Truth Or Dare

Part 4

"Sige, Meng, last round. Baba na tayo after this. Ask me."

"OK, Alden. Truth or dare?"

"Dare," he offered gleefully.

Maine sat up, surprised.

"Dare. Dare me, Meng."

"Oy, sure ka?"

"Yes."

"OK...um...." Maine looked around to find something for him to do. "I don't know....wait, ha."

"I'll prove to you na gagawin ko ang lahat ng gusto mo," he teased.

"Um, OK. Wait, let me think," Maine hesitated as she looked around for things he could do.

"Dare me to jump in the pool."

"What? No!"

"Dare me, Meng. Come on."

"Alden!"

"Fine. I dare myself." He stood up and removed his grey shirt and socks, tossing them on the next empty chair. Now clad in only his dark denim jeans, he sauntered towards the deepest end of the pool. Maine could only shake her head in shock. "Grabe, ang hot mo, Bae" she called out, laughing.

"Shhhh, wag kang maingay!" Alden replied from the other end of the pool. He wrapped his arms around himself as he shivered in the night air. He dipped his foot to test the waters. "Whoa! Ang lamig!"

"Mapapamura ka ba?" She laughed. "Baka maririnig ko na ang first F-word sa buong buhay mo."

Alden shook his head. "Never," he called out in defiance. Then there was a big splash. Maine stood up from the lounge, not believing what she had seen. He really did it, she thought in awe. He cannonballed into the freezing pool.

"Whoa, ang lamig," he sputtered as he surfaced. He swam towards Maine and placed his elbows on the edge nearest to her.

"Oh, my God. Ang hot mo pala," she teased.

"Halika nga," he gestured.

"No, thank you. Dito lang ako."

Alden pulled off his weak, puppy-dog expression. "Meng, favor naman. Kunin mo lang rosary ko. Nabasa, eh," he asked as he removed his wooden rosary bracelet from his wrist.

She still sat on the lounge, shaking her head with a smile.

"Meng, seryoso. Masisira 'to. Please, kunin mo na. I won't do anything," he promised with a serious look on his face.

Maine remained unmoved, arching an eyebrow.

"Please, Meng?," he begged as he offered his rosary to her. "Please?"

She rolled her eyes and stood up. "Fine."

She gingerly walked toward the side of the pool and reached out to receive the rosary. In a flash, Alden gripped her wrist and before she knew it, she too was underwater.

She kicked the pool floor and propelled herself upwards. She burst through the surface, looking for Alden with every intention of smacking him. Yet seconds passed, and she hadn't see him.

Suddenly, a hand touched her thigh. She shrieked. Alden came up to the surface, laughing loudly.

"Bwisit ka!" she exclaimed as she smacked him playfully on his shoulders. He responded by slapping more water in her direction.

"Tang*ina, Alden. I will kill you. I will kill you," she threatened as she shivered by the edge of the pool. He swam up behind her with a wide grin.

"Dare pa more," he joked, pressing his body against hers underwater.

Her teeth chattered as she treaded water. "Alden, p*tangina, akyat na ako. Ang lamig." She knew Alden never liked her cursing, but right now, she was soaked and cold and did not care anymore.

Suddenly she felt him grab her waist underwater, and felt him spin her around to face him. Before she could utter another curse word, his mouth grazed hers as his arms pulled her closer to his body.

Just as Alden was about to kiss her, they suddenly heard a loud thunk coming from the elevator area.

One of the doors had been opened.

"Sh*t," Maine muttered under her breath. They both froze in the pool.

"Ano yon?" Alden whispered.

"Sh*t, nagpalit na ata ng shift yung guard. We have to go," Maine commanded. They both swam hurriedly to the pool staircase and gathered the wine, food, and glasses. Alden grabbed his sweater and shoes and bolted behind Maine.

"Daan tayo sa service elevator," she pointed breathlessly.

After a few seconds, the staff elevator opened behind them. As soon as the doors parted, they tumbled into the elevator, sopping wet, barefoot, and still laughing. Maine punched her floor number."Oh my God, Alden," Maine gasped between breaths as the elevators begat to descend. "Kung nakita tayo, patay ako sa board ng condo." Alden kept laughing and looked at her. "Halika nga," he asked as he pulled her closer to him, fully determined to finish the kiss that was rudely interrupted earlier. But before he could, the elevator dinged and opened again. Alden groaned in frustration. Not my night, he thought.

CONTINUE TO PART 5