Seven Minutes

Part 5

There were times when we were together that I almost spilt it but the fear (of rejection) choked me, unabling me to utter a word. The fateful day came a few weeks before our graduation when we were invited to a batch pre-graduation party.

It was held in the mansion of our rich batchmate. There were free-flowing drinks, pool, jacuzzi and a DJ playing cool and hip party music. Everyone was hyped - drinking, dancing, swimming and fooling around. And I knew that Keif, being the party animal he was, needed to be controlled or else he would run wild. I pulled him away from the dancing crowd and lured him upstairs where a group of "more tamed" youth were gathered playing games.

At first, Keif was unwilling to come with me, telling me that I was a killjoy but when he saw Amanda playing upstairs, his eyes sparkled. If I had known that she was there, I would bring us somewhere else but I guess it was destiny playing its game against me.

There were 10 people in the group excluding us and 7 of them were females. We played Never Have I Ever. Each of us would take turns telling something we haven't done or experienced. If someone has done/experienced that, s/he would take a shot. If none of us has done/experienced it, the player who posed the statement takes the shot.

At first the questions were simple and mild...

     "Never have I ever cut class" (I took a shot)

     "Never have I ever been out of the country" (Never)

     "Never have I ever gotten drunk" (Never)

Then it became more personal, funny and even naughty...

     "Never have I ever been on a blind date" (Never)

     "Never have I ever been naked in front of someone except my family" (I took a shot)

     "Never have I ever kissed someone (on the lips)" (Never)

I was caught off guard when Keif took a shot at "kissing someone (on the lips)". I was confused because all along, I thought he never kept a secret from me, at least his first kiss. Was I not trustworthy enough for him to tell me about his firsts?

When it was my turn, I was compelled to say..

     "Never have I ever confessed (my love) to someone.."

I was relieved when Keif didn't drink. It meant he hadn't confessed to Amanda yet but it left me more confused on who his first kiss was.

We were able to play three rounds of Never Have I Ever. For the next game, one guy suggested Seven Minutes in Heaven.

The rule of the game was we would spin a bottle and whoever the bottle points to after it stops spinning would choose someone s/he could be with in a room for 7 minutes. Just the two of them in a locked room. They could do anything - talk, kiss, make out or just wait it out- as long as it's consensual.

It was my opportunity. I told myself that if the bottle would point at me, I would choose Keif and confess in that room for seven minutes. Every time the bottle was spinning, my heart pounded strong and fast. While a couple was locked in the room, we would play truth or dare until the seven minutes were up.

On the third spin, the bottle stopped at...Amanda. And she chose to be with Keif in that room for seven minutes.

The spinning of the bottle sent blood rushing to my face due to nervousness but when Amanda chose Keif, I felt something cold spilled over me and my stomach turned. I felt like my world stopped once the door was closed.

After they entered the room, Amanda's friend giddily told us that Amanda had a secret crush on Keif and they felt that the feelings were mutual. She asked if that was the case for Keif. Eyes were on me, waiting for my answer.

"Not my business. Just let them be." I coldly answered.

Knowing Keif, he's very shy expressing himself to someone he likes but he's also someone who doesn't break promises and follows through on what he says. And being stuck alone with someone you like in a locked room for seven minutes? How could they not confess?

I could picture a lot of unpleasant scenarios in my head.

But then, I was fervently praying to all the gods and angels to let the odds be in my favor and just give me this night to tell him how I feel.

It was the longest seven minutes of my life.