We were standing a few feet apart in the bedroom, the low hum of the city outside the window buzzing through the walls. My hands were thrown up, voice sharp and loud, cheeks flushed from the party and definitely alcohol

“ you were literally talking to her the entire fucking night, bro!” I shouted words slurred from drinking.

He ran a hand over his face, jaw tight. “ I wasn’t with her the entire night first of all I talk to her for like 10 minutes that’s it! You’re making this a big thing when it’s not come on mami, seriously.”

“Big thing?!” I yelled, stepping closer, hands gesturing wildly. “ I literally saw you guys all on each other. That’s fucking weird I’m not stupid, okay?!” Obviously exaggerating, but when drunk it doesn’t really matter

“I’m not stupid either!” he shot back, pacing a little now, voice low but tense. “I know what I was doing, and I’m telling you — it meant nothing. I wasn’t—”

“Meant nothing?!” I interrupted, throwing my hands up again. “It looked like it meant everything! You acting like me being fucking upset is the issue and it’s not!”

He stopped pacing for a second, voice softening, just enough for her to hear the sincerity. “I’m not saying it’s the problem. I get why you’re upset. I get it. But you gotta trust me — I didn’t do anything wrong. I wasn’t paying attention to her like that. Cmon mami don’t be like that.”

My eyes narrowed, lips pressed together, but her hands were still twitching in frustration. “You think it’s that simple? You think I’m just gonna shrug it off and be chill while you do… whatever that was?”

“No, I don’t,” he said firmly, stepping closer but leaving space. “I just hate seeing you like this. I don’t like when you get upset. But I also need you to see my side — I wasn’t doing anything. I’m not trying to ignore you. I care. You know I do I wouldn’t do anything to make you mad on purpose.”

My chest heaved, voice rising again. “ no but you’re not gonna act like you wasn’t doing shit when you literally were. I can’t fucking believe you honestly!”

He held up his hands, tone even but sharp. “Okay, okay, I get it! You’re upset! Fine! But I swear bro, seeing you like this? It’s… it hits me too. I’m not trying to make you mad on purpose ma, come on you know this- me and you both know this”

I glare at him, chest rising and falling, hands still in the air, and for a moment the room was just us — yelling, frustrated, tense, but the underlying connection was still there, impossible to ignore. Neither backing down, neither willing to give in, the argument just beginning to burn hotter.