Just waiting for test day

The two weeks that follow the BlackLight competition are the longest of your life. You and Tiffany maintain regular contact, checking in on each other's plug status with increasingly competitive texts. On day three, she messages you a simple photo of her still-inserted plug with the caption "Still in it to win it." You respond with your own evidence, impressed by her commitment.

By day five, you're starting to feel the physical effects of keeping the plug inserted for so long. You call Tiffany, intending to concede the challenge, only to find her already on the verge of removing hers.

"Let's call it at the same time," she suggests, her voice betraying discomfort. "I've proven my point anyway."

You agree, and together over video chat, you both remove your plugs. The competition officially ends in a draw, though Tiffany technically kept hers in twenty minutes longer while you set up the call.

The following days are filled with anticipation as you both wait for the appropriate time to test. Daniel arranges for a camera crew to document both tests simultaneously – you in your apartment bathroom, Tiffany in hers across town, connected via livestream to maximize viewer engagement.

"Ready?" Daniel's voice comes through your earpiece as the red light on the camera blinks to life. "We're going live in three, two, one..."

You unwrap your pregnancy test with trembling fingers, the plastic cool against your skin. Following the instructions, you use the test and wait, watching the control line appear immediately.

"How are you feeling, Maya?" asks the camera operator, a woman named Rachel who's been assigned to your location.

"Nervous," you admit. "But excited too. This was always the risk we took."

On the tablet screen beside you, you can see Tiffany going through the same process in her marble-tiled bathroom.

When the appropriate time has elapsed, you both reveal your tests simultaneously to the cameras.

Your stomach drops as you see the single line on yours, while Tiffany's face lights up with shock and something like triumph as she stares at her own double-lined test.

"It's positive," she whispers, looking directly into the camera. "I'm actually pregnant."

You **** a smile, genuine in your congratulations but unable to hide your disappointment. "Well played, Tiffany. I guess you win this round completely."

After the cameras shut down and the crew packs up, you sit alone on your bathroom floor, staring at the negative test. Your phone buzzes with a text from Tiffany:

"Rematch in three months? After I've had time to enjoy this victory?"

You find yourself smiling genuinely now, typing back: "You're on. And next time, I won't be so easy to beat."