It was the final day of the weekend, and Julia woke up hours later than she always would. All she could think that it was a good rest. Her assignment was finished yesterday, as she recalled. She freshened up.

She cooked breakfast, and started eating it while sitting on the sky blue couch behind the hidden door.

Julia opened the wardrobe door, and found a card of some sort. It had an image of two swans on it, both white. One wore a black crown, and another wore a pink crown. At first, Julia didn’t even understand that it was hand drawn. She opened the card, and recognized the cursive handwriting at once. It was from Patricia.

“I humbly request and invite you over to the Dream World for my 19th birthday. If you accept, recite the following the code…”

Julia put it away at once. She should discuss with someone she trusts. After closing the light brown wooden door, she wondered whether she could trust anyone at all.

She returned to her dorm room. She lied down on her narrow bed with white sheets, and started to think who she could tell this information to.

Of course she couldn’t tell Sunny. Julia had a feeling that troublemaker would tell anyone and everyone. Cole was someone who appeared reliable due to his calm stature. She doubted he’d go around telling anyone. But there was Silvio, who had shared his secret with her. However, she was still unsure about who he really was.

She groaned and turned over, getting a hold of her flip phone. The first thing she did was check her messages.

For some reason, Lindsey had created a group chat, as well as an event reminder.

Lindsey: Truth and dare, at 4 p.m.

Cole: No.

Silvio: Hmm.

Julia: How does Lindsey know Silvio?

Silvio: I don’t know her.

Cole: Ugh, don’t just add random people you don’t know.

Lindsey: Why Cole, are you jealous?

Cole: …

Hell no.

Lindsey: I saw Silvio talking to Cole this morning, and I instantly recognized him as in my following list.

Cole: What?

Lindsey: Well this is awkward.

Julia also left the group.

Later on, Silvio texted in Julia’s group chat that truth or dare was fun, and that they should do it without her. And Julia agreed that they should.

Cole: You sure, Julia?

Julia: Well, I’m bored.

Cole: True.

Sunny: I’m always up for a game of Truth or Dare!

Silvio: Let’s meet at the student lounge then.

Julia was glad that she had something to do, but she couldn’t erase the questions in her mind about the invitation.

When the time came, she looked at what to wear. She put on a black ruffled blouse and a black full length skirt. She combed her hair and put it into a ponytail. She took some of her belongings in her satchel and locked the door behind her. She walked past the clubrooms, and was stopped by Glimmer.

“I haven’t seen you in the club lately,” said Glimmer

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“Sorry about that, I need to buy materials,” said Julia, looking at the ground

“Alright, no problem,” said Glimmer

She arrived in the crowded student lounge. There were so many people that she didn’t know where to focus on. Julia began to scan the area. She saw the back of Cole’s head, along with Sunny’s face, and saw Silvio yawning.

“Am I late?” said Julia

“Sit down Julia, and Sunny, you should move,” said Silvio, making space on the couch

“Wouldn’t it make sense for two people to sit on each side?” said Cole

“Yes,” said Julia

She sat beside Cole. Silvio gave them a stern look.

“Great, I don’t have to move,” said Sunny

Silvio was wearing a purple polo shirt and Cole was wearing an olive polo shirt. Julia was wondering what the deal was with the polo shirts. Sunny was wearing a floral top with a skirt and sneakers.

“Before we begin, there’s something I wanted to discuss,” said Julia

“Go on,” said Silvio

“But Sunny,” whispered Julia to Cole

“Understood,” said Cole

Silvio was looking back and forth at Cole and Julia before sinking into the black couch.

“Hey Sunny, get me a drink from the vending machine, will you?” he said, handing her a coin from his pocket

“Okay, which one?” said Sunny

“Any one,” said Cole

Sunny took the coin.

“Wait! Whatever you do, don’t get me the strawberry one,” said Cole

Julia and Silvio looked at Cole.

“That stuff tastes like medicine,” said Cole

Silvio chuckled.

“Stop it, you,” said Cole

“What’s going on?” said Julia

“Never mind me, talk about your problem,” said Silvio

Julia looked at the floor.

“You don’t have to look at the ground every day you know,” said Silvio

Julia looked at Silvio. Her voice was shaking as she spoke.

“My dreamer… sent me an invitation to go to the Dream World,” said Julia

“Wait a minute, what?” said Cole

Silvio leaned forward. Cole placed his hand under his chin.

“I don’t think that’s possible,” said Silvio

“It is, it happened to me!” said Julia

“No, what I mean is…” said Silvio

“What he means is…” said Cole

The three of them exchanged looks.

“It’s a trap,” said Cole and Silvio in unison

They stared at each other.

Sunny reappeared, carrying a can of iced coffee.

“I thought you don’t like fruit drinks, so I brought you iced coffee,” said Sunny

She sat down, and they were about to start Truth or Dare.

All of a sudden, Julia saw that Lindsey appeared.

“I can’t believe we were going to play Truth or Dare, but we don’t have a bottle,” said Silvio

Cole suggested they use the coffee can, but Silvio said it might slip off the table.

Julia looked up at Lindsey.

“Truth or Dare without me? Well it’s good that I always carry a bottle with me,” said Lindsey

The look on Cole’s face was devoid of emotion. Lindsey was wearing all white.

“Scoot over, Cole,” said Lindsey

He didn’t move.

“Come on, Cole, don’t just sit there,” said Sunny

“You don’t even know who she is,” said Cole

Silvio raised his hand and said, “Neither do I.”

“You can make space,” said Julia

“If you say so…” said Cole

Lindsey gasped in an exaggerated manner.

“I didn’t see you there, Julia. You’ve blended in with the furniture,” said Lindsey

“Don’t talk about her that way,” said Silvio

Lindsey sat down and got a soda bottle out that was filled with water. Cole was stiff. Silvio spun the bottle.

It landed nearest to Cole.

“Me…?! Truth,” said Cole

He was scratching his face.

“Okay, who do you think is the good-looking one in this room?” said Lindsey

“Well, it’s J...” said Cole

“You can’t say Julia,” Said Lindsey

“Oh,” Said Cole

He started to scratch his head. They waited for a whole minute.

“We haven’t got all day…” said Silvio

“It’s Silvio!” said Cole

“Wait, what?” said Lindsey

Silvio laughed and said, “That’s one way to save yourself.”

Cole looked at Lindsey and said, “Did you seriously think I was going to say your name?”

“Moving on…” said Silvio, spinning the bottle

It landed on Sunny.

“Dare!” said Sunny

“Hmm... start singing in front of everyone,” said Silvio

Sunny cleared her throat. She started to sing a popular song by Ai Tea, but it was so off-key and so horrid sounding that they had to get her to stop.

The next person was Julia.

“Truth or Dare?” said Cole

“Dare,” said Julia

The others looked at each other with widened eyes.

“Okay, I dare you to…” said Lindsey

“We dare you to mock one of our professors,” said Cole

Silvio let out a sigh and smiled, after sinking back in his spot.

“Okay… Here it goes.” Said Julia

She tried to do an evil laugh and showed that she was conjuring up something in a cauldron.

“Who the hell is…” said Lindsey

“Is it Mr. Penn?” said Cole

“Yes,” said Julia, sitting down

The bottle landed on Julia again.

“Truth or dare?” said Sunny

“Truth,” said Julia, looking at Cole

“Okay so, who do you have a crush on?” said Silvio

Cole looked at Silvio with intense eyes and tight facial muscles. Julia stared at the green bottle which had no label.

“Umm… umm… well you see… I have crushes on many people,” said Julia

“Name some,” said Lindsey

“No…” said Julia

She curled up into a corner of the couch.

“The poor girl is red,” said Sunny

The bottle landed on Silvio.

“Truth,” he said

No one said anything. There was deep silence. Silvio rolled his eyes and sunk back into the leather couch.

“Tell me something embarrassing,” said Julia

Silvio looked at Julia with raised eyebrows and widened eyes. Everyone else also looked at her.

“Well… Hmm. There was this time I accidentally spilled water on my trousers and everyone thought… I believe the rest is clear.” said Silvio, with red cheeks

“When was this?” said Cole

“A few days ago,” said Silvio

Julia was giggling.

“Well, I’m leaving and I’m taking this bottle with me,” said Lindsey

No one said goodbye to her. The four of them talked about their daily lives.