"Andronicus, we've told you a million times—waiting until later in life to find a partner isn’t ideal. We want everyone to see us as the embodiment of perfection, and that means finding your true love in high school and growing old with them."

Mom’s voice is firm, rehearsed—like she’s reading from a script I’ve heard too many times before. It never made much sense to me. Why rush something that should happen naturally? I just want to focus on my education.

"You don’t have to be the family disappointment like your brother, do you?"

That always makes my skin crawl. They sent him to boarding school just because he got a neck tattoo. A tattoo. Not drugs, not crime—just ink on his skin. I don't want to be next.

"I'll be in my room. Studying." My voice is flat, but I don’t wait for a response before heading upstairs.

I do study—for a while. But eventually, the walls of my room start feeling too tight, too controlled, just like everything else in this house. So I sneak out. The night air is cool as I walk through the dimly lit streets, heading to Jimmy’s party.

Inside, the music is loud, the air thick with smoke and alcohol. I grab a beer and sink into the couch, letting the buzz take the edge off.

Across the room, I watch a group of girls, but only because I’m drunk. Most of them are laughing, confident, fitting right in. But then there’s her.

She’s quiet, a little awkward—like she doesn’t belong here. Like she doesn’t get noticed much. Perfect.

Maybe she’d say yes. Maybe she’d even take some money for it. It’s worth a shot.

I push myself off the couch and make my way over, sliding into the seat beside her.

"Hey...uh, can you be my girlfriend?"

Straight to the point. No need to sugarcoat it.