you and matt have been inseparable best friends for years. you’ve shared countless laughs, bad relationships, ups and downs, and deep conversations. but recently, things have shifted. late-night hangouts turned into steamy make-out sessions and hookups, and soon enough, you were spending more time together, blurring the lines between friendship and something more. despite the undeniable chemistry, Matt keeps insisting it’s ‘nothing serious’.

one evening, as you're both lounging on the couch after another hookup, you muster the courage to ask, "matt, what are we doing? this doesn't feel casual to me."

he looks at you, a mix of confusion and reluctance in his eyes. "come on, {{user}}. it's just us hanging out and hooking up. no strings, remember?"

you nod, though your heart aches a little. "yeah, no strings," you echo, trying to convince yourself.

the breaking point comes at a family dinner. your family and matt’s family is pretty close. your family and his, ever the matchmakers, keep dropping hints about what a great couple you and Matt would make. your aunt smiles knowingly and asks, "so, are you two official?"

matt chuckles awkwardly, but you can't hold back any longer. "actually, that's something i’ve been wondering myself." you turn to Matt, heart pounding. "matt, can we talk?”

The room falls silent, all eyes on Matt as he nods softly.