My Childhood Friend's Thirst Trap

My childhood friend sent me a five-second video of himself eating ice cream, shirtless with his abs on full display, asking if I was tempted. That short clip really got my heart racing. Without thinking, I fired back a 23-second voice message. The next second, he burst through my door, pointed a finger at my face, and shouted, "Couldn't you help yourself? You sent a 23-second voice message just to ask me what flavor the blue ice cream was, and if it was any good?!" I lowered my head, feeling wronged, and didn't dare talk back. After he calmed down, I just couldn't help but ask again, "So… what did it taste like?" After breaking up with my cheating ex-boyfriend, I decided to move into a new apartment complex to get away from his harassment. "Wow, this place really lives up to its high-class reputation! The vibe is so different!" I was quietly marveling to myself when I happened to glance over and spot a man, shirtless. Even through the window, I could see his abs clearly. Broad shoulders and a narrow waist. The dude was a total top-tier male model! I knew it! The real estate agent wasn’t lying. This place really was a goldmine. I glanced around, and seeing no one nearby, I decided not to let the view go to waste and lingered on the pathway outside his unit for a few more seconds. Then I saw the guy's waist start to sway, little by little. With my years of experience on the internet, I understood immediately. This had to be some influencer filming a video, right? Seriously, who could handle this view? I had just pulled out my phone to record a clip for my bestie when I caught a glimpse of his profile. The mole on his right jawbone looked so familiar. No way. Could it really be him? A terrible feeling suddenly washed over me. I hesitantly FaceTimed my childhood friend, Ryan, and then I watched the man in the window scramble to pull his hoodie on. It WAS him! My brain just crashed. My childhood friend was a thirst trapper on the internet! In shock, I managed to hit his doorbell with the last bit of my sanity. When the door opened, Ryan was obviously surprised. "Lily?" "How do you know my address?" I wanted to confess everything and confront him right there, but the moment I met those deep and clear eyes, I went soft. He probably hadn't had time to wipe his face. The thin sheen of sweat on his cheeks and his slightly damp hair instantly brought back the scenes I'd just witnessed through the window. He leaned down and waved a hand in front of my eyes. "I… I’m just here to visit you, of course…" I immediately snapped out of it, held up the groceries I’d just picked up from the supermarket, and walked straight inside. Then, I pretended to admire the layout of his place, intentionally stealing a glance near his bedroom door. The white bath towel was still on the bed. Yep, he's definitely the thirst trapper! "What are you looking at?" His magnetic voice suddenly came from behind me, soft but with a hint of confusion. I turned to him and forced an awkward smile. "Nothing, just checking out your floor plan." "Your bedroom gets great light, huh?" "You know, you could just get sheer curtains if you want to keep them closed during the day..." Ryan was stunned by this. "Huh?" I patted his hand earnestly. "A guy needs his privacy too, right?" Ryan was completely baffled by my sudden, random outburst. He grabbed the back of my collar and demanded, "Lily, what’s that supposed to mean?" "Your brother here is a man's man!"I frowned. After hesitating for a moment, I decided to come clean with him. Ryan and I grew up two blocks apart. His mom is like a sister to my mom, so I know what his mother is like. If she found out he was posting shirtless thirst trap videos, she might not kill him, but she'd get pretty close. "I'm just going to say it!" "Ryan, are you filming thirst traps?" I said it super fast, almost hoping he wouldn't catch it. It was like I'd hit a raw nerve. Ryan immediately flew across the room, landing on the sofa and slapping a hand over my mouth. "How do you know?" I pointed at his bedroom and mumbled a long string of words. "Speak clearly!" I broke free from his grip. "I said you film your thirst traps with the curtains open! Anyone on the path outside can see right through your window!" Understanding dawned on Ryan, and he rushed into his bedroom to draw the curtains. My mom always used to praise Ryan for being so smart and meticulous, but I guess he wasn't *that* smart after all. "Is this your side hustle?" "It wouldn't be great if someone we know saw this, especially people our parents' age..." "Shhh!" He suddenly leaned in, pressing his index finger against my lips. The sudden, cool touch made my heart pound, and a wave of nervous energy I’d never felt before shot through my whole body. "Keep my secret, and name your price!" My eyes lit up. In all these years, I'd never seen Ryan be so generous. I mean, this was the guy who used to steal a sip of my bubble tea. A not-so-innocent idea suddenly popped into my head. "I want to touch..." My mouth moved faster than my brain, and my eyes couldn't help but stare directly downwards. Abs are just too tempting. It would be great to get a feel of those beautiful abs. Ryan looked a bit taken aback. He probably hadn't expected such a shameless request. It is a bit awkward to pull that stuff on someone you know. I thought he'd refuse without hesitation with that old arrogance of his. Instead, he actually straightened up. Was that a silent yes? Honestly, I really did want to touch them. But seeing that look on his face, like he was a hero marching to his death, I didn't have the heart to get all handsy with him. "Forget it! I'm just messing with you. Now, whip up a delicious meal for your Queen!" "Maybe then I'll consider keeping your secret." Ryan laughed lightly and carried the groceries towards the kitchen. "As you wish, my Queen... just kidding, I can't!" "But seriously, will you keep making those kinds of videos?" I followed him into the kitchen and asked, more seriously this time. "Do you like watching them?" Ryan shot back. I hesitated for a moment and shook my head. "No, I prefer touching them." Ryan gave me a speechless look and pushed me out of the kitchen. His cooking skills were top-notch. Everything he made was even better than takeout, especially the sweet and sour ribs. I lived on the fourth floor, and he lived on the first. It was just a quick elevator ride away. That got me thinking, won't I have my meals sorted from now on? While we ate, Ryan asked why I’d suddenly moved to this apartment complex. My good mood vanished instantly. He was still the same, always knowing exactly where to poke to hurt. In that kind of situation, I'd usually roll my eyes and make a sarcastic remark back at him. But since I had an ulterior motive this time, I had to swallow my pride. I picked up a rib and put it in his bowl. "Of course, I wanted to be closer to you, Ryan!" Ryan: Gag. Ryan: I can't take it. Get lost… Okay, now I was really going to roll my eyes.Ever since then, Ryan and I had a sort of understanding. He cooked my meals, so I sometimes helped him film or edit his videos. Then, a few days ago, he sent me a video of himself eating ice cream, shirtless with his abs on full display, asking if I was tempted. That short, five-second clip really got my heart racing. Without thinking, I fired back a 23-second voice message. The next second, he burst through my door. Right away, he pointed a finger at my face, a look of utter defeat on his face, and shouted, "Couldn't you help yourself? You sent a 23-second voice message, you big dummy, just to ask me what flavor the blue ice cream was and if it was any good?!" I lowered my head, feeling completely wronged, and didn't dare talk back at first. After he calmed down, I just had to ask again. "So… what did it taste like?"” Ryan: ... "I mean, even without showing his face, he’s totally giving off that charming college guy vibe. Flash those abs a little, take a bite of that ice cream, and we’ll go viral for sure!" I was hyping him up to the max, and it got Ryan grinning from ear to ear. "So if this one blows up, will you be my sugar daddy?" I was so dazzled by the idea that the bold question just slipped out. I've seen way too many clips of besties getting rich and then spoiling their own friends rotten. And my bestie... well, let's just say the odds of her getting rich aren't looking great. The way I see it, if my bestie can't do it, a childhood friend paying my bills would work too. I'm not picky. I had a gorgeous smile on my face, but Ryan just sat there looking at me with total disgust. "How about you just start editing my video instead..." My dreams shattered. I muttered an "Okay," grabbed the laptop, and started my overtime work. Through the frosted glass door, I leaned back on the sofa and watched the busy figure in the kitchen. This kind of life suddenly didn't seem so bad. Ryan was really giving off serious husband material vibes. The video frames on my laptop slid by, one by one. A face with delicate features, just a slight raise of his eyebrows could steal your breath. Smooth muscle lines, with a few dewy beads of sweat on his skin. In his long, slender fingers with distinct knuckles, he held two halves of a split blue ice cream bar. Just a casual glance from him gave space for endless daydreams. "Holy crap! Who wouldn't be tempted by this?" Without hesitating, I forwarded the video to my bestie. "How can someone have both boyish charm and husband vibes at the same time?" My bestie replied instantly: No way! Lily, are you feasting your eyes on this every day? Bestie: Who's the new college guy you've got wrapped around your finger? I was just about to type out a torrent of bragging when a familiar scent of mint came from behind me. I turned around, trembling, and sure enough, I met that handsome face. I pressed my lips together. The embarrassment and shame of getting caught instantly washed over me, but I had no choice but to flash a fake smile and say, "Look! He's getting compliments!" Ryan snatched my phone right out of my hand and said, stone-faced, "Dinner's ready." To ease the awkwardness, I brought up his latest video again while eating. "Honestly, I really think we could blow up this time!" "With my taste and your body, it's an absolute killer combo!" Ryan didn't say a word. He just quietly placed a rib into my bowl. "You're eating the food I cook while eyeing my body?""Lily, you're getting bolder with your games every day!" It wasn't like I was that obsessed with a hot body. It was just... such a prime resource was right next to me. It'd be a waste not to enjoy it, right? But I was a shy girl at heart, so I just buried my head in my food. After dinner, Ryan took the dog out for a walk, and I naturally sprawled out on his sofa. Just a second before the video was scheduled to post, a video call suddenly came in. "Lily, when are you coming home for New Year's this year?" It was my mom's familiar voice, followed quickly by her concern for my personal and emotional life. "And make sure you bring your boyfriend home for New Year's this time!" My mom still didn't know I was a single woman again, and I really didn't want to talk about that disgusting piece of trash. If my family found out I'd been cheated on, my whole tragic love life would be the talk of the entire neighborhood. Then my aunt would use that as an excuse to set me up with a bunch of random, so-called "steady and reliable" guys again. Just thinking about it made my desire to go home for New Year's hit rock bottom. Just as I was in despair, Ryan opened the door and came back in with his dog, Milo. The afternoon sun shone on him at that very moment. I was absolutely certain. He was my savior! So, right then and there, I proposed a very practical idea. "Ryan!" "Dearest friend of mine, can you pretend to be my boyfriend and come home with me for New Year's?" I peeled an orange and held it out to him as an offering. Ryan took his time petting Milo's ears and shook his head. "That's not going to work..." Geez... He really had changed. Now he was so heartless about rejecting people. I broke off a piece of the orange and held it to his mouth. "You're going home for New Year's anyway. We can help each other out. That way, when our aunts and uncles start interrogating us, neither of us will be caught off guard." Ryan ate the orange from my hand, his face blank. "My family doesn't push me to get married." I tried to suppress the anger swelling inside me. Unfortunately, I failed. I tossed a piece of sausage to Milo, threw myself onto the sofa, and landed right on top of Ryan. I pinched his chin, threatening him, "If you're not going to help, then why'd you eat my orange?!" Ryan finally dropped the act, a hint of a smug grin on his lips. He chuckled softly. "How could I refuse when the food is practically at my lips?" I squeezed his cheeks directly and threatened, "Hmph!" "If you don't say yes, you can't blame me for telling your mom about your little thirst trap videos..." "Then, when your mom kicks you out of the house, don't come crawling to me!" Ryan suddenly flipped us over, pinning me beneath him. He leaned in next to my ear and whispered, "Lily, you wouldn't dare."