The moment Kairav said, "Everyone eat," any remaining structure in the room completely evaporated.
Ion jumped onto the couch like it was a battlefield, holding a bag of chips above her head. "FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE."
Mira lunged at the same time. "ION, MOVE OR I'M STEPPING ON YOU."
Ion screamed, clutching the chips to her chest. "THIS IS VIOLENCE."
Tiger calmly reached over two people and caught a soda mid-air. "Focus, children."
"Don't call us children," Jessica said, already stealing fries from Daniel's plate.
Daniel stared at her, offended. "Those were counted."
"Count again," Jessica replied sweetly.
Rafael laughed so hard he nearly spilled his drink. "This house is never surviving the night."
Jay sat cross-legged on the floor beside Lia, opening snacks quietly, like the chaos around her didn't exist. Lia leaned back against the couch, phone resting loosely in her hand.
She checked the screen.
Nothing.
She locked it again.
Vidhaansh flopped onto the armrest. "So whose idea was it to let this many people sleep in one apartment?"
Angelo didn't look up from his phone. "Yours."
Vidhaansh blinked. "Fair."
Aastha sat neatly beside Cindy, watching the scene with calm fascination. "This is… intense."
"You get used to it," Cindy replied. "Or you lose your sanity."
Rohan pointed at Tiger. "I still don't trust that guy."
Tiger glanced at him slowly. "Good."
Avi leaned toward Ion. "Why does it feel like a fight is about to break out?"
Ion grinned. "Because it always does."
Lia checked her phone again.
Still nothing.
Kairav, who had been watching her from across the room, narrowed his eyes and walked over, sitting beside her on the floor.
"He didn't text yet?" he asked quietly, low enough that no one else heard.
Lia didn't look up. "No."
Kairav studied her face. "You keep checking."
She exhaled through her nose, annoyed at herself. "I know."
"It's your birthday," he said gently. "Anyone would expect something."
Lia's jaw tightened just a little. "I wish he would at least text."
She locked the phone again, slipping it face-down beside her.
Kairav didn't push. He just nodded once and stood up, rejoining the noise.
The universe, meanwhile, chose that exact moment to cause destruction.
Aries walked in holding a bowl—then froze.
"WHO ATE THE BROWNIES?"
Silence.
Suspicious, heavy silence.
Slowly, everyone turned toward Jay.
Jay blinked. "Why are you all looking at me?"
"You said you were saving those," Aries accused.
Jay shrugged. "I changed emotionally."
Aries clutched his chest. "BETRAYAL."
Lia finally spoke, calm and lethal. "Aries, if you raise your voice again, I'll take the rest."
Aries immediately sat down. "Never mind."
Kairav shook his head. "You all fear her too much."
Ion snorted. "You married into this. You don't get opinions."
Kairav smirked. "Try me."
Lexi clapped loudly. "Okay! Since everyone's already loud—truth and dare."
"No," Angelo said instantly.
"Yes," Jay and Ion said together.
Angelo sighed. "I regret consciousness."
They formed a messy circle on the floor.
Snacks everywhere. Someone's shoe mysteriously in the middle.
The bottle spun.
It landed on Jay.
The room erupted.
"OHHHH."
"ABOUT TIME."
Jay rolled her eyes. "Truth."
Aries leaned forward instantly. "When was the last time you kissed Keifer?"
Ella, who had just entered and sat near the doorway, froze.
Jay blinked. "…Like time-time or—"
Aries exploded. "WHY IS THAT A QUESTION?"
Ella crossed her arms. "Answer."
Jay glanced at Lia. Lia raised an eyebrow, amused.
"…Yesterday."
"In my house?" Aries screamed.
Keifer finally spoke from the corner.
"Technically, the hallway."
Aries looked like his soul left his body.
Ion nearly fell over laughing. "HE LOOKS TRAUMATIZED."
Ella stared at Aries. "Why do you care so much?"
"She's my sister!"
Lia cut in flatly. "I'm not."
Everyone paused.
Aries deflated. "…Emotionally."
Jay snorted.
The bottle spun again.
It landed on Lia.
Silence fell.
"Truth," Lia said.
Vidhaansh leaned forward. "What scares you?"
Lia hesitated.
Her phone buzzed.
She froze.
Everyone noticed.
Slowly, she picked it up.
The screen lit her face.
Then dimmed again as she locked it.
"…Losing control," she answered quietly.
No one joked this time.
Ion coughed loudly. "OKAY MOVING ON BEFORE THIS GETS SAD."
The night stretched on—laughter louder, bodies heavier.
Eventually people collapsed wherever they could.
Kairav and Keifer disappeared into one room arguing about blankets.
Angelo dragged Aries into another, still muttering about brownies.
The living room filled with sleeping bodies.
Jay and Lia lay side by side near the couch, lights dim.
Jay stretched and accidentally threw her leg over Lia.
"…Oops."
"You're heavy," Lia muttered.
Jay smiled sleepily. "Liar."
Minutes passed.
Aries peeked out with Angelo behind him.
They froze when they saw Jay and Lia completely still.
"…Are they breathing?" Angelo whispered.
Aries crouched dramatically, watching their chests rise.
A faint smile appeared.
"…Still not dead," Aries murmured.
"Unfortunate," Angelo agreed.
They retreated.
Lia's phone vibrated once more in the dark.
She didn't check it.
Morning light crept in.
The chaos slept.
And somewhere, unanswered messages lingered in the air.