In an instant, he slumped onto the sofa, his face flushed and eyes unfocused, as if the weight of the world had come crashing down.
His friend smiled sheepishly and said, “Don’t overthink it. Theron just lost a round of truth or dare. And the photo he posted? That was part of the game, too. There's nothing for you to get worried about.”
In the past, I might have erupted on the spot, demanding to know why, with our wedding just around the corner, they’d invited Lyra and allowed such intimate photos.
But at that moment, I stood still, a tight smile on my lips, choosing silence over confrontation.
As Lyra watched from the sidelines, her eyes twinkling with mischief, I reached out to guide Theron home. But then again, he pushed me aside, annoyed with me lending a hand.
Some of his friends buzzed with attempts to defuse the tension, suggesting, "Looks like Theron’s still in the mood for more fun. How about another round? Avery, you should join in too.”
It was soon uncovered that the next was to spill the beans of the pinned conversation from each of our social apps.
Though I was wary of joining the game, I took my place and watched as the bottle whirled. It spun and swayed, finally coming to a stop right in front of Theron once more.
From across the room, someone couldn't resist teasing, “Theron’s lost again! Let’s see your phone!”
Another voice said with a sigh, “With Theron about to get married, his pinned conversation is bound to be with his fiancée. What’s the thrill here? This round’s a flop!”
Theron, having been caught in the act, stayed silent. With a nervous demeanor, he handed the phone to Lyra, hoping for her nod of approval.
With a casual flick, Lyra unlocked the phone, letting everyone see it.
The screen quickly revealed Theron’s social app, displaying only one pinned conversation, Lyra’s profile picture.
Amidst a flood of messages from public accounts and work groups, our chat window was hidden at the bottom.
Beside my full name was a “Do Not Disturb” icon and a small red dot next to my avatar, indicating that my messages had gone unread.
Under the soft lighting, Lyra’s gaze lingered on me, and my embarrassment was laid bare for all to see.
Beneath my sleeve, my hand tightened into a fist, nails digging into my palm as I struggled to control the trembling.
The room grew tense as everyone’s faces turned uneasy, all eyes locked on me.