The Moon Hiding at Dawn

Chapter 31: As we Return

"Uhhhmmmm... as much as I don't want to disturb you lovebirds, it's almost midnight and we're gathering up by the table so..." Cynthia said as she approached the couch. It was that time already?

We stood up and joined the others to what would seem to be a large oval table full of food that wasn't really there a while ago. Everyone seems so happy, talking about everything we've done from the past year and teasing each other with moments that would horrify whoever owns the embarrassing memory. For obvious reasons, all of it were personal and never about a project. We all know at the back of our minds the reason for avoiding a collective class memory being brought to the table.

As the clock strikes twelve, carols can be heard, the city still bustling with life as would have been seen in the news. This location is somehow ideal considering how the place is not that crowded with other houses or buildings and saves us from the busyness of the season. That said, laughter, joy, and ecstasy of public places have a different feel to it but those things were nonetheless present in some way inside. It doesn't even matter if what we felt inside was real or not. Genuineness was never a factor in this hour, all that mattered was the surreal moment that's bound to drown in the depths of everyone's eventual grief in the coming days...

The food prepared never even lasted the hour. Everyone was munching anything in sight regardless if they've eaten it before or not. Even I encountered a lot of dishes unfamiliar to my taste and others that are completely unfamiliar to my eyes as well. I devoured them nonetheless. The best things in life are free after all and it's a bonus that the free things here are also good. Everyone was stuffed afterwards so we think of fun things to pass the time. I figured that this gathering just turned to a sleepover. Was it the plan in the first place? I totally forgot.

Cards were dropped and we played an old classic game of "Old Maid". The cards would be distributed and everyone would discard all pairs they have. We pick a card from someone in our right and discard pairs whenever we form one. The twist is that there is one Joker card which has no pair. Whoever gets left behind with that card loses the game. We made it a truth or dare choice for whoever the loser with be just to make it fun.

I entered the first round with less cards on hand. All that's left for me is a king, a three, and an ace. The symbol didn't matter since we are looking for just the one out of possibly three more of the same value or image. Riz was sitting at my right while Chris settled on my left. Nina started the game as she had most cards and was seated at the right of Riz. Nina dropped a pair of Queens. Riz picked a card but didn't form any pair. Just as I thought my luck was great, I plucked the Joker straight from Riz's hand. Great. Chris had his own lack of luck and got the Joker from me as well so I guess I was not the one with the worst luck in this circle. Chris ended up losing in the long run.

"I'll do a dare." He said.

We gave the liberty of formulating the dare to anyone who wanted to. Ramus was quite sadistic telling him to play the next round with his whole hand revealed to everyone.

It did not age well.

Chris actually finished the next round first as Randy, sitting on the left, kept picking the cards he needed from Chris. I was surprised as Chris had a sudden stroke of luck picking up the card he needed for his last pair from my hand. I got the Joker quite a few times but thankfully hadn't lost the round.

Rin got the short end of the stick this time. "Alriiiight, ask your questions while you can!"

No one actually knew what to ask. We all are curious of Rin yet are at a loss for words... or questions as the case may be. It's not that anyone can't think of anything. It's just that everyone can't pick out of everything.