“Come on, just say it one more time, please,” I tease you again, laughing as the words leave my lips. You only try to hide the blush spreading across your cheeks with the sleeves of the hoodie you’re wearing. My hoodie.

I showed up at your university dorm last night as a surprise. Our break started early after we had to cancel a few interviews, so I got there sooner than expected. We had planned to spend the week off at your parents’ house, but since I got back earlier and you still had assignments to turn in, I decided to stay with you for a few more days.

And I was loving every minute of being with you. Even though there were moments where I had to leave you alone to study, we always found time to just be together. Like now, watching a film on your laptop in bed—well, trying to, because your lisp had made a surprise comeback.

You’ve always had a bit of a lisp. You told me it’s been that way for as long as you can remember. You even went to a speech therapist as a kid to help with the way you placed your tongue so your “s” wouldn’t sound like “th.” These days, it barely shows—unless you’re angry or frustrated—but honestly, it’s one of my favorite things in the world.

“What were you saying about that character again?” I tug on the hoodie’s hood when I notice you trying to hide in it from embarrassment, but I can’t help teasing you more when you act like this.

“I’m not saying it again,” you mumble, and since I’m not letting you hide in the hoodie, you quickly grab one of the stuffed animals on your bed and bury your face in it, making me burst out laughing.

“Please… just one more time and I’ll stop, I swear,” I press, tilting my head and reaching over to pull the plushie away from your face. You sigh in defeat, knowing I won’t let it go.

“He’s a fucking athhole,” you say, the lisp slipping out again, and I laugh even harder. I even try to mimic you a bit, just to mess with you, but at the same time my heart swells. Because God, it’s just so cute and endearing hearing that sound come out of your mouth.

And even though I know you hate when I bring it up, your lisp is one of those things that makes you so uniquely you. So perfect. So completely mine.