MATT STURNIOLO IMAGINES

Unfiltered Truths

It was the kind of morning Matt hadn't quite prepared for. He wasn't too worried about getting his wisdom teeth pulled—he was mostly just ready for it to be over. But as soon as they called his name at the dentist's office, a knot of nervousness twisted in his stomach. He had seen enough funny videos of people being loopy after anesthesia to know that he was in for an interesting ride.

The procedure itself wasn't bad—Matt was barely conscious the whole time. The next thing he knew, he was sitting on the couch at home, an ice pack pressed to his swollen cheek, trying to make sense of what had just happened. His brothers, Chris and Nick, were by his side, taking turns checking on him. Matt didn't know exactly where he was or what time it was, but he did know that his head felt like it was filled with cotton.

The afternoon sun filtered through the blinds, casting soft rays across the living room as I sat beside Matt, watching him squint at the ice pack pressed gingerly to his swollen cheeks. He had just gotten his wisdom teeth removed, and though he was still groggy from the anesthesia, there was a quiet energy about him—groggy, but still Matt.

Chris and Nick came in and out of the room, checking on him, offering mashed potatoes and ice cream, and trying to get him to eat. But, honestly, I think they were just happy to see him back home and recovering. I was happy to help out, too. I'd been here since they brought him back, doing whatever I could, making sure he didn't do anything too crazy.

"You good?" I asked, handing Matt a glass of water as he stared down at it, not quite sure what to do with it for a second.

"Yeah..." he slurred slowly, blinking up at me. "Totally fine. Just my cheeks... they're... they're so puffy. I look like a chipmunk." He giggled to himself, and I couldn't help but smile at how silly he looked.

Chris raised an eyebrow from across the room. "Yeah, you do look a little like a chipmunk, Matt," he teased, his voice light. "But you're still cute."

Matt gave a slow grin, clearly amused by the idea. "I'm cute, huh?" he said, his voice thick with anesthesia. Clearly, it was not all there, but he was still somehow having fun with the situation. He looked so vulnerable, and it made me feel protective of him in a way I hadn't expected.

I laughed lightly. "You're always cute, Matt," I said, hoping to ease his discomfort with some light teasing of my own.

Matt's eyes flickered toward me, and for a second, he seemed to snap out of his daze. He blinked slowly, studying me with an expression that made my heart skip a beat.

"Y/N..." he mumbled, his voice quieter now, almost reverent. "You're... you're perfect, you know that?"

I froze for a second. His words caught me off guard, and my heart raced. He was loopy, no doubt, but I could tell there was something more there. I tried to keep my voice light. "Am I now?"

"Yeah," he slurred, his voice soft but undeniably sincere, as if he wasn't talking just to fill the silence but because he really felt it. "You're perfect. You're so nice to me, even when I'm looking like... like this." He gestured to his swollen face, and I could see the goofy grin stretching across his face. "I don't get it, Y/N. I don't know why you're always so kind. You're always here when I need you, and... you're just... you're really, really pretty."

I felt a flutter in my chest at his words. I was always used to Matt's humor, his teasing, his laid-back nature, but hearing him speak so openly, without any hesitation, was something entirely new. He wasn't holding anything back, even if he didn't fully realize what he was saying.

"Matt..." I started, but my words caught in my throat. I didn't want to embarrass him or make him feel self-conscious, but hearing him confess like this made my heart swell and a wave of warmth flood over me.

Nick, who had been hovering nearby, jumped in at just the right moment. "Yeah, uh, I think you might want to let Matt sleep off the meds before you go too deep into the feels, Y/N," he said with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.

Chris laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, man, you're saying some things that might not make sense once you wake up," he teased.

Matt, however, wasn't fazed. He continued to stare at me with a dazed, dreamy smile. "No, no, I mean it," he said, his voice a little more serious. "I think you're the best person I know. And you're beautiful. Like, I don't think I could find anyone better. I've liked you for so long, but I didn't know if you... if you felt the same. I was scared. I didn't know if you even noticed me like that."

I felt my breath catch in my throat. What? I always knew we had a close friendship, but hearing him talk like this—especially in his loopy state—was enough to throw me off balance. The way he said it, though, was sincere. And I couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through my chest at his words.

"You've always been such a good friend, Matt," I said gently, trying to process everything. "But maybe we should talk about this once you're feeling better, okay? You're a little... out of it right now."

Matt shook his head slowly, his eyes starting to flutter closed. "No... I'm serious," he whispered, his hand weakly reaching out to grasp the edge of my sleeve. "I don't think I've ever been more honest in my life. I want you to know how much you mean to me. And I think you're the kind of person I could be with."

I felt my heart skip a beat, but I could tell he was already starting to drift off, his words becoming more fragmented as the meds took over.

"I think you're amazing, too," I murmured softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "But right now, I think you need some sleep."

I smiled, trying to keep it light, even though my mind was whirling. I had always suspected Matt might like me, but hearing it in such an unfiltered, raw way... it was something else. I wasn't sure if he fully understood what he was saying or if he even would remember it when he woke up, but I felt a mix of emotions stir inside me.

Chris and Nick exchanged a look before they both stepped out of the room. Chris gave me a subtle, knowing nod as they left, clearly understanding the weight of the moment. They didn't say anything—didn't need to—but there was a quiet understanding between all of us.

I sat quietly beside Matt, watching him as he dozed off, the weight of his confession hanging in the air. I didn't know what it meant or what would happen once he was fully awake, but in that moment, as I watched him sleep, something in me shifted. I'd always been there for him, but now, things felt different.

Maybe we could talk about this more when he was feeling better. But for now, I'd just be here for him—taking care of him, just like I always did.

I leaned over and, on impulse, pressed a soft kiss to his cheek—just a gentle, fleeting gesture. He didn't stir, already deep in sleep, but something in me felt lighter.

I stayed there for a moment, my heart still racing from everything he'd said, but eventually, I stood up. I needed to give him space to sleep and process things—whatever that might look like when he woke up. As quietly as I could, I slipped out of the living room, leaving Matt resting peacefully on the couch.

Maybe, just maybe, when he woke up, we'd figure out what came next. But for now, I'd let him rest. The kiss was my quiet promise to be there for him, no matter what. And in that moment, I couldn't help but feel that everything might just be about to change.