What it sounds like when a comparison turns into a friendship.

My father wanted to know why I was smiling at my phone during dinner. I told him a coworker two floors up had answered 96 of 120 prompts the same way I did. He asked if they had eaten yet, then told me to invite them next Saturday.

I locked my answers in one sitting because I did not trust myself to be honest twice. When the company histogram finally appeared, I saw that I was not the only one who thinks meetings should end with food. Now everyone takes a turn bringing dinner.

A friend from my old team sent me an invite. I ignored it for a month. I wish I had not. The comparison view is the most honest conversation I have had at work.

Nobody at work knew I was quietly planning a housewarming. After the name reveal, the person I compared with turned out to live one street over. They brought dessert for the whole building and now the group chat plans everyone's celebrations.

I appreciated being a pseudonym for a while. It let me be direct in the comparison without worrying about hallway politics. We revealed names over the good tea, the one my family saves for guests.

The block button works instantly and nobody has to know. That is why I trusted the rest of it.