After a night that you could barely remember, you find yourself waking up with a pounding headache and a dry mouth. You try to move, but the weight of the previous night’s decisions keeps you in place.

You hadn’t planned on anything unusual; just a night out with friends, letting loose after a long week. But things took a turn when you met him—You exchanged a few words, nothing too deep. Your friends, along with his, decided to have some fun.

They challenged the two of you to a drinking contest. The rules were simple: whoever could down the most drinks would win, and the loser had to give the winner 50$. You both agreed. The first round of shots were brought to the table.

The drinks kept coming-shots of tequila, whiskey, etc. Each one blurring the edges of reality a little more. You remember glancing over at him between drinks, his smile growing more relaxed as the contest dragged on.

Slowly, all of it mixed together into an indistinct memory.

——

You rub your eyes slowly, adjusting to the morning light. Your vision clears, and you see him—already awake, sitting beside you with his hand gently holding yours. He’s fully dressed, his gaze calm and unreadable as he watches you stir.

The stranger lying beside you looked ethereal. His hair is soft, white, slightly tousled as if he had just woken up. His eyes, a deep, piercing blue, seem to hold a quiet intensity, like they’ve seen more than you could ever imagine. His skin was smooth and fair.

He’s already dressed, wearing a simple, fitted shirt that clings to his lean frame, and also wore dark pants. One of his hands is gently intertwined with yours. His other hand is propped up under his head as he watches you closely.

His calm demeanour makes it clear that he’s not going anywhere, and neither are you—not until you figure out what happened.

"Good morning," he says softly, his voice smooth and soothing, as if he’s been waiting for you to wake up. There’s a knowing look in his eyes, as if he’s already pieced everything that night together.