Chapter 29


    Chapter 29: Beer Pong “What are you doing here?” I blurt out.


    Katherine sticks her head out and seems very excited, “Hey you guys made it!”


    Made it?


    I shot her an angry re. She is perfectly aware of the tense situation between me and Eason, even


    though I haven’t given her all the details. As my friend, shouldn’t she respect my decision and not invite


    them over without checking with me first?


    I’m probably overthinking this. But still, I taste a sense of betrayal.


    James leans on our car and grins at us, “Katherine told us about your n. So I figured, why not join you


    guys and make it into a party?”


    I snap, “didn’t you and Eason have other ns?”


    He doesn’t even blush as he replies with a wide smile. “Change of n. We figured this would be more


    fun. Unless Natalia…are you shutting the door on us?”


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Obviously, I am.


    “There may not be enough rooms for you guys,” said I sternly. “In fact—” Katherine begins but I manage


    to shut her up with my angry re. The atmosphere bes a little awkward among us. Right at this


    moment, Eason speaks up. “In fact, dad also owns a beach house and it’s just down this street. So if you


    don’t have enough rooms, me and James will sleep over there.”


    Oh how convenient is that!


    My perfect weekend ispletely ruined so I stop holding my anger and ask him sarcastically, “Oh


    really? So if we decided to fly to Ennd for the weekend, do you also happen to own a house there?”


    Eason slowly raises an eyebrow at me and sneers, “As the matter of fact, yes. But you won’t be able to


    know that since…you are NEW to the family.”


    We scowl each other in silence. If eyes could kill, we would both have gone to hell hand by hand.


    Eventually, Alex breaks the awkward silence and says, “OK. Let’s get inside first. It’s gettingte and the


    rain ising.”


    We were nning on visiting a restaurant. But at this point, everyone has lost their appetite. So while the


    boys are helping us with our luggage, I simply order pizza. The beach house is beautiful, decorated in


    Mediterranean style with its arched windows, exposed beams, and hardwood floor.


    But I’m not in the mood for room tour. As they are talking in the living room, I quietly grab a bottle of beer


    and wander over to the terrace.


    The terrace has an open view of the sea. But since it’s alreadyte and the storm is approaching, the


    sea view isn’t really pleasant at this moment.


    As I pop open my can of beer, I hear footsteps behind me. I turn around and find it’s Katherine.


    “Hey,” she walks up to me and studies my face. “Are you mad?” I am caught off guard by her blunt


    question. After a short pause, I speak up sternly, “You think?”


    “I figured you would be mad. But James said he really wanted toe, and I couldn’t say no to him-”


    “He told you he wasing?” I cut her off. “When?”


    “Umm…in the car? While we were driving here?” she smiles nervously at me. “I was meant to tell you.


    Really! But I saw you were having a really good time with Alex, and I just couldn’t find the right time. I’m


    sorry, Nat, really.” I don’t know what to say. I was really pissed at her. But she’s being so honest with me


    right now and it seems petty to keep holding a grudge against her. Plus, she doesn’t know the


    complicated history between me and Eason so I can’t fully me her for inviting them.


    “Fine,” I sign eventually. “Next time just let me know first, ok?”


    “Of course!” She promises and then gently nudges me. “And hey, you are doing great with Alex. So just


    forget about Eason for now and focus on your thing with Alex.”


    “Sure,” I smile absently. “Let’s get inside. It’s going to rain.”


    The pizza arrives an hourter. After we feed ourselves, James enthusiastically propose that we should


    y Beer Pong.


    Katherine is immediately on board and Eddie follows right after her. Alex takes a look at me first and


    shakes his head hesitantly, “I’m not sure…”


    “Ohe on! It’s raining outside so we can’t really go swimming in the sea right now. We also can’t sit


    around and do nothing while waiting for the storm to pass. So you guys are ying. I’m not taking no for


    answer.” He basically drags us to the table and startsying out cups and pouring beers. I’m very


    cautious about these wine games because that’s how they got me to kiss Alex thest time. So while


    they are busy with the cups, I lean towards Alex and whisper to him, “Are you good at this game?”


    “I won’t call myself a pro, but I’m not bad either,” he grins at me. “Rx. I got your back.” There are


    precisely six of us. So we are divided into two groups. Me, Alex and Eddie, versus Eason, James and


    Katherine. “OK!” James eagerly announces. “First up, Eason.” He hands the ball to Eason.


    Eason takes the ball. His eyes fall upon me as an evil smile lurks on his face. “Taking shots is boring.


    The loser has to do something else for punishment.” Bad memories from the past floods back to me as I


    quickly protest, “I’m not doing Dares!”


    “Sure,” he casually shrugs. “You can do Truths.”


    Before I can say no, he raises his hand and throws the ball. He doesn’t even have to aim-and the ball


    falls directly into the cup in front of me. “Wow! Drink up, Nat!” James ps cheerfully. “And one question


    from Eason.” The evil smile on Eason’s lips grows wider. “OK, I’ll start with an easy one… Nat, when was


    thest time you had sex?”


    1


    I’m clenching my fist so hard that my nails are digging into my flesh. But I’ve managed to keep my face


    straight and look directly into his eyes while answering, “…A year ago.” “Is that so?” Eason raises his


    brows and sneers. “You know you have to be honest right? It’s called Truths for a reason.” I ignore him


    and drink up the beer in my cup. It’s my turn to throw again. I aim carefully at my target and, luckily, the


    ball falls right into Eason’s cup. “OK my turn.” I stand up straight as a smile of revenge ys around my


    lips. “Eason. When was thest time someone slept with you and never called you back?”


    The easy smile on his face disappears. He narrows his eyes at me and his nostrils re. “No that’s


    impossible,” Katherine seems to find my question amusing. “Who would do that to Eason?”


    “In fact, someone just did that to me a few days ago,” Eason picks up his cup and drinks up the beer.


    “But she’s a bitch. So I’m not bothered by it at all.”


    I want to p him so much. The game goes back and forth for a few rounds, and we manage to reach a


    tie. Eventually, Eason takes over the ball again. And not surprisingly at all, he throws the ball to me


    again. “OK Nat,” he raises his eyes and looks at me. “Have you ever let someone fuck you in the


    restroom?”


    My heart stops at that. Everyone around the table is also shocked beyond words. This question is so


    offensive, explicit, and vicious. One dares not to think about the implicated meaning behind it…and I


    hope with all my heart that none of them would overthink this. “Eason, w-why are you…” Katherine


    moves ufortably on her spot. “I don’t think this is ok. You are her brother nevertheless.” “Oh I don’t


    think she thinks of me as her brother,” Eason snorts. “Do you? Natalia?”


    I throw my cup on the ground and walk away. I can’t look at him anymore. One more look, I’ll


    Pong


    definitely lose it.


    As I storm out of the living room, Alex catches me up from behind and grabs my elbow. “Hey Nat, wait


    up. Are you ok?”


    I’m forced around to face him. He seems genuinely concerned about me. I take in a deep breath and


    look at him, suddenly finding my eyes be glossy. “I-…” I tail off. I want to tell someone about


    everything so bad, but I can’t. The frustration is killing me. Alex is startled. This is the first time he sees


    me get all teared up. “Hey, hey…it’s ok. Comes here,” he pulls me into his arms and gently pats my back.


    I bury my head in his chest, sobbing uncontrobly.


    Alex strokes my hairs andforts me. He was about to ask me something when another person


    appears from behind him.


    It’s Eason.


    The devil who had caused all my misfortune. He nces at us calmly and heads toward the door. Alex


    turns around and asks, “are you leaving?”


    “I’m going for a swim,” Eason shrugs and walks right pass us. I can’t believe my ears. There’s a fucking


    storm outside! “Are you losing your fucking mind?!” I can’t help but yell at him, my voice high and


    squeaky.” It’s raining like hell out there!” Eason pauses for a moment by the door. He turns his head


    halfway back, but he still doesn’t look at me directly. Eventually, he simply lifts the corner of his lips into a


    cold smile. “Why do you care?” he asks sarcastically and then leaves through the door.