Chapter 6 Breaking a rule

Standing before the mirror, I slipped my hair into a ponytail and then started checking out my uniform to be sure nothing was left out. With my gaze still on the mirror, I saw my door creaked open and in walked mum. She was on a gray colored suit, same dress she had wore yesterday mornin.

"Clarisa dear?" Her smile reflected in the mirror.

"So you finally remembered you have a home" I just rolled my eyes, staring at her through the mirror.

"Clarissa I understand that you must be very upset about the other day." She says quietly as she placed her palm on my shoulder. "I am so sorry for not showing up again as promised. The thing is I got really busy at work."

"You always say that." I turned around so I could face her. "It's always work work. You can't even squeeze a minute of your time and share it with your family. All you think and care about is your work."

"What? You know that's not true right? I love you so much and whatever I'm doing right now is because I want to make you happy. You know I can't loose my job , it's the only way I can take care of you and the family." She defended, With her usual calm tone.

"I understand that already but it wouldn't have taken anything from you to send even text message at least. Do you know how I felt when all my friends ranted about how they spent the day with their mother?" My voice crackled, as tears blurred my vision.

"Do you know how it feels to be left out?" I found myself whispering as tears stole my voice.

Mum placed her palms at my cheek and cupped my face, using her thumb to caress my cheeks.

"I am so sorry my dear, I promise I'll make it up to you next ti...".

"Just stop" I cut her off and removed her hands from my face.

"Stop making promises that you are never going to fulfill, I feel like you are doing it on purpose to torture me okay.." I half-yelled and mum was just staring speechlessly at me. I ignored her presence and went back to arrange my backpack ready to go off to school.

"I will be leaving for school now, have a good day...at work" and without waiting to hear her response, I stormed out of my room as I was accompanied with the slamming of the door.

I didn't have breakfast with my family cause I was already late for school, I just took few bites of waffles and I was good. Mum was suppose to take me down as usual but I allowed my anger get the best of me so I have to take a cab.

......

At school, We had about four classes before we went on recession. And I've be waiting for this Time, perfect time to tell my friends about my ordeal.

And by friends I meant bethel and mark. I wouldn't tell Nathan about it cause he's gonna buzz my ear with a long boring ass sermon and I definitely can't tell Xavier either since he will only annoy the shitt out of me. But mark had flew out of the class the moment the bell was rang so it's just me and bethel now.

"Guess what bethel?" I squealed as we are both stuffing our things into our locker. We stays in same seat. "What's that??" Her full attention was stil on what she's doing.

"I finally played the game." That statement made her shut her locker and whirled towards me at a go.

"What game are you talking about??" She feigned ignorant. I finished arranging my books into the locker and then turn to face her.

"Well, what other game have been spiraling the whole of Texas huh?" I rolled my eyes dramatically.

"Omg.." she gasped, then she screamed widely and the moment she screamed, the few people in the class turns to face us. Her palm flew to her mouth to hold herself. She held my wrist and we both ran out of the class.

"Now tell me you were joking in there..." she began the moment we got to the balcony heading towards the cafe. "I mean you never have a thing for the game, and you never even believed it existed."

"Well let's say I decided to take all your advises and funny enough the game does exist." I giggled.

"How did you play the game then, when, where? Just...how??" Curiosity was written all over her face and I gave her the answers she wanted. While we were still heading off to the cafe I told her how I went back to that user who had messaged me about the game before then I played the game and when I told her I won the game, she screamed loud in excitedmenr. This time we've arrived at the cafeteria so she once again attracted eyes.

But her excitement faded off when I told her I have other rounds to play, she instantly warned me not to play it again with the fear of failing those rounds but then I told her about rules of the games and you needed to see the look on her face. She was mostly affected when i told her that if I break a rule, I'll loose one of my loved ones.

"Hang on..." she choked on her chips and I quickly handed her water, she glumped down from it and continued. "Don't tell me you have broken one of the rules by telling me this cause if you are then I'm cutting off ties with you and we instantly become mortal enemies as I'm not ready to die yet. I am just 17, just an high school student and I still need to explore the world and..."

"Calm down..." I interrupted her as she wouldn't stop rambling. Honestly the panic is uncalled for.

"Look you don't have to worry about anything. Those treats are just fake, it's just like a normal horror game there's nothing to be scared about. If those threats were to be real then with the vast majority of people giving reviews about the game after playing the game thereby breaking the rules half of Texas could have been dead by now or do those people never have loved ones??"

"It could be possible you know. Or what if those people never really played the game? Why the heck did you have to tell me about the game knowing fully Well is against the rule, you didn't just endanger my life but the life of everyone around you and if you don't want any bad blood..." she stopped and glared at me, then pointed her fork towards me in a stabbing stance. "You better finish the game and win all those rounds"

I laughed at her choice of threat.

"Oh stop being so dramatic okay. the rules of the game states one of my loved ones will die should I break any rule.. you don't even know if I love you." I rolled my eyes dramatically.

"Well you better don't love me okay.." she went back to her food and almost immediately we heard a voice.

"And why are you guys talking about love??" I and bethel both turn in sync to meet the annoying ass of a friend called mark.

"Don't tell me you girls are practicing lesbianism now.." he further rolled his at us and instantly earning a scowl from us. I opened my mouth to say something but was interrupted by the loud squealing and ovation from some group of girls.

Turning to face the direction, I was met with both Xavier and Royce walking into the cafe and they are both approaching our table. Those two, they are just like birds of same feathers. If you don't know them very well you'll think they are twins, I mean you hardly see one without the other. Sometimes I do envy Their friendship really. I don't have a problem with Royce but that gray eyed boy called Xavier, I definitely aren't in the mood for his annoying talks.

"I've got to go guys." I stood up from the chair and started walking out.

"But we are still talking about..." that was bethel's voice but I was already out.

"Talking about what??" I heard Xavier voice before I went ear shots.

I just hope bethel don't get to tell him anything about the game cause the moment it gets to Xavier the whole school is gonna know about it. It's not like I'm scared but I just don't like being the talk of the school.

When I left the cafe I went for the library to spend the rest of the break. After minutes of shuffling through some books, I finally settled for 'the great gabsy' I've heard people talk about it and it sound interesting but I didn't bother reading cause I hate classic. I mean with those Ancient English and all, it all just seem boring.

But reading "the great gabsy" is quite interesting than I thought. I was deeply engrossed in the book when I felt a tap on my shoulder, I flinched and sprang my head up to meet the angry gaze of Na..Nathan??

. "Nathan??? What are you doing here ?" I was quite bewildered cause Nathan is the last person to be seen in a library. Like most typical boys, He hates reading books just for leisure especially novels.

"I knew I would find you here." That makes more sense, he came for me.

Closing the book and shoving it back into it place I turned my full attention towards him.

"What were you thinking?" He began. "Were you out of your mind when you decided to go play that demonic driven game??" He barked at me and thankfully we are the only one here in the library.