I shrank into my seat, wishing I were anywhere else. I was ashamed and terrified. I couldn’t look any of them in the eye, so I stared down at my lap. Yujin retracted their hand, but didn’t say anything. The silence that fell was deafening and seemed to last for days, though I knew it was likely only a few seconds.

Gia was the first to speak, asking in a curious tone. “Is it gnarly? Why didn’t I know about this? Can I see it? I bet it’s bada*s.”

Elliot followed up, ...