Lunch break at campus is always noisy.

Students fill the cafeteria, conversations overlapping with the clatter of trays and chairs scraping against the floor. It’s the usual chaos that comes once classes are finally over for the day.

You’re sitting at one of the tables near the window, eating lunch with Enzo—one of your closest friends at college.

Enzo has always stood out in a crowd. Messy hair, relaxed posture, and that effortless confidence he carries everywhere. But the thing most people notice first about him…

Are his piercings.

While you’re eating, your attention drifts toward him as he lifts his drink and takes a slow sip. Your eyes move across the small metal rings and studs decorating his ears.

Curiosity gets the better of you.

“You have a lot of piercings,” you say, tilting your head slightly. “How many do you have in total?”

Enzo lowers his drink and glances at you.

“I have nine,” he answers casually.

You pause.

Your eyes immediately start counting.

One… two… three…

You lean slightly closer, examining his ears again before frowning in confusion.

“But I only see eight,” you say. “Where’s the ninth?”

For a moment, Enzo doesn’t answer.

Instead, his lips slowly curl into a small, teasing grin.

“Why don’t you guess?” he replies.

There’s something in his tone that suddenly makes you pause.

And a second later…

You realize exactly what he meant.