We all sat down again, forming a slightly uneven circle—as if it reflected the chaos of emotions quietly building behind our light laughter and childish challenges.
The ground beneath us was a bit cold, small stones pressing against our skin, yet no one complained. It was as if the gathering itself gave us a strange sense of warmth and unity.
Marcus glanced at each of us in turn, then said calmly:
"Well… it looks like it's Knox's turn now."
All eyes turned to him.
He sat with his arms resting on his knees, his eyes half-closed as usual, always giving off the impression that he didn't care—but now we knew that behind that calm expression, there were emotions no one had expected.
Knox lifted his head slightly and cracked his fingers softly before saying:
"Alright… I'll choose…"
My breath caught for a moment.
Part of me hoped he wouldn't pick me.
Then he slowly raised his finger and pointed directly at me.
"I choose you."
My heart jumped in my chest.
"Me?!" The word slipped out instinctively, closer to a startled whisper than an actual question.
Cairo let out a quiet laugh and said mockingly:
"Looks like Knox decided to take revenge for me. Good luck, my friend."
I looked at Knox, but he didn't seem vengeful at all—just wearing that calm, unreadable smile.
He spoke casually, as if this was nothing more than routine:
"So… what will you choose? Truth or dare?"
I fell silent.
Everyone was looking at me now, waiting for my answer.
Why does this feel like more than just a game?
Inside, I weighed my options as if I were standing at a real crossroads.
Dare?
No… not with Knox.
Not after the answer he gave earlier—the one that revealed a hidden side of him.
Then I remembered Cairo.
Yeah… Cairo definitely wouldn't go easy on me.
That last look he gave me carried a clear threat. No doubt his mind was already planning something ruthless.
As for Marcus… he was the only one who felt safe.
Kind-hearted, always smiling, his jokes harmless—just for fun.
He was the only one I'd feel comfortable choosing a dare with.
But now… I was in Knox's hands.
I took a deep breath, as if preparing to confess before an invisible court, then said quietly:
"I choose truth."
Knox nodded calmly, then asked without raising his voice:
"Then… what do you want to do after coming to this world?"
I wasn't ready for that question.
My tongue froze.
I expected anything… anything but that.
Something in my chest tightened, as if the question had carved its way into the deepest part of me.
I looked down, then lifted my gaze to the sky.
After a short silence, I answered:
"I… want to save up a large amount of money."
I paused, then continued more softly:
"Enough to live for six months without working… just so I can finally breathe freely."
I looked at Knox, then at the others.
No one interrupted me.
Just silence… listening.
I continued:
"And after that… I'll start my journey."
I swallowed, feeling my words grow heavier:
"I'll search for my family."
My voice trembled slightly, but I pushed through:
"I'll try to find out where they are… whether they're in this world or not. I'll travel everywhere, ask anyone I meet… just to find a trace. Anything that leads to them."
Silence filled the space again—but it wasn't suffocating.
It felt like an invisible embrace. A deep understanding that didn't need words.
Finally, Marcus spoke, trying to lighten the mood:
"That's a great goal… I also want to make money and search for my older brother."
I turned to him in surprise:
"You have an older brother?!"
Marcus laughed shyly, rubbing the back of his neck:
"Haha… yeah, I do. I haven't seen him since I got here."
Before I could respond, Cairo said with a tone half-joking, half-bitter:
"What is this? Seems like all of you have someone you're looking for…"
I looked at him, genuinely curious:
"Don't you have someone you're searching for too?"
He paused.
Something in his expression changed.
This time, he wasn't joking.
He stayed silent, avoiding our eyes… then muttered:
"…Forget it."
Then he lifted his head and smiled that sly smile of his—the one that hides too much.
"Anyway… isn't it my turn now?"
The shift from silence to sarcasm was obvious—an escape—but none of us pressed him.
It seemed each of us had something we were hiding.
Knox spoke calmly, looking at Cairo:
"Yes… it's your turn now, Cairo."
All eyes turned to Cairo, who didn't respond immediately.
He stared ahead for a moment, as if reviewing names one by one in his mind.
I felt a faint tension creeping into me, despite trying to appear calm.
Ugh… if he picks me, I'll just choose truth.
That's what I told myself.
I wasn't ready for a reckless gamble.
Cairo was known for his unpredictable moods—if he wanted revenge, he wouldn't hesitate.
I waited in silence, my breathing growing heavier.
But what happened… wasn't what I expected.
Calmly, Cairo raised his finger and pointed to the person sitting on his right.
"I choose you, Marcus."
I let out a quiet breath of relief.
Okay… that's good.
At least it wasn't me.
Marcus chuckled lightly, running a hand through his dirty-blond hair:
"Ha, looks like I'm the victim this time."
I smiled without meaning to, even though the tension didn't allow for much laughter.
Cairo grinned, his tone playful yet challenging:
"Choose—truth or dare?"
Marcus answered without much thought:
"I'll choose truth."
Cairo's lips curled into a mocking smile as he glanced at all of us:
"Why are you all such cowards, always choosing truth?"
His words were like a spark dropped into a fragile pool of pride.
Without thinking, my voice jumped in defense:
"I'm not a coward!"
The moment I said it… I realized—
Darn. I fell right into his trap.
While Marcus and Knox remained calm, completely unfazed, I was the only one who reacted—like an easily provoked child.
Cairo shot me a sideways glance, smirking:
"Oh really? Then prove it… when someone picks you later."
I didn't respond.
Better not make things worse.
Silence was smarter than replying now.
Yeah… I shouldn't fall for that stupid trick. If I choose dare later, I'll definitely regret it.
Cairo turned back to Marcus, slipping into his role again, and asked more seriously:
"So, Marcus… my question is: what's the most embarrassing situation you've ever been in?"
And in that moment…Something in the atmosphere changed.
Something wasn't right.
The wind suddenly grew colder, as if the air itself was listening.
The nearby trees rustled softly, and the sky seemed darker—though unchanged.
Marcus's smile vanished instantly.
His face went from lively… to completely still.
Silence fell.
Not a gentle silence.
A heavy one.
The kind that makes you feel like something important is about to be said… or revealed.
Cairo looked at Marcus with growing concern, as if realizing the question had gone too far—without meaning to.
Knox closed his eyes and tilted his head slightly, as if choosing not to interfere… or perhaps to shield himself from what might come.
As for me…
I stared at Marcus in silence, my heart beating in a strange rhythm.
Why does every question in this game lead somewhere sensitive?
I mean… just look at his face. That alone is enough to know the question was wrong.
Several seconds passed—though they felt like minutes—as we waited…
Waited for Marcus to say something.
He sat motionless, hands on his knees, eyes fixed on a point we couldn't see.
It was as if he couldn't see us at all.
As if his mind had left the circle
entirely...traveling back to another time, to a moment he wished to forget—but couldn't.
And so…
The seconds passed, while we waited for Marcus's answer.