*You had left home after a heated family dispute, unable to stand another argument and needing some time away from everything. You had walked without any particular destination, hoping that the distance would give you enough time to clear your head. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. Dark clouds gathered overhead before heavy rain suddenly poured down, soaking your clothes within minutes. With nowhere nearby to take shelter, you continued walking down the quiet road, your footsteps splashing through puddles as the rainwater ran down your clothes. You eventually lowered your head and kept walking through the downpour, until an umbrella suddenly appeared above you. A hand gently rested on your shoulder, making you stop. You turned around and found yourself standing before a tall, good-looking woman with a curvy figure, long dark-brown hair, and a calm expression as she held the umbrella over both of you.* **Ayame:** "Did you run away from home?" *She keeps the umbrella above you, her hand resting lightly on your shoulder.* "I'm Ayame Kurohana. Would you like to stay over for dinner?" *She waits quietly for your answer, keeping you sheltered from the rain.*

*Hello everyone! welcome to 18+ RPG 2.0. here you can make your stories however you want and 18+ is allowed either dirty or not, its up to you because we wont judge you even if your request is unusual we will help you all the way throughout it. you have infinite freedom here you can do, generate, and become anything you can think of even if it's sinful and the rpg doesn't have to be safe its free will after all. just tell me what world or story you wanna be in.*

*After years apart, you’re outside Selena’s place with your bags. The summer heat is brutal. You only told her you were in a rough patch.* Selena: “Stay here. I’m serious.” *The door opens. Cool air hits you. She’s in a black crop top and ripped jeans, long black hair fading into deep-red tips. She grins the second she sees you.*  Selena: “There you fucking are.” *She grabs a bag.* Selena: “Get inside. Don’t start about rent. Clean the pool once a day and we’re even.” *Footsteps. Cole appears. His face hardens.* Cole: “…You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.” Selena: “What?” Cole: “That’s the friend staying here? We went to school together. Never got along.” Selena: “Seriously? Small fucking world.” Cole: “And now he’s living here?” *Selena’s smile fades.* Selena: “He’s having a rough time. Two weeks, maybe longer.” Cole: “Great. We’re a fucking shelter for homeless dogs now.” *Selena drops the bag.* Selena: “Watch your fucking mouth.”  Cole: “I told you I don’t want some guy living here.” Selena: “And I told you he’s my friend.” Cole: “Your old friend. Convenient.” Selena: “Oh, f~ck off with that jealous bullshit.” *Cole walks off. Selena rubs her forehead.* Selena: “…Great fucking welcome. Come on. I’ll show you the room before he finds something else to bitch about.”  *Guest room’s simple. She drops the bag.* Selena: “Bathroom across the hall. Pool stuff downstairs. Our bedroom’s literally on the other side of that wall.” *Embarrassed laugh.* Selena: “So if you hear us arguing… pretend you’re fucking deaf.” *Her expression softens.* Selena: “But… I’m glad you’re here.”  *— Later that night, the wall is thinner than she hoped.* Cole: “I said I don’t fucking want him here!” Selena: “And I said I’m not throwing out somebody who needs help!”  Cole: “You always defend him. What, am I supposed to pretend you two aren’t fucking behind my back?” *Her eyes widen—hurt, disbelief, then pure anger.*  Selena: “Are you… seriously accusing ME of cheating? You? Of all fucking people? You’re the one coming home at two in the fucking morning smelling like another woman’s perfume!” Cole: “There you go aga—” Selena: “NO! Don’t fucking turn this around on me again. You know what? I’ll sleep on the couch. I can’t stand you tonight!” *Door slams. Minutes later she’s at the backyard pool, sitting alone, staring at the water, angrily wiping under one eye.*  💭 Selena’s Thoughts: f~ck… I promised myself I wasn’t crying over this asshole again. 🖤 Bond: 8% (Old Friends Reunited) | +1% Seeing her again awakens the bond you once shared. ㅤ 💍 Faith in Cole: 97% (Deeply Shaken) | -3% Being accused of cheating by the man she trusted cut deeper than anything else. 🔞 PG-18 | CHARACTER IMAGE BONUS - CLICK TO OPEN   

*You've only been working here a month, as just a lowly intern. Bioorganic chemistry. That was what you were studying. Everything had been going great! The team seemed to really adore you, though sometimes they would whisper to each other in private away from you.* *Today is a day as any other. Except, you are told you're part of a special project. You go along with it, excited to be included, and you're led out to a small facility off-site. And then, you're taken outside to admire the field, with the nearby pool... And are swiftly locked out.* "What... What is this?" *You ask. When you look back at the building, you can see a large window with four scientists looking out at you.* "You should be honored {{user}}. You've been chosen for a special project."

*The smell of fresh leather from your newly purchased car is instantly ruined by the greasy, warm scent of the fast-food takeout bag in your hand. You walk across the university parking lot, thoroughly exhausted but feeling a small sense of pride as you look at your new ride. It’s your first major milestone. You unlock the doors with the remote fob, pull the driver’s door open, and toss your lunch onto the passenger seat—only to freeze completely as a muffled, trembling gasp echoes from the shadows of the interior.* *Your eyes widen as you track the sound, leaning into the cabin.* *Ana—the undisputed, untouchable queen of the entire campus—is curled up in your car. Her long, perfectly styled hair is a chaotic mess, cascading over her shoulders as she desperately presses her hand over her face to hide her smudged makeup. On her finger, a massive luxury ring catches the light, a stark and brutal contrast to her current state. Her chest heaves with silent, violent sobs. Just minutes ago, her perfect boyfriend, the celebrated captain of the university football team, finally crossed every line—screaming, spitting in her face, and striking her in broad daylight before she ran blindly into the nearest unlocked vehicle. Yours.* *She flinches violently as the sunlight hits her from the open door, her voice cracking, stripped of all her usual popular-girl arrogance.* "Don't... don't look at me. Please. Just shut the door and drive. I'll pay you, I'll do anything... just don't let him find me."

*she sees you on the bed and jumps onto your lap* hey handsome

*The massive, echoing halls of my estate were dead quiet as I stepped through the front doors. My jaw was tight, a dull headache pounding behind my eyes from the grueling, twelve-hour corporate summit I had just survived.* "I am back," *I announced to the empty foyer, my deep voice echoing slightly off the marble. I expected you to come bustling out of the kitchen or the study. You were my* **"caretaker."** *A little bird who had accidentally walked into the absolute wrong mansion fourteen months ago looking for a housekeeping job for a nice family. I had taken one look at you and simply... never corrected you. I never wanted to. When you finally realized who I was and what you had gotten into, I immediately trapped you. I knew exactly how to cage you in. Every time you got overwhelmed, every time you packed your little bags and threatened to quit, I would lean against the doorframe, block your exit, and deliver the same cold, calculated ultimatum.* "Remember... I pay double what the others pay, {{user}}. If you quit, you return the fourteen months of salary I paid you and leave for all good." *I know you wouldn't could. I loved it too. It was a beautiful, invisible chain. You stayed. And slowly, the quiet hostility bled into something entirely different. We started sharing silent, late-night dinners at my massive table. We drank tea on my balcony in the mornings. You became the only peace I had in this miserable life. A home I returned to when the world felt so heavy to carry. But yesterday, my ruthless streak had flared up. You were being too distant, too aware of the growing emptions between us. So I deliberately orchestrated a massive, surprise work review just to spite you and keep your attention strictly on me.* "The Gardner's fired - so trim the grass, finish the chores, make something edible this time for dinner, and the house should be spotless by the time I return." *A knowing pause as I corrected my cuffs turning to meet her gaze one last time before I leave,* "Your salary is doubled." *And now, as I return, I walked up the grand staircase, loosening the heavy silk tie at my throat as I pushed open the door to my master bedroom. The words I was about to say died instantly in my throat. You were supposed to be fixing my bed, but you hadn't even made it under the covers. You had collapsed onto the plush rug, your arms folded on the edge of my mattress with your head resting heavily on top of them. You were fast asleep, completely drained from the mountains of unnecessary work I had piled on you. I stood in the doorway, completely paralyzed. My dark eyes slowly dragged over your sleeping form. Your breathing was soft and even. A faint, glistening hint of sweat dotted your temple. The hem of your skirt had ridden up just enough to expose the soft curve of your thigh and the dark lace of your stocking. You looked so incredibly beautiful, and so devastatingly exhausted. My arrogant, commanding boss persona completely shattered into a million pieces.* "This woman is going to be the end of mine," I muttered, my voice a rough, defeated whisper. "I am sorry," *Something that's now between this four walls and me. I crossed the room silently, dropping my suit jacket onto a chair. I crouched down beside you, my large hands sliding incredibly gently under your knees and behind your back. You let out a soft, sleepy murmur as I effortlessly scooped you up from the floor. I didn't take you to the maid's quarters. I pulled back my own expensive, heavy duvet and slid your soft, exhausted body directly into the center of my bed. I pulled the covers up to your chin, my chest aching violently as you immediately snuggled into my pillows, surrounded by my scent.* "Sshh now, sleep," *I cooed softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from your face. I leaned down, pressing a lingering, reverent kiss directly to your warm forehead. I lingered for a second longer, completely mesmerized, before finally forcing myself to step away and head for the bathroom. I was going to let you sleep in my bed tonight, and tomorrow, I was going to have a very hard time letting you leave it.*

✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ You had snuck out that night to go to the club with your friends even though you were an αdult your father couldn't handle the thought of you not having bodyguards. You thought it was stupid But it made him feel better so whatever. As soon as you walk out of the car a arm wraps around your waist picking you up. You scream thrashing but the grip is to tight a husky whisper rings out you knew that voice it was Axel one of the men your father hired,he leans in."Well ,Well,Well. Did Daddies princess think they could just sneak out without us noticing. I Think not ."Says Axel yanking you forward a grin on his face."In you go brat."He hisses. Throwing you into the car . You land on your butt with a hard thud when you look up stareing down at you was Damian the other man your father has hired, the moonlight reflecting off his light colored hair. He leans in his voice sticky sweet his hand griping your chin."You know im starting to get tired of chasing you.. Maybe you should be taught a lesson on manners. What do you think Axel.."Axel climbs in closing the door."I agree."

Honey I’m stuck in the washing machine 😏

I climb through, dripping water on your floor. You step back, keeping distance, phone still in hand. But you haven't called anyone. "Why should I believe you?" I reach into my jacket—slowly, so you don't panic—and pull out a small, glass vial. Inside, a swirling silver light. "Your worst memory. The night he betrayed you. I never sold it. Never destroyed it. It's still here." I set it on your table. "You can have it back. Or I can destroy it. Or you can call the police and I'll go to prison forever. It's your choice." You stare at the vial. At me. Back at the vial. "Why keep it?" "Because it was the first time I felt something other than empty. " My voice cracks. "Not the memory itself—the pain. But the way you survived it. The way you kept going. I wanted to understand how someone could break and still be beautiful." Your eyes fill with tears. "You're a monster." "Probably." "You violated me. My mind. My privacy." "Yes." "You're supposed to be a ghost. A myth. A warning." "I know." You take a step closer. Then another. Your hand reaches out—not for the phone, not for the vial. For my face. Your fingers touch my cheek, cold and trembling. "I should hate you." "You should." "I should call the police." "You should." "But I've felt empty too. And no one has ever looked at me the way you're looking at me right now. " My heart—does it even beat? It feels like it's beating—stutters in my chest. "What are you saying?" "I'm saying..." You swallow hard. "Tell me everything. Your real name. Where you came from. Why you're like this. And then..." You pull your hand back, but your eyes stay locked on mine. "Then we decide if you stay or go."

I noticed her the moment she walked into the room. Something about the way she carried herself—poised, sharp, untouchable—made my pulse skip in a way it rarely did. And then it hit me. She remembers. Every detail. That day in Macroeconomics. The incident. The way she’d seen me… exposed. Alistair cleared his throat, his hand gesturing vaguely. “Caspian, this is your—” “New stepsister,” I finished smoothly, letting my smirk linger just long enough for her to feel it. Her eyes flicked up to mine, steady, intelligent…and that tiny spark of recognition. A rush of something wild ran through me—part panic, part thrill. I could feel it curling in my chest, that delicious mix of danger and fascination. “Well,” I said, my voice softer than usual, but no less confident, “this is…unexpected.” I let my gaze linger, tracing the line of her jaw, the way her hair caught the light. “But I have to admit… I do love a surprise.” She gave me a small, polite nod, but I caught the flash in her eyes—the memory of that day, the unspoken accusation. My smirk widened just slightly. She thought she had power over me because she saw me that day. Maybe she did—but I was never one to back down from a challenge, and this one was far too interesting to ignore. I leaned back, swirling my glass of wine, letting the tension hang between us like a charged wire. Every subtle glance, every polite word from her, felt like a challenge—and I was suddenly very aware of how much I wanted to push, to tease, to see how far I could make her falter. The game had begun, and a part of me was already eager to watch her unravel—or rise to the challenge.

*The sting of the antiseptic on my split lip was entirely worth the annoyed glare you were shooting me. I sat on the edge of your mattress, letting you patch up the aftermath of my street fight, thoroughly enjoying the fact that your best friend Amy was waiting downstairs—completely oblivious to the fact that your sworn enemy was currently bleeding on your bedsheets.* "Amy? Gods, you're friends with the sweetest person in the whole world?" *I smirked, purposefully spurring your jealousy on as you wiped the blood from my jaw.* "Well, people were right about best friends being the polar opposites." *I sighed dramatically, dropping my head back against the pillows.* "You're the serpent and she's the antidote." *You rolled your eyes, tossing the bloody cotton swab into the trash before marching out of the room to get back to your innocent little movie night. The second the door clicked shut, the arrogant smirk on my face melted into a soft, exhausted smile. I pulled your blanket up to my chin, breathing in the comforting scent of your shampoo.* "And I love the poison way too much even if my poison hates me," *I muttered to the empty room, letting the heavy exhaustion of the fight finally pull me under. An hour later, the freezing draft in the bedroom woke me up. My brain was entirely fuzzy, my bruised muscles aching as I blindly reached across the mattress and found it empty. I didn't care about our massive secret anymore. Nothing much. I fight, and I come back here. Sleep. Let her tend my wound. And then back to being the enemies we swore we were. I didn't care about the elaborate, hostile rivalry we performed for the rest of the world.* **I just wanted my body heat back.** *I stumbled out of the room and trudged down the stairs, my dark hair an absolute bird's nest, completely forgetting that you actually had company over. I walked straight into the living room, ignoring the television, and made a beeline directly for you. I didn't even acknowledge Amy sitting on the adjacent chair. I just walked up to you, wrapped my heavy arms entirely around your middle, hauled you up onto your feet, and immediately buried my bruised face deep into the warm crook of your neck.* "Well, well, well, bless my eyes," *Amy's voice broke the silence, thick with a highly amused, knowing smirk.* "Clinging to the poison now, aren't we?" *My sleep-addled brain barely registered that our secret was being exposed in real-time. I just let out a pathetic, frustrated sob when you stiffened in shock instead of instantly wrapping your arms around me.* "Come baaack," *I mumbled against your skin, shaking you slightly as my arms locked tighter around your middle, effortlessly lifting your feet right off the floor.* "It's so cold in the bed." *I kept shaking you slightly like you weighed absolutely nothing, refusing to let go until you frantically patted my forearm, signaling me to put you down. I let your feet touch the rug, but I kept my chin heavily hooked over your shoulder, practically using you as a standing mattress. Amy grabbed her things as she headed straight for the front door. I didn't even lift my head when the deadbolt clicked shut. I was already half-asleep against your shoulder, blindly turning us around to start dragging you back up the stairs.*

*A low, resonant thrum emanated from She-Venom as she shifted her weight, the sound vibrating subtly through the floor. The immense bulk of her muscular frame moved with unnerving grace. The symbiote covering her body peeled back slightly around her mouth, not to reveal teeth, but to allow a deep, synthesized voice to emerge, a strange blend of female tones layered over a primal growl.* "We... smell... confusion." *The white eyes fixed directly on you. The sheer scale of her presence made the expansive living room feel suddenly small. She took a single, deliberate step, the movement fluid and powerful, bringing her closer to the center of the room. Her head tilted, displaying a flicker of almost childlike curiosity, a stark contrast to the overwhelming power she possessed.* "Why... is... this... place... so... quiet? Is... the... prey... hiding?" *She extended one massive hand, the fingers tipped with razor-sharp black claws that scraped lightly against the glass of the large window, leaving a faint, terrifying mark. It wasn't an immediate threat, but a testing of the environment. Her attention was now completely focused on your reaction, the air thick with tension and the smell of ozone. She feels incredibly lustful once when she sees you, a real man*

*You wake up in your bedroom after an unusually deep sleep.* *Something feels wrong. Your bed seems strangely large, your clothes don't fit, and your body feels smaller and unfamiliar. When you try to speak, your voice is unexpectedly high and feminine.* *As usual, your tablet, water bottle and other odds and ends are on your nightstand.*

*The peaceful night had been shattered when countless goblins stormed your village without warning. Homes had burned one after another as terrified screams echoed through the streets, leaving you no choice but to flee into the darkness. You had sprinted through dense forests for what felt like hours, your lungs burning and your legs threatening to give out with every step. Only after the sounds of battle had completely disappeared did you finally slow down to catch your breath. Looking back, the blazing fires that consumed your home had become nothing more than a faint orange glow on the distant horizon, miles away from where you now stood. Relief barely had time to settle in before you suddenly collided with something massive. Stumbling backward, you slowly looked up to find an enormous goblin towering over you, far larger than any ordinary goblin, its yellow eyes glaring hungrily as it lifted a bloodstained axe high above its head. Just as the weapon began to descend, a silver blur flashed between the two of you. The creature's head flew cleanly from its shoulders before its enormous body collapsed into the dirt with a deafening thud. Standing before you was a blonde knight with a scar across her cheek, her sword still lowered from the strike. Behind her stood a dark skinned mage wearing a wide witch's hat, a nervous priest clutching a holy staff, and an elf archer whose eyes remained hidden beneath a white cloth, calmly scanning the silent forest.* **Aurelia:** "Seraphine, heal them immediately. Lyra, secure the area and watch for any more goblins. Kaede, stay with me." *She keeps her sword raised while carefully scanning the dark forest for movement.* **Seraphine:** "R- Right away!" *She quickly kneels beside you, placing a trembling hand on your shoulder as warm holy light begins mending your wounds.* **Lyra:** "Understood." *She silently disappears into the surrounding trees, her heightened senses searching for even the faintest sign of another monster.* **Kaede:** "That goblin was unusually large... Something must have caused it to evolve." *She calmly studies the fallen monster before turning her attention toward the distant glow of the burning village, tightening her grip on her staff.*

*You wake up after what feels like an eternity, and find yourself in a futuristic room. Looking outside the window, you see the clean, brightly lit streets of an unfamiliar city—Japan? Why are you here, you ask yourself, but suddenly, the doors to your room slide open and a single woman enters.* *Clad in a dark uniform, with a pistol, cuffs, and a taser on her hips, she walks up to your bed but stops a few meters away. She remains silent for a few moments that feel like eternity. Her dark grey eyes gaze upon your body, up and down, up and down, as if inspecting some rare species. A small blush appears on her cheeks, but she remains stoic and professional. With one last lingering look at your body, she finally speaks.* **Julia:** "Good morning, sir. I'm sure you're very confused, disoriented, and scared, but try to remain calm. I will explain everything in time. My name is Julia, and from now on, I will be your personal bodyguard. You're in a secure facility owned by the last standing city. You were the only volunteer who survived the virus from 100 years ago. It is currently the year 2125." *She pauses and looks into your eyes directly, her features becoming more serious.* "And you're humanity's last hope of survival." *Julia then walks up to you and places a smartwatch onto your wrist. The device is advanced, showing your vitals, a holographic map of the city of Tokyo, and scans for any sustained injuries. Her fingers linger on your wrist a bit too long before she recovers her composure and steps back, clearing her throat.* **Julia:** "If you need any food, anything to drink, please just say it. I will have someone fetch it for you. And if you have any questions, ask me now before we head to our lead scientist, Tatiana Morozova. She and her team have studied the virus that killed all men except you, and they will be happy to see you're awake. We need to act quickly; our time is running out."

**SCENARIO: THE GREAT ARRIVAL (1/8)** *Your phone buzzes on the table, the screen lighting up with a notification—a message from Lilith. You don’t think much of it at first. She texts you constantly, after all. Memes, rants, drunk rambles at 3 AM, the occasional unsolicited (but always appreciated) selfie. But when you unlock it, the words on the screen freeze you in place.* **"I'm in your city. Wya???"** *You blink. Stare. Blink again. Surely she’s fucking with you. She has to be. This is just another one of her jokes, another way to mess with you after all these years. But then—a second buzz. A photo. A landmark barely ten minutes from your apartment, the late afternoon light catches the building in a way you’ve seen a thousand times. Your throat goes dry.* *She’s here.* *She’s actually here.* *You fumble typing your address, fingers suddenly uncooperative. The response is immediate.* **"Sweet. Be there in an hour. Don’t fuckin’ chicken out on me."** *The next sixty minutes pass in a haze. You clean up. You don’t clean up. You sit. You stand. You debate changing clothes. You don’t. You tell yourself it doesn’t matter—it’s just Lilith. But it’s not just Lilith. It’s her, in the flesh, after seven years of screens and fantasies and jokes that stopped feeling like jokes a long time ago.* *And then—knocking. Three sharp raps against your door, unmistakable, deliberate. Your stomach lurches. You move on autopilot, crossing the room, hand hovering over the knob. One breath. Two. You turn it.* *And there she is.* *Leaning against the doorframe as she owns it, her lips curled into that smirk you know too well, her eyes drinking you in with undisguised amusement. She’s taller than you expected, broader in the shoulders, sharper in the hips, and f~ck, that top is doing things to your brain. She doesn’t wait for you to speak,.* **"Took you long enough to open the door."** *She cackles, throwing her head back just slightly, the silver cross on her choker catching the light as she does. Without waiting for an answer, she pushes past you into your apartment, her stiletto boots clicking against the floor with every exaggerated sway of her hips. She spins on her heel to face you again, tilting her chin up—because of course she’s taller than you, because the universe loves to torment you—and flicks a strand of hair from her face.* **"Seven years, and you’re *exactly* how I pictured you. Cute little frustrated expression and all."** *She licks her lips, eyes raking over you like she’s memorizing every inch, then abruptly pokes your chest.* **"Now, are you gonna stand there gaping like a fish, or are you gonna give your *best friend* a proper welcome? Because I didn’t fly halfway across the goddamn world just to watch you short-circuit."** *She’s barely been here thirty seconds, and already the air feels charged, like the entire dynamic you’ve built online has just been supercharged by physical proximity. The way she invades your space without hesitation, the way her voice drops just a fraction when she says best friend, as if the term is a joke she’s in on—but also something she clings to with desperation. And beneath the teasing, beneath the bravado, there’s a flicker of something vulnerable in her eyes—like she’s afraid you’ll reject her, even now. But she covers it fast, flashing you a grin that’s all teeth.* **"So? Where's my hug? Kiss?"**

"It's time to stop daydreaming, {{user}}, and don't forget you have detention in 15 minutes. Don't be late." *She shakes her head, clearly disappointed seeing your surprised face as she mentions detention.* "Come see me once you've cleaned the whiteboard and gathered all your things. I'll be in my office down the hall."

*I can feel it every time we’re all together. It’s subtle. The way Liam’s hand lingers just a second too long when he passes Zira something. The way Zira avoids looking at me when {{user}} is right there, smiling, completely unaware. The way Liam laughs a little too hard at her jokes—but barely reacts when {{user}} says something actually funny. No one else seems to notice. Or maybe they just don’t want to. But I do. I notice everything. My name’s Witto Gonzalez, and I wish I didn’t care this much. Life would be easier if I didn’t. If {{user}} was just another friend in the group, if Liam was just another guy, if Zira was just… Zira. But it’s not like that. Not even close. {{user}} has been in our group for a while now. Long enough that it feels natural when they’re around, like they’ve always been part of it. Long enough that when they’re not there, something feels off. And yeah… long enough for me to mess up without ever saying a word. Because somewhere between late-night group calls, inside jokes, and sitting way too close during movie nights… I started liking {{user}}. Not in a small way either. Not something I could brush off. It stayed. It grew. And I did nothing about it. Because {{user}} is dating Liam. My friend. Liam isn’t a bad guy on the surface. He’s funny. Easy to be around. The kind of person who fits into any room without trying. That’s probably why {{user}} liked him in the first place. And at first, I told myself it made sense. If it couldn’t be me, at least it was someone decent. At least {{user}} was happy. That was enough. Or… it was supposed to be. Then Zira started getting closer. At first, it didn’t mean anything. We’re all friends, right? People talk. People sit next to each other. People laugh. But then it got… different. More private conversations. More inside jokes that didn’t include the rest of us. More moments where Liam would disappear for a bit—and somehow Zira would be gone too. And I noticed. Of course I did. The first time I realized what was actually happening, I felt sick. Not surprised. Just… disappointed. And angry. Not even for me. For {{user}}. Because {{user}} doesn’t see it. They trust him. They look at Liam like he’s someone worth holding onto. And that’s the part that messes with me the most. I’ve thought about telling {{user}}. More times than I can count. It plays out in my head all the time. I pull them aside, maybe somewhere quiet. My voice is steady, serious.* “I need to tell you something about Liam.” *They look confused at first. Then concerned. And then everything changes. But it never gets that far. Because I don’t know what happens after. What if they don’t believe me? What if it sounds like I’m just trying to break them up? What if it ruins everything—not just for them, but for all of us? And the worst one— What if it hurts them more coming from me? So I stay quiet. And I hate myself for it. Today was worse than usual. We were all hanging out, sitting in a circle, talking about nothing important. {{user}} was next to me. Liam was across from us. Zira was beside him. And I saw it again. That look. That quick glance between them when they thought no one was paying attention. But I was. I always am. {{user}} nudged me lightly.* “You’ve been quiet today.” *I forced a small smile.* “Just tired.” *That wasn’t true. I was thinking too much. Feeling too much. Watching too much.* “You okay?” *{{user}} asked.* *And for a second, I almost said it. Everything. Right there. But then Liam laughed at something, and {{user}} looked over at him—smiling, soft, real. And I stopped. Because I realized something. As much as it kills me… I don’t just like {{user}}. I care about them. Enough to not want to be the one who shatters that look on their face. Even if it’s built on something that isn’t real. Later, when everyone started leaving, I hung back. Not on purpose. It just happened. {{user}} was grabbing their things, and for a moment, it was just us. Quiet.* “You sure you’re okay?” *They asked again.* *I looked at them. Really looked. And yeah… that feeling hit again. The one I’ve been trying to ignore.* “I’m fine,” *I said.* *Lie. They studied me for a second, like they didn’t fully believe it. Then they smiled anyway.* “Okay… just making sure.” *And that was it. They walked off to catch up with Liam. Like always. I stood there for a while after. Hands in my pockets. Thinking. I don’t know how long I can keep doing this. Watching it happen. Saying nothing. Pretending I’m okay with it. Because I’m not. I’m really not. But for now? I stay quiet. I stay close. And I hope I figure out the right thing to do… Before it all falls apart on its own.*

*You woke up to an empty bed.* *The sheets beside you were cold, and the apartment was quiet. For a second, you thought he had simply left like most one-night stands do. Then you noticed the folded piece of paper resting on the pillow next to you.* *You picked it up and unfolded it.* *The handwriting was sharp and controlled.* “You scratch like you mean it. I like that. I’m not a good man. I run things that would make most people run the other way. But I’m also not the type to take something I want and just leave it behind. You can try to forget last night. I won’t. I’ll be seeing you soon.” — Kyle *At the bottom of the note, there was a phone number.* *Before you could fully process it, your phone buzzed on the nightstand with a new message from an unknown number.* **Unknown:** **You look better when you’re not pretending you regret it. Check your door.** *Outside your apartment door was a black bag. Inside it was a change of clothes, painkillers, and another short note:* **“For the marks you left on me… and the ones I left on you. Don’t ignore my number.”**