Saturday, April 27 – Evening / Midtown Apartment – Rooftop Party (Round Two Begins)
Starting Again
Emma held the truth card like it might bite.
She cleared her throat, then read aloud:
"What's one thing you regret not saying when you had the chance?"
The rooftop fell quiet.
Emma didn't flinch, but her pause said enough.
She glanced around—at Tyler joking with Amaya, at Sofia watching with open interest, and at Jay… sitting still, eyes unreadable.
Then she looked down.
"I guess… 'thank you,'" she said.
"To who?" Sofia asked, leaning forward.
Emma shook her head slightly. "Doesn't matter now."
Jay kept his eyes on her a beat longer than he meant to.
She didn't look back.
Sofia's Turn (Again)
Sofia pulled a dare card, grinning already.
"Switch an article of clothing with the person to your right."
Her right? Miles.
He sighed. "No."
"Oh yes."
Five minutes later, Sofia was wearing his hoodie like a dramatic cape, and Miles had her glittery hairband crooked over his buzz cut.
"I feel violated," Miles said.
"You look fabulous," Noah added.
Jay covered his laugh with a cough.
Amaya's Second Turn
Amaya picked a truth card this time.
"Who here do you think understands you the least?"
Another silence.
She hesitated. Her eyes flicked around the group, thoughtful… until they landed on Yuki.
There wasn't malice in her voice—just softness. "Maybe… Yuki."
Yuki blinked. "Me?"
Amaya gave a tiny smile. "We've never really talked. Not really. You always seem a little… distant."
Yuki didn't reply right away.
But after a beat, she said, "That's fair."
And Amaya, being Amaya, didn't push. She just nodded.
But Jay caught the shift—how both girls grew a little quieter after that.
Something unsaid, sitting between them.
Tyler's Turn
Tyler grabbed a dare card and groaned.
"Let someone else send a message to anyone in your phone—no checking."
"Oh no."
Sofia lunged for his phone. "MINE."
"Absolutely not!" Tyler scrambled up, holding it out of reach. "I have secrets."
"Exactly why I'm qualified."
Amaya calmly took the phone from him while he panicked—and handed it to Luna.
Tyler stared in betrayal. "Et tu, soft girl?"
Luna opened his messages, typed something quickly, then handed it back.
"Who'd you text?!" Tyler asked.
Luna blinked. "Your soccer group chat. I told them you believe pineapples belong on every pizza."
"Nooo—my rep!"
Sofia cackled. "He's going to be exiled."
Yuki's Turn (Round Two)
Yuki drew a truth card.
"Have you ever covered for someone else's lie?"
She didn't hesitate. "Yes."
Sofia narrowed her eyes. "Whose?"
Yuki glanced at Jay—just briefly.
Then turned away.
Jay's brows lifted slightly.
No one else caught it.
But he did.
Noah's Turn
Noah picked dare again.
"Create a new, ridiculous game rule that everyone must follow for the next round."
He grinned. "Every time someone says a name, they have to also say an animal that matches the vibe."
"What does that even mean?" Miles asked.
"For example," Noah said, pointing. "Jay the fox. Emma the hawk. Tyler the golden retriever. Sofia the rabid squirrel."
Sofia beamed. "I accept this."
Amaya: "What animal would I be?"
Jay, without thinking: "Cat."
Everyone turned.
Amaya blinked.
He opened his mouth—then shut it.
Emma looked away.
Miles' Turn
Miles picked a truth card.
"What's one moment from this year you still think about at night?"
He shrugged. "Honestly? That time Sofia almost set the chemistry lab on fire."
"That was ONE TIME," Sofia shouted.
Yuki whispered, "It was two times."
Sofia gasped. "Et tu, traitor swan?"
Noah held up a finger. "Rule violation: name drop without animal."
"Yuki the sniper swan," Sofia amended.
Luna's Turn
Luna pulled a dare card.
"Hold hands with the person on your right until your next turn."
Her right: Yuki.
They both shrugged and clasped hands with no fuss.
Yuki blinked. "This is… unexpectedly comforting."
Luna nodded. "You're warmer than you look."
Jay chuckled.
Jay's Second Turn
He picked a truth this time.
"If you could freeze one moment from this school year, just to relive it once… what would it be?"
It hit harder than he expected.
Jay didn't answer right away.
Flashes came to mind—laughter in the clubroom, the school trip sunset, late-night walks outside the Markov estate.
He looked around the circle—at Emma, Amaya, Tyler, all of them.
And quietly said, "Right now's not bad."
No one teased him for it.
Even Sofia just smiled.
Chapter Close – The Cards Keep Coming
The next round was already starting. Emma pulled a card and covered her mouth with a hand, eyes widening.
Jay leaned forward slightly.
"What's it says?"
Emma looked at him over the top of the card.
And smiled—slow, dangerous.
"I dare you," she read, "to sit in someone's lap."
Sofia whooped. "THE GAME IS ALIVE!"
Tyler whispered, "Please don't pick me."
Jay had no idea what was going to happen next.
But he was sure of one thing:
This rooftop party?
Far from over.