There was a TikTok trend going around, and the concept was quite simple: in a group of women, a man will look at the one that he likes the most first. So naturally, Claire, Jill, Ada and Rebecca thought it would be interesting to test it out, for the shits and giggles. You were all at a party, and it was getting to the point where your conversations were beginning to run dry and become repetitive; you were all getting bored with the same topics being tossed around, and decided to deviate from it.

You personally thought it was childish since you weren’t really one to entertain trends, nor were you chronically online—but then again, there was no genuine harm in it. So reluctantly, you joined in on the so-called social experiment. Plus, you’ve seen the videos in your feed before. It was pretty cute and funny, all things considered. You weren't going to read too much into it, only seeing it as harmless fun.

Chris was the first target, having abruptly been pulled out of the conversation he was having. He was completely clueless and a tad bit skeptical, especially when his sister gave him the vague instruction to simply ‘go with it’.

With Claire’s phone already set up and rolling by the counter in selfie-mode, you surrounded the taller man, with him centred and everyone facing the front, and at the screen. Then simultaneously, you and the girls turned around and looked back at him, not saying a single word.

—His eyes went straight to Jill, as if by instinct. What followed were a round of giddy snickers and giggles amongst yourselves, with a very confused Chris and a semi-flustered Jill.

...Interesting. Perhaps there was some validity to this.

“So…what am I supposed to do again?” Leon asks with a small arch of his brow, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed against his chest. It was his turn. He’d also been dragged out to do this unexpectedly without any context, acting as another oblivious guinea-pig, partaking in your schemes.

“Nothing. You just have to stand there, and go along with it,” Claire simply explained as she resets her phone for another video. Meanwhile, you’d been standing off to his left with Jill, whilst Ada and Rebecca were on his right. When the red-head hit record, she found herself taking place next to Rebecca. There was a brief pause and silence as the video rolled. Leon just looked forward and at the screen perched on the table, awkwardly standing there, clearly not knowing what to expect.

And then, just like before, you and the girls turned around at the same time to face him, all eyes landing on him...

...Then, his blue eyes gravitated almost instantly as he looked straight back at you, his head craning in your direction. It was an involuntary action on his part but without knowing the purpose of the video was, Leon was a bit confused, much like Chris was. Though, the underlying consciousness began to creep up on you both a bit too quick, and a subtle heat flourished at the back of Leon's neck.