ethan’s turn.
Someone asked, “Dude, are you seeing
anyone?”
Ethan paused, then looked up, and answered,
“Yeah.”
Everyone started teasing him, and looked
over to me.
I don’t think they even considered that it
might not be me.
I couldn’t think straight.
I was about to tell them, it’s not me.
I had told him I liked him, and he turned me
down.
く
He didn’t care about my feelings.
But before I could, Ethan laughed, then
looked at me. “Okay, let’s keep going.”
I was lucky, I kept winning.
But, almost at the end, I finally lost.
The person who asked the questions was
Ethan.
He held the cards in his hands. Everyone was
teasing.
He asked me, “Truth or dare?”
I said, “Dare.”
His eyebrow arched, and he looked a little
nervous.
“Message your date. Tell him, you can’t make
it tomorrow for the movie.”
Our eyes met.
I didn’t move.
Ethan looked at me, with a hint of intensity,
and asked, slowly, “Is it that hard?”
I said, “Yeah, it’s hard.”
I’d already told my date I wasn’t able to go
out.
I’d turned down the movie invitation.
<
But it wasn’t something I needed to tell
Ethan.
We were just friends. If we talked too much,
we’d cross the line.
I picked up the drink in front of me and took
a sip.
I said, “Keep going.”
After that, Ethan kept drinking. He looked
angry.
