It was a fun day today. Everyone was busy except me and Max.

So, we played a game.

The Dare game.

Yes, dare game because in this game we only have to give dare to each other and complete it. And whose turn would it be? How we decided... by playing rock, paper, and scissors.

Max dared me to call someone and tell them I can't talk right now. And yeah, I found it very funny. I called a random person and told him that and hung up the call immediately before he could even say something to me.

Even though I was anxious while doing that, it was fun. First time having this type of fun.

And I dared Max to let me do his makeup. And he asked me if I knew how to do makeup in which I just shook my head which was enough to frighten him.

That's the fun point. I had the chance to have my makeup experience on a person.

That's the advantage of having brothers, right? Experience your makeup skills on him!

It was traumatic for him. I know the whole time I was drawing on his face, he was going through trauma. Poor Max. But I must agree that I enjoyed it.

So, we decided that we will play this game anytime. Like any random time. Whenever one will have an idea of dare, the other has to complete it.

And now I might fall ill if I do this. The dare I got right now, from Max; it would surely end me. In this dining room, Enzo was present, having his dinner.

Peacefully.

“I dare you to make Enzo blush.” Max wiggled his eyebrows.

Is this some kind of a trick to take revenge for the horrible make-up I did on him? He literally told me to make Enzo blush.

That's impossible.

How? The person who doesn't even smile regularly, how could I make such a person blush? But still as I could not step back from this game… okay, I could do this. This was not a big deal.

“Um, hi Enzo.” I shifted on my seat to face him and he stopped chewing his food, and gulped it.

He nodded and continued eating. Maybe he was too tired and didn't want to talk.

I turned my head to Max; he was silently cheering from behind. So, I tried again.

“I see that you are very tired today. All of you look exhausted, I am going to make you all feel freshen up.”

“Wow! Okay.” Rome gave me a thumbs up.

“Let me use a pickup line on you. I made it just now, only for you.” Even though I told them that I was going to make them feel relaxed, I said this line looking at Enzo only.

Enzo gave me a side glare. Like really a side glare. That scared me.

“Okay, we are ready.” Carlo said, giving me his best flashing smile.

Galen was trying his best not to laugh out loud because I could sense that his hands were blocking that noise of storm laughter which was escaping from his mouth. Rome again gave me a thumbs up which meant ready.

“Are you a zoo… Enzo?”

Oh no! His glare. That deadly glare.

Should I continue with this?

I was waiting for more reactions from him before finishing, so that I could see if he was not angry.

Enzo furrowed his eyebrows with irritation. Carlo was holding his laugh. Max was still cheering for me to continue.

So, I decided to finish it fast.

“Because I can see every animal in you.” Finishing my words, I showed him my brightest smile with my fingers pointing at him like arrows.

Seconds passed, silent.

Minutes passed, more silent.

Then there came a sound of uncontrollable laughter from the guys.

All I could hear was the four knights bursting out laughing. Banging on the table, slapping one another's arms, swinging back and forth on their seat while laughing.

My dare was to make Enzo blush but here I made my four knights bursted out laughing. Except the boss.

What about Enzo? Well, it seemed like he wasn't really happy by hearing that but still he didn't look mad either.

So, I guess I will be fine.

“Bravo! You did it!” Max clapped, still laughing.

“I almost got a heart attack thinking of his reaction.” I said to him, putting my palm on my chest.

“It was not a pickup line. It was a roasting line.” Saying that, he laughed again.

“Now I am giving both of you a dare.” The deep voice caught our attention. “What about you two singing a song for us while we eat?” Enzo demanded in a very very calm tone.

“What??” Both of us asked at the same time.

But the only difference is Max seemed to be excited to sing while I was afraid. I am not good at singing.

I am terrible at singing. Really terrible.

“I am a very bad singer. If I sing now, you won't be able to eat the rest of your food.” I said to him, looking at my saviours to help me out.

They shook their heads rhythmically. Which only meant that they wouldn't help.

Traitors.

“Come on, little miss. It's just a song. No one is going to judge you.” Max got all excited, still cheering me on.

Letting out a sigh, I agreed. I had to as I seemed to have no choice.

After five minutes of making a whole new song which I would call a poem but as Max is Max, he was proud to call it a song.

“Presenting the best short song ever to you guys.” Max declared as he clapped and waited for the audience to clap together.

No one, literally no one clapped with him. But as Max is Max, he was so excited that he didn't even notice that. Or didn't care about that.

This guy is very energetic. He even convinced me to make a song of our own to sing.

There's nothing I can do at this moment. So I better go with the scene.

Max cleared his throat and we started singing. ~

Max: Yes, I am crazyyyyy.

Me: Ooo…

Max: But only for youuuu…

Me: Yeahhh...

Max: Maybe I am daydreaming, what about YOU?

Me: Mhmm…

Max: Say something senorita!

Me: Oh! I think I am losing my mind…

Max: Am I really going to die? See I am falling apart.

Me: It's not the end of the world.

Max:Woah… woah.

Me: Yeah… yeah.

~

Finishing the best or worst song of the year, I watched the audience and their reaction.

I could see they were controlling their laughter. But they couldn't hold it for a long time before they bursted out laughing. Enzo too.

~~~~~

Now I know how it feels to run for your life. I shouldn't have listened to Max. I shouldn't have accepted the dare.

Run Alora! Run!

Running through the hallway, I saw Carlo and Rome talking to each other.

Yeah, they could save me.

“Carlo… Rome. Hey!” I was panting as I approached them. Or you can say rushed to them.

They inspected me and asked, “Why are you panting, Alora?”

Trying to normalise my breathing, I said, “Enzo… he… he is hitting–”

Before I could finish Carlo interrupted.

“Enzo is hitting on you? I never expected it from Enzo. Woah!” He said, showing an unbelievable look.

Rome clapped his hands twice before saying, “How are you feeling sister?”

Feeling? How was I feeling?

I was surprised to think that it was necessary to talk like this at this time?

“Oh please! He is after me to hit me. Well, it's my fault. I was the one who hit him first… on his head.”

“And why did you do that?” Carlo folded his arms up to his chest, staring at me curiously to hear my answer.

I couldn't make eye contact with him, I replied with my head down, fidgeting my fingers, “Max gave me a dare to hit Enzo.”

The sound of non-stop laughter filled around us.

“Okay, go and hide somewhere.”

“I think the kitchen is the best place.” Rome advised, patting on my shoulder while they kept laughing.

And just like that, I have been sitting under the kitchen table with my knees bent. Though I switched off the lights of the kitchen, it was dark here.

He can't find me.

“You must be bored sitting there, should I bring cold drinks for you?”

“Orange juice will be fi–” I paused, realising to whom I was replying to.

Oh my God. He was right in front of me. Bending down on his knees, raising an eyebrow, watching me with his cold eyes and a deadly smirk.

“Now, will you come out yourself or–”

“I'm coming out by myself.” I instantly replied and came out in a second.

“Good.” He breathed out, tilting his head to the side and carefully looking at me.

Enzo watched me as I fixed my hair nervously and dusting off the invisible dust from my hoodie which I was wearing.

Whenever he would come in front of me, my hands touch my ears on their own to calm myself down. I don't know what it was but touching my ears helped me calm down.

Because Enzo makes me nervous. And it has been increasing day by day. With every passing day my heart was being weak to him.

I looked up at him and waited for anything to happen or tried to predict his next move. If he was going to hit me back, it was okay. I didn't hit him that hard. But I was wondering only that, what if he does more than that?

“You look nervous.” He said, taking a step forward.

My legs took a step backwards as I replied, “N-no… I am not.”

Another step forward from him and another backward from me. My back hit the kitchen counter.

“See… there's no escape for you.” He said, capturing the last space which was remaining between us.

Okay, I needed to get out of here. He was doing this on purpose as he knew I was nervous right now. Or scared maybe.

I don't know exactly what I was feeling right at this moment but it was not a good feeling.

Without wasting any more seconds, I tried to come out from his cage, I even stepped out of his invisible cage and when I was about to run, two strong arms wrapped around my waist and lifted me up in the air. All of a sudden, I was hanging in the air.

His hands were so strong that I couldn't even move a bit. It wasn't tickling at all, yet it made me laugh. His actions made me laugh. I was laughing while still hanging in his grip.

“You always try to run away.” I heard him saying. His tone sounded like he was enjoying his actions.

“Okay, fine. I won't run again.” I said while controlling my giggle. But I couldn't hold back for a long time.

Then he slowly made me down and my foot landed on the floor but he still didn't release me completely.

Enzo pulled me before him and slid me to the same place from where I tried to escape.

The counter.

Showing him a fake smile, I tried to convince him, “Maybe we should–”

“Hmm. Tell me. What should we do?” He asked in a playful tone and passed a wink which made me afraid of the situation I was in.

Then he slightly extended his both hands on the counter beside me.

There was no escape for me anymore. I was feeling so embarrassed right now, I couldn't look up at him. Still, somehow I managed to hold eye contact with him but it was only for a few minutes.

Because this man was looking at me with a mischievous smile.

How could he tie me into his web and react like that?

‘What should we do?’

Ughhhh!! He was flirting. He was definitely flirting. This is called flirting.

The more days passed, his flirting had been getting too much to handle. I mean, where is that Enzo?

Well, one time he stayed in his cold character and the other time he switched to a different kind of personality. And always made me embarrassed with his actions.

But honestly I was not going to fall for his charm and trust him with anything. I am never ever going to be tied up in his cage.

Never ever.

The one who should feel embarrassed was him, not me. He just said it so casually as if it didn't mean anything wrong.

“You didn't tell me… what should we do? Play a game?” He asked again with that playful tone.

“N-no. Just shut up. I don't want to play any games with you.”

“You sure, you really don't wanna play with me?”

“Nope. Let me go now.” As soon as I said that I tried to escape by slapping his hand to release me.

Enzo leaned in and a shiver passed through my body as he put his lips to the side of my ear and whispered, “At this moment, I can make you do anything I want. Remember our secret deal. There are many things I want you to do for me but only because I am waiting for the right time, don't think that you are free. It would be worth my time to play games with you, Alora.”

My eyes widened with those words and I could feel my cheeks had turned hot with embarrassment.

As if it was caused by global warming.

Whatever he said, it was– it was so negative. Like how could such words come out of his mouth? That too in front of me?

“You are such a bad guy.” I said to him giving the glare he deserved at the moment.

“And YOU are a really bad girl, Alora.”

Not to mention that my face must be red like a tomato now. It's not because of the words that he said to me, it's the way he said it to me.

“Hmm. How about I give you a dare.”

“W-what dare?”

“Dare to love me.” He smirked.

Dare to love him?

My subconscious mind questioned every single word.

“Come on, tell me. Will you be able to complete the dare?”

There's nothing left in me to protest against his will while I am not in such a situation.

Whatever he said– doesn't count as flirting. Daring me to love him… the expression on his face didn't look like he was in a joking mood.

It seemed as if that was truly what he wanted.

“If… from the next time, you mess up with me… then…” I said in a serious tone while pointing my index finger at him.

He also pointed his finger and then intertwined it with mine, “Then what?” His voice was smooth like butter. “While I should be the one threatening you for what you did earlier but you are threatening me?” He raised his eyebrows.

There was no reply to that question. So I tried to avoid his gaze and looked around.

“Okay, fine. I will get your threat–hmm…only if you give it better.”

What did that supposed to mean? No one would just casually give a threat. It would always be serious.

“Do it.” He said, tilting his head.

I held my head high, “I want to reach your eye level to make sure that you get my threat right. And seriously.”

He scoffed, “But your height can't help you with that.”

Again. Joking about my height.

The audacity of this man– here I was threatening him and he was joking about my height. Just wait and watch how I keep this man in line.

“I know. That's why I want you… to squat down to my eye level.”

He gave a fake chuckle and acted as if he didn't hear me. “What did you say?”

“You heard me right. Squat down, Enzo.” I replied boldly, holding eye contact.

He did not reply but stared at me very carefully. I couldn't tell from his expression what effect my words had on him.

Without any hesitation, the next moment he rested his both hands on his knees and squatted down in front of me. Our eyes met at the same level.

It was a victory. Well, yeah… he listened to my words and did it. Enzo did what I demanded. I suppressed a pride smile but internally jumped at what I did right now.

“Don't mess up with me. AGAIN. Or you will find out how dangerous I can be.”

I made sure to show my serious face when I threatened him.

All I got from him was a little nod and a different kind of smile with an unreadable expression on his face.

*****