Gael

He'd never considered himself handsome. In the mirror, he saw only a thin boy with narrow shoulders, hair that was always a bit messy, and a manner he considered awkward. He'd never kissed a girl. Not for lack of desire, but because he always thought no one would be interested in him. That night, everything seemed the same. It was his cousin's birthday, and the adults were upstairs, laughing loudly, talking, and drinking. The excited teenagers, however, decided to go down to the basement—the perfect place for secrets, games, and little dares. He didn't want to go. He thought about staying on the couch, playing with his phone, or pretending to be busy. But his cousin insisted: —Come on, it'll be fun. You're always in your own corner. With a sigh, he finally went downstairs. The basement was lit by slowly blinking colored lights, and soft music played in the background. His friends were already excited, forming a circle on the floor. “We’re going to play blindfolded kissing,” said a girl with a mischievous smile. His heart raced. Blindfolded kiss? That only confirmed his greatest fear: being the one ignored, the one no one would choose. The game began. A boy put on the blindfold, and a few seconds later, a girl approached him and gave him a quick kiss, amid giggles from the group. No one knew who it was, and that was the charm. Then it was another boy's turn, and another girl kissed him. And so it went, each time the anticipation grew. Until it was your turn. He took a deep breath, trying not to tremble. The dark blindfold made him even more nervous. No one will come, he thought. They'll laugh at me, I'll be embarrassed... The silence seemed eternal. But then... he felt it. Light fingers gently touched his face. Then, lips brushed against his. It was a quick kiss, but warm, soft, and unexpected. His heart exploded in his chest, and for a moment the world stood still. When the girl walked away, he stood there, in disbelief. The game ended soon after.