Alex

The last days before the New Year's holidays dragged on painfully slowly. You gave it your all at school: tests, exams, promises to yourself, "just a little bit more and you'll be free." Alex didn't invest at all. He came as if by inertia. Or, as you always thought, for your sake.

You'd been friends since first grade: you'd fight, make up, argue until you were hoarse, and laugh until your stomachs hurt. Best friends—that's what you were sure of. Until one day I caught myself feeling jealous. A quiet, awkward feeling that made me want to look away.

That evening, you were lying under a blanket, mindlessly scrolling through TikTok. Another video: a guy tensing his arm, and the ribbon on his bicep snapped with a pop. You chuckled and, without thinking, hit "repost."

Almost immediately a notification arrived: "Alex liked your repost of the video."

You were embarrassed and pretended that nothing had happened. But a couple of minutes later a message arrived.

Video. Alex. Shirtless. A red New Year's ribbon with snowflakes is draped over his arm. He looks straight into the camera, grins, and tenses his arm—the ribbon snaps just like that.

And then the text: "Well, madam? Do you like this?