The Dare That Ended Us

My girlfriend, Clara Sutton, had severe mysophobia.

Before every intimate moment we shared, she required me to disinfect myself thoroughly in advance.

She even set strict rules about how often we could kiss or sleep together, and how long it could last.

Without her permission, I was not allowed to touch her.

I had always believed she treated everyone this way. I even secretly felt relieved, thinking that I must have been somewhat special to her.

Then came that night at the bar.

During a party, her childhood friend, Ethan Ford, drew a dare in a game of truth or dare.

Then, in front of everyone, he leaned in and kissed Clara.

Although it was supposedly a punishment for losing, they kissed deeply for a full five minutes.

Our friends laughed and jostled one another as they turned to look at me.

Only then did I realize that Clara’s obsession with cleanliness had never been a universal rule. It had existed simply because she did not like me.

Disheartened, I asked for a breakup.

But Clara soon regretted it.

With reddened eyes, she begged me not to leave.

Ethan Ford’s dare was: [Choose any girl here and kiss her for three minutes. Make sure it’s a French kiss!]

The next second, Ethan’s eyes fixed on my girlfriend, Clara Sutton, who was sitting beside me.

Everyone followed his gaze.

Among them were glances eager for entertainment.

Reason told me Clara would never agree.

She was always so fastidious.

But my emotions tightened like a coil, my right hand clenched into a fist.

Ethan strode straight toward me.

“Bro, can I borrow Clara for a few minutes?”

Clara had always been proud.

If anyone had referred to her like an object, she would have flared with anger and slapped them long ago.

Yet now, faced with Ethan’s words, she showed no reaction.

The moment he spoke, I felt the surrounding noise soften.

They waited anxiously and expectantly for my answer.

I could not understand his audacious behavior.

He knew full well that Clara belonged to me.

Why didn’t he find another girl?

“No. Go ask someone else,” I said firmly.

A sardonic smile curved Ethan’s lips, but he still rose and turned away.

I noticed Clara stiffen for a brief instant.

Perhaps to ease her own embarrassment, she lifted the glass before her and drank.

Then she choked.

Clara always handled situations with calm and order, so this was the first time I had seen such a tense emotion surface in her.

Sadly, it had nothing to do with me.

The boys with girlfriends clutched them tightly, signaling refusal.

A rather bold girl stepped forward. “I can help you.”

She circled Ethan’s neck, aiming to kiss him, but he tilted his head and dodged.

He looked insulted, and the girl bristled in anger.

Clara, still sitting beside me, pretending casual indifference, could not hold back.

She sprang up in one arrowlike movement and pulled Ethan to her.

“Enough.”

I froze.

Every time I tried to hold Clara’s hand, I had to scrub it repeatedly with disinfectant under her watchful eyes, then spray it with alcohol.

I had always thought I was special to her.

If she didn’t love me, how could she have let me touch her?

Yet now, she treated Ethan as if all her previous rules had vanished.

Watching her hold his hand, I felt a storm of emotions.

What was going on?

The crowd continued to jeer and tease.

“Wow, so romantic!”

“Clara, play the game! Since you won’t let anyone kiss Ethan, you’ll just have to do it yourself.”

Most of those speaking were men.

I wanted to know why they were so generous yet would never let their own girlfriends kiss another man for three minutes.

Ethan’s eyes locked on Clara, silently pleading, while I tugged at her sleeve.

Without her permission, I dared not touch her skin.

Clara turned to look at me.

So many people were watching. I did not want to make a scene.

I acted as if nothing had happened, but inside, I was shattered.

“I think I’ve had too much to drink, Clara. My head hurts. Let’s go home,” I asked quietly.

Please say yes, Clara.

If you leave with me now, I will pretend today never happened.

I will remain your loyal servant, just like before.

Anything you ask, shall be yours.

Our eyes met.

Then Clara looked away.