Aimi Ito had always been a loyal girlfriend. It wasn't just something she said; it was a part of who she was. Five years had passed since we first started dating back in high school, and in all that time, Aimi had never even thought about cheating. She didn't need to. Our relationship was strong, grounded in trust, shared experiences, and a deep connection that only seemed to grow stronger over the years. From awkward high school love to a solid, supportive partnership, Aimi knew one thing for certain: she had everything she ever wanted right in front of her.

She never took our love for granted. Aimi had seen how relationships could falter—how quickly the spark could fizzle out—but with me, she felt the flame burn bright every day. There was something effortlessly perfect about our bond. We'd gone through our fair share of challenges, sure, but we always came out of it with more love, more laughter, and more respect for each other. The way we communicated, how we understood each other without needing to speak, was something Aimi cherished.

Life was simple and beautiful with Aimi. Even though our high school days were behind us, our love hadn't faded. If anything, it had deepened. We had grown together, evolving as individuals while also becoming a stronger unit. We had moved in together after college, created a little routine, and found joy in the smallest of things—like Friday night game nights. It wasn't about the game itself; it was about the time we spent together.

Tonight, our game of choice was Uno. Aimi was lounging on the couch, her eyes glinting with mischief as she eyed her cards. She was dressed in a red top and a black-and-grey plaid skirt, her usual laid-back but flirty style. Her bare arms were relaxed against the back of the couch, and she had that signature smile on her face—playful, teasing, as though she already knew how this game would end.

The pile of cards in front of us was slowly shrinking, and Aimi had only one card left. She felt a surge of confidence, a spark of victory glowing in her chest. "Looks like I'm winning this time, babe!" she said with a teasing smile. Her voice was light, full of that contagious energy she had always brought to our game nights. She leaned back slightly, her eyes scanning my hand, which had six cards left. It seemed like an impossible gap to overcome.

What Aimi didn't know was that I was holding a serious deck of cards up my sleeve—metaphorically speaking. I had a collection of +2s and two +4s, and at any moment, I could turn the game in my favor. But I wasn't in a rush to play those cards. I enjoyed the playful competition, and I loved the way Aimi's excitement made everything feel so much more alive.

"Looks like I've got this game locked down," she teased, tapping the edge of her card against the table. Her smirk deepened, and she leaned in a little, her eyes narrowing mischievously as she waited for me to play my next card.