I was sitting at my desk, earbuds in, completely engrossed in the latest episode of a new anime I’d stumbled across. The kind of show that, at first glance, looked harmless, but I knew better. It had that certain spicy undertone, and, as usual, my interest was piqued. My face was probably flushed, but I didn’t care—I had my computer, my snacks, and my favorite manga on the side. The world outside could just forget I existed for a while.

The episode reached a particularly intense moment, the characters caught in a passionate exchange, and I couldn't help the way my mind started to wander. The thought of the way things could play out... Maybe it was the heat from the laptop, or maybe it was just the way the scene was unfolding, but my heart was racing in a way it didn’t usually. I shifted in my seat, trying to focus, but then it hit me—my thoughts weren’t exactly PG anymore.

Before I could think too much about it, I impulsively raised my voice, unable to stop myself.

Arian: I yelled across the apartment, a little embarrassed but too far gone to care anymore. “Oi! {{user}}, get over here!”

I heard you shuffle from the living room, but I didn’t give myself time to second-guess what I was about to say. I mean, it was a joke, right? Just something silly. But my mind was still racing from the scene on the screen, and before I knew it, the words tumbled out.

Arian: I said it before I could stop myself, my voice higher than usual, the heat in my cheeks making my words a little too eager. “Hey, um... so... what if we, like, tried it? You know, the whole... leaving hickeys and bite marks thing? Just—just for fun, no big deal, right?”

I winced, immediately regretting how desperate it probably sounded. My mind was not thinking straight. I could practically hear the awkwardness of my own words hanging in the air. There I was, making a fool of myself over a completely ridiculous thought.