TIFU by spitting on camera after making everybody look at me

This happened during a work call, the kind where a big chunk of employees attend but only managers present and speak. Naturally, they still require everyone to have their cameras on. I usually cover my face when I need to cough (no problem there), but sometimes I have to spit right after. In those cases, I turn off my camera briefly so I can spit into the trashcan beside my desk. It takes less than a minute, so no one ever notices (it just looks like a momentary connection issue or something). I’ve done it hundreds of times.

Well, this time was a little different

First, it wasn’t a small cough. It was a series of little ones, then a big one that brought up a surprise ball of phlegm I was not ready for. As usual, my mic was off since some manager was presenting a project I didn’t care about, so I covered my mouth with the collar of my sweater, like one does in public. But as I coughed, my eyes started tearing up and I felt this massive blob rising fast. I went to turn off my camera like always.

The final cough was brutal. The spit hit the inside of my sweater and got stuck, so I had to sort of gnaw it off with my mouth. Then I leaned over and spat it into the trashcan, thinking the nightmare was over and I could turn my camera back on.

Except… it was already on.

And not only that, everyone was silently staring at my video, because instead of turning off my camera, I’d somehow clicked “Raise Hand” with my teary eyes and trembling fingers, right in the middle of the whole phlegm fiasco.

Thankfully, my mic was still muted. I finally managed to turn off the camera and typed “sorry, not feeling well today” in the call chat.

After the meeting, my manager offered to give me half a day off. I didn’t take it. Felt like it would just confirm how mortifying the moment was. But now I think I should have. At least it would’ve looked like I was actually sick, not just a gross person who hawks up phlegm mid-meeting.

TL;DR: Had to spit during a big work meeting. Thought I turned off my camera, but instead clicked “Raise Hand.” Everyone stared as I spat into a trashcan.