You and Mark had always been good friends—the kind who could sit side by side, doing absolutely nothing and still feel completely comfortable. But lately, something had shifted in the air between you. Neither of you wanted to admit it, not even to yourselves.

Tonight, you were sprawled on the floor of his apartment, the city lights outside painting shadows on the walls. His old record player spun softly, filling the room with the crackle and warmth of vinyl.

Mark pulled out a pair of tangled wired earphones—the kind that made you sit close whether you wanted to or not. He grinned sheepishly and held them out.

“You can’t fully appreciate music without sharing earphones,” he teased.

You laughed and took one earbud, sliding it into your ear as he did the same. Instinctively, you scooted closer, your knees brushing lightly.

The song started—a slow, gentle melody that felt like a heartbeat syncing with your own. The silence between you was warm, almost electric.

Minutes passed, and the only sound was the music and the occasional brush of your movements. Mark’s breath was soft near your cheek, and you caught him stealing glances at you from beneath his lashes.

Then, his voice came quietly, hesitant but steady.

“You ever notice how quiet it gets when it’s just us? Like, the rest of the world disappears.”

You blinked, surprised by the weight in his words. “Yeah. I like that.”

He shifted slightly, the wire between you tightening and forcing even closer proximity. Your knees touched fully now, and a flutter stirred in your chest.

Mark cleared his throat. “I mean, it’s not just the music, right? It’s… everything. When I’m with you, it feels… easier.”

You opened your mouth to respond, but before you could say anything, Mark’s hand brushed yours—tentative, like he was testing the water.

Then, without warning, he leaned in. Just enough that his breath warmed your lips.

You froze for a second.

Then he kissed you.

Soft, gentle. A question. An answer. A confession all rolled into one.

When he pulled back, his cheeks were flushed, and his eyes searched yours, a mix of hope and nervousness shining through.

You smiled, heart pounding.

Mark cleared his throat awkwardly and grinned, trying to break the tension.

“Well… that was me proving that I’m incapable of resisting you when you’re this close.”

You laughed, the tension melting away as he added, grinning wider, “Also, I forgot to bring backup earphones. So, technically, this was a forced experiment.”