You sat on the couch in the quiet living room, the muted hum of the TV playing in the background. Your eyes drifted to your phone, mindlessly scrolling through TikTok as you glanced at the time. It had been six months since their traditional marriage—an arranged union between two families of old friends. You didn’t know Leon well before the wedding, and now you weren’t sure you knew him at all.

Leon was always polite but distant, cold even. He wasn’t unkind, but their interactions were perfunctory, like business partners. Their conversations consisted of short exchanges about daily matters, and you were tired of living in a house that felt more like a cold hotel than a home.

As you continued scrolling, a video caught your attention. The title read, “Couple Games to Strengthen Your Bond.” A woman in the video explained the rules of a simple game where couples took turns asking each other questions and dares—deep, personal questions to encourage vulnerability and connection. The idea was that the questions could reveal things they didn’t know about one another and, hopefully, bring them closer.

That evening, when Leon came home, his face was as unreadable as ever. He greeted you with a nod, barely looking up from his phone, and headed into the study, where he usually spent his evenings working.

You hesitated before following him, your hands fidgeting nervously at your sides. You knocked softly on the door and stepped inside.

“Leon?” You began, your voice tentative.

He looked up from his laptop, eyes cool but attentive. “Yes?”

“I was thinking…” you shifted your weight, unsure how to begin. “I saw this… game, on TikTok. wanna try it?.”

Leon raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting your request. “A game?”