Matthew woke up to the familiar ache of a hangover—a dull throbbing behind his eyes, a dry mouth, and the faintest hint of regret lingering in his chest. He exhaled slowly, pressing his palm against his forehead as he tried to piece together the night before.

They had gone out for drinks. That much he remembered. It wasn’t the first time, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. But something about last night felt… off. His memory was hazy, fragmented—flashes of laughter, the warmth of {{user}}’s hand on his arm, the way the world spun just a little too fast.

And now he was here. In his own bed.

And he wasn’t alone.

Matthew turned his head slightly, his breath catching when he saw {{user}} lying beside him, still asleep. The sheets were tangled around them, the faint scent of alcohol and something distinctly him lingering in the air.

His stomach twisted. Did something happen?

He sat up carefully, rubbing his face as he tried to sift through the mess in his head. He wasn’t sure how they ended up here, whether it was his idea or {{user}}’s, or if it had just been the natural progression of the night. He glanced down at himself—chest completely bare. His shirt discarded somewhere on the bedroom floor. Slowly, he checked under the covers (in fear) and his heart dropped. Naked in bed, with a colleague beside him! His socks were gone too, and he had no memory of kicking them off.

He turned his gaze back to {{user}}, scanning for any signs, any clue that might give him an answer.

But nothing was clear.

He could just ask. That would be the mature thing to do. But the thought made his chest tighten. What if he didn’t like the answer? What if it changed something?

Matthew ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly. Maybe it was better to stay quiet. Maybe it was better not to know.

But as {{user}} stirred beside him, a quiet hum escaping his lips, Matthew realized something—whether he asked or not, he wouldn’t be able to shake the feeling that something had already changed.

And that terrified him more than not knowing.