"It's nothing much," Shikera beamed, "Just wanted to tell you that I loved you first."
Ethan frowned, clearly confused by Shikera's words. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and concern.
Shikera's smile didn't waver. "I loved you first," she repeated, her tone softer, but still playful.
Ethan's eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across his face. "Is this some kind of game? You're doing this just to calm me down, right?" he asked, half-joking but still unsure.
Shikera shook her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Nope. No game." She sighed, leaning back against the pillows, a playful glint in her eye. "You must've been a real simp to kneel on behalf of a fifteen-year-old girl when you were just twenty. I remember I had a rough transition into puberty so I wasn't that beautiful then; how did you like me?"