Joren lay still.
The room was quiet, save for the hum of the fridge and the occasional hallway noise—someone laughing, someone yelling about laundry. Tasha's head rested on his chest, her breath slow and steady.
Her skirt was still tangled around her waist. She was half-straddling, half-lying on him, his cock still buried in her pussy, dripping with a mixture of his cum and her juices.
He stared at the ceiling, eyes wide open.
His body felt heavy, in a good way. Like every nerve had been lit up and was now cooling down. He had done it. He was no more a virgin.
Tasha stirred, her fingers tracing lazy circles on his stomach. "You're awfully quiet for someone who just got laid for the first time."
Joren blinked. "I'm just thinking."
"About?"
He hesitated. "Everything."
She propped herself up on one elbow, her hair falling across her face. "Regret?"
He shook his head. "Not really. I don't think I regret doing it with you."
A moment of silence passed between them, and Joren turned slightly. "So… what now?"
She glanced at him. "What do you mean?"
"I mean… us. Is this just a one-time thing?"
She sat up a little, brushing her hair back. "I'm not looking for anything serious, if that's what you're asking."
Joren nodded slowly. "Right. Yeah. I figured."
She got out of bed and reached for her shirt, halfway through pulling it on. "But I like you. You're chill. If you're open to it… we could keep this casual."
"Like... friends with benefits?"
"Exactly."
He didn't respond right away. His mind was still catching up to everything that had happened. It wasn't what he'd hoped for, but it wasn't rejection either.
"Okay," he muttered. "I think I can handle that."
She smiled, soft and brief. "Cool. Then let's not make it weird."
He gave a short laugh. "Whatever you say."
She leaned over, kissed his cheek, then stood and started dressing. No drama. No hesitation.
"You gonna write about this?" she nodded at his notebook on the floor.
He looked at it, then back at her. "I don't think I'll be needing it."
She grinned playfully. "Look at you. All grown up now."
Joren reached for the notebook, held it for a moment, then tossed it aside. It landed with a soft thud near the desk, pages fluttering open. He didn't look at it again.
Then the door burst open.
"Yo, I forgot my—" Dale stopped mid-sentence, eyes wide, mouth hanging open.
Tasha froze, one arm halfway through her sleeve.
Joren blinked. "Dale."
Dale blinked back. "Tasha."
A beat of silence.
Then Dale grinned. "Well damn. I was only gone for two hours."
Tasha rolled her eyes and finished pulling on her shirt. "You could knock, you know."
"I live here," Dale said, still grinning. "It looks like I missed the whole thing."
Joren groaned, grabbing the nearest pillow and pressing it to his face.
Tasha smirked. "Relax. It's not that deep."
Dale raised an eyebrow. "You sure? Because Joren looks like he just saw God."
Joren muttered into the pillow. "Can we not talk about this?"
Dale laughed, walked over to grab his charger from the desk, then turned back.
"So… are you two now official, or was it just a one-time event?"
Tasha grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder. "Neither."
She turned to Joren. "Text me. I'll be waiting."
Then she walked past Dale, opened the door, and left without another word. The door clicked shut.
Dale turned slowly to Joren, eyes wide. "Bro."
Joren didn't move.
Dale sat beside him. "So… you gonna tell me everything, or do I have to guess based on the emotional damage in your eyes?"
Joren sighed. "It's complicated."
Dale nodded. "It always is."
Joren sat up. The notebook lay on the floor, untouched. He didn't reach for it. He didn't need it. Not anymore.
Dale leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, watching Joren like he was trying to read a new version of him. "So… that was your first time, right?"
Joren nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
Dale grinned. "Dude. That's huge."
Joren gave a half-smile. "It was something."
"No, seriously. It is a big deal. I never expected that you'd have the balls to go through with it, especially after your first fumble."
Joren laughed under his breath. "Is that what this is?"
"Absolutely," Dale said. "And you know what that means?"
Joren raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"We celebrate."
Joren blinked. "Celebrate?"
"Yes,"
Dale said, standing up. "You just crossed a major life threshold. We're not letting that slide. I'm talking drinks, music, maybe a little mischief while we're at it. You in?"
Joren hesitated. "I don't know, man. I'm still kind of… processing."
Dale nodded. "Totally fair. But you don't have to process alone. Let's go out. Nothing crazy. Just you and me"
Joren snorted. "Wow. Thanks."
Dale grinned. "Come on. Shower, change, and let's hit somewhere low-key. I'll even let you pick the spot."
Joren looked at the tossed notebook on the floor, then back at Dale.
"Alright," he said. "Let's go."
Dale clapped his hands once. "That's what I'm talking about."
Joren took a bath and pulled on a hoodie, still quiet but lighter somehow. Dale tossed him a cap, grinning like they were heading into a rite of passage.
They stepped out into the hallway, the door clicking shut behind them. No plan, just two friends walking into the afternoon, ready to let the day feel a little different.