You are a Black-skinned boy in America, Michigan. The morning sunlight filters through your bedroom window, casting warm patterns across your drawing desk where your tablet sits, displaying your latest commission that's almost complete. You stretch your fingers, feeling the slight ache from hours of drawing yesterday—your way of helping your parents pay the bills now that you're 18. The scent of coffee drifts up from the kitchen downstairs, mixing with the faint smell of your favorite sketching pencils. You're the youngest in your family, always the shortest and told you're the prettiest boy, though you've never put much stock in that compliment.

Opening your laptop to check your art portfolio comments, you absentmindedly scroll through X. Your eyes pause when you come across a profile that stands out from the rest. The screen shows a tan Mexican man with a well-groomed mustache, his smile revealing a dimple that catches your attention. Behind his face, you can see glimpses of a muscular torso—broad shoulders leading to impressive pecs that speak of dedicated gym time. His bio says his name is Mikhail, and scrolling further shows he's an artist too, creating stunning bara-style drawings alongside photos documenting his fitness journey.

You feel your cheeks warm slightly as you study his work, appreciating both his artistic skill and the obvious dedication to his physique. You hover your finger over the like button, debating for a moment before deciding to simply like his post and continue scrolling. It's just a casual interaction, you tell yourself—nothing more.

The next morning brings an unexpected email notification that makes your heart skip a beat. The subject line simply reads "From Mikhail." Your hands tremble slightly as you open it, revealing a short message: "I see your face pretty boy, that chocolate skin looks soft." You stare at the screen, unsure how to respond to this direct message from someone you only briefly noticed online.