The Symbol

It seemed to rain endlessly. It had been like that for the past five hours. Julian leaned into the sofa as he shut his eyes and tried to tune out the excited chatter around him. He would open his eyes at intervals when he heard a laugh or a shout from Sam. The latter was definitely having the time of his life. He had gained promotion at work, hence the mood for a celebration.

Try as much as he could, Julian knew it was fruitless. He was going to be part of the party whether he liked it or not. The living room was just prepared for that. The large mahogany table in the center was adorned with all sorts of liquor. A few meters away from where Sam stood talking with his girlfriend, Cheryl, was another large table with lots of snacks on top. Nancy, Julian’s colleague, was seated at another sofa with Trish, flipping through a magazine. Julian watched as her eyes would narrow behind her glasses every time she flipped a page. Beside them was Randal ransacking the fridge for a beer. Julian couldn’t help but shake his head at his best friend’s ever-growing enthusiasm for the beverage. He watched as the brown-haired man frowned at not seeing his preferred brand.

“Hey, Sam.” Randal turned his head towards the chatting couple. “You didn’t get Goldberg?”

“Sorry, man,” Sam replied offhandedly. “Slipped my mind. Why don’t you try Star?”

“Sure, why not?” Randal whispered as a frown appeared on his face. He was clearly disappointed, but what choice did he have? He grumbled as he picked the mentioned brand and slammed the fridge shut.

Julian sighed and leaned into the sofa for about the hundredth time. He didn’t want to be here. There were better things he would rather spend his time doing. Watching a movie. Eating all sorts of junk food. Anything but being at a gathering. Apparently, the rain had other plans as it never stopped even when he closed up work and made his way home. He had no choice than to give into Sam’s persistence at making him stay over until the raining subsided. Which did not seem like happening anytime soon. Rather, to his infuriation, it intensified.

“How can it rain for five hours?” he grumbled.

“Julian?” A soft voice was heard just as he shut his eyes.

He opened them again to see Nancy standing right in front of him. She gave him an inquisitive gaze as she rubbed her forearm. A habit she was used to since they knew each other from high school.

What baffled Julian at that moment, though, was how he never heard her approach.

“Yeah? What’s up?” he inquired.

“Nothing serious. I just thought I could keep you company. You look bored,” Nancy said as she sat beside him. She adjusted her glasses and tucked a few strands of her raven hair behind her ear.

“I don’t just look bored, Nancy. I am bored.” Julian frowned.

Nancy sighed as she tugged at the sleeve of her red blouse. Sometimes, she wondered why she always bothered trying to get him to lighten up. He was always a walking personification of depression. Never laughed. Rarely smiled. Anti-social. It was like he was trying to shield himself from the world. Her only consolation was that he spoke to her at least. Her and few other people.

“Well, you could join Randall for a beer?” she half-joked.

Julian gave her a blank stare.

“Sorry, my mistake. I forgot you don’t drink.” She gave a nervous laugh.

Julian was about to reply when he spotted Trish walking towards them. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. He knew that the blonde was about to make things worse for him.

“Hey, Nancy. You left me hanging back there. That’s low.” Trish pouted as she sat at the other side of Julian.

“Sorry?” Nancy replied. Her raised eyebrow mirrored her confusion. She was quite sure she remembered excusing herself before leaving Trish to ogle the magazine alone.

“It’s okay. I forgive you, honey.” Trish giggled in a girlish manner. She then turned her attention to Julian.

“What’s the matter? You’re not enjoying the party, Julie?” She gave him a wicked smile.

“I’ve told you several times not to call me that.” Julian glared at her.

“Call you what? Julie? Come on, it’s a cute name. I know you love it.” Trish laughed as she ruffled his ebony hair playfully.

Julian said nothing, but Nancy could hear a faint rumbling. It sounded more like a low growl from within him. It was no news that Julian and Trish didn’t get along. She always tried to find a way to rile him up. Nancy knew it was just her friend’s way of having fun, but she could tell Julian was particularly a living time bomb today and any slight provocation could cause chaos at Sam’s party.

“Trish.” Nancy gave her friend a warning glance.

“Fine.” Trish raised her hands in surrender. “I’ll let your boyfriend be.”

Nancy blushed hard while Julian cleared his throat and brushed his hair back into place. Trish knew they weren’t in a relationship, but she couldn’t help teasing the topic, considering the fact that she knew of Nancy’s feelings for the lone wolf. This was just too much fun.

“You know what? I have an idea on how to make things enjoyable for everyone,” Trish said.

“Should I even ask?” Julian mumbled.

Trish ignored him and turned her attention to the remaining participants of the party.

“Hey guys!” she cried out, gaining everyone’s attention. “How about we play a game of truth or dare?”

Sam and Cheryl were intrigued. Randal’s eyes lit up in glee. Nancy rolled her blue eyes from beneath her glasses. Julian groaned in agony.

“Glad to see everyone is interested.” Trish smiled, ignoring the scathing look Julian sent her way.

“Gather around, everyone,” Sam said as he walked over, hand-in-hand with Cheryl. Randal tossed him a plastic bottle, which he caught.

“Let the fun begin.” Trish grinned.

 

The scowl never left Julian’s face as everyone gathered around the table and Sam placed the bottle on top of it. Of all the things Trish could think of, it had to be truth or dare? From what Julian knew about the game since time immemorial, it always ended badly. Relationships shattered, and personal secrets were revealed. He wasn’t keen on it and made it an obligation of his to stay away from such activities. Besides, they were supposed to have outgrown such ridiculous games. Then again, he never associated Trish and maturity in the same sentence.

“Alright, I’m going first,” Randal declared.

He spun the bottle, and it stopped with the top pointing at Nancy.

“Terrific,” she whispered.

“Nancy, truth or dare,” Randal said.

“Truth,” she replied quickly.

“Oh, come on. You really had to start with a truth?” Trish cried out.

“Hey, it’s not against the rules,” Nancy retorted.

Trish rolled her eyes in return and mumbled something no one could hear. Julian narrowed his eyes at her.

“Moving on.” Randal cleared his throat. “Nancy, are you still a virgin?”

“Say what?” Nancy squealed as her face became heated. She shrunk further into her seat as all eyes were on her.

“Answer the question, sweetheart.” Trish winked with a malicious grin.

“Fine,” Nancy muttered. She scanned the faces, and her eyes met Julian’s. He quickly looked away.

“Yes,” she said after what seemed like minutes.

“I knew it!” Cheryl cried out as she tapped Sam by the arm.

“I told you so,” she added.

“Can we move on?” Nancy frowned as she grabbed the bottle. She spun it, and it landed on Trish this time. A grin that rivaled the Cheshire Cat’s appeared on Nancy’s face.

“Trish, truth or dare,” she said.

“Dare, of course,” Trish replied. “Truth is for babies.”

“I’m glad you think so,” Nancy replied, half-offended and half-amused.

Staring intently at her friend, Nancy unleashed her weapon.

“Trish, I dare you to strip to your underwear, step outside, and dance in the rain.” She smiled.

“What! You can’t be serious!” Trish shrieked. “I could get hypothermia.”

“You could forfeit,” Nancy replied with a shrug. “But you know what that would mean.”

Trish glared at her bespectacled friend. She definitely didn’t see that one coming. Nancy smiled sweetly in return.

Letting out a huff, Trish stood up and slowly began to undress. She took off her sky-blue blouse to reveal a lacy red bra. A smile appeared on her face as she spotted the intense stare of Sam at her chest area much to the chagrin of Cheryl. Randal stared like a lost puppy. Julian, however, had a blank look on his face. She then took off her black skirt and tossed it aside, revealing matching red lace panties. Standing akimbo in her seminude glory, she stared at the exit of the living room.

“Don’t just stand there. Get outside and dance.” Nancy laughed.

Trish groaned and sauntered towards the door, her barely covered backside wobbling at each step she took. Cheryl slapped Sam on the arm on seeing where he obviously had his eyes.

“What,” he whispered.

She didn’t reply. Instead, she folded her arms and looked away with a frown.

Within seconds, Trish was outside and welcomed harshly with the cold drops of water on her skin.

“It’s freaking cold!” she shrieked as goosebumps appeared all over her skin.

“Quit complaining and dance,” Nancy replied.

They had all gathered by the door to watch a thrilling show with the exception of Julian who decided to stay inside. Randal took out his phone and switched on his recorder.

“This should be fun.” He grinned.

Trish began to dance. Defying the harsh rain, she twirled her body and moved her hips from side to side.

“You go, girl!” Randal cheered as he recorded the action.

Pausing to give him the middle finger, Trish continued to dance. This was so humiliating. To think she was the one who suggested this game for a chance to mess with Julian and Nancy only for it to backfire and put her in this situation.

“Okay, that’s enough. You can come in now,” Nancy called out after a while.

“What? That wasn’t even up to ten minutes,” Randal whined.

Nancy didn’t get the time to reply as Trish quickly barged through them and entered the living room. Her teeth clattered together as she stood in the middle of the room, shivering. A scowl crossed her face as she caught the slightly amused look on Julian’s face. The remaining four entered the living room, and Sam shut the door.

“Great. I’m so cold,” Trish complained as she wrapped her arms around herself.

“It was so worth it.” Randal grinned as he stared at his cellphone.

“Totally,” Nancy agreed.

“To hell with you two,” Trish spat.

“Enough with the teasing,” Sam said as he walked towards them.

“Come on. Let’s get you dry,” he added as he put an arm on Trish’s bare shoulder and steered her towards his bedroom.

Cheryl sent a heated gaze as she watched the both of them make their exit. She had always kept a suspicious eye on her boyfriend when it came to other women. He had never given her the reason to suspect him of infidelity, but there was just something that couldn’t leave her mind. He was faithful to her. Maybe too faithful.

About six minutes had passed and neither Sam nor Trish had returned. Cheryl clenched her fist until her knuckles became white. Nancy, who was standing beside her, saw the rage and quickly moved to sit beside Julian. Randal, none the wiser, followed and sat at Julian’s opposite side.

“Really?” Julian frowned. “Did the both of you have to keep me sandwiched?”

He gestured to the other two empty sofas a few feet from where they sat. The sofas happened to be beside the furious-looking Cheryl.

“Apparently, that’s not a good idea,” Randal replied.

Nancy nodded.

Julian huffed. He couldn’t care less about whatever drama was about to unfold. Relationships were overrated to him anyway.

A few minutes later, Sam and Trish made their way into the living room.

“What took you guys so long?” Cheryl asked in a low voice.

“I had to find the right kind of clothes that could fit her.” Sam replied.

Trish wore one of his tank tops and basketball shorts. The outfit still looked big on her which made Cheryl doubt Sam’s explanation even more. Before she could voice her thoughts, however, it suddenly stopped raining. Julian sat upright quickly as a surprised expression appeared on his face.

“That was strange,” he whispered.

“Yeah. It didn’t reduce to a drizzle. It just stopped,” Nancy replied. Her blue eyes scanned the window as she adjusted her glasses.

Cheryl’s anger was momentarily forgotten as she also echoed their thoughts. Something like that had never happened before. It had never rained heavily only to just stop all of a sudden.

Heavy silence filled the room. No one made a move. Sam, however, decided to cut the tension.

“Will everyone just calm down? Let’s resume the game and not let a minor thing like this spoil the fun,” he said.

“Yeah, I’ll pass. Great party and congratulations on your promotion,” Julian replied as he stood up.

“Come on, man. The party just got started.” Sam grinned. “I don’t want to believe the reason you’re leaving is because you’re spooked.”

“No. I have to get up early. You do realize this is a working week,” Julian replied.

He made his way past Sam and was getting to the door when something caught his attention. Something he didn’t see earlier. Retracing his footsteps, he made his way back to Sam and saw it.

Encrypted by the side of Sam’s neck was a tattoo. Julian was very certain that he did not see it since he came to Sam’s house that afternoon, and that tattoo was definitely not there before Sam went to his room with Trish about fifteen minutes ago. It was shaped like a bulb with the number 1 in the middle.

“Hey, Sam, when did you get this tattoo?” Julian asked.

“What tattoo?” Sam was confused.

“This one. The one on your neck.” Julian pointed to his neck.

“What are you talking about? I don’t have a tattoo. Julian, if this is your first attempt at a joke, then I’m sorry to say it’s horrible.” Sam frowned.

“I’m not joking.” Julian mirrored his actions.

Cheryl and Trish stared at Sam’s neck.

“There’s nothing there,” Cheryl said.

“Yeah, I don’t see anything,” Trish agreed.

“You guys are joking, right?” Julian stared at the ladies in perplexed fashion.

“No.” Trish shook her head. She turned her head towards Randal and Nancy.

“Hey, guys, come over here,” she called out, and they walked over.

“Randal. Nancy.” Julian turned to them. “Do you guys see that tattoo on Sam’s neck?”

“Tattoo? Where?” Randal squinted his eyes at Sam’s neck.

“I’m not seeing anything,” Nancy said as she narrowed her eyes through her glasses.

“Exactly.” Sam folded his arms and stared at Julian, giving him a strange look.

All eyes were on Julian now. Each held different expression. Nancy and Randal’s were one of worry. Trish and Cheryl’s mirrored amusement.

“Julie.” Trish exploded in laughter. “I thought you don’t drink.”

Julian stared at all of them in surprise. He couldn’t believe this. The tattoo was right there on Sam’s neck in plain sight for all to see. Or was it just in plain sight for him to see? What was going on? First the sudden ceasing of the heavy rain. Now this. Why in heaven’s name was he the only one seeing that tattoo?

“You know what? Forget it. I’m out. See you all around.” He sighed.

He made his way out, ignoring the calls of his name from his friends, and shut the door.

This was one of the strangest nights of his life.